OK, so you’re ready to go to your first beach club and that’s a brilliant idea. You can enjoy sun, sand, waves and great vibes in Bali and there’s no doubt everyone should sample this experience at least once on their holiday.
But before you go, let’s take a step back and acknowledge that you want to have an amazing time and not spend your day stressing about your things being stolen or you getting 3rd degree sunburns.
The good news is that we’ve got your back here and we’ve put together some very simple and easy to follow beach club safety tips that are going to help you have the day that you deserve – carefree and full of good times. So, let’s take a look at them shall we?
Our 9 Beach Club Safety Tips: Everything You Need To Know To Maximize Your Beach Club Day Out
Before You Go – Make Sure To Plan And Prepare Like A Pro
You don’t need to step out of your front door to get ready for an awesome day out at a beach club. As they say, “nobody plans to fail, but plenty of people fail to plan.”
But that won’t be you, you won’t be winging it, you’ll be preparing for your day out so that you can really enjoy yourself.
So, here’s what you need to think about:
- Pack the essentials – you can’t get through a day without sunscreen (and yes, SPF 50 or more is the ideal for a whole day in the sun), a sunhat, sunnies, and something to cover up with if the sun gets extra hot during the course of your time by the pool.
- Cut down on the things you take – leave that camera at home (most beach clubs won’t let you take one in anyway), don’t bring a towel either (beach clubs provide towels and don’t let you bring in outside towels), take off any expensive jewelry and stuff it in the hotel lock box, bring one card (or a maximum of two) and leave the others behind, etc. You can’t lose what you don’t have with you.
- Check the beach club website – find out what facilities are available to you and what rules are in place. There’s no sense in turning up to FINNS, for example, with a facial tattoo or at Atlas with your dog in tow – you won’t be allowed in.
Arriving With Purpose And Getting To Your Beach Club Of Choice
OK, if you’re going to be drinking we really don’t recommend driving in Bali at all. So, book a Grab or Gojek to take you to the beach club (it’s cheap) and then you won’t have to worry about parking, etc. either.
If you really must drive, make sure to use the official parking if available and park in the busiest place you can find (it’s harder for thieves to break into cars in plain view).
We would urge you never to leave anything of value in a parked car or with a bike in Bali (except your helmet). Beach club car parks are usually pretty safe but there are no guarantees or warranties provided either.
If you are moving through crowded areas on your walk into the beach club, just keep your valuables close to you – pickpockets aren’t common in these areas, but again – there’s no guarantee.
And when you get inside a beach club, take a few minutes to work out – where the exits are, where the nearest security officers are, where the lifeguards are and where the bar and bathrooms are. These things can become super important at different times during the course of your day.
Staking Out Your Turf: Your Base At The Beach Club
If you have booked your spot, you will usually be directed to exactly where to sit but in some beach clubs, you will have a free choice of where to sit.
In that case, opt for somewhere visible but not in the thick of the action (where alcohol related incidents are most likely to break out) and pick somewhere not too far from security, the lifeguard and the bar.
Secluded corners may look ideal for privacy but they’re also where a dishonest fellow guest is most likely to swipe your stuff.
Speaking of your stuff – if the beach club has a locker service, use it. They don’t cost very much (and may well be included with the minimum spend or entrance fee) and they ensure you have real peace of mind.
If there aren’t any lockers, we’d bring a waterproof bag with a cheap lock that you can then clip on and secure to your day bed or chair. One cool trick that we’ve seen is to put your valuables in a hollowed out sunscreen bottle – after all who steals suntan lotion?
The one thing you don’t want to do is leave valuables unattended and just covered with a towel, any thief worth their salt already knows that trick.
If you come with friends, it’s always a good idea to have one person watch everyone’s stuff while the others visit the bar, restrooms, swim, etc. Teamwork has its advantages at beach clubs.
Jumping In The Pool Or The Ocean: Smart Swimming And Staying Safe
Swimming in the pool is your best bet at most beach clubs in Bali. The venue will provide lifeguards and the “glasses” are all plastic, just in case someone drops one in the water.
You don’t need to worry about eating before you go in the pool, either, the old myth that swimming after food gives you cramps is not medically accurate.
However, if you want to jump in the ocean – you need to think a lot harder than jumping into the infinity pool. First check to see what the flags are, if they’re red – you cannot swim.
Green is fine for everyone, yellow is for intermediate swimmers only and please, remember there are no lifeguards on the beaches – if you get into trouble you will be on your own.
So, it’s also a good idea to swim near other people. If you can’t swim very well, take a float with you too (there’s no shame in this – lots of people use floats for fun around beach clubs).
Also, never swim in the ocean when you’re under the influence of alcohol, that can really lead you into trouble.
Finally, when you’re hitting the ocean as a group, have an agreed meet up spot afterwards just to make sure everyone got back safely from their swim.
Sun Safety: Let’s Not Burn To A Crisp
We cannot stress enough how important it is to take care of yourself in the boiling heat of the Bali day – if there’s anything guaranteed to ruin a holiday, it’s horrific sunburn.
So, start as you mean to go on – slather on the high-SPF sunscreen and repeat on a regular basis (every 2 hours minimum, more if you’re in and out of the water). And make sure to cover everywhere, the tops of your feet, your ears, your neck, etc. it’s super easy to burn almost anywhere on your body.
Also, if you go for a walk on Bali’s beaches, particularly the black sand beaches, wear something on your feet – sunburn on the soles of your feet is no joke and it can ruin everything for weeks until you heal.
You should bring a hat and/or umbrella and use it too – the shade is good for you in the heat of the day.
Don’t forget to hydrate yourself either, alcohol does not help – make sure to down a pint of water (or better still an electrolyte drink) every couple of hours too.
If you do feel nauseous, woozy, or suddenly end up with a hardcore headache, get into the shade and stay there – heatstroke can be very quick when it comes on.
The final warning sign that you are in serious trouble in the heat is if you stop sweating – it means your body is out of electrolytes. You must seek medical attention in this instance.
Partying Hard: Fun Without Issues
A lot of beach clubs are about partying and really good times. Dancing on the sand or on the lovely dance floors in some clubs is an awesome way to spend time in Bali.
You should really embrace the party mood but you still want to keep your wits about you. That means if you’re drinking, remember to pace yourself and it’s a marathon not a sprint. There’s always one person passed out before noon – don’t be that person.
Alcohol hits harder in the heat too, we’d always recommend alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for a big day out.
Don’t accept drinks from strangers either (except the beach club staff obviously) as you don’t want to wake up in an ice bath without your kidneys.
Pickpockets are a rarity at the best beach clubs in Bali but they’re still possible, so make sure to lock stuff away in your locker, or keep it close to your body.
If you find yourself being stalked by a creep at any point, feel free to move right away from them and if they still won’t leave you alone ask the beach club staff for help.
Securing Your Stuff When You Have To Leave It
It’s not always possible to keep an eye on your stuff, particularly if you’re on a solo trip to the beach club.
At best, ask a friend to keep an eye on things. If not, throw everything in your bag and take it to the toilet with you – any minor annoyance of dragging things around is offset by knowing you won’t have to spend the next day in the police station crying over all your missing stuff.
You may also, in some venues, be able to get staff to keep an eye on your things or you could at a push ask someone on a neighbouring table to do so – but please, don’t leave anything of serious value with someone you’ve just met. It’s asking for trouble.
Leaving With As Few Problems As You Arrived With
OK, you’ve had a great day out and it’s time to go home but before you rush for the exits:
- Take a look around the space you’ve been in – check under your towel, chair, and anywhere else you might have left it.
- Shake out your bag – get rid of any sand that you might have picked up on the beach.
- Walk to the car park with other people – safety in numbers is a real thing, though the best beach clubs have security teams in their car parks too.
- When you get home – check your ride, make sure you have your phone on you too.
Three Bonus Safety Tips: Beach Club Master Class
We’ve got three final bonus tips that don’t really fit in any of the categories above but are still super handy for keeping you safe and happy on your big beach club day out:
- Don’t be afraid to label your possessions – you don’t have to sew your name into your swimming costume, but there’s nothing wrong with writing your name with a sharpie on your bag or your water bottle. It’s harder to walk off with somebody else’s stuff when it’s got their name on it.
- Do take good shoes – we always take a decent pair of sandals everywhere in Bali, thongs/flip-flops are fine but if you end up walking down a beach covered in sharp shells or rocks, you will wish you had something better for your feet.
- Let people know where you are – it’s also a good idea to let a friend know where you’re going and when you expect to be back (particularly if you’re going by yourself). If you do, god forbid, go missing – this can help ensure that people start looking for you quickly.
FAQs
Do Beach Clubs In Bali Provide Towels?
Yes, nearly all the beach clubs in Bali will provide their guests with a towel and the vast majority do not allow you to take your own towels into the beach club.
This ensures that the towels used in the venue are “pool safe” and help to maintain the branding and experience of the day.
However, you may need to pay an entrance fee, agree to a minimum spend or pay a towel rental fee as most beach clubs do not provide towels entirely free of charge.
Is It Safe To Swim On Bali Beaches?
It very much depends on which beach you intend to swim at. The beach at Sanur is one of the safest places you can swim in Southeast Asia as the offshore reef shields the entire beach and leaves the water safe even for small children learning to swim.
On the other hand, there are beaches in the Nusa Islands where swimming is entirely prohibited because of the dangers that you may get swept out to sea.
We’d also recommend that you stick to the swimming pools in the beach clubs if you visit Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta and Uluwatu as the currents at these beaches are also problematic.
Most of all, you should know that most beaches here in Bali do not have any lifeguard presence and that means if you get into trouble, you’re on your own.
What Do The Flags Mean On Bali’s Beaches?
If you walk along a Bali beach you may see flags driven into the sand and the first flag of a given colour marks the beginning of the zone and the second marks the end.
These flags are colour coded and they mean:
- Green – “Low Hazard” that doesn’t mean “100% safe” but it does mean that the beach area is considered to be safe enough for you to swim.
- Yellow – “Medium Hazard” this means that there will be moderate surf and/or currents under the water. You can swim in these areas, but should be, at least, an intermediate swimmer and be aware that there are no lifeguards to help you.
- Single Red – “High Hazard” which indicates that the surf is high and that currents may be strong and you’re not recommended to swim in this area at all.
- Double Red – “Very Dangerous” swimming in areas using double red flags is actually against the law in Bali and the water is closed to any member of the public in these locations.
How To Stop A Phone From Being Stolen On A Beach?
The easiest way to keep a phone safe when you’re on the beach is to buy a cheap sealable plastic wallet for it that can be worn on a cord around your neck.
Not only does this stop it from being stolen easily, but it also keeps it dry and out of the sand. You can buy waterproof (and water sealed) versions of these for a few bucks and they represent an excellent investment on a beach holiday of any kind.
Final Thoughts On Beach Club Safety Tips
So, there you have it. It’s not hard to stay safe at Bali’s beach clubs, mainly they’re free of crime, have excellent security and lifeguards and go out of their way to make sure their guests have a good time.
But it never hurts to take precautions does it? And the tips above will ensure that you have a great time at any beach club here on the island and won’t need to stress yourself about things going wrong.
