Just the thought of getting Bali belly is enough to churn your stomach. It's something every traveller dreads.
Bali belly is real, it's unpleasant and despite all the precautions in the world, it's sometimes unavoidable. Hundreds of tourists a year will be affected by the bacteria, also commonly known as 'travellers diarrhea'
The fear of getting Bali belly should not deter you from travelling to Indonesia. The same 'traveller diarrhea' is just as common in other parts of the world, such as Thailand, Vietnam and many other countries. The bacteria come from contaminated water and food. Sometimes, it even comes from the ice cubes in your favourite drink.
Of course, you can take some precautions, but you need to understand that despite everything you do, it's still a common occurrence.
Take precautions such as never drinking tap water, even in 5-star hotels. Drink only bottled water, and that includes brushing your teeth with it. When dining out, ask if the ice is made from tap water or is supplied by a commercial ice supplier.
You might think the chance of getting Beli belly would come from eating at small local warungs and street food. The fact is, you can still get it from some of the best hotels in Bali.
On a recent trip, we stayed at three separate styles of accommodation: a guest house run by a local family, a luxury resort with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, and lastly, a beautiful traditional Balinese Villa. On this trip, it was the luxury resort where one of our family members got sick. It could have been as simple as the lettuce in a salad touching contaminated water. We will never know, and it certainly wasn't the resort's intention. No accommodation provider wants this on their guests. Most will actively work to prevent the spreading of the bacteria, including using a commercial ice supplier.
Some people will have visited Bali multiple times and managed to avoid it, while others will get it on their first visit.
The key is to be prepared and understand how to treat it effectively. This could be the difference between being sick for 24 hours or up to 5 days. Fortunately, for us, it was a very unpleasant and uncomfortable 24 hours only.
I am not going to give you medical advice, only to say do not ask for advice on social media. You'll get an array of responses, some helpful, some insane. Different treatments suit different people depending on your age, health and your history. The most important thing is to try and stay hydrated. There is no cure for Bali Belly; only ways to reduce the severity of the side effects. We used pro-biotic tablets and anti-nausea tablets after the worst had passed, but this may not have the same effect on you.
Do your research and talk to your GP before you travel. Those on social media have no idea of your current health or any pre-existing conditions that may need to be considered. Especially if you have had gastrointestinal or reflux problems. A single visit and discussion with your GP could be the difference between having an enjoyable holiday or spending much of that time in bed.
If the symptoms are severe, don't hesitate to get medical assistance. Most Balinese hospitals and local doctors can help you reduce the severity of the symptoms until the bacteria passes through your body. You may even need an IV line to keep you hydrated.
Understanding Bali Belly and being prepared to treat it effectively is the key to lessening the downtime caused by the illness.
About the Author
The author of this blog, unless otherwise noted, has no affiliation with any property or business linked in this article. Unless otherwise noted, there is no free accommodation or payment from any businesses. The information contained in this blog is strictly the views of the author and not professional advice. The author of this BookDirect blog is a travel and tourism professional with over 30 years of experience in international hotel management, global travel, short-term rental management and a tourism awards judge specialising in accommodation and attractions.
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