Tourist's epic tattoo fail in Bali sparks urgent warning to Aussies: 'Get what you pay for'

Published: 02:59, 20 July 2026 | Updated: 03:00, 20 July 2026 Australians have been urged to double-check their tattoo designs before getting inked in Bali after one tourist was left red-faced by an awkward misspelling.  The man visited a tattoo studio in the hopes of getting a simple seven-word phrase permanently written across his chest: 'In times of peace, prepare for war.' He sat in the chair for eight hours as the tattoo artist applied the design to his upper chest and didn't notice a glaring issue until after the session was over. The phrase contained a major error: the tattoo artist had written 'piece' instead of 'peace'.  Footage of the huge blunder was shared to Instagram where social media users had a field day, poking fun at the error. 'What a fantastic peace of work', one joked.  'You get what you pay for,' a second added.  The Bali-based tattoo company told Yahoo that the phrase has since been corrected. Aussies have been warned to double-check the design of their tattoos before getting inked in Bali Award-winning Perth tattoo artist Khail Aitkel warned Australian tourists to always double-check the design. He said it was especially important when getting a tattoo in a country where English is not the first language. 'The client should have double-checked his stencil, being in a country that doesn't typically speak English,' he said. 'With that being said, it's the artist's job to produce the right design for his client. 'This is what being cheap or careless will cost you.' Bali is a popular destination for Aussies wanting to get a tattoo at a much cheaper price. In Australia, prices can range anywhere between $120 for a small design to $5,000 for a sleeve tattoo. In Bali, a small tattoo can cost as little as $60 while the much larger sleeve tattoo can cost less than $2,500. The man visited a tattoo studio in the hopes of getting a simple seven-word phrase permanently written across his chest: 'In times of peace, prepare for war' 'It's important to look beyond cost and choose a reputable studio with experienced artists, strong reviews and clear hygiene practices,' Mr Aitkel said. 'Lower prices can be appealing, but standards, regulations and aftercare practices range differently between countries.' One tattoo artist, based in Queensland, said he frequently had to fix errors on designs after tourists returned to Australia. 'To be honest, I'm getting pretty sick of people asking me to fix Bali stuff-ups,' he said. 'Spend your money wisely, or don't be this guy.'