Travel To Bali Island from U.S.

Known as the "happy island," Bali is an Indonesian island just 2 km off of the island of Java. The island is abundant with flowers, lush vegetation and smiling faces more than willing to welcome you to your temporary home. And since Bali is relatively inexpensive, traveling within the island is not likely to overtax your pocketbook; the most expensive part will most likely be the flight that gets you there.

Step 1

Get a U.S. passport, or if you already have one, check your passport's expiration date. According to the U.S. Department of State, travelers will not be admitted into Indonesia without six months' validity left on their passport. Additionally, you will need two empty pages in your passport to enter Bali. If your passport is set to expire in six months or less, you have less than two pages left in your passport, or don't have a passport at all, visit the Department of State's "Passports" website to get your passport in order.

Step 2

Book your travel. If you plan to fly into Bali, a number of airlines provide the transportation directly to the island via Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, including Continental Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Air Asia. If you book your flight through an online booking agent, type in the airport code "DPS" to book your flight to Bali. You also can get to Bali via ferry from Java, the main island of Indonesia. Ferries leave from Ketapang in Java several times a day and take you across the Lombok Strait to the western end of Bali. Typically, there is no need to reserve ahead of time -- just show up at the ferry dock and pay for the next crossing.

Step 3

Book your accommodations. From the exquisite mountainside accommodations at the Taman Wana Villas and Spa near the West Bali National Park to the affordable and accessible digs at the Stana Puri Gopa Hotel near the capital city of Denpasar, Bali offers a wide array of choices for hotels, guest houses and vacation homes. To narrow your search and save some money, consider bundling your travel and booking the rooms offered through the online agent you used for your flight, or browse the options provided by the "In Bali Hotels" website.

Step 4

Pack for warm weather and the occasional rainstorm. Bali's temperatures vary from the high 60s to the 90s F, so no cold weather gear is needed. If you're traveling between December and March, expect rainstorms, as this is the island's monsoon season.

Step 5

Complete your visa documents. According to the U.S. Department of State, travelers from the United States who are coming to Bali for pleasure can get a visa on arrival into Indonesia -- whether it be Bali or other islands. You will need to fill out a form at the borderand pay a $25 fee, and customs officials should issue you a 30-day visa on the spot.