Kuta Warnings Or Dangers

Occasional crackdowns mean that it is rare to find any food or souvenir carts in the Kuta tourist area but street selling is common, especially on hassle street, Jl Legion. The beach is not unbearable, although the upper part features souvenir sellers and licensed massage ladies. Closer to the water, you can sunbake on the sand in peace - you'll soon find where the invisible line is. Most annoying are the touts pelting you with cries of 'Transport?'

The surf can be very dangerous, with a strong current on some tides, especially up north in Legion. Lifeguards patrol swimming areas of the beaches at Kuta and Legion, indicated by red and yellow flags. If they say the water is too rough or unsafe to swim in, they mean it.

This is not a big problem but visitors do lose things from unlocked hotel rooms or from the beach. Going into the water and leaving valuables on the beach is simply asking for trouble (in any country). Snatch thefts are rare. Valuable items can be left at your hotel reception.

Please please please lock your suitcases / duffle bags. It doesn't matter how small your bag is, lock it if you're going to check it in. They will open your bags and search through them if you don't lock them! The airport attendants will even try to chalk mark your suitcase. If they see a chalk mark, they'll tell you to open your suitcase at custom in the airport. It's another way for them to get money from you. Either way, it is best to lock your suitcases so they don't steal anything from you!

Yes, you can get better exchange rates from the small shops money changers but beware - many tourists have had their money changed and yet when they recount their monies after leaving the shop, they somehow find they have been shortchanged. We encountered this when some of our travelmates went to one of the small shops in Kuta to change other foreign currencies into Indonesian rupees. When they got back to the van, they recounted the cash and guess what ??? - they were short by at least 200,000Rp. They swore that they have counted the monies before leaving the shop and yet when they reached the van, the money seemed to have "disappeared". Some believed that the money changers have some magical powers to "blind" or "trick" your eyes when the money is being passed from them to you.

Suggest that you change your monies in the bank which is not much of a difference to avoid being conned by the money changers

As the airport at Bali is just next to the sea, please do not swim or do any activities at the beach area around the airport as it is fenced up (see photo) and you may be arrested due to security reason. There are plenty of safer and nice beaches nearby and elsewhere in Bali.

As you know, the terrorist have already struck twice at Kuta with bombs so be extra careful when you are at crowded places, especially in shopping centres, restaurants and pubs. However, you should not avoid going to Kuta because of terrorism or else you would miss out on the friendly people, beautiful beaches, scenery and unique tradition of this place.

The various traditional monuments at Kuta can be very eerie at night, especially those mythical stone carvings with lights shining on them like the one shown on the photograph. Do take note if you are out at night.