Beach clubs are a very informal experience and most beach clubs are not heavy on the rules.
However, there is some basic etiquette to follow when inside the beach club and on the beach in general.
Our guide will help you navigate everything from the dress code to the unwritten rules on behaviour.
The Basics To Ensure The Best Beach Club Experience
Firstly, let’s take a look at what you need to do for the best time in a beach club.
Call In Advance And Make Sure They Are Open
You may find that your chosen club on the beach is closed for a private event for the day or for a holiday.
It’s best to avoid disappointment by being prepared.
You might also learn that they have a special event on which is ticket-only. This is very common around New Year and other big holidays but can happen at any time.
Should You Book Ahead?
In most cases, you’re going to have a better time if you book ahead. This guarantees that you get a place to sit and that you get in.
In peak season, many of the best clubs get very busy, indeed, and you may not even be able to get in to use the swimming pool or the restaurants without a reserved spot.
Here on the island, a beach club like FINNS Beach Club can see over 5,000 visitors a day! Most of the time, you can just walk into FINNS and grab a spot in the sun and enjoy the sunset in style.
But if you visit FINNS on New Year’s Eve without a ticket? You have very little chance of enjoying the waves, even if you’re rich and prepared to spend a lot of money in the bars there.
Comply With Security And Any Lifeguards On Duty
You will find that when you enter the club, the security run a basic bag search and may ask you to leave certain items at the door.
You’re not allowed to take in outside food and drink, and most clubs have a ban on photography and video equipment too (though your smartphone is just fine).
It’s important to follow all reasonable instructions from the security team as well as any life guards by the pool or beach during your visit – they’re there for your safety and the safety of everyone else in the venue.
How Do You Dress For Beach Clubs?
We’ve got a guide to the dress code but mainly you can dress for the club like you would dress for the beach.
But… there are some restrictions. You can’t usually wear anything but swimwear in the swimming pools, so T-shirts, etc. won’t be allowed.
And there are often stricter dress codes for certain areas of the club or after certain hours.
You don’t need to be too dressy, usually, but you may need shoes instead of sandals/thongs/flip-flops and you may need something a little more covering than a bikini on the dance floor.
And no matter how hot it gets in the sun by the ocean, it’s important to remember – you can’t go topless or get naked in a beach club or on a public beach in Bali.
Can You Find A Date At A Beach Club?
You can, but the average beach club isn’t a night club and you may get told to pound sand, if you go around the place hitting on everyone you come across.
The best way to act in a beach club is rather like you would in a pub or restaurant back home.
Conversation with other groups is fine if it arises naturally and late at night when the party gets going, it’s fine to talk to people on the dance floor.
Just make sure you know that “no means no” in Bali just as it does everywhere else on the planet and that women (and men) that you meet in a beach club should be treated with the same respect that you would treat them anywhere else.
Can Locals Visit Beach Clubs?
Yes! While beach clubs in Bali might be most popular with tourists, there’s no doubt that local people are very much welcome inside the clubs.
They are, however, expected to follow the same rules and fee structures as everyone else.
That means a beach club day out can often be beyond the budget of an ordinary Balinese person.
Can You Smoke In The Club?
Most venues in Bali will allow smoking in the outdoor sections of the club and some may allow smoking in other parts of the venue.
If you’re a smoker, please remember to be courteous to those around you too. That doesn’t mean “don’t smoke” just try not to let your smoke drift over non-smokers, particularly families.
Be Nice
Most of all, just be nice. We know that in the Bali sun with a skinful of alcohol, it’s easy to get cranky when things don’t go your way – but it’s best to remain nice and calm when dealing with everyone.
Take a walk along the beaches if you’re feeling a bit hot and bothered and feel the sand under your feet and let the surf swell around your toes, you’ll soon feel better again.
The Basics To Ensure You Get The Best Beach Experience Too
If you’re going to spend some time in the sun on the beaches by the club, you should also follow a few additional basic rules to ensure you have a good time.
There are no private beaches in Bali, which means you will be mixing with people who aren’t part of the club crowd, so try to keep that in mind too.
- No public displays of affection – while you can usually get away with this inside a club, to some extent, on the beaches it’s best to ensure you keep everything PG in public.
- Don’t leave any rubbish behind – Indonesia has quite enough problems with garbage in the sea and sand without adding to it.
- Fill in any holes that you dig in the sand – building sand castles and moats, etc. is fun. But if you leave holes in the sand, other people might trip and hurt themselves in them.
- Keep an eye on your little ones – if you have kids, make sure they stay on the sand rather than wandering into the water. The current on many beaches in Bali is severe and even strong swimmers can get into trouble. Also, ensure they have appropriate sun protection, you don’t want them to burn.
- Try not to flick sand onto other people – that means don’t kick sand and don’t shake sand off your towel onto other beach users.
- Cover up when you leave the beach if you’re not going back into the club – the Balinese are relatively conservative and while nothing will happen to you if you don’t cover up, it’s just respectful to do so.
- Don’t play music on the beach – if you want music with your sun and sand, just go back into the club which is licensed to play music.
- If you smoke please take your cigarette butts home with you – don’t bury them in the sand.
- Use sun protection regularly – it’s no fun to burn and it can ruin your summer holiday. So before you dive into the water, add some water-resistant sunscreen to the mix and reapply when you get back on to the sand.
FAQs
What Do You Wear To A Beach Club?
You can usually wear anything you want to in a club, but you should be aware that most beach clubs have certain areas with restrictions or time restrictions on sandals/thongs/flip flops and swimming costumes.
At the same time, you will find that the majority of beach clubs around the world don’t allow you to swim without swimwear. That means you may need to take additional clothing if you want to use every facility in a beach club.
What Happens At A Beach Club?
Many people visit a beach club to enjoy local beaches and the shore and soak up some sun and splash in the waves.
Some beach club experiences include watersports and other activities and you might surf or jet ski at these places.
Others focus on rest and relaxation where you can chill out by the beach and enjoy great food and drinks. They might offer yoga or other forms of gentle exercise.
However, the majority of clubs are focused on good times and you will find that as the sun starts to go down, the party really gets started.
The party culture may be a long way from the local culture and you can dive right in, in a secure environment where it’s always summer and the good times roll.
What To Bring To A Beach Club?
You don’t need to bring much to a beach club, the same things as you would for any beach experience, really. Some clothes that are suitable for beaches and pools.
Maybe a book, some suntan lotion, a hat and sunglasses. The joy of a good beach club is that while you soak up the sun, they staff soak up the effort of ensuring you have enough to eat and drink.
Are Beach Clubs In Bali Worth It?
Yes! The beach club experience is a defining part of a good time on the island and if there are unwritten rules of travel, we’d say that “you should visit a beach club in Bali” is among them.
You don’t have to spend hours going shopping to prepare for a trip to a beach club, as long as you’re ready for a good time by the beach, you won’t need much more.
Just kick back by the infinity pool and order up some tasty beverages. As you watch people on the beach kick up sand and soak up the hot sun by the ocean in style.
Final Thoughts On Getting The Best Out Of Beach Clubs
There aren’t many unwritten rules at the beach club, in fact, mainly it’s all common sense.
You want to have a good time and so do the other people there, so come dressed for the beach, and pick your club wisely and you should have an amazing experience on the shore.
One thing to watch out for in Bali is the sunset, we’d recommend you choose a beach destination that gets the best light as the sun dips below the horizon of the Indian Ocean.
