Most Bali itineraries tell you where to go. Almost none tell you what it'll actually cost in cash, day by day — which is the part that determines how much rupiah to carry and when to top up. Here's a straightforward 3-day route from Kuta down to Uluwatu, with realistic cash numbers attached to each day.
Day 1: Kuta
Settle in, walk the beach, get your bearings. This is also the day to sort out your cash for the trip — exchange near Kartika Plaza before you head out, so you're not scrambling later.
Cash-only or cash-preferred spend: local warung meals, beach vendor rentals, motorbike rental deposit if you're renting one, evening street food.
Rough daily cash budget: IDR 300,000–500,000 for a mid-range traveler eating local, more if you're doing beach club daybeds or higher-end dinners.
Day 2: Jimbaran
A short drive south. Morning beach walk, seafood dinner on the sand in the evening — one of the best-value cash days on this route if you stick to local warungs rather than the more tourist-oriented seafood restaurants.
Cash-only or cash-preferred spend: seafood dinner (many places are cash-first), parking, small vendors.
Rough daily cash budget: IDR 400,000–700,000, mostly weighted toward the seafood dinner.
Day 3: Uluwatu
The cliffside temple, the Kecak dance if you time it for sunset, and the surf breaks below if that's your thing. This is the day you'll spend the most in cash, since Uluwatu is more remote and card acceptance drops off noticeably outside the resorts.
Cash-only or cash-preferred spend: temple entrance fee, sarong rental if you don't bring your own, parking, Kecak dance tickets if bought on-site, warung meals.
Rough daily cash budget: IDR 400,000–600,000 for entry fees and food combined.
Total realistic 3-day cash estimate
For a mid-range traveler, budgeting somewhere in the range of IDR 1,200,000–1,800,000 in cash across the three days is a reasonable planning figure — on top of anything you're putting on a card for accommodation or larger purchases. Budget travelers eating almost exclusively at warungs will land toward the lower end; anyone adding beach clubs or higher-end dining should plan toward the higher end or beyond.
Where to exchange before you set off
Sort your cash out in Kuta before Day 1 — CX's head office branch at Jl. Kartika Plaza No.102b is the natural starting point for this route, and there's a Jimbaran branch too if you need to top up on Day 2 before heading to Uluwatu.
The bottom line
Itineraries are easy to find. Realistic cash planning for one isn't. Use these as a starting range, adjust for your own spending style, and exchange enough for two or three days at a time rather than your whole trip in one go — that way you're never caught short, and never carrying more than you need.