To avoid Bali Belly, eat food that is freshly cooked and served hot, drink only sealed bottled or properly filtered water, skip ice you cannot vouch for, and wash your hands before every meal. Bali Belly is travelers’ diarrhea, usually caused by bacteria in contaminated food or water. No routine removes the risk completely, but these habits lower it a lot. If you already feel unwell, read our guide to Bali Belly symptoms and remedies.
Be careful with food
- Choose hot, freshly cooked meals. Food that has sat out warm is a common source of bacteria.
- Skip raw or undercooked meat and seafood.
- Peel fruit yourself. Avoid pre-cut fruit and salads when you cannot tell how they were washed.
- Pick busy, clean places. High turnover means fresher food. Reputable restaurants, resorts, and well-reviewed warungs usually keep better hygiene.
- Be selective with desserts and ice cream. Buy from vendors you trust, where freezers and handling look clean.
Choose safe water and ice
- Use bottled or filtered water for drinking and brushing your teeth. Check that the seal is intact. Do not use tap water.
- Be careful with ice. Many reputable venues use purified ice, but that is not guaranteed everywhere. If you are unsure, ask for no ice (“tanpa es” in Bahasa Indonesia).
- Check stall drinks. Fresh juices and blended drinks may use ice or water of unknown quality.
Keep your hands clean
Wash your hands with soap and clean water before you eat, and after using the toilet. When you cannot wash, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Stay hydrated
Heat and sweat dehydrate you quickly, and alcohol makes it worse. Drink bottled water through the day and add an electrolyte drink on hot or active days. Good hydration will not stop an infection, but it leaves you in better shape if one starts. If dehydration has already set in, a mobile IV drip in Bali can bring fluids to your villa or hotel.
Dairy and probiotics
Choose pasteurised or UHT milk and dairy, and avoid unpasteurised products. Some travelers take a probiotic before and during a trip, but the evidence is mixed. Ask a pharmacist, or book a doctor consultation in Bali, before starting a new supplement.
What to do if you get Bali Belly anyway
Most cases are mild. Rest, sip oral rehydration solution or an electrolyte drink, and stick to plain foods such as rice or toast. Avoid alcohol, dairy, and oily or spicy food until you recover.
See a doctor if symptoms last more than a day, or if you have a high fever, blood in your stool, severe stomach pain, repeated vomiting, or signs of dehydration such as dizziness and very dark urine.
If you cannot keep fluids down, a doctor-supervised Bali Belly IV drip replaces fluids and electrolytes, and a doctor decides whether you need any medication.
Plan ahead and get help
Before you travel, check whether travel insurance covers Bali Belly treatment, and ask the clinic for your documents if you need to claim. If you are unwell now, message us on WhatsApp with your symptoms and location, and our team will advise you on the next step.