Travel Vaccinations for Bali

Animal Bites expose you to a range of infections including Rabies. Street dogs, cats, bats and rodents are common throughout the cities and rural areas of Bali. If you get bitten or scratched you will need to get urgent medical attention.

Insect bites expose travellers to many diseases in Bali including Dengue Fever, Malaria and Japanese Encephalitis. While citronella candles and other natural repellents are lovely to smell, they aren’t always as effective as something more heavy duty, like DEET 50%. Lonely Planet has some excellent tips to help keep you bite-free and enjoying the beaches.

After a day of snorkelling and tanning, you can look forward to being dazzled by Balinese cuisine, like Babi Guling, roast suckling pig marinated for hours in spices, or try one of these top 10 traditional Balinese dishes. Try lunching at a local warung, which is like a café, where such dishes as sweet and sour pork, or curried chicken, and salad with spicy peanut dressing, are all displayed behind a glass screen.

Scattered about Denpasar you will find roadside carts, called Kaki Lima that sell all sorts of snacks including fried chicken, duck egg omelettes and pancakes filled with palm sugar. But, take care since many of these have low hygiene standards and, at times, use unwashed plates.

Avoid eating uncooked vegetables and food that has been cooking for a long time, especially rice. Coconut milk, and fresh juices made with lime and watermelon are good ways to quench your thirst, and if it’s a cold beer you want, Bintang is the local brew. Bali produces some of its own wine, under the name Wine of the Gods, and imports Australian grape juice which is fermented to produce Two Islands wine.

It is best to ensure that your holiday in beautiful Bali is not ruined by tummy upset, or worse. Stay healthy and drink bottled mineral water which can be found anywhere you go. Your jabs for Bali should possibly include typhoid – check with a medical professional to see if this is advisable for your trip. Remember to drink often and whether it be water or fruit juices, replenish fluids throughout the day.

Protect yourself, and your family, with comprehensive travel health insurance which will cover your intended itinerary and any potentially risky activities, such as surfing or diving. Be sure to double check the contract, depending on the insurer. Sometimes activities such as riding on a scooter aren’t included.

Avoid travellers diarrhoea by using alcohol gel, wash your hands regularly and monitor what you are putting in your mouth. We have several travel packs that can reduce your symptoms of travelers diarrhoea. 

Aside from observing the normal precautions, visitors are very safe in Bali. When on tour, and especially in urban areas, protect yourself against insect bites by using insecticide and wearing long sleeves and long trousers to cover exposed skin, since Malaria and Dengue fever are a concern in Bali.

Should you require health care in Bali, you can choose from any one of the 6 hospitals in Denpasar, with Sanglah hospital being the main public facility. There are excellent clinics across Bali, with advanced facilities and procedures, but it is important that you arrange in advance to have enough money with you to pay for any health care you might need, since cash payment is often required. Many of these facilities honour foreign travel insurance policies, so do check with the clinic beforehand.