# Frequently asked questions > https://nusapenidabeauty.com/en/faq/ > Language: en Answers about boats and the sea, the island, the water, temples and paying. If yours is not here, ask us. ## Still have a question? Write to us with your dates and we will answer it directly. [Contact us](https://nusapenidabeauty.com/en/contact-us) ## Planning and Booking ### How private is a private trip? Your party only. Your guide, car and driver stay with you all day, and on the speedboat options so do the boat and skipper. We never add other guests to your trip. ### How far ahead should we book? For journeys with Signature stays in July, August and over Christmas and New Year, three to six months ahead. The best villas on Nusa Penida are few and fill first. Private days and walks can usually be arranged a week or two ahead, and often sooner. ### Can you change an itinerary? Yes. Every trip is private, so any of them can be made longer, shorter or rearranged. Tell us your dates and what matters most to you. ### Do you welcome children? Yes. Most days suit children well. The Kelingking descent does not, and the Diamond Beach stairs need a steady hand for young ones. Tell us their ages when you book, and we will arrange child seats in the car and suggest the right days. ### Which languages do your guides speak? English and Indonesian. Tell us if you need another language, and we will say honestly whether we can arrange it for your dates. ## Getting There and the Sea ### How do we get to Nusa Penida? By boat from Sanur, on the south-east coast of Bali. A private speedboat takes about 40 minutes, a scheduled fast boat 30 to 45. There is no airport on the island and no bridge. Our [getting here](https://nusapenidabeauty.com/en/map-and-transport) page has the details. ### Is the crossing rough? It can be. The Badung Strait is open water, and dry-season afternoons are often choppy. Sit towards the back, where the ride is gentler, and take a seasickness tablet beforehand if you need one. When the harbour authority closes the crossing, nobody sails, and we rearrange your day with you. ### Is there a tourist levy? Yes. Since February 2024, foreign visitors to Bali pay a levy of IDR 150,000 per person, per visit, usually online before arrival. It is personal, so it is not included in our prices. The local fees charged on Nusa Penida itself are included in every trip. ### What is Nyepi, and does it affect our trip? Nyepi is the Balinese Day of Silence. For 24 hours, from six in the morning, Bali and the Nusa islands stop: no boats, no flights, no traffic, and guests stay in their hotels. It falls in March most years. If your dates touch it, we will plan around it. ### When is the best time to visit? April to October is the dry season, with more sunshine and calmer seas, and July and August are the busiest months. November to March brings showers, mostly in the afternoon, and greener hills. Mantas are seen through most of the year; the mola season runs roughly July to October. ## On the Island ### Is the Kelingking descent safe? For fit, sure-footed people on a dry day, with a guide, yes, but it is steep and serious. Most people take 30 to 45 minutes down and longer back up. We do not go down after rain, and we never swim at the bottom: the shore break is heavy and there is a strong rip. ### Can we rent a scooter? We advise against it. Nusa Penida's roads are narrow, steep and in places broken, and scooter accidents among visitors are common. Every trip includes a private car and a driver who knows the roads. ### Where should we stay? The north and west coasts are closest to the harbours and the best-known viewpoints. The east coast is quieter, with cliff-top villas facing the sunrise. Nusa Penida has only a handful of truly high-end places to stay; when they are full, Nusa Lembongan, 15 minutes away by boat, makes a comfortable base. ### Is there cash and phone signal on the island? There are a few ATMs, mostly around Sampalan and the harbours, and they sometimes run out. Villas and larger restaurants take cards; small warungs and coconut stalls want cash. Mobile signal is good in most places and patchy on some cliffs. ### Can we drink the tap water? No. Drink bottled or filtered water. We carry plenty in the car, and many villas have refill stations for your own bottle. ## Snorkelling and Diving ### Do we need to be strong swimmers to snorkel? You should be comfortable swimming in open water, which is often choppy at Manta Point. Buoyancy vests are on board, and your guide is in the water with you. ### Are manta sightings guaranteed? No. They are very likely through most of the year, but mantas are wild animals. If the swell closes Manta Point, the skipper moves to Manta Bay, which is more sheltered and also visited by mantas, or to reefs on the north coast. ### How should we behave around mantas? Stay at least three metres away, never touch them, and do not chase them or dive down onto them. A touch strips the protective coating from their skin. ### How cold is the water? Usually around 26 to 29°C at the surface. From July to October, cold water rises from the deep and can drop below 20°C on some dive sites. We provide wetsuits, and divers get a 5 mm suit and hood. ### Why reef-safe sunscreen? Some sunscreen ingredients, including oxybenzone, harm coral. Choose a mineral sunscreen, or wear a rash vest and use less. ## Temples and Customs ### What should we wear to temples? Cover your shoulders and knees. We provide a sarong and sash, which are worn at every temple, whatever your clothes. ### Are there customs we should know? Walk around offerings on the ground rather than over them, do not point your feet at shrines, and never climb on temple walls or statues. Custom asks women who are menstruating not to enter temples; nobody will ask, and we mention it so you can decide. ### What if there is a ceremony on our day? Ceremonies are common, and they can close parts of a temple or slow the roads. They are also often the most memorable part of a visit. Your guide will explain what is happening and where you can stand. ## Payments and Changes ### How does booking work? Choose your trip and the number of guests and send the booking. We check availability, usually within a day, and send you a payment link once everything is confirmed. Nothing is charged before then. ### How do we pay? By card through PayPal, usually without needing a PayPal account. Prices can be shown in ten currencies. ### What if we need to cancel or change? Private days and walks: a full refund up to 7 days before, 50% from 7 days to 48 hours before, and no refund within 48 hours. Journeys: a full refund up to 30 days before, 50% from 30 to 14 days before, and no refund within 14 days, because boats, guides and stays are held for you from the moment we confirm. You can move your date once at no charge if you tell us at least 7 days ahead, subject to availability. If the harbour authority closes the crossing for weather, or we have to cancel, you choose a new date or a full refund. ### Should we tip? Tipping is never expected, but it is appreciated. If you would like to, around IDR 100,000 to 200,000 a day for your guide, and a little less for your driver, is generous.