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For those who have never flown before, a carry-on bag is the bag you can keep with you during your trip, while your checked luggage will go in the hold!
That is why it is essential to prepare your carry-on bag for Bali properly. This helps maximize your comfort and avoid unexpected issues!
First of all, it is important to check the baggage size allowed by the airline. Dimensions and weight often vary from one airline to another. You should find out in advance what dimensions are accepted by the airline you have chosen. However, it is often a 55x35x25 cm size (Air France dimensions) that you will place in the compartment above your seat. A small additional bag that you can place under your seat or keep with you is also often allowed.
For choosing your bag, please read the article “…”. However, to travel to Bali, a 20-litre backpack is strongly recommended, as you will use it throughout your stay. As for the smaller bag, a belt bag is ideal. This allows you to keep documents that need to remain accessible during the journey (passport, boarding pass), as well as your small change and your phone.
What should you pack in your carry-on bag for your trip to Bali?
Your valuables
For greater security, you should always keep your valuables with you. First, all your electronic equipment: your laptop, camera, tablet, phone, as well as their chargers. This will prevent breakage or theft in checked luggage. Then, all your valuables such as jewellery, a watch, sunglasses. This will spare you unnecessary worry.
Your travel documents for Bali
It is useful to plan a pouch to store all important documents:
- Your passport and a photocopy of it.
- Your French and international driving licences, if you have applied for one.
- Important numbers (your bank, your insurance, Amanaska’s contact, your favourite travel agency in Bali, the embassy).
- Your boarding passes after you have checked in at the airport.
Something to freshen up during your trip
Your flight to Indonesia will likely be long, with one or more stopovers. It is always pleasant to have something to freshen up. It is useful to pack:
- Your toothbrush and a mini toothpaste.
- Refreshing wipes for your face and hands.
- Cream samples: your skin dries out much faster on a plane, and samples are very practical in this case.
- A deodorant (stick or roll-on, as aerosols are prohibited).
- Hand sanitiser gel.
- A pack of tissues.
- Earplugs if you are sensitive to noise: the plane’s hubbub quickly becomes unpleasant.
- An eye mask to doze off peacefully.
- Doliprane to prevent a sudden headache, and throat lozenges. See also the article “…” if you have regular treatments or any other medication to take.
Your toiletry kit must not contain liquid products over 50 ml, so opt for travel sizes. No aerosols either, such as spray deodorants or shaving foam. Liquid products must be placed in a transparent zip pouch so they are visible during the security check.
The “just in case”, or how to pack your suitcase
Let’s not tempt fate, but it is better to remain cautious. You are never completely safe from a checked suitcase being lost during a stopover and arriving a few days after you. That is why we strongly recommend taking with you:
- A few items of underwear, including a pair of comfortable socks that you can use on the plane.
- Shorts and a T-shirt.
- A jumper that you will likely have on you on the plane, as it is cool.
- A swimsuit.
- A pair of flip-flops (if you have a little space left).
How to keep yourself occupied during the flight to Bali
On long-haul flights, there is always a screen offering many films (including recent ones), music and games. This may be more than enough to keep you entertained; however, you can still bring a book as well, along with your earphones for your own music.
Tip: headphones are provided by the airline; however, some personal headphones sometimes have a special adapter to fit the plane’s sockets. If your headphones have this type of adapter, it is much more pleasant and higher quality to use your own!
During the flight, meals and drinks are served. But it never hurts to bring a small snack that is easy to carry, such as a packet of biscuits, crackers or dried fruit. As for water, do not try to go through security with a bottle of water: they are not allowed (maximum 50 ml of liquid). You will need to buy it after passing security or use your reusable bottle—see below!
Useful extras for a France–Indonesia flight
The first essential accessory is a reusable water bottle, as mentioned above. Very useful for long journeys, and even more so for a destination like Bali, where tap water is not drinkable. For practical, ethical and economic reasons, we recommend bringing your reusable bottle! You can therefore pass through security without any problem as long as it is empty. There are generally water refill points after security in airports.
Once in Bali, this will prevent you from systematically buying water in plastic bottles. You can refill it at your hotel, or thanks to the association Refillmybottle. The concept is to provide free drinking water, or at a lower price than commercially sold plastic bottles. You will find the many Refillmybottle points using the online map by downloading the app at RefillMyBottle.com.
The second useful accessory is a neck pillow. It is designed to wrap around your neck to support your head. Some find it very practical, others much less so. It is up to you. However, long-haul flights always provide a small blanket and a pillow if you prefer not to carry extra items.
Quick reminder of prohibited items in carry-on luggage for Bali (or any other destination)
It is important to remember that you cannot take liquids over 50 ml, except for medicines (see the article “…”).
- Scissors
- Sharp objects (a Swiss Army knife, for example)
- Sports equipment of all kinds
- Lighters, matches and aerosols
Finally, it is probably unnecessary to mention that any item that could be considered dangerous is not allowed, such as blunt objects or firearms.
