-    Unless you live high above sea level, the altitude is very difficult to get used to. I really never expected it to be a big deal, but it made everything so much harder. I am a fitness enthusiast, and I had increased my workouts in the months before I left in order to ramp up my stamina, and it was still very hard. You just can’t find the extra push that you normally can when you are not at altitude. The best advice I can give is to get to Cusco a few days ahead of time so that you can start to get yourself acclimated. It makes a big difference.

-    The guides recommend chewing coca leaves to give yourself some extra energy. My hiking partner did this and she said she definitely felt that it helped. You can also get coca toffees or hard candies. I sucked on those quite a lot after the second day and it helped to give me a bit more energy. The coca tea (or mate de coca) is a huge help in fighting altitude sickness, and as such we drank it all the time. I would also suggest that you buy extra bags of coca leaves to give to our porters. They were so excited and grateful to receive them, and it is really inexpensive to buy extras.

-    You are going to need a sleeping bag and a walking pole. Rather than buying these items you can rent them from your tour company, and it was quite useful. You can also get an extra sleeping mat and that is great after a long day of hiking. Just make sure you have your own liner. About hiking poles: you may not feel like you need one if you an experienced hiker, but they can be beneficial in keeping good circulation in your arms and hands. Walking for eight hours straight with your arms hanging down at high altitude can wreak havoc on your circulation.

-    Take as few items of clothing as you can. You don’t really have space for more than 2 or 3 kgs worth of clothing once you put in all of your sleeping equipment. A great idea is pants that convert to shorts. You do need layers, as it gets pretty hot while walking and also while you are at Machu Picchu, so it’s best to pack tees and vests that you can layer.

-    A few items that you need a lot of: tissues (instead of toilet paper rolls which take up too much space) and wet wipes. Most toilets are squat-type toilets and vary in their levels of cleanliness. At Machu Picchu, you can spend 1 sole to get the ultimate luxury: a proper toilet that flushes and a sink. And of course, make sure to pack mosquito repellent with DEET and lots of sunscreen.

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If you do yoga, or know someone who does, it will be helpful to learn some stretches that you can do at the end of each day. After the stretching, rub on some china gel and put on some compression leggings to sleep in. This made a world of difference, and I didn’t wake up with any aches or pains. If you have any issues with your knees, you may need support on the way down. Taking the steps down was much harder on our joints than going up.

- Luxe Spa at Sentosa: This is the best of the best. Three hours of fabulous massage along with a facial and milk bath is only $110 USD. Worth every penny. You will need to book a day or two in advance since it is such a popular spot, but again, it is definitely worth it.

- Jari Menari: The four hand massage is amazing. But that’s not the only thing this spa offers. There is also the Singing Bowl massage, which uses vibrations, children’s massage, and even lessons to learn how to replicate their fantastic massages after you leave.

- Bodyworks: This spa near the Oberoi hotel is great. Their massages are really wonderful, and they also offer manicures, pedicures, facials, hair treatments, and infrared sauna. A lovely place.

- Glo: Glo offers a lot of different treatments, including facials, spray tanning, eyelash tinting, waxing, and hair treatments. But the best thing about Glo is their quick and wonderful mani-pedis. Book ahead, and you can get in and out in no time.

La Sal – fusion/tapas. The food is amazing, particularly the meatballs, squid and paella. And fantastic sangria, too!

Trattoria Cucina Italiana – a great place if you’re sick of going out to fancy restaurants. The menu focuses on traditional Italian fare, simple and delicious.

Chandi – low-key, but wonderful haute cuisine. Located on “Eat Street” and committed to using only locally grown organic greens and spices. The food is divine and the service is quick. Definitely a place to check out.

Ultimo – Another Italian restaurant on “Eat Street.” It is super popular and has great atmosphere. You need to make a reservation, so try to get a table out back. The prices are very reasonable and it is a great value for what you get. Try the grilled lobster or the mixed seafood plate. Also, one of the few places with good wine at a decent price.

Ryoshi – casual, real yum Japanese. Offers a number of Japanese cooking styles, like sashimi, tempura, teppanyaki, and more.

Made’s Warung – the one near Kuta Square is great for a fun, cheap Indonesian meal. The locals go there for a great lunch or dinner and a cold Bintang. Try the fish curry; as a friend says, “it’s INSANE.”

Blossom at Sentosa – like Longrain. Have a lychee martini and betel leaf for your entree, yum!

TJ’s Mexican – Billed as “the best Mexican south of the equator,” TJ’s has been in Bali since 1984. Obviously they are doing something right. They offer a huge menu (including breakfast) and a great bar setting. The food is Mexican and California-Mexican-inspired, and the fish enchiladas with almonds are to die for. A great place to check out when you are tired of eating Indonesian.

• You may not know this, but Bali only allows you to bring in either 1 bottle of spirits or 2 bottles of wine per person duty-free. If you would like to have a few drinks while you are there, I would highly recommend you take advantage of the duty-free allowance because alcohol is very expensive in Bali. Mixers, sodas, limes, all the add-ons are quite cheap, but the alcohol cost is sky-high. A good bottle of wine can cost upwards of $80 AUS, and even a not-great bottle can run you $30 or so. Definitely a place where you should BYOB! One exception: Bintang, the local beer. It is both cheap and tasty! Stock up on beers at the Bintang supermarker on Jl Raya Seminyak.
• In other alcohol-related advice, only drink alcohol at the more expensive places, especially those places where they mix proper cocktails. Many cheap, hole-in-the-wall type bars serve fake locally brewed grog that is either fake or incredibly strong and dangerous. Lots of places put their alcohol into real-brand bottles, so play it safe and avoid it.
• Try to avoid changing money while you are there. I know there are lots of places that say they are authorized, but it can be pretty sketchy to change money at any of the many money changers around. Your best bet is to use ATMs wherever you can. The airport ATMs let you take out more money than most other ones around (say $3m instead of $1.5m), so it will save you bank fees if you take out what you need for a few days while at the airport.
• Make sure you have $25 USD to pay the arrival tax when you land.The faster you can get to the booths when you get off the plane the better, as you can be in for a bit of a wait. Also, make sure you save 150,000 rp for the departure tax. Most taxi drivers will check with you if you are on the way to the airport, but it’s good to make sure you have everything with you before you leave. As well, you need to double- and triple-check that you have your departure card. You will not be allowed to leave Bali without it, and speaking from experience, it’s incredibly stressful to stand up at customs and not be able to find your card.
• Take the Bluebird taxis (blue with a little bird on top of the taxi light), because they are the most reliable (and cheapest!) taxis on the island. Be sure you look for the little bird, as there are other blue taxis that belong to different cab companies. Bluebirds have meters, so they won’t rip you off.
• If you need a driver for a longer trip, or if you want to go to Seminyak for dinner and don’t want to wait for a taxi, call Gusti 0361 7811 444. He’ll wait while you surf, shop, or eat and he is lovely and reliable, as well as affordable.

Hopefully this info is helpful to newcomers and maybe even to some of you who have visited Bali before.