How to get to know Ubud before travelling – How to prepare for a trip to Ubud, Bali

 Being well informed is the golden rule before traversing through a brand new destination that you’ve always wanted to be at. Looking at the basics such as timing, how to manage your finances, accommodation, transport and getting to the most famed areas of interest are but a few of the common elements that would require addressing. Thus, even in the case of Ubud, Bali it is no different and provided below is how prospective travellers should organize themselves.

Michelle Maria, Temple in Downtown Ubud Indonesia Bali - panoramio, CC BY 3.0

Read up online and speak to those around you

Given the plethora of travel information available online, you will not be too far away from stumbling upon the fundamentals of travelling to or holidaying in Ubud, Bali. For starters, the region is well known for its terraced rice fields that scatter local villages, Hindu temples that are the heart and soul of the cultural allure that envelopes the area coupled by a warm and friendly folk who will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all foreign nationals are made to feel right at home with them. Accessing travel magazines at your local bookstore will be a good way to come to terms with the offerings that a destination such as Ubud has in store. Making queries from your trusty travel agent on how best to schedule a travel itinerary and even speaking to family, friends and colleagues who have been to Ubud will surely have you drenched in all the helpful information you require.

The benefits of using an ATM machine

The information you come into contact with will more or less advise you on the ways and means by which you should access one’s money while in Ubud. The best way to go about this would be to always look for an ATM attached to a bank branch itself and not settle for anything else as this would reduce the risk of you being at the receiving end of any racket conducted via a card-skimming device. Further, choosing to operate from a bank branch’s ATM will afford you an opportunity to make withdrawals while having access to higher daily limits.

Moving through Ubud

For example, look to ways and means such as the ride sharing app popularly known as ‘Grab’ to make for hassle-free and delightful transportation to destinations of one’s choosing. These cars are excellent and the drivers come across as extremely knowledgeable on all the top-notch places of appeal within Ubud and that of Bali as a whole. Thus, these will be worthy investments both in the short as well as the long-run owing to the information and tips that will be directed your way in the event you choose to engage in conversations. As an alternative, private taxi hires can also be considered but be sure that you do your best to negotiate a decent deal beneficial to you and your driver as the last thing you need is to burn holes in your pockets. If thinking of staying at Anantara Ubud Bali Villas which provides ease of residing within Bali residences, then be sure to check with the concierge on what modes of transportation you need to consider.

Eating out

Ubud is never short of eateries that take on varying shapes and sizes, each with its own tempting menu filled with cravings that will make you come back for seconds no sooner than you are done with your first serving. European-style restaurants, vegetarian cafes, and juice shops scatter these pleasing environs with the more traditional ‘Warungs’ or ‘Padang Rumah Makan’ serving up authentic meals, cooked with love. Fare such as local tempeh and nasi campur which is mixed vegetables served on rice can be easily had at Warung Biah Biah while for ‘babi guling’ or roast pig which is a local favourite, do make a beeline towards Warung Ibu Oka.

Dress appropriately before visiting temples

Tourist attractions such as the Ubud Money Forest, the Elephant Cave Temple and the Pura Gunung Kawi are shrines that date back centuries; the latter goes back as far as 11h century. Thus, these hallowed shrines ought to be respected whenever one enters its grounds. The act of exploring temples must be done so while being appropriately attired and therefore, being seen in shorts or any other form of revealing clothing will surely warrant criticism from the locals which must be avoided. Using a sarong will be a good way to cover up and even bringing a shawl that can be draped around your shoulders will project you as being a traveller who respects the values and traditions of Ubud.