How to Stay in Thailand Visa-Free for 90 Days

If you’re Indonesian, you probably already know that Thailand is among the countries we can enter without a visa. But I only recently found out that not many people realise you can actually stay for a total of 90 days. You get 60 days visa-free when you first enter, and then you can apply for an extension at the local immigration office.

At first, I thought I needed a visa agent because I’d never done anything like this before and was scared of getting rejected. But when I went to the immigration office in Chiang Mai for the first time, they happily explained the steps. It was surprisingly easy – and you can absolutely do it yourself.

Check how many days you can stay in Thailand visa-free on Thai e-visa official website

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The first 60 days

After checking several trusted official websites, the rule (at the time I’m writing this) hasn’t changed. Indonesians can enter Thailand visa-free and stay for 60 days, despite the uncertain news you might have seen on social media. What shocked me was that during check-in at Soekarno–Hatta, when I showed my return ticket, the staff questioned my 60-day stay – even the immigration officer seemed unsure. But don’t worry. If you’re ever in doubt, you can check the official Thai e-visa official website and enter your nationality (if you’re not Indonesian) to confirm whether you can enter visa-free and how long you’re allowed to stay.

Fill in TDAC online before you fly

Arriving in Thailand

Don’t forget to fill in the TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) form before arriving in Thailand – you can do it a day before your trip to stay organised. In the form, you’ll be asked for your return flight details.

When you’re in the immigration line, you just need to scan the barcode sent to your email. As long as you haven’t been going in and out of Thailand a suspicious number of times in the past few months, you should be fine. I landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, and after scanning the QR code, they didn’t even ask me any questions.

You may also like this article: What It’s Like to Live in Bali: Cost, Culture, and Everyday Life

After your first 30 days

Depending on where you’re staying in Thailand, you can look up the nearest immigration office. I was based in Chiang Mai, and the immigration office there is conveniently located inside a shopping mall called Central Festival Chiang Mai.

After you’ve spent a month in the country, or basically before your 60 days run out, you can apply for a 30-day extension. Here’s what you’ll need:

Applying for your extension

It’s actually pretty straightforward once you have all your documents ready. You can show up during opening hours, but like most administrative offices, I’d suggest going early. I’m not sure about other cities, but in Chiang Mai they’re closed for lunch from 12–1pm. When I arrived, an officer checked our documents first. They’ll let you know if you’re missing anything or forgot to fill in a section. If everything’s in order, they’ll sign it off and give you a queue number.

After that, you just sit inside and wait for your number to be called. When it’s your turn, hand over the checked documents and pay the 1,900 Baht fee in cash. Then you wait another 15–30 minutes (depending on how busy it is). Your name will be called, they’ll take a quick photo of you, and hand back your passport with a new stamp giving you another 30 days to stay in this beautiful country.

In my personal experience, I wasn’t asked a single question, and the staff were actually pretty nice – you know how immigration offices can sometimes feel a bit intimidating? Anyway, that’s it. The whole process was done in one day, which was great and super efficient.

Final Thoughts

So yes, staying in Thailand visa-free for 90 days is completely doable for Indonesians and many other nationalities, and you don’t need an agent to make it happen. It might feel intimidating at first (especially with all the mixed information online), but once you understand the steps, it’s actually very manageable.

My biggest tips are to double-check official sources, prepare your documents properly, and go early to the immigration office. That’s really it. Hope you find this article useful and happy holiday!

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29 May 2026 by Bella in Info

Things to Do in Canggu: Where Every Plan Turns Into Three More

Things to do in Canggu Here we are on another article about Canggu, because things to explore in this little bubble are endless. I have written a few articles about Canggu restaurants alone, and then a guide for first-timers, and now, onto a deeper dive, things to do in Canggu. Or maybe more like, what do you actually do when you live here? The funny thing about Canggu life is how quickly you realise that people here are somehow always busy doing absolutely non-urgent things haha. One person is heading to pilates, another is rushing to Hyrox, another is getting ready for an ice bath, while someone else is already on their second iced latte discussing “creative burnout” at 10am. If you feel attacked, don’t worry, I’m one of these suspects too lol. Ok, so here’s the best that I can do to summarise the fun things to do in Canggu. Eat absolutely everything One of the best things to do in Canggu is simply eating your way through it. The food scene is insanely diverse. In one day you can have Indonesian warung meals, Australian brunch, Japanese ramen, Italian pasta, French pastries, Mexican tacos, aaaaand more, aaaaand somehow all within 10 minutes of each other. Dangerous for both your wallet and your self-control, I guess. You can read my articles about Canggu restaurants here: My Little Canggu Restaurant List - Part 1 My Little Canggu Restaurant List - Part 2 Breakfast Spots in Canggu Worth Waking Up Early For Vegan Cafes in Canggu: 5 Nice Spots for your Daily Greens Bali on a Budget: Cheap Eats in Canggu for Under 100K What else is there to do but eat? From left to right: Muda by Suka, Soogi Roll, Cure Welcome to Bali’s Capital of Wellness I wasn’t joking when I mentioned about people going to Hyrox because I feel like the wellness era never ends here. I’m interested to know how many regular gyms there are in Canggu alone, not to mention yoga and pilates studio, jiu jitsu and MMA gyms, padel courts, and other sports centre for other types of sports. Canggu is the it place for wellness activities whatever you like it or not, and so that’s why "wellness" sits at number two on this list. My go-to gyms and some recommendations: Woven Jiu Jitsu (Jiu Jitsu and mobility) Wellness Gym (Weightlifting, pool, sauna, and magnesium pool) Alpha Gym (Weightlifting and sauna) BYND Fitness Club (Weightlifting and lap pool) Undefeated Gym (Weightlifting, pool, sauna, steam room, and ice bath) Recovery but make it social Recovery culture in Canggu deserves its own category because people here recover harder than they party. Ice baths, steam rooms and saunas, sports massages, IV drips, breathwork - you name it. Recovery spaces have also become such a social thing here. Sometimes people don’t even go because they’re sore, they go because their friends are there, and afterwards everyone gets smoothies together. A very Canggu thing to do. My go to recovery spots: Amo Spa (Sauna, ice bath, steam room, jacuzzi, pool, hammam) The Block (Sauna, ice bath, jacuzzi, pool) Island Spots Club (Sauna, ice bath, jacuzzi, pool) Air Seseh (Sauna, ice bath, pool) Recovery, lift, recovery. From left to right: Bynd, Wellness, Air Seseh Catching (or Watching) Waves I don’t surf, and ironically I’m kind of just okay with beaches. But surfing is basically the unofficial daily ceremony of Canggu. People either head out super early in the morning or go for a sunset surf session in the afternoon. If you’ve never surfed before, don’t worry, there are plenty of surfing lessons around Canggu too. So you can absolutely live out your surfer life for a day if you want. Question, though…what do these surfers do for a living that they have all the time in the world to be at the beach every single day? Because I want that job. Beaches I go watch people surf: Berawa Beach Batu Bolong Beach Echo Beach Pererenan Beach Cafe hopping like it’s a full time job Ok this one, I do a lot. There are cafes absolutely everywhere, some are for working, some are for people-watching, some are for post-workout matcha, and some are clearly designed for someone to sit dramatically with a laptop answering emails. I would say, spending a slow morning cafe hopping is one of my favourite things to do in Canggu. Good coffee, good food, good weather, and nowhere particularly important to be. My regular coffee spots : 7AM Bakers Monsieur Spoon Fine by Satu Satu Two Face Coffee Baked Final Thoughts I feel like this is why so many people end up staying in Canggu longer than planned even though it's crazy busy. The lifestyle here has a way of pulling you in. Your day starts casually with coffee, and before you know it, you’ve somehow been out all day doing a bunch of other things, hehe. Hope you find this helpful and thank you for reading!

24 May 2026 by Bella in Info

Canggu Travel Guide: Surviving Bali's Busiest Neighbourhood

Canggu Travel Guide Canggu is only a tiny dot on the map of Bali, and yet more and more people seem drawn to that little dot more than anywhere else - sometimes forgetting there’s so much beauty on the other sides of the island too: rice fields, waterfalls, mountains, and the sea to dive into (literally). But I get the appeal. Canggu somehow has everything packed into one neighbourhood. If you don’t mind the always-busy streets, it’s the capital of fitness culture, surfing, food, food (yes, I mentioned food twice on purpose because there are just SO MANY good spots), recovery culture, remote work life, and… a traffic simulator too. Most people arrive in Canggu thinking it’ll just be a quick Bali stop. Then suddenly they’re extending their villa stay, signing up for Hyrox sessions they never planned to take, and debating which oat milk flat white is “the best in Berawa.” It happens fast. So if you’re looking for a proper Canggu travel guide, here’s the insider version. You may also like this article: What It’s Like to Live in Bali: Cost, Culture, and Everyday Life AREAS TO STAY Batu Bolong Crowd-o-metre: 9/10 Spoiler alert, it's probably the heart of Canggu chaos because this is pretty much the main strip that has everything. If someone says they’re “in Canggu,” there’s a high chance they mean Batu Bolong. Here, you’ll find: Busy cafés, warungs, and restaurants on basically every corner Convenience stores every few steps (you’ll never be far from iced tea or instant noodles) Medical centres and pharmacies for all your Bali emergencies Shops selling everything from surfwear and jewellery to random little knick-knacks Beach bars, breweries, live music spots, and sunset crowds All kinds of massage places, from 150K local spots to fancy 1Mill spa experiences Scooters everywhere, all the time Digital nomads with laptops in cafes Stay here if you are: A solo traveller who wants everything within walking distance A couple or single traveller who enjoys being in the middle of the action A remote worker A café hopper or coffee lover Someone who likes having options for literally everything A first-timer in Bali who wants the full “Canggu experience” Billie's, one of my favourite souvenir shops in Canggu Berawa Crowd-o-metre: 8/10 Every part of Canggu is busy, but Berawa feels a little more like an area where people actually live, mainly because first-time Bali visitors tend to gravitate more towards Batu Bolong. It’s still lively, but slightly more residential. There are also lots of brunch spots, nice restaurants, and gyms. Here, you’ll find: Restaurants with playgrounds and bigger spaces that are more family-friendly Healthy cafés, smoothie bowls, salad spots, and every kind of wellness food Villas - from cosy tropical stays to massive designer villas Coffee shops that have been around long before Canggu became "Canggu" Mid-to-upscale restaurants with cuisines from all over the world Fitness centres, recovery centres, and dance studios Boutiques, beauty salons, and concept stores Stay here if you are: A couple or family Planning to explore other neighbourhoods, since it’s slightly closer to Seminyak A foodie who wants international dining options Into fitness, wellness, or remote-working culture Pererenan Crowd-o-metre: 7/10 Pererenan is slightly less chaotic because it’s not right in the centre of the Canggu madness. Rice fields still exist here - they haven’t all turned into villas, cafés, or gyms every other month. The vibe feels more residential and slower-paced compared to Berawa or Batu Bolong. Areas like Tumbak Bayuh and Tiying Tutul are great options if you want a quieter stay while still being close enough to all the Canggu comforts. Here, you’ll find: Small boutique hotels and villas in quieter streets A mix of fitness spots - from local gyms to fancy wellness clubs, padel courts, martial arts gyms, and recovery centres More relaxed cafés, warungs, and restaurants A calmer remote-working crowd compared to Batu Bolong Stay here if you are: Wanting to stay close to Canggu, but not directly inside the chaos Not super into partying every night Into surfing, fitness, or wellness Happy to trade convenience for a slightly calmer atmosphere Okay with driving further for malls or bigger shopping areas - with Bali traffic, it takes 1-2 hours to get to Kuta Cure, one of the newest seaside restaurant and bar in Canggu PLACES TO EAT IN CANGGU I’ve written a few articles about restaurants in Canggu — from cheap eats to smarter dining spots — which you can find here: My Little Canggu Restaurant List - Part 1 My Little Canggu Restaurant List - Part 2 Bali on a Budget: Cheap Eats in Canggu for Under 100K 5 Must-Visit Best Coffee Shops in Canggu, Umalas, and Nearby Areas BEACHES AND SUNSET SPOTS If it’s your first time in Bali, or in Canggu, you might notice that the beaches here aren’t the postcard-style turquoise beaches people usually imagine when they think of Bali, like the ones in Uluwatu. The sand is dark here, and these aren’t really the kind of beaches people come to quietly sunbathe all day. In true Canggu fashion, the beaches here are more about the social life. Surfing, sunset drinks with friends, beach bars, music, people-watching, and somehow running into the same people everywhere you go. Canggu sunsets are basically a daily ritual. Around 5pm, everyone somehow ends up facing the ocean - surfers still sitting in the waves, people on bean bags with coconuts or Bintangs, kids running around, dogs playing on the beach, and someone inevitably playing acoustic music nearby. A few local beaches worth checking out: Batu Bolong Beach - probably the most social and busiest beach in Canggu Berawa Beach - popular for beach clubs and sunset hangouts Echo Beach - known for surfing and sunset spots Pererenan Beach - less hectic, with a more local and residential feel compared to central Canggu. Seseh Beach - technically a little outside of Canggu, but worth mentioning if you want somewhere quieter There are often community activities on the beach, like this grappling session my gym Woven organised TRAFFIC REALITY CHECK This part belongs in every honest Canggu travel guide: the traffic. It can get really chaotic, especially during high season, rush hours, sunset time, and dinner hours when everyone seems to leave the house at once. A distance that looks “close” on Google Maps can sometimes test your patience, your scooter skills, and your decision to stay in Canggu. The usual traffic hotspots: The famous Canggu shortcut - the worst that could happen is a full-on gridlock with scooters squeezing through every possible gap Berawa junction - somehow busy at almost every hour of the day Batu Bolong main road before sunset and dinner time Any road near beach clubs during sunset hours Random tiny streets that suddenly become two-way traffic with 200 scooters and one confused car Best strategy: Stay close to the area you’ll spend most of your time in Don’t over-schedule your days Drive a scooter or use Gojek/Grab if you’re not comfortable riding Leave earlier than you think you need to Accept that “5 minutes away” in Canggu is sometimes emotionally optimistic So yeah, Canggu is a strange little bubble where wellness trends, digital nomads, smoothie bowls, rice fields, and traffic chaos somehow all coexist together. Some people absolutely love it, some people leave after two days overwhelmed, and somehow both reactions make complete sense. Hope you find this Canggu travel guide useful. Have a fun trip, stay safe, and always wear a helmet when you’re on a scooter - even if you’re only going 200 metres away. Thanks for reading!

22 May 2025 by Bella in Info

What It’s Like to Live in Bali: Cost, Culture, and Everyday Life

If you're new to Kata Bella, you're probably wondering what this website is all about. So hi! I'm Bella. I started this page as a blog to share fun and interesting things about life in Bali - the place I've called home for the past 12 years, as well as bits and pieces from my journeys outside Bali too. I first moved here completely unplanned - I “accidentally” got a job while travelling. Yep, accidentally. I left my big city life behind and landed on this island with nothing but a small suitcase. Wait…where is Bali again? Bali might sound familiar - people talk about it all the time. But I’m no longer surprised that a lot of people still don’t know where it is (It’s okay, though. No judgement here). So here's a quick geography check: Bali is a small island in Indonesia, a country in Southeast Asia made up of over 17,000 islands. Despite all that competition, Bali has consistently been in the spotlight as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. You might also like this article: Things to do in Bali - Fun Art Classes at Rumah Rabbit The magic of Bali: what keeps people coming back There are plenty of reasons! Surfing is a big one. Not for me, but a lot of the friends I’ve met here came for the waves and ended up never leaving. Bali’s got some legendary surf spots, especially for seasoned surfers, like the world-famous Uluwatu, Padang Padang, and Bingin. Another major perk is the tropical weather. Bali has only two seasons: the wet season, usually from November to March, and the dry season for the rest of the year. Simple, sunny, and warm pretty much all year round - no winter coats needed! Beyond the beaches, there are some lush green rice terraces. You might recognise some of them from Eat Pray Love. Two of the most iconic ones are Tegalalang and Jatiluwih. Jatiluwih rice fields - known for producing good quality organic rice If you’re more into hiking, Bali’s got that covered too. The island is home to several volcanic mountains, with options for everyone - from casual hikers to hardcore trail runners. Mount Batur is a popular sunrise hike that’s beginner-friendly, while Mount Abang or Mount Agung offer a more challenging climb. Ok next, chances are, you’ve heard that many people come to Bali to find healing, with plenty of spots offering spiritual journeys and wellness retreats. Honestly, the list is endless. Bali really does have something for everyone. Whether you’re into silent retreats and meditation or the party scene (I’ve been through all kinds of phases during my 20s here, hehe). The highland areas of Bali, like Kintamani and Bedugul has cooler temperatures But for me, it’s the local Balinese people who make Bali truly special. While they’re open-minded and influenced by Western culture, there’s still a deep-rooted sense of tradition, spirituality, and ceremony. It’s not unusual for your Monday morning commute to be paused by a temple procession right in the middle of the road - and that’s part of the charm. I often get invited to odalan (ceremonies), and I still remember getting my first Balinese attire. Next thing I knew, I had a whole collection in different colours for all kinds of occasions! What to expect when you live in Bali Living in Bali definitely has its perks - especially if you’re into that laid-back, but not too slow, kind of slow living. It’s not as fast-paced or hectic as Jakarta or other big cities, so if you’re all about climbing the corporate ladder, Bali might not be the best fit. But it’s not super quiet either - definitely not like a sleepy village. Bali strikes a nice balance between work and play, hustle and chill. It's a real perk to still have time for yourself after work I said yes to my first job here because I was drawn to the work-life balance, the quality of life, and the lifestyle I wanted. Sure, work is still work - busy days happen just like anywhere else, but it’s the little things that make a big difference. Like riding your scooter to work and stopping by a nice little coffee shop (many open crazy early, like 6 or 7am - Thank you to the early-rising surfer crowd!). Or clocking out right on time at 5pm when the sun’s still shining, and having enough time to catch up with friends, go to my jiu jitsu class, or general errands. It’s all about having the time and space to do more than just work - and being reminded every day that life’s meant to be enjoyed, not spent glued to a screen. You may also like this article: Brunch in Bali - Rediscovering Legian through Farmer’s Daughter Living cost in Bali: what you need to know There’s really no right or wrong answer to this - it all depends on your lifestyle. Since Bali’s in Southeast Asia, things are generallypretty affordable. If you live like the locals do; eat at warungs (local eateries), rent in residential neighbourhoods, shop at traditional markets, and ride a scooter to get around - then yes, living in Bali can be really cheap. You could comfortably get by on a modest budget. But if you’re chasing that dreamy Instagram lifestyle; private villas with pools, daily brunches at photogenic cafés, shopping at boutiques, and regular spa treatments, then Bali can get expensive quickly. Many of those things are priced for tourists and expats, not locals. And let’s talk about extras: gyms, yoga studios, pilates, martial arts, CrossFit, dance classes, imported groceries, international schools if you have kids, all those things that have been brought into Bali from the outside are still considered “luxuries” here. So they’re priced accordingly. So yeah, Bali can be as cheap or as pricey as you make it. It’s all about what kind of life you want to live. Let me break down the math for you. Getting around Bali: scooters, taxis, and more One of the first things you’ll notice when living in Bali is just how popular scooters are. Renting or buying a scooter is by far the easiest and most affordable way to get around the island. Just make sure you’re steady and confident enough to navigate Bali’s often chaotic streets - and always wear a helmet for safety! If you’re not comfortable driving, it’s probably safer to avoid it. There are plenty of taxis available, and apps like Gojek or Grab make getting around affordable and hassle-free. Personally, I’m not a fan of traveling by car here because, aside from the highways and main roads, Bali’s streets are narrow and prone to heavy traffic - especially during peak holiday seasons. So, if you want to survive and thrive in Bali, a scooter is definitely your best friend. Food scene in Bali: local flavours and international eats Don’t worry - I didn’t forget to write about the food. Bali’s food scene is just as diverse as the island itself. You can eat like a local with nasi campur (rice with various side dishes), satay skewers, babi guling (suckling pig), or ayam betutu (Balinese spiced grilled chicken) at any warung (local food stall). But does “Bali belly” exist? Well, it’s a valid concern - Balinese, or Indonesian spices can be a bit intense for first-timers, so go easy in the beginning and listen to your gut (literally). If you’re craving something more familiar, Bali is a total melting pot. You’ll find just about every type of cuisine here; from Japanese and Italian to Middle Eastern, Indian, and more. There are also loads of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, so no one gets left out at the table. You might also like this article: Bali Home Bakeries to Sweeten Your Celebrations Okay, so that’s a rough idea about Bali and what living in Bali is like - at least through the eyes of a girl who came for one year and somehow ended up staying for twelve (still here!). In short, I genuinely love living here. It’s not always rainbows and butterflies, of course, especially when high season traffic hits - but hey, I am totally aware that I live in a holiday destination ;) If you’re thinking about making the move or just curious about what it’s really like to call Bali home, stick around. I’ll be sharing more stories, tips, and guides to help you navigate island life with a little more ease and a lot more fun. Matur Suksema for reading!