6 Tips For Visiting Canggu
My recent trip to Bali might just be my favourite ever. I’m a sworn city girl but after a week in Canggu the idea of a city “break” does not sound like one, this might be the only holiday I’ve come back from and not felt more exhausted than before I left.
Here’s a little guide to Canggu and Bali which I might have found useful before heading off. I did very little prior research beforehand, partly because I’m chill now and trust that I’ll have fun regardless and also because Hannah’s sisters live in Bali and we happened to time our trip with hers.
How to say it
1. It’s pronounced “Chan-gu” not “Can-gu”. A freebie for you.
Money money money
2. Sort out your money before arriving. I usually scrabble around for an airport ATM to get my holiday cash or just pay on my card in places like NYC and HK but took GBP300 in Indonesian Rupiah (which was all I could get hold of in Dubai) and USD400 to change up. £100 is IDR1.8 million – enjoy your millionaire status!
There are ATMs in Canggu, and money exchanges everywhere, of varying “official”-ness. I used my credit card a few times, no issues. How much you spend will depend on your Bali lifestyle – we spent around £700 for a couple in a week which included all our meals, drinks and a few day trips. Bali is very affordable compared with Dubai and you could definitely spend less than this and still have an amazing week.
Bugs and other delights
3. Take mosquito repellant. I’m a bit sceptical as to whether any of this stuff really works but I liberally sprayed myself every evening and only got a couple of bites. The mosquito nets around the beds in Bali have the double benefit of looking quite dreamy and romantic. You can also buy repellent in supermarkets and pharmacies which have everything you need so don’t worry about taking the kitchen sink with you. Bali isn’t in a malaria zone and you don’t need any vaccinations but obviously check with your doctor and don’t take advice from an internet stranger.
What to (and what not to) pack
4. Packing: Bali is super chilled – leave heels, make-up, designer handbags etc. at home. No one cares about status and you’ll look ridiculous. I mostly wore beach dresses with bikinis underneath, Birkenstocks, sunglasses and a straw hat because I’m averse to tanning. My skin enjoyed the break from make-up and I could have packed a third less than my 8kg suitcase and been fine. We optimistically packed running gear – my trainers stayed in my suitcase. Bali is hot and humid and air-conditioning isn’t really a thing so be prepared to get hot and sweaty and to not really care about it. Suncream is your friend, reapply often.
Getting around
5. Getting around Canggu can seem channelling at first, our airbnb was 2km from the beach which doesn’t sound far but when there are no pavements and scooters speeding along the road and its a little hot it’s not exactly a relaxing walk. Uber, Grab and Gojek are banned in Canggu but you can use Blue Bird taxis (download the app) and there are local taxis in town which would run us back to our airbnb at night for around £3.
Everyone will tell you that you “have” to hire a scooter – you really don’t if you’re not keen. I have no sense of direction and a poor concentration span so knew that scootering wasn’t for me and we got by fine without one. If you do hire one, please be careful.