Flights and timing

You will need to purchase your own air tickets.

There are a variety of carriers flying directly to Bali and a number of indirect routes too (for example via Singapore which takes longer but is maybe more comfortable).

It really does pay to shop around, as there is a huge difference in the prices that are being offered at the moment.  However be careful if you choose a low-cost carrier, as some airlines have a reputation for cancelling flights and leaving passengers in the lurch.

It takes about six hours to fly from Sydney to Denpasar which is the capital of Bali. Typically, direct flights to Bali depart Sydney in the afternoon or early evening.  Return flights often depart around midnight, arriving in Sydney early morning .

You should plan to arrive on Sunday night as the retreat activities start Monday. If you get a late flight (the Virgin 5.45pm out of Sydney arrives at 10:30pm), you should expect to arrive at Amori quite late, but that will be fine as there will not be an early start on Monday (the time difference will be on your side). You might choose to come the day before (there will be an additional accommodation charge).

The retreat will finish at lunchtime on Friday. You may want to fly out that night (we can negotiate with Amori for you to keep your room until the evening), or you may wish to stay a day extra (at a cost). Alternatively, you may wish to extend your stay in Bali for a night or two and perhaps book accommodation near the coast. In any event, Amori will provide a driver to get you to your flight, or to your new accommodation.

At the time of the retreat, Bali time will be three hours behind Sydney time

On the trip from Sydney to Bali there is little point in paying for business class seats rather than economy, because there really is not very much advantage. On the way back (for the night flight) it is more pleasant to travel in business class if you can afford a seat because the economy class cabin can be quite crowded and noisy. But bear in mind that, at this stage, business class seats do not recline very much and there are no flat beds unless you fly Garuda or some Qantas flights.

Paperwork for travel to Indonesia

If you are travelling on an Australian passport, you will be able to get a “visa on arrival” once you arrive in Bali.  This costs US$35 and you can pay cash, Mastercard or Visa.

It's also a good idea to fill out your Indonesian customs declaration before you travel (you can do this on line, from about a week before you leave).

There are companies which offer a “fast track” arrival service, where they meet you at the gate and help get you through immigration and customs more quickly. This is quite expensive, and the Indonesian authorities have done a lot of work to make the airport more efficient, so is not recommended at this point.

Getting to and from Amori Villas

Amori Villas will send a driver to meet your flight. The trip from the airport is one to one-and-a half hours, depending on traffic.

After the retreat you can arrange for a transfer to the airport, or if you are staying on in Bali for a day or two, to your new accommodation.

Travel agent

Travel agents will usually help you book your flights at no extra cost to you.  This can be useful as they can see details of seat availability and so forth that are not available through the public airline booking systems. Also travel agents may be able to hold flights for a period of time before you need to pay which can be useful as you plan your trip. Travel agents are also useful for arranging the right travel insurance cover for your trip and assisting with visas and entry conditions.

I have used Paul Patane, who is an independent travel agent, for all of my overseas personal and business travel for almost 25 years.  If you want you can contact him on 61 417 439 202 or paul@pauljamestravel.com.au.  Mention my name; he is well aware of the upcoming retreats.