Is Bali Really Open ?

[Mr Bill]

Bali is now supposedly open again for tourists.......really? For the doubled vaxed, compulsory quarantine has been reduced to 5 days/4 nights at selected "Warm Up Vacation" hotels. At last check there were only 5 hotels spread between Nusa Dua, Ubud and Jimbaran. I did a quick online check of the hotels for a single traveler and for a family of 2 adults with 2 teenage children. The dates selected were 2-6 April. Without getting into specifics, the cost for a single package was from AUD$ 840 to $2820 while the family checked in from $ 2600 to 4335. The packages generally included oneway hotel transfer, meals, PCR tests plus some other add-on. Obviously the hotels are 5 star plus.
I'm wondering, under the current regulations, how many families will be heading off to Bali with the additional accommodation expense of say $2600 and a departure PCR test at arounf $ 150-175 per test?...........OH !!!.....and as Visa on arrival has been suspended, there is now a requirement to obtain a B211A visa in advance at from $ 300 a pop !!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well… Bali did say it was looking to get a higher-value tourist!

JQ is doing its best with the budget market, $250 return or thereabouts from MEL and SYD. Guess the hotel list will be expanded with cheaper options if Bali needs the money/tourists.

The Grand Mirage was offering 5 nights for $1495, including return airport transfers, all meals, $30 spa credit, etc. I thought that was reasonable value. The price of the visa and stuff I hadn’t thought of.

 

[Virgin Bart]

I was excited until the annoucement. To me the answer is a big fat no, still closed to casual travellers.

 

[jakeseven7]

Until pre-flight testing is disappeared everything is going to be muted because the economies won't be there.

Hopefully this happens soon, the opening of the borders to all international tourists was a good first step.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Until pre-flight testing is disappeared everything is going to be muted because the economies won't be there.

Hopefully this happens soon, the opening of the borders to all international tourists was a good first step.

Pre-flight testing yes, but I also think on arrival quarantine of longer than 72 hours would exclude me from travelling somewhere.

 

[Mr Bill]

Pre-flight testing yes, but I also think on arrival quarantine of longer than 72 hours would exclude me from travelling somewhere.

Slightly off topic........ but Thailand had an acceptable policy for a milli second..... arrive pretested...... into an approved hotel for 1 night awaiting on arrival test... then go!! Thailand being Thailand had to up the ante. Now after initial arrival test and hotel stay, you are still free to go on a negative result. HOWEVER...... on the fifth day of your stay, you are now required to check into another "quarantine" hotel overnight while awaiting the results of another PCR test

 

[jakeseven7]

Slightly off topic........ but Thailand had an acceptable policy for a milli second..... arrive pretested...... into an approved hotel for 1 night awaiting on arrival test... then go!! Thailand being Thailand had to up the ante. Now after initial arrival test and hotel stay, you are still free to go on a negative result. HOWEVER...... on the fifth day of your stay, you are now required to check into another "quarantine" hotel overnight while awaiting the results of another PCR test

Yea hard pass

 

[Virgin Bart]

Slightly off topic........ but Thailand had an acceptable policy for a milli second..... arrive pretested...... into an approved hotel for 1 night awaiting on arrival test... then go!! Thailand being Thailand had to up the ante. Now after initial arrival test and hotel stay, you are still free to go on a negative result. HOWEVER...... on the fifth day of your stay, you are now required to check into another "quarantine" hotel overnight while awaiting the results of another PCR test

That's actually so stupid it's funny.

 

[Tiki]

B211A visa in advance at from $ 300 a pop

This alone is a dealbreaker, I really want to go to northern Sulawesi and Halmahera but not willing to do 5 days quarantine either. If they want tourists, this is not the way to go about it.

 

[N860CR]

Based on the horror stories from Fiji, this would be a hard pass from me. If the Fijians are pulling the dodgy, imagine what the Indos have up their sleeves!

Stick with Europe or maybe an African island until this testing non-sense is gone.

 

[Bundy Bear]

If you were traveling to see family or close friends then definitely worth going, but I am not sure if international travel is all that appealing, things can change quickly so unless you have contacts on the ground where you are visiting then I wouldn't be traveling.

 

[clifford]

maybe an African island

Such as?

 

[N860CR]

Such as?

Off the top of my head, Seychelles, Madagascar & Tanzania don’t require any on arrival testing nor quarantine. I’m sure you can look it up, if interested.

 

[Scarlett]

You could also add to the fact that the Omicron wave is really just starting in Indonesia this month, so there have already been some additional government restrictions imposed.

Java and Bali islands are back to level 3 (of 4) movements restrictions from the national govt and many provincial governments are also adding their own restrictions. Now is not the time to be returning to travel in Indonesia.

(although on the upside, my regular PCR tests for ~$27.50 are being amended to only needing supervised RATs at $10. This is at an Indonesian pharmac_ chain. Train travellers (intercity rather than commuter) have to have a pcr within 3 days or RAT within 24 hrs and those RATs only cost ~$3.50 at the station with a confirmed rail booking)

 

[Quickstatus]

For maximum protection on flights to/from DPS, I recommend full PPE especially on JQ

 

[AFF Editor]

Jetstar will resume flights from Melbourne to Denpasar today.

Jetstar Resumes Flights to Bali

The first Jetstar flight from Melbourne to Bali in almost two years will take off this morning, taking almost 300 Australians to the Indonesian holiday

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

The "warm up vacation" quarantine period seems to be gone now, but there are still various requirements including multiple COVID-19 tests and a booking at an approved hotel for at least the first 4 nights in Bali.

 

[Pushka]

For maximum protection on flights to/from DPS, I recommend full PPE especially on JQ

View attachment 272409

And this was pre Covid times!

 

[AIRwin]

Jetstar will resume flights from Melbourne to Denpasar today.

Looks like a new flight number?

 

[Quickstatus]

And this was pre Covid times!

Yes

But people!!!!!-----
The point of the photo was to caricature the ridiculousness of much that went on during the pandemic AND to see if anyone was eagle eyed to spot the incongruity?
Can anyone spot the incongruity?
So far only one AFF member has been able to spot it.

(Hint: it is not the other passenger in the photo)

 

[jboy90]

Yes

But people!!!!!-----
The point of the photo was to caricature the ridiculousness of much that went on during the pandemic AND to see if anyone was eagle eyed to spot the incongruity?
Can anyone spot the incongruity?
So far only one AFF member has been able to spot it.

(Hint: it is not the other passenger in the photo)

No seat back entertainment, but have the controller for it?