Is Bali nightlife safe? A practical night-out checklist

A night out in Bali goes well when the basics are planned before the first drink. Official travel advice from the UK and Canadian governments singles out the same few risks: road accidents (above all on scooters), drinks that have been tampered with or are counterfeit, and bag-snatching. Each has a simple answer, set out below. In an emergency, call 112.

What official travel advice warns about

Read the official pages before you travel; here is what they say about a night out.

• Roads. The UK Foreign Office reports "a large increase in moped and motorbike accidents – some fatal – in Bali". Canada's advice calls motorcycle and scooter accidents the main cause of death and serious injury among foreigners in many parts of Indonesia, Bali included.
• Drinks. The UK advice reports drink spiking in Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands, and methanol poisoning from drinks bought in licensed bars, shops and hotels in tourist areas.
• Theft. The same advice notes "often reports of bag-snatching in Bali", particularly in busy tourist areas.

None of this is a reason to stay in. It is a reason to organise the night.

Book the ride home before the first drink

The single best safety decision of the night is made before it starts: a car with a driver who brought you and will take you back. You know the vehicle and the person, and the question of how to get home never comes up at the end of the night, when judgement is at its weakest.

Official advice backs this up. The UK Foreign Office warns against drivers who try to pick up passengers on the street claiming to be registered with an app, and advises checking the driver's identity. Canada advises avoiding driving after dark outside major cities and major roads, because some drivers do not use lights. FirstBali arranges cars with a driver for the evening, there and back; the logic is laid out in the private driver guide.

Scooters and helmets after dark

If you ride a scooter in Bali, Indonesian traffic law requires both the rider and the passenger to wear a helmet that meets the national standard, and the UK advice is to wear one "in good condition". The same advice asks you to make sure you hold the appropriate licence before riding or hiring any vehicle, and to check that your travel insurance covers you; the details are in the Bali scooter licence guide.

After a night out, the answer is simpler: do not ride. Leave the scooter at the villa and take the car.

Your drink

The UK Foreign Office's advice for bars and clubs is direct:

• Watch your drinks being prepared, and do not leave them unattended.
• Do not accept drinks from strangers at clubs or parties.
• Know that drinks served in bars can be stronger than at home, usually because the measures of spirits are larger.

On methanol, the same advice is that even small amounts can kill and that it cannot be identified by taste or smell. Canada adds that counterfeits of well-known brands often contain it, and advises being wary of lesser-known or illegal brands and not buying alcohol from individuals. Drink at established venues, and if you or a friend feel unwell after drinking, call 112.

Water, sun and alcohol

The UK advice is plain: tap water is not safe to drink in Indonesia. Drink bottled or sealed water, and keep it coming through a long beach-club afternoon. The NHS's hot-weather advice is to drink extra fluids and avoid alcohol in the heat; on a day that runs from a daybed into the night, that means water between drinks and shade in the middle of the day.

Passport, ID and your bag

Both the UK and Canadian governments state that you must carry your passport or stay permit at all times; Canada adds that you can be detained and fined without the originals. Clubs ask for it too: Savaya, for one, requires a valid photo ID such as a passport or driving licence at the door, so a photocopy will not get you in. Carry the original securely, and keep a copy or a photo of it separately, so that you can act quickly if it goes missing.

For your bag, the UK advice is to conceal it as much as possible to reduce the risk of snatching. Take a small bag that closes, keep your phone in it, and leave what you do not need at the villa.

Insurance

The UK advice is to have travel insurance that covers local treatment and unexpected medical evacuation; Canada asks for cover that includes medical evacuation and hospital stays. Check that riding a scooter is covered before you ride.

In an emergency: 112

Call 112. FirstBali's concierge is not an emergency service: our assistant replies at any hour and the team picks up from the morning, but for anything urgent, 112 comes first. For everything else, from a car home to a change of plan, the concierge is there.

The checklist

1. Car home booked before you go out.
2. Passport on you, a copy kept separately.
3. Drinks watched, never accepted from strangers.
4. Bottled water between drinks; shade in the heat.
5. No riding after drinking; a proper helmet if you ride at all.
6. A small, closed bag.
7. 112 saved in your phone.

Read next: Bali nightlife for the first time, going out solo in Bali, getting around Bali and the age limit at Bali's clubs.