Unfortunately my flight to Bali was cancelled by the airline the night before I was to depart, and I couldn’t get on another flight until 3 days later. This put me out of pocket for the accommodation that I had booked, totalling around $1,500 for those 3 nights. After I arrived back from my trip, I lodged a claim with Allianz who reimbursed me for those prepaid expenses (less a $300 excess). The claims process was super straightforward. I filled out an online form, uploaded my documentation like tax invoices and the cancellation email. Within 4 days, Allianz had approved my claim and I received the funds a week later. It was the best outcome from a bad situation.
It can cover medical expenses caused by injuries and accidents, unless it's from an excluded activity.
It can pay for transport to hospital by helicopter or ambulance, as well as medical evacuations back to Australia.
If you're renting a car in Bali, make sure you have car rental excess cover.
Pickpocketing can occur in Bali. Travel insurance can cover you for lost or stolen valuables. This could include rings, necklaces, phones and watches.
Bali is home to active volcanoes. Travel insurance can cover travel disruptions caused by natural disasters.
Terrorism is a risk in Bali. A few insurers provide cover for medical and hospital expenses caused by an act of terrorism, including the cost of bringing you back home.
Looking for the best travel insurance for Bali? Check out our award winners in 2023
This survey was conducted by Dynata, where 95% of respondents said they would recommend Tick to a friend, and it scored the highest in the 'value for money' category.
Want the bells and whistles?
Southern Cross Travel Insurance has taken the top position in the 'Travel insurance - Comprehensive' category for the 2023 Finder Awards. Why? It's got to do with its wide COVID-19 coverage and how it handles cancellations due to unexpected events.
Adding to that, its average pricing was pretty affordable compared to other brands who offer less coverage for a higher price.
Show me the money!
Fast Cover is the winner of the 2023 Finder Awards for the 'Travel insurance - Value' category. How? We compared the average prices of 28 international travel insurance policies, and Fast Cover came out on top.
But what does 'value' mean? It means we looked at more than just price. Fast Cover doesn't include everything on its policies, but it offers good value.
The best for your backyard
InsureandGo has taken the top place for the 'Travel insurance - Domestic' category in the 2023 Finder Awards.
Why? We analysed 23 domestic policies and found that InsureandGo were generous with their benefit limits for things like cancellation and rental car excess insurance.
This one's for the seniors
Southern Cross Travel Insurance is the winner of the 'Travel insurance - Seniors' category in the 2023 Finder Awards. Why? It has higher age limits and generous benefits.
We also appreciated SCTI's easy-to-read product disclosure statement. This means that customers can easily understand their policies, and travel with confidence.
Insurance Innovation Finalist
Fast Cover Travel Insurance's COVID-19 Benefits & Refund Policy earned it a place among the finalists in the Insurance Innovation category of this year's Finder Innovation Awards.
It goes further than many other insurers, covering COVID medical expenses and evacuation, up to $5,000 for COVID-related cancellations and additional expenses.
Every travel insurance policy has things you won't be covered for. Common exclusions include:
If you purchase cover after the incident has occurred. For example, if you take cover out after you've been injured and need medical attention.
Pre-existing medical conditions. If you have any major medical conditions, make sure you let your insurer know before taking out a policy. Otherwise you won't be covered for claims related to that condition.
You travel despite government travel advice. For example, if you travel to areas that have a warning from Smartraveller, such as the provinces of Papua (Papua), Papua Highlands (Papua Pegunungan), Central Papua (Papua Tengah) and South Papua (Papua Selatan), travel insurance may not cover you.
Incidents that occur while you're under the influence of drugs or alcohol. For example, if you go out drinking in Seminyak, get injured and need medical attention, travel insurance won't cover you.
Driving vehicles without a licence. Like Australia, you won't be covered for medical costs or personal liability expenses if you drive without a licence in Bali.
What add-ons should I look for?
If you have plans to zoom around Bali on a scooter or motorbike, make sure to have the right license, and the right policy.
Bali is a surfers' paradise. Protect yourself from accidents while on your board, and from whatever is underneath your board.
Taking a dive into deeper waters? Some policies can cover you if you're diving between 10-30m below the surface, but you'll need extra cover if you're going deeper.
Did you know?
Natural disasters such as flooding, bushfires, earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides can occur in Bali.
Will I be covered for COVID-19?
Travel insurance can cover you for COVID-19 in Bali. A policy can cover you for the following:
Rearrangement costs if you catch the virus and need to change your plans. Lots of comprehensive travel insurance policies let you claim up to $5,000 towards these expenses.
Medical costs due to COVID-19. This can include hospital expenses and RATs if you catch COVID-19 while overseas (but you won't be covered for mandatory PCRs).
Expenses if you need to isolate. For example, if you catch COVID while you're overseas and need to push back your flight and stay in your accommodation longer.
How do I get cheap travel insurance for Bali?
Medical only or basic policies will generally be the cheaper policies on the market.
Use exclusive deals or promo codes to get a discount.
Opt for a higher excess. This will make your policy cheaper but more expensive if you have to claim.
Compare across a handful of travel insurers – they're not all the same.
Get the most value by buying your policy early. It means you're covered for longer while paying the same price.
When I travel, I don't want to fork out a lot for travel insurance. I always get something above the bare minimum though which usually only covers medical-only expenses. Flight disruptions and delayed luggage are really common, so look for a cheap policy that covers me for these things.
For emergencies: call 112 (police), 112 (ambulance) or 112 (fire).
In a medical emergency, call for help and then contact your insurer on their emergency assistance line.
Civil unrest, security risks, threat of terrorist attack and crime are a concern in Bali, but you should still be eligible for travel insurance. It won't cover all of these situations but it can help cover medical costs, stolen belongings and much much more.
Angus Kidman is the international editor-at-large at Finder. He's an award-winning journalist, avid travel enthusiast and passionate frequent flyer. Angus appears regularly on Sunrise, Today, The Project, Seven News and other TV and radio shows to share his expert tips.
Angus's top Bali travel insurance tips
Planning to surf in Bali? Check that your policy covers both injuries and damage to your board - many don't.
Take out insurance as soon as you book your trip - that maximises the value of your cover.
Bintang beware: travel insurance likely won't cover your for inuries that occur while you're drunk.
Why you can trust Finder's travel insurance experts
You pay nothing. Finder is free to use. And you pay the same as going direct. No markups, no hidden fees.
You save time. We spend 100s of hours researching travel insurance so you can sort the gold from the junk faster.
You can trust us. We say it like it is. We aren't owned by an insurer and our opinions are our own.
FAQs about Bali
If you're adventurous with street food or forget to avoid drinking drink tap water, you run the risk of getting "Bali belly": make sure you have emergency medical expenses in your travel insurance plan.
Water in Bali isn't safe to drink unless it's boiled so it's worth following these tips when you travel:
Only consume tap water if it's been boiled – for example, drinking tea or coffee.
Don't brush your teeth with the tap water.
Ask for no ice in your drinks, just in case it's not been made with boiled water.
A drink to avoid in Bali is arak, a distilled rice spirit that can be deadly if you drink from a bad batch. Arak has killed travellers in the past so if you're planning on drinking alcohol in Bali, stick to commercially produced drinks.
Before travelling to Bali all travellers should make sure routine vaccinations are up to date and speak to a doctor about other travel vaccinations.
Smartraveller.gov.au and a doctor can advise the risks of any other diseases/viruses, which can include:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Rabies
Tetanus
Influenza
Japanese encephalitis
Measles
Malaria
Zika
Dengue fever
While protection from malaria doesn't require a vaccination and the disease isn't prominent in Bali, some mosquitoes may still carry malaria. Nearby islands do have a higher risk of malaria, so if you're travelling beyond Bali you should take precautions.
Speak to a doctor at least eight weeks before your departure to find out what vaccines you will need, and always protect yourself from mosquitoes.
Remember, if you do not get the recommended vaccines and fall ill while abroad your travel insurance may not cover you, which could leave you with high medical bills.
The cheapest policy will usually only cover you for medical expenses. However, flight disruptions and petty crime are fairly common in Bali so it may be worth getting comprehensive travel insurance. This can cover you for medical expenses, trip rearrangement costs, theft, luggage delay and more.
The Australian government's smartraveller site recommends that you take out cover when travelling to Bali. If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Lots of travel insurers cover COVID-related expenses now. You can find a full table of the policies that cover COVID expenses on our homepage.
The Australian government smartraveller website says to exercise a high degree of caution in Bali. You should still be able to get travel insurance for Bali but make sure you do some research before you travel. There may be certain areas of the country that are not safe.
Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 725 Finder guides across topics including:
James Martin was the insurance editor at Finder. He has written on a range of insurance and finance topics for over 7 years. James often shares his insurance expertise as a media spokesperson and has appeared on Prime 7 News, WIN News, Insurance News, 7NEWS and The Guardian. He holds a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, both of which meet the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
James's expertise
James has written 255 Finder guides across topics including:
Compare Travel Insurance Direct policies online to save time and money. Travel Insurance Direct offers various policies including Annual multi-trip, The Works, The Basics and Domestic travel.
If time is valuable to you, Travel Insuranz may be suitable for you. With its fast online processing process, Travel Insurance provides easy access to protecting yourself for travel. Read its policy online.
Domestic travel insurance can provide cover for trip cancellation (domestic flights), loss or damage to luggage and expensive items, car rental excess charges and much more. Find out why domestic travel insurance is worth getting and compare policies from Australian insurers.
I am a 74 year old Pensioner, who spends nearly 6 months of the year in Bali. I have mild Oestesporosis and mild Enphysemia and just need the basic insurance to get me back to Australia if anything were to happen to me in Bali. How much would I be approximately? Would it be cheaper t purchase per the 60 day holiday or to purchase for a year?
Finder
JamesSeptember 23, 2021Finder
Hi Richard,
Based on your situation, a seniors travel insurance might be a good option to consider. It offers benefits such as cover for pre-existing medical conditions and accidents overseas.
When you’re ready, you can get a quote from the providers listed in the guide. Click the green ‘Get Quote’ button to get started.
Before applying, always read a policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) so that you’re aware of what you’re covered for, along with and exclusions or restrictions.
I hope this helps,
Regards,
James
angFebruary 16, 2016
Hi
With the volcano issues in Bali, what would be the best cover to get in relation to missed flights, missed work, more accommodation? Assuming you are in Bali when it happens?
Thanks
Finder
RichardFebruary 17, 2016Finder
Hi Ang,
Thanks for your question. It is always advisable to get cover before you leave. As there is no current eruption, there are no moratoriums on the cover.
There is no best cover, as cover needs vary from person to person. To compare your travel insurance options from the brands in our panel, enter your travel details into the form. Once you have done so, you will be able to view the various brands on offer, their cost and levels of cover.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
GabriellaAugust 9, 2015
Does being licenced to ride a motorcycle include L’s?
Finder
RichardAugust 10, 2015Finder
Hi Gabriella,
Thanks for your question. Generally it means you have to have an unrestricted licence.
I hope this helps,
Richard
GeoffMay 7, 2015
My wife and daughter are travelling to Bali in June for 9days, obviously they need travel insurance but they would also like cover for riding scooters are you able to give me a quote
Finder
RichardMay 8, 2015Finder
Hi Geoff,
Thanks for your question.
If you would like to review how the insurers in our panel treat motorcycle use while traveling, please have a look at motorcycle travel insurance. Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
JudyMarch 14, 2015
I have travel insurance with Priceline and was wondering if I am covered if the government puts out a travel warning for Bali where I am travelling to.
Finder
RichardMarch 19, 2015Finder
Hi Judy,
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, finder.com.au is a comparison service. I contacted Priceline and who said at this point in time, they do not have any specific instructions for people travelling to Bali. If you are after specific information in regards to travel warnings, please refer to the General Exclusion section in the PDS. I would be worth pointing out that travel warnings do change, so keep an eye on this be taking advantage of services such as Smartraveller.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
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You pay nothing. Finder is free to use. And you pay the same as going direct. No markups, no hidden fees.
You save time. We spend 100s of hours researching travel insurance so you can sort the gold from the junk faster.
You can trust us. We say it like it is. We aren't owned by an insurer and our opinions are our own.
I am a 74 year old Pensioner, who spends nearly 6 months of the year in Bali. I have mild Oestesporosis and mild Enphysemia and just need the basic insurance to get me back to Australia if anything were to happen to me in Bali. How much would I be approximately? Would it be cheaper t purchase per the 60 day holiday or to purchase for a year?
Hi Richard,
Based on your situation, a seniors travel insurance might be a good option to consider. It offers benefits such as cover for pre-existing medical conditions and accidents overseas.
The exact cover and premium you’ll pay will vary between providers. Read our guide on Seniors Travel Insurance (https://www.finder.com.au/travel-insurance/seniors-travel-insurance) for more information.
When you’re ready, you can get a quote from the providers listed in the guide. Click the green ‘Get Quote’ button to get started.
Before applying, always read a policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) so that you’re aware of what you’re covered for, along with and exclusions or restrictions.
I hope this helps,
Regards,
James
Hi
With the volcano issues in Bali, what would be the best cover to get in relation to missed flights, missed work, more accommodation? Assuming you are in Bali when it happens?
Thanks
Hi Ang,
Thanks for your question. It is always advisable to get cover before you leave. As there is no current eruption, there are no moratoriums on the cover.
There is no best cover, as cover needs vary from person to person. To compare your travel insurance options from the brands in our panel, enter your travel details into the form. Once you have done so, you will be able to view the various brands on offer, their cost and levels of cover.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
Does being licenced to ride a motorcycle include L’s?
Hi Gabriella,
Thanks for your question. Generally it means you have to have an unrestricted licence.
I hope this helps,
Richard
My wife and daughter are travelling to Bali in June for 9days, obviously they need travel insurance but they would also like cover for riding scooters are you able to give me a quote
Hi Geoff,
Thanks for your question.
If you would like to review how the insurers in our panel treat motorcycle use while traveling, please have a look at motorcycle travel insurance. Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
I have travel insurance with Priceline and was wondering if I am covered if the government puts out a travel warning for Bali where I am travelling to.
Hi Judy,
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, finder.com.au is a comparison service. I contacted Priceline and who said at this point in time, they do not have any specific instructions for people travelling to Bali. If you are after specific information in regards to travel warnings, please refer to the General Exclusion section in the PDS. I would be worth pointing out that travel warnings do change, so keep an eye on this be taking advantage of services such as Smartraveller.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard