One thing you can be sure of at Bali’s Beach Clubs is that you’re going to spend some money and there are two fees that come up quite a bit in discussions on beach clubs – entrance fees and minimum spend.
These two things can be a little confusing as some clubs charge one, some the other and some charge both with an overlap.
So, we’ve put together a simple guide to entrance fees and minimum spend and how to deal with them.
Entrance Fees At Beach Clubs What Are They?
An entrance fee is an admission fee. It’s a charge levied to walk through the entrance of the beach club.
We don’t like entrance fees as a rule. The best beach clubs, like FINNS, don’t charge an entrance fee at all.
They also have areas where you can sit inside without agreeing to a minimum spend, which means that there really is no entrance fee.
However, if you are asked to pay an entrance fee at a beach club in Bali it can be as little as 150,000 IDR and as much as 600,000 IDR.
For special occasions such as NYE, nearly every beach club in Bali will charge an entrance fee but this is because they have international DJs or concert acts as well as better entertainment.
What’s Included In A Beach Club Entrance Fee?
It very much depends on the beach club. Some beach clubs give you nothing in return for your entrance fee, it’s simply the cost of getting in.
Others may include a towel as part of the deal so that you can use their pool and dry off.
The better entrance fees also include a drink but overall, we find that the entrance fee is rarely good value for money – except when there are special events.
Again, we stress that we think the best beach clubs don’t need to charge an entrance fee.
What’s A Minimum Spend At A Beach Club?
The minimum spend is different from an entrance fee. It’s an agreement between you and the beach club regarding seating.
Most seats (other than those at the bar) in beach clubs are big comfy seats often with direct access to the pool.
If you want to sit on these seats, you have to agree to a minimum spend which may be charged either per person, or per piece of furniture.
A minimum spend is a commitment to the beach club that you will buy food, drinks and sometimes other products such as tobacco or services such as equipment rental to, at least, the value of your commitment.
If you don’t spend that much, the beach club will invoice you for the minimum spend value as opposed to the value of what you have consumed.
Mostly, the minimum spend in beach clubs is set low enough that if you have a couple of drinks and a meal, you will easily spend more than the limit.
Some beach clubs, however, charge a very high minimum spend and you may want to think carefully about committing to spend $100+ (USD) or $150+ (AUD) per person on your first visit to any beach club.
What If I Agree To A Minimum Spend And Don’t Show Up?
Most beach clubs require you to deposit the minimum amount when you book your daybeds (or sofas, cabanas, bungalows, beanbags, etc.) and most of them have clear terms and conditions around this.
If you don’t show up at all on the day you booked, you lose the minimum spend deposit. You forfeit the entire amount as the club had to reserve the space that it could have sold to someone else.
If you do show up, but you show up late, you may find they charge a penalty or that you can spend the money, but have lost your booking on the furniture (some beach clubs will try to find you an equivalent seat if one comes available, others will not).
You need to read the t’s and c’s carefully when you book.
In general, these form a contract between you and the beach club and no amount of complaining will get your lost deposit back because you arrived 3 hours later.
What If I Have To Leave Early, Can I Come Back And Finish My Minimum Spend Later?
No. Once you leave the beach club, you will be expected to pay your tab and that means paying the full amount up to the minimum spend.
Some beach clubs, will allow you to convert the money you haven’t spent into takeaway products such as beers, food or tobacco products, others will not.
Again, you should read the terms and conditions carefully before you agree to a minimum spend.
Isn’t A Minimum Spend Unfair?
No, we don’t think that it is. While we don’t like entrance fees which are a cash grab, minimum spend requirements are fair enough.
The beach clubs here in Bali are extremely popular. In high season, FINNS alone will see more than 5,000 visitors a day! Many of the other big names are similarly busy.
That means that when these beach clubs hold a bed for you, they’re turning someone else away. The minimum spend ensures that beds are distributed equitably.
Every guest then becomes profitable and it means that the clubs can invest in the quality of their menus, entertainment, etc.
It’s also fair for you to lose your deposit if you don’t show up. The club has to hold a bed for you that somebody else could be using.
Yes, we know how frustrating it can be when you book and then get a dose of Bali belly first thing in the morning but it’s just one of those things. Beach clubs can’t take responsibility for your health.
Hang On? Some Places Charge An Entrance Fee And Have A Minimum Spend?
Yes, sadly several beach clubs have an entrance fee and then require a minimum spend too.
The worst offender that we can think of charges nearly $20 USD (that’s $30 AUD) to get through the door and only tells you about the minimum spend after you’ve paid the entrance fee.
We don’t like entrance fees at all and we especially don’t like them if you’re in the process of agreeing to spend $100+ USD ($150+ AUD) per person on top of that charge.
Sure, this is capitalism at work, but it’s ugly and unnecessary. If the best beach club on the island doesn’t need to do this, the rest shouldn’t have to either.
FAQs
Is The Minimum Spend At Bali Beach Clubs Subject To Taxes And Service Charges?
Yes, at most beach clubs, when you agree to a minimum spend this amount is the pre-tax and pre-service charge figure.
So, if the minimum spend is 2 million IDR, you will actually pay around 2,400,000 IDR in your final bill as they will have added roughly 20% as tax and service charges. (These are listed on the menu as you order).
Do All Beach Clubs Charge A Minimum Spend?
No, not all of Bali’s beach clubs have a minimum spend but the vast majority of them do. The exceptions tend to be small warung-style places that aren’t as professional and polished as the best beach clubs in Bali.
Can You Get A Discount On The Minimum Spend?
Sometimes, yes. You will often find that an advanced booking will reduce the minimum spend requirement.
You may also find that venues offer promos at certain times of the year when their minimum spend requirements go down.
We’ve even arrived at beach clubs and had the minimum spend waived or discounted on the spot (though not every often).
Which Areas Have Beach Clubs With The Most Reasonable Minimum Spends?
In terms of the popular beach club spots – Canggu and Seminyak tend to offer the most reasonable minimum spends with Ungasan and the Bukit Peninsula charging much more.
Final Thoughts On Entrance Fees And Minimum Spend
We don’t like entrance fees at beach clubs unless they are for a special event, it’s fine to charge a cover charge if we get to see Flume or Fat Boy Slim or Skrillex.
The worst entrance fees are those that come with no inclusions, we feel that every beach club that charges $10-$20 to get in could manage to throw in, at least, a towel for that.
The good news is that you can avoid entrance fees and many of the best beach clubs don’t have an entrance fee.
On the flip side, minimum spend requirements are very normal and are usually not burdensome (though some clubs are excessive in these requirements).
We recommend that you read up on the beach clubs you want to visit carefully and that you fully understand their terms and conditions regarding entrance fees and minimum spend requirements before you pay any kind of deposit.
