The Dreaded Bali Belly – What It Is & How To Avoid It?

If you are part of the online Bali Travel communities like I am, you will hear a lot of people talking about Bali belly and how it derailed their entire trip. It is a cause for concern especially when it means getting sick in another country while traveling.

Luckily for me, I have not had an incident whenever I have been to the island. I put it down to all the time I spent trying not to fall ill in India. One thing is for certain, I have been lucky!

The main thing about Bali Belly is to not take your luck for granted. It can honestly strike when you least expected. I’m not kidding! I have heard some horror stories. Aside from feeling horrible, it can spoil your carefully planned vacation. That isn’t something you want to happen!

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What Is Bali Belly?

Bali belly is a stomach infection that people pick up when they drink contaminated food and water on the island. Most people complain of stomach ache, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. All things characteristic of a stomach bug. Since many people catch it on Bali, it has been labeled the Bali belly.

What Are The Symptoms Of Bali Belly?

Like I said before, I was lucky that I haven’t caught the bug in Bali but I know a couple of friends who have. The onset of the Bali belly is usually quick.

Initially they started with a feeling of unease. It was then followed up with lots of vomiting and diarrhea. Suffice to say that the next day, they were stuck indoors. They were lucky though, they recovered rather quickly.

The thing about Bali belly is really about how sick you get. If the vomiting and diarrhea go away in a day or two, you should be good. There are some people who get really really sick. They throw up repeatedly. Land up with multiple bouts of diarrhea and are unable to keep anything in their stomach.

The nurse part of my brain urges me to warn you that this can cause severe dehydration and you would need to seek medical attention immediately!

Most people feel really drained after an episode. This fatigue that they feel is normal and it acts as a total wet blanket on the holiday mood. 

How Common Is Bali Belly?

Ironically Bali Belly is remarkably common. While there are steps that you can take to safeguard your health, they are not always foolproof.

I’ve seen both inexperienced travelers and seasoned travelers succumb to the bug. As always, the key to treatment is always hydration. Lots and lots of water. I’ll get to that in just a bit.

How Long Does Bali Belly Last?

Bali belly can come in quick and fast. Pun unintended. How long it lasts however depends on the bug that you have caught. Normally it can take anywhere between 1-5 days. You may however feel very dehydrated and tired. This can really be a downer on a vacation.

How To Avoid Bali Belly

Honestly, I think the best thing to do is to avoid catching the bug in the first place. It is easier said than done but luckily I have a few tips that will definitely help you along the way. I’ve picked up these little nuggets of gold while I was staying in a hostel in Mumbai (another location that is famous for the bug!). They have served me well as I moved across the world and I hope they will help you too.

1. Tap Water Is Not Potable.

Tap water is a common source for the Bali belly bug.

Not everyone who comes to Bali knows that the tap water is not potable. So don’t fill up your bottles and start drinking right off the tap. Most people buy bottled water as they go but I find that the amount of plastic we generate is really a cause of concern.

Nowadays, many of the restaurants, hostels and homestays use these huge cans of bottled water. They are set up in a way that you can fill your bottle as you go. I think it goes a long way in reducing our plastic consumption and we choose this method when we travel. We do buy water when we can’t help it.

A friend of mine suggested using a LifeStraw. I haven’t tried it but I know that a lot of travelers use it too.

2. Be Extra Cautious When It Rains.

The lack of sanitation in many areas on the island is compounded when it rains. The thing is the rain water carries the contaminants or makes it even more difficult for street vendors to maintain the hygiene. I usually avoid eating roadside food during the rains.

If you are not in a pinch for cash, try eating in one of the cheaper restaurants which are indoors.

3. Check Around The Location Of The Street Stall You Eat At.

Always be cautious when eating street food!

One of the wisest tips that I have ever received about eating street food is to look around the venue. Sure, it isn’t always going to be the most aesthetic which is a give in but you can check for a couple of things that are big red flags.

For example, make sure that the vendor has a good garbage disposal system. Check to see where the dirty plates are being washed and vendors next to open drains are a big no no. Trust me, these checks can keep Bali belly at bay!

4. Eat Cooked Food.

Since the bug passes through food, make sure that all the food that you eat is cooked. It reduces the chances of catching Bali belly significantly. Ideally, steamed food is the best.

Avoid sushi and other raw food when it comes to street food or even in restaurants that give you the dubious feel. If in doubt, steamed food is always the best!

Another great thing to keep in mind especially in Indonesia is that coconut spoils quickly so on a hot day, make sure to check any dishes that contain coconut. If they have a rancid taste, don’t eat it.

5. Wash Your Fruits And Vegetables Well Before Eating Them.

The fruits in Bali are always tempting.

Unwashed fruits and vegetables can carry the bug. Make sure that you wash them properly before you eat them. If you are worried that you won’t be able to wash them on the go, then pick something that you can deskin like a banana or an orange.

6. Avoid Ice In Your Drinks.

Always be wary of the ice.

Remember we talked about how water can (and most likely is) contaminated? Well since ice is just frozen water, you run the same risk with it. The reality is that you can’t always be sure what water has been used to make the ice.

In addition to this, ice is usually transported in large blocks and while the ice itself may be made out of good water, the transportation process is not always sanitary.

How To Treat Bali Belly

The thing about traveling is that most of us are reluctant to seek medical attention and with valid reason. Language is one of the big barriers and secondly you don’t know how the medical system in the country works.

To say the least about the cost of medical care. That’s one of the reasons why I travel with my medications and try to avoid falling sick. But what do you do if you catch Bali belly?

1. Stay Hydrated

The good news is that most of the time, the bug will resolve itself on its own. All that you need to do is stay hydrated. When I say hydrated, I don’t mean just drink water. The thing about a stomach bug is that you lose a lot of electrolytes with diarrhea and vomiting.

Replacing these electrolytes is important. The best way is to get an electrolyte replacement solution from your local chemist. Alternatively, fruit juices and fruits also help a lot.

2. Avoid Spicy Food

You need to understand that the inner lining of your stomach has taken a gut punch (pun intended!). It needs time to recover and to recuperate. Spicy food will just aggravate the lining.

Now I get that Indonesian food does tend to have a lot of spice but try to go for some of their steamed dishes. A soup aka ‘Soto’ is another great option. Try the sticky rice dishes too. They are usually more bland.

3. Seek Medical Help

The important thing is to seek medical help if you start getting too bad. How would you know the difference? Well for one thing, you won’t be able to keep anything in. You will start feeling weak, dizzy etc. The question arises about how to find the right doctor. I usually ask the host that I am staying with and they point me in the right direction.

4. Carry A Lifestraw

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I’ve talked about this before but I’m going to drop a note about it again because loads of people have recommended getting a LifeStraw when traveling South East Asia.

There are many different types of lifestraws available in the market. The one that we find the most convenient is the lifestraw with a bottle. This way you can just fill the bottle up and drink. Many of the others are designed to drink straight out of streams which you pretty much aren’t doing in Bali.

Oh and this way you can still fill up your bottle with stream water should you want to.

Bali Belly has been an issue that travelers to the island have battled for a long time. Have you been unlucky enough to catch the bug while visiting the island? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

If you are headed to Indonesia and need resources on travel to the country, check out our Indonesia page. We have loads of resources based on the times we have visited alongside expert advice from other travelers.

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