Bali is more than an island, or a pretty picture or a paradise destination – it’s a way of life and a state of mind. No wonder it’s often called the Island of the Gods!
If you haven’t yet made it to Bali I don’t blame you – it takes full commitment to fly all the way across the world, but be humbled: it’s not in vain.
A trip to this relatively small (compared to its neighbours) island in Indonesia is a microcosm of a whole separate world, one completely different to the vibe which runs through Java, or Lombok.
No, I don’t blame you for not making it to Bali, because once you experience life here, you’ll never want to leave.
Bali Travel Booking Resources
These are my favourite companies to use when I travel.
• Search cheap flights with Skyscanner.
• Find the best deals on hotels on Booking.com.
Bali Tours
• Browse small group adventure tours with G Adventures or Contiki.
Best Places to Go
Look up: “Best places to visit in Bali” on Google, and you’ll get lists full of the most popular beaches, epic surf spots and where to go for the most bumping full moon parties and bars stocked with endless supplies of Bintang beer.
Scroll through hashtags on Instagram, and you’ll come across never-ending photos of palm-fringed beaches with cotton candy skies and swimsuit-clad fashionistas posing in resort infinity pools (#Selfie #Basic). But oh how the media has fooled us.
I would recommend exploring Kuta, Ubud, Padang Bai and Gili Trawangan. It was an amazing holiday and so I thought I would share a few of my experiences with you! If you’re looking to travel to Bali anytime in the future, I hope this information may come in use.
Kuta – Seminyak
We stayed in the quieter area of Seminyak, away from the tourist flooded centre. Our hotel was quaint and beautiful with a slight bit of construction going on but none of which affected us. Our room was spacious and for our first couple of nights in Bali, it eased us into our stay quite perfectly. The reception staff were helpful and they handed us tropical juice on arrival – it’s the small things in life!
We stayed in Taman Ayu Cottage Hotel which I really enjoyed – not just because they did a fantastic breakfast. One negative point I would have to make about this hotel is that it sits on a main road which doesn’t have proper pavements so if you like to explore by foot and worry about the safety of walking on the road then this hotel may not be the place for you.
If you visit Kuta between May and September then I would highly recommend venturing along to Kuta beach where there is the opportunity to release baby sea turtles into the ocean. It was an absolute must in my eyes and a highlight of my holiday. It’s free of charge and there are people of all ages getting involved. The experience is made even more unique by the fact that they hold a ‘baby turtle race’. It really is what it says on the tin!
Ubud
We stayed at Y Resort Ubud during our stay here. I thought it was absolutely fantastic! They had a private taxi service at the hotel which would drive you to the restaurant-filled main street at a reasonable price.
The journey is only a short five minutes away by car but I would say that it would be unsafe to attempt this road by foot. We decided to treat ourselves one evening and get room service – it was my first ever time doing this but somehow, being in Bali and being in a place of peace and serenity, I couldn’t help but indulge in a bit of luxury.
When in the tranquil area of Ubud, I would recommend trying some yoga and if you’re really looking to pamper yourself then there are various spas scattered throughout the town.
When we were there, we did everything from visit yoga barn, get a massage, visit the monkey forest, we even had a fun afternoon of white water rafting on Ayung River.
Padang Bai
This is a small fishing village that is mostly visited by tourists who are headed in the direction of the Gili islands. It appeared a lot quieter in this area and although it may not be a destination that you’d stay in for long, it’s still worth a stop off. There are five major temples to visit and there are some beautiful views offered in certain parts of Padang Bai.
We stayed at Padang Bai Beach Resort – the rooms were spacious and the breakfast was tasty. There was an egg station which meant you were able to get your eggs exactly how you wanted them – an omelette was always a favourite of mine! There was also a pool bar where we spent the evening sipping on cocktails as the sun came down. Bellissima!
If you visit Padang Bai, be sure to wander along to White Sand Beach. You can probably guess from its name that it’s a beautiful white sandy beach. The beach is surrounded by palm trees and hidden away from plain sight.
Its secluded location (up a hill about 15 minutes walk) makes it a very beautiful beach to visit. Don’t worry too much about getting yourself fed before going there as there are beach huts which serve very cheap and tasty local food.
Gili Trawangan
This island is a tourist hot spot and is deemed the most popular of the three Gili islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air).
There is an array of beautiful restaurants along the strip of the beach as well as a square filled with street food stalls – ideal if you’re looking for a cheap dinner. There are no cars on the island – everyone walks, cycles or there is the option of travelling by horse and cart (fancy!).
Only one bar can stay open until 4am each night so the parties tend to rotate on a nightly basis. So if you get to the island and think, ‘this is awfully quiet’ – keep exploring because somewhere further up the strip there is guaranteed to be a party happening!
Whilst I was here, I stayed at a place called Bagaz Cottage which was a quaint hotel with only a few rooms and two very small pools but it was ideal for us! It was only about a 10 minute walk from the beach strip but far away enough that we weren’t being kept awake all night by noise. Apart from having an extra unwanted guest in our room one night (possibly the largest gecko I’ve ever seen!) but that’s only natural in a climate like that.
Whilst on Gili Trawangan we also tried our first ever experience of diving. It was something which I never thought I’d be able to do as I had developed a slight fear of the sea but after overcoming this, I couldn’t have enjoyed it more! It’s something I would most definitely recommend doing.
We did our dive with Big Bubble Dive and the instructors were really friendly. I definitely felt comfortable knowing that we were in safe hands. On our dive we went to Bounty Wreck which used to be a pontoon used for building a jetty on Gili Meno but a large hole in the pontoon meant that it sank. It’s now completely overgrown with corals as well as hosts a great variety of fish. Not a bad way to experience your first ever dive!
Top Things to Do in Bali
Bali’s best kept secrets aren’t its black sand beaches or yoga retreats. It’s the culture of Bali and the islands that surround it. And to help you immerse yourself in it all, here are my tips. I’ve curated a list of everyday things which have a whole new meaning in Bali, just so you know what you’re committing to when you decide to finally book that ticket.
Cultural Exploration
Religion is the heartbeat of Indonesia, and that doesn’t change when it comes to Bali. Its cultural roots run deep, and you’ll feel the spirituality there through the whispers of prayers at the temples. Bali’s called “Island of the Gods” for a reason. You’ll wake up to the smell of incense and see colorful flowers in handmade banana leaf offerings everywhere you go in Bali.
Handcrafted, intricate sculptures and architecture line the streets. And while you’re there, keep your eyes peeled for cheeky macaque monkeys. Definitely catch some traditional Balih-balihan dances in temple courtyards, such as at Saraswati Temple and Pura Dalem Temple. Alicia Keys may have written “Girl on Fire,” but I’m pretty sure the Balinese walked on fire first in the traditional Kecak Dance.
Sample the Local Food
Whilst the whole routine of waking up early in the morning may still feel the same, doing so in Bali (especially Ubud) has a different feel. I’d never usually be one to advise an early rise, but I almost definitely recommend it in Ubud. Wake up early, take a leisurely stroll to the nearest local market and pick out fresh fruit for breakfast.
An exotic, colourful feast for the eyes, and an even more exciting one for the palette, stack up on dragonfruit, guava, star fruit, watermelon, pineapple and some of those tiny, supersweet bananas, and indulge in a fresh cup of Balinese coffee.
Whilst Bali has its fair share of extravagant restaurants, hotels and beach resorts, it’s all the more rewarding finding a local restaurant with an authentic menu from a true Balinese kitchen. Try the aromatic Sate (skewered, grilled meats served with a spicy or peanut sauce), Nasi Ayam or Nasi Kampur (rice dishes with chicken or vegetables), Tempeh salads, Babi guling (slow spit-roasted pig) or Batutu (stuffed chicken, wrapped in banana leaves and husk and cooked for 6-7 hours). A long way away from your regular sad desk lunch for sure…
Exercise & Well-being
A hub for well-being, Bali inspires your inner health nut. Though there’s an endless call to relax, something almost everyone who visits Bali must try, is attending a few yoga classes. Usually just another exercise class back at home, yoga in Bali is a completely different experience.
Working on your breathing, chanting and core isn’t just a Thursday night routine here – how can it be when you’re surrounded by rice paddies, an organic farm or a jungle ravine as you peacefully ‘Ohmmm’ to the sound of the pattering rain on large, dark green leaves just beyond the platformed enclosure?
The locals take the transformative power of yoga and chanting very seriously here, as part of their Hindu traditions and beliefs, which takes this well beyond your daily exercise routine – it’s a way of capturing the essence of the island…and, well, exercising! Don’t think it’s for you? Take a beginner’s lesson; maybe it can change your mind.
Explore the Island on a Moped
Though you can drive a car around in Bali, the only true way of getting around to almost anywhere on the island is via a moped. It’s the locals’ transport of choice, and it is so for a very good reason – why would you want to put anything between you and the gorgeous surroundings you’re encompassed by constantly?
With the warm wind running through your hair and brushing vigorously past your face, and the sun warming your back, you’ll soon see why mopeds are the ideal choice for any commute through Bali.
Whether it’s a day trip from Ubud to Tanah Rata, or to a prime surfing spot like Uluwatu, zigzagging through lush green tropical landscape, cruising along rice paddies and whizzing past peaceful villages, your commute in Bali is nothing like navigating the Central Line on London Underground at rush hour, that’s for sure.
Learn the Local Lingo
Interacting with the people you see every day can start to take a very stagnant pattern. One of the biggest things which you come face to face with in Bali is how you interact with the people around you, the locals and the culture.
“Om Swastyastu” is your common hello – the ‘Om’ a holy thread which connects you to the universe, then ‘I hope good comes at you from all directions’. With a conversation starter so spiritual, no wonder having a conversation in Bali has so much more meaning than any idle small talk you might strike up at home.
Relax
The gentle breeze blowing on a warm evening, as the horizon is lost where the sky and flooded rice paddies kiss; a group of children kicking about a football as a monkey or two jump overhead in the lush jungle trees leaning over the narrow, windy streets – a calming air settles in amongst the greenery and scenery making Bali the ideal place to relax, because, quite frankly, over here it’s just in the air.
Kicking back your feet and settling into a hammock, taking a stroll through Ubud’s greenery, laying on a remote beach or even spotting some of the sights – Bali will completely revolutionise the way you define the word ‘relaxed’. Trust us on this one.
Wildlife
View my tips for visiting the Monkey Forest in Ubud – one of the most popular tourism destinations on the island.
Surfing
Kuta’s beaches aren’t as clean as they once were, but still full of surfers and surfing instructors if you’re looking to learn. Chances are though that if the sun is out and the waves are rolling in the beach will be covered in surfers. I’m sorry, but I forgot to ask about surfing lessons and prices.
I’m going to go ahead and assume that most the major hotels have a tutorial of their own or at least one they can recommend. If not go with the assumption that groups get better discounts, so grab some kids from your bungalow and head over to the beach.
My advice again would be to explore the island and find your own beach. Rent a driver or a jeep for the day and find your own. And if you’re lucky enough to find your beach…don’t tell anyone. Keep it for yourself. If I were to find my own beach, one without tourists and vendors and civilized life (all hypothetically speaking of course 😉 I wouldn’t tell anyone about it. Not even to my most devoted readers.
However, according to my resident Bali surf ambassador, Jordan, his favorite swell spots are Sri Lanka, Dreamland, and Uluwatu beaches. “Anyone can seek out the main surf attractions, but one we found that was mellow and off the beaten path was a hidden gem called Balian.
Tucked up in the Northwest part of the island, there were quality villas to stay in on the cheap – we would wake up and literally walk down the hill with our boards to overhead glassy waves and ride all day. Balian is pure surfing peace.”
What to Pack
If you’re planning on visiting Bali then don’t forget to pack all the essentials and come prepared. Sometimes it’s the most obvious things that we forget. Take for example sun cream – we ran out and finding the right factor we were looking for as well as it not costing an arm and a leg proved slightly more difficult than we had anticipated.
Making sure you arrange insurance as well is certainly a must – I got my health insurance policy online. I found both to be perfectly suitable. Fortunately I didn’t need to claim on either but it’s sod’s law that if I hadn’t arranged insurance, then something may have happened.
Make sure you pack…
• Light/loose clothing due to the tropical climate and some modest clothing to use when visiting temples
• A poncho
• A hat, sunglasses and sun screen
• A swim suit! Those beaches won’t be as blissful without one
• A strong mosquito spray – especially during the rainy season!
• Adaptors – Bali’s are the same two pin sockets that are used in Europe
• A reusable water bottle
• Comfortable trainers as there are lots of outdoor adventures
Also make sure that your passport is in date and that you have Indonesian Rupiah’s at hand because you will need to pay your visa fee on arrival as well as a departure tax when leaving (I almost got caught out with this!).
Where to Stay
There’s plenty of luxury resorts, hotels and budget hostels. Hostels are generally called Homestays or Budget Hotels, so mention those to locals for a better response for directions. A dorm bed in a hostel will cost between $5 and $15 and a single room costs around $15-25 per night If you’re looking for a private villa with an infinity pool they can be as cheap as $10-25 a night.
Kuta is the islands biggest town and one of the most popular places to stay, located on the south side of the island. When flying into Denpasar (DPS) you can take a taxi for around 50,000 R into Kuta which should take around 30 mins depending on traffic. If you’re a backpacker and you haven’t procured housing in advance, just tell your taxi driver to drop you off at the front end of Poppies Lane 1. It’s a narrow alley street for buget hotels and market kiosks aka Backpacker Heaven.
Something you should know in advance, Kuta is not the side of Bali that you might envision as the honeymooners paradise fantasy. Kuta is basically an Aussie’s Cancun. It’s a short flight from Northern Australia and the beer is cheap. Please do not let the partying areas of this town deter you from seeing the rest of the island. It’s an island that’s meant for exploring.
Poppies Line 1 is not for driving, it is for walking and scooters only. So when you’re taxi drops you off, it’ll have to be at the end of the street and you can walk the rest of the way. New Area Hotel is a little walk down Sorga Lane off of Poppies Line 1. I loved staying here, but I have found since that I may have been one of few.
Of course, my good fortune might have had something to do with me announcing I’m a travel writer at the front desk. So I should probably put out a disclaimer. This is a semi party hotel for 20 somethings. They play loud music at the pool and do flips into the water that splash the chairs. The ‘restaurant’ is for basics only.
A quick coffee and scrambled eggs and toast on your way out. The front desk will arrange transport back to the airport and recommend some local eateries, but that’s the extent of their help.
It’s within walking distance to the main beach, shopping markets and the memorial on Legion. You can rent scooters from a little shop next door and there’s a travel agency kiosk at the end of the lane to arrange day trips.
Getting Around
Transport in Bali is cheap and there are lots of options including bus, car or ojek (motorbike or scooter). To visit nearby islands there are boats to places like Gili and Lombok. For a local experience and the cheapest way to navigate the island take the Bali Bemo, a type of regulated public minivans for local people.
Driving in Bali
Do you drive? It may not be something that crosses your mind before you leave. You might think to yourself ‘I don’t plan to hire a car’ – okay, that’s fine, but it still may be worth getting yourself an International Driving Permit.
Take for example renting motorbikes or scooters. If you haven’t got the appropriate licence (even if the place hiring them out doesn’t ask you for evidence of one), you may find yourself stopped by local police and forced to pay a fine. Nipping into your local post office and asking for an International Driving Permit over the counter should do the trick.
All you need to do is fill out a form and supply them with both parts of your licence (photocard and paper counterpart) as well as proof of identity. After this they’ll be able to provide you with the International Driving Permit there and then. Car rentals can be around $20-30 per day.
Taxis
If you’re planning on sticking to the beach and not travelling outside of Seminyak, then use taxis to get around but avoid those who refuse to use a meter as you may get hit quite hard when it comes to paying the fare! Blue Bird Taxi’s are recommended and have a specific logo on the roof. Exercise caution when getting taxi’s off the street, some are scams and will charge you a lot more than official ones.
Tours
If you want a stress free experience or just don’t want to travel solo, consider small group tours. Local and international companies offer trips, I recommend G Adventures, TruTravels or Contiki.
Food
The food in Bali is delicious and also very cheap! You can get street food for around $1 a plate. You can find a good range of local and Western restaurants in Bali, from dining in Kuta that will set you back $2-5 per meal to seafront views in Seminyak where you can expect to pay $5-10 per meal. You can budget $15 to $20 a day for your food and drink and finish the day feeling very full!
They tax every meal right off the bat, anywhere from 10% – 21%. Some call it “plus plus”. Make sure you check the fine print on the bottom of the menu before you order anything, better if you can check it at the door before you sit down. Supposedly, 10% of the tip goes to the gov’t and the rest goes to the restaurant. But the other half of the ‘supposedly’ is thats what they tell you so that you’ll a table tip too. I’m not sure.
There are lots of places to eat, I would recommend the Secret Garden Inn. The food is decent and they show movies on the wall at night, so it definitely became one of my favorite places in on the Line.
They give you the wireless password after you order at least a drink, plus it’s only courteous if you’re going to be there for awhile. Which you will because this is the place with the strongest signal, I have found. I like the staff too, just plain nice people, no one trying to muscle you out for not ordering the whole menu.
For internet access I suggest sitting inside the actual restaurant for the outlets and relatively peace and quiet. The outside seating and bar can get a little rowdy some nights because of the partiers.
I recommend ordering Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce and White Rice, I love the preparation of this at Secret Garden. They bring you, well almost a mini grill, with the skewers of meat and sauce and rice on the side so that you can mix everything up the way you like it. They also serve Bali Cider here, which is a pretty decent hard cider. I know, they’re kind of girly, but I got hooked on hard ciders when I lived in London and can’t seem to break the hold.
Drink
Sariwangee is the local tea, a great basic, you can’t go wrong.
No trip to Bali is complete without a taste of the local lager, Bintang, which costs $1-4 depending on where you are. Local restaurants are generally a lot cheaper than bars in the main tourist hubs. Beers should cost around 30,000 R or less and you should be able to get a good meal for 55,000 R or less. Just giving you a ballpark so that you don’t get ripped off.
Stay away from a little drink called Arak. It’s on the menu at almost every bar, but it resembles a bad Absinthe. It also seems to have one too many reports of heart problems, eye problems including blindness, and even a few deaths.
You might also want to wipe off the tops of your beer bottles, even at the bars. Because of the way they store the glass bottles apparently rust occasionally collects around the rims. So just in case, make sure to clean those off before drinking.
Shopping
Oh how I wish I had a large empty suitcase to fill my materialistic needs with. One day I will return to Bali with a slew of empty suitcases and the shopping adventure will begin. Obviously there are lots of beach wraps, swim trunks and bikinis, and flip flops galore. But they have these great cotton eyelet and embroidered cutout sundresses.
The shops with the household stuff are my favourite. They apparently mosaic everything in Bali. Which I am completely fine with because mosaics are a favorite of mine. Mosaic-ed bowls, vases, sculptures; everything in every color.
Memorial on Legion St is I would consider to be the main road in Kuta to be Legian, which is right off Poppies Line 1 if you’re staying in the area. It’s kind of a funny switch over from reality. Poppies Line 1 is this almost long alley with cheap shopping stalls, backpackers and bungalows and then you walk out of the alley onto Legian and its back to the real world. Legian is covered in bustling cars and taxis, popular beach shops like Billabong, Quicksilver and Roxy.
Just a quick note about shopping vendors:
You will be harrassed 24/7 by streetside vendors. TRANSPORT? MASSAGE? TATTOOS? HAIR BRAIDING?
These guys have some serious sales talents. They know how to work a customer, but not necessarily in a sleezy way or a conartist way. It’s not like Thailand or Cambodia, the Balinese seem to be much more personable about it. They’ve got pick-up lines…for customers. “You drop something Miss! You drop your smile! Sandals for you! Help you keep your boyfriend!”
And they always want to shake your hand, which I haven’t quite figured out yet. If you have some insight I’d love hear your comments about it. I’m not sure if its some sort of bridge building between cultures to make them seem more personable, or what.
And when the kids get out of school they swarm the alleys and cafes for new tourists willing to buy cheap friendship bracelets. These kids get kind of aggressive about it. They tug on your shorts and hold on to your arms while you walk by to try to charm you into stopping.
Best Places to Visit Near Bali
Explore Lombok
Much of Lombok is still untouched. It’s a quiet island of small villages and beautiful mosques with some of the sweetest and friendliest locals you’ll ever meet. For all you foodies, good news: some of the best and most authentic Indonesian meals are waiting for you in Lombok (especially ones prepared by local families). Ever wanted to feel like a king or queen?
In Central Lombok, you’ll be able to visit a Sasak village and engage in a traditional ceremony. And by that, you essentially pretend like you just got married, and they’ll show you what it’s like to be treated like local royalty: dressing like it, dancing like it and being honored like it. Oh, and you might get a stick fighting demo too. Pretty sure you’ll feel like a million bucks at the end.
Lombok also happens to be a DIYer’s dream come. Woven cloth is one of its traditional arts (aka weaving is a big deal there). If you find yourself in Sukarara Village, you can learn how to weave with customary weaving tools. Word on the (traditional) street is that if a woman can’t weave, she can’t get married. So women in the village learn how to weave basically when they learn to walk.
Swing through Gili Islands
Gili Trawangan might be known as the hippy paradise/party destination, but there’s much more to this island, as well as its neighboring counterparts: Gili Meno and Gili Air. The word I’m going with: charm. It probably sounds like a total “bule” – aka how Indonesians describe foreigners – thing, but go snorkeling with a local guide on a private tour of all three islands.
You can hit up all the spots on your own schedule, survey all the Gili Islands and get a taste of what the locals do on the daily (funny stories at sea may or may not be included). Back on Gili T, if you’ve got jello legs from all the walking, opt to ride through the island in style on horse drawn carts known as Cidomos. Gili T is unique because motorized vehicles are not allowed on the island (yay for being green!).
If that’s not enough, Gili T knows how to do night markets right. Trawangan Night Market is complete with open-air stalls and warung-style cafeterias. Just imagine: fresh seafood catches of the day, skewer mountains of grilled meats and plates upon plates of nasi campur. You’ll leave the strip feeling like you just walked into a bonfire of deliciousness.
Plan a Trip to Bali
Travel to Bali, cruise around its bordering islands, and you’ll find that its shores are indeed breathtaking and the rice terraces are perfectly green. To top that off, conquering an active volcano climb of Mt. Batur is definitely rewarding. But the “best secrets” aren’t really tangible spots at all.
Spend enough time in Indonesia, and you’ll quickly find the best kept secrets are in the islands’ diverse backgrounds. It’s in the food, the people, the history and the stories. Yes, especially the stories.
After all, thousands of islands make up the country and each carry a culture of its own. So grab a cup of Luwak coffee or ginger tea, order yourself a dish of nasi goreng, sit with a local and soak it all in.