You don’t necessarily need to apply for a local phone number if you plan to use your mobile device to book taxis or transportation on the Indonesian island of Bali. Here’s why:

  1. Many ride-hailing apps, such as Grab and Go-Van, support international credit card payments and can be used without requiring a local SIM card.
  2. Your hotel or accommodation provider may offer smartphone-friendly booking services for taxi pickups, eliminating the need to purchase a local SIM card.

However, if you want to enjoy more comprehensive phone capabilities during your trip, such as:

  • Making calls with a local number
  • Sending SMS (text messages) to locals and receiving responses from them easily

then it’s recommended that you consider purchasing a temporary or prepaid local SIM card for Indonesia. This is available at airports, major transport hubs, or convenience stores.

Keep in mind that most hotels and tourist areas have Wi-Fi networks accessible, so you can still stay connected without using your data plan excessively.

Overall, while not necessary, having a local phone number may be convenient if you want to seamlessly communicate with locals.