Airfare to Bali, Indonesia
Bali is an island in Indonesia, and not actually a city in and of itself. Popular areas to visit include the arts center, Ubud, the developed surfing areas of Kuta and Legian, and relaxing in Seminyak. The beaches are legendary, as are the plentiful cultural events and fantastic food. For more on Bali, read Nick’s extensive guide to Bali, BaliBlog.
Airfare to Bali will be the cheapest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday. Mondays are popular with business travellers and weekends are key dates for holidaymakers wanting the longest trips possible – avoid these dates.
Also consider flights into Jakarta. To get between the cities, you can grab a spot on a train, bus or flight. Look for cheap flights on no frills airlines. AirAsia, Valuair, Citilink, Lion Air and Indonesia AirAsia fly to Bali. Although it will take longer to reach your destination, a bus or train could save you enough cash to make it worth your while.
Another possible money-saving tip is to look for flights that go through Bangkok, Thailand; Delhi, India; or another major gateway city instead of flying direct. Because there are more flights – and competition – from these cities on low budget airlines, you can save some cash over flying non-stop to your destination. It is very common to layover in one of these main cities.
Finally, consider traveling on a lesser-known carrier. Garuda Indonesia is the national airline. However, Qantas, Royal Brunei, Cathay Pacific and other airlines also stop in Bali.
The most expensive air tickets to Bali are found during peak holiday travel times, such as the New Year. Also be aware of national events or festivals, which can also cause ticket prices to rise.
Summary of Money Saving Tips:
- Fly mid-week
- Book your holiday during the off-peak season
- Consider flying into Jakarta and traveling overland to Bali via train, bus, or inexpensive ticket
- Look for flights that go through large cities, with many flights
- Check out carriers besides the national airline – they may undercut the monopolistic competition
For more information on Bali, check out BootsnAll’s Bali Travel Guide.