My sister Brittany and I are extremely close, and growing up, we always dreamed about going on one final sister excursion before both of us were married and living our separate lives. As soon as I got engaged, we realized that this was our time, and we used the site SkyScanner to randomly search for cheap places to visit in September. We discovered that our dream destination, Bali, was only $550 round-trip. We had to do it!
Bali is an incredible destination; the combination of unique history and culture, gorgeous landmarks, and relaxing modern settings have resulted in Bali being the ultimate destination. Because of the uniqueness of each of the different regions on the island, we quickly started planning in order to ensure we experienced everything on our Bali bucket list! This trip included visiting five different areas of Bali: Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud, Northern Bali Region, and Nusa Penida.
Keep reading to learn more about what our favorite excursions were, what to pack before you go, and other pro tips to ensure a successful first trip to the Island!
I. Seminyak
Seminyak is the lively, bustling beach town of Bali. The area consists of streets of boutiques, exclusive hotels, and glamorous pool clubs. Picture Miami but in Bali. Seminyak is located in the southern region of the Island and is where we stayed in our Air B ‘n B for the entirety of our trip due to its nearness and accessibility to eateries, juice bars, shops, and the beach. We then ventured from here for our day trips to the other areas of Bali.
Things to Do:
· Shopping: My favorite shopping strip in Bali was on Jalan Kayu Aya. This street and surrounding area was lined with unique boutiques and lots of street vendors that sell traditional Balinese items. I am still obsessing over the beaded bracelets, woven rattan bag, sandals, and macramé wall hanging that Britt and I snagged from the local vendors! Pro tip: Make sure you bargain with all of the street merchants before committing to a purchase. They will go down in price!
· Pool Clubs: Seminyak is also known for their high-end pool clubs that line the beaches. These clubs are typically filled with unique restaurants, multiple pools, and a variety of lounging areas. In Seminyak, we visited one of the most famous pool clubs – Potato Head Beach Club. This trendy, upscale pool club was unique due to the infinity pool that spanned the entire front of the club and overlooked the ocean. Seriously, so gorgeous! However, if you are looking for a more laidback beach club vibe, rather than an upscale party scene, I would suggest going to the clubs located in Canggu.
· Restaurants: The area has a chic restaurant and bar scene as well. Two of our favorite spots included La Favela and Motel Mexicola. La Favela is a Spanish restaurant that’s known for its unique outdoor seating and tapas. Motel Mexicola was another trip fave! It is known for trendy, unique Mexican dishes, and it had the best quesadilla I have ever eaten to-date.
Tips
Overall, Seminyak is a lively area to visit if you enjoy high-end shopping, upscale beach clubs, and trendy restaurants. We never spent a full day in Seminyak, rather made evening trips here for shopping and late-night dinners after our other excursions! If you plan on incorporating Seminyak into your Bali trip, I would suggest either staying here and making a few evening visits, or spending just one full day in this area.
II. Ubud
Ubud is the cultural, historic center of the Island where you will find unique art, temples, and iconic sites. Although the area is bustling, a peace and spirituality surrounds this region. I almost found my zen here, almost.
Because there are so many sites to see in the area, I would suggest hiring a day driver to stay with you for the entirety of the day to help you navigate from location to location. While in Ubud, we immersed ourselves in the traditional Balinese culture and partook in Balinese dance, walked through a variety of temples and palaces, and visited many iconic Bali sites.
Things to Do:
· Sites
1. Tegallalang Rice Terrace: This is one of the most iconic areas in Bali to view the native rice paddies. It is incredibly beautiful to walk through when the sun is rising early in the morning. This is also a better time to go in order to avoid the crowds of tourists!
2. Tirta Empul Water Temple: If you chose to only go to one temple while in Bali, choose this gorgeous temple that features bodies of Holy Water. This destination was extremely impactful as many of the local people surrounded the area and were immersing themselves in the Holy Waters. Our driver led us in a sacrifice, and we sprinkled ourselves with the waters.
3. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: Zoo meets rainforest. The sanctuary is a tropical array filled with monkeys scurrying anywhere and everywhere. I seriously felt like I invaded their home, but it was so incredible to watch them interact with each other. We somehow spent hours here following them around and trying not to get our sunglasses stolen by them! (Cost: 20,000 IDR, $14)
4. Gianyar Waterfalls: Although there are MANY waterfalls to choose from in Bali, this location was unique because of the multiple falls and the surrounding cliff areas. The top of the cliffs overlooked the falls and had a variety of relaxing, outdoor lunch spots. It was so refreshing to enjoy the view while sipping on a fresh coconut water! We also ventured down to the multiple falls and dipped into a fresh water spring. Make sure to pack a bathing suit, water shoes, and a towel! Experiencing the waterfalls and immersing myself under the water was one of my favorite experiences on the trip.
5. Kopi Luwak Coffee Plantation: Visit one of the coffee plantations in Bali that is known for their Kopi Luwak coffee. This Bali native coffee is incredibly unique as the coffee beans are digested by a creature called the civet. Once the bean is pooped out and partially digested, they use this bean for the coffee. Seriously, TRY IT!
6. Kemenuh Bali Butterfly Park: This was an incredible addition to our trip, as we walked through the sanctuary and were completely surrounded by butterflies. (Cost: 20,000 IDR, $14)
7. Mason Elephant Lodge: One of my lifelong bucket list items was completed while in Bali! This elephant sanctuary allows you to bathe, ride, and swim with elephants that have been rescued and cared for by the facility. We started off the excursion washing one of the beautiful giants and then entered the biggest “bath” I have EVER seen. Staying on top of a giant elephant while they are splashing around in water was such a wild experience. Interacting with these loving babes was worth every penny. (Cost 1.1 Million IDR, $75)
· Pool Clubs and Restaurants
1. Jungle Fish: This pool club is a must-visit when in Ubud. This resort placed in the middle of the jungle allows you to find your inner Zen while floating in an infinity pool or enjoying a drink swing-side. Spend an afternoon relaxing here and enjoying a meal as you overlook the rainforest. So relaxing.
Tips
Ubud’s peacefulness and cultural importance makes the region an extremely iconic area of Bali. There are so many unique areas to visit in Ubud, and we spent the majority of our time on this trip exploring this city. I would suggest spending at least two or three days in Ubud in order to fully experience the heart of Bali. We managed to do everything in two days, but it was the most intense, action-packed two days. I truly wish we would have had more time here to enjoy the cultural sites and explore the downtown.
You will also want to hire a day driver that can take you from site to site. We asked our Air B ‘n’ B owner for a driver suggestion, and she gave us contact information for her most trusted chauffeur! Wayan, our driver, was incredibly knowledgeable and took us to different local spots that we had not planned for. We liked and trusted him so much that we ended up hiring him nearly every day of the trip, and towards the end he became the best third wheel on our excursions. Hiring a driver allows you to have a local’s opinion, ensures that you always have a ride from location to location, and it also ends up being a lot cheaper to hire a driver rather than paying to get to individual locations. We only paid 500,000 IDR for the day, which is about $35 USD!
III. Canggu
Canggu is the ultimate trendy, hang-ten beach town. Have your driver drop you off, grab a fresh squeezed juice, and get lost exploring this area.
Things to Do:
· Spa: The laidback vibe of Canggu made for a perfect few days of relaxing after we had just intensely explored Ubud for multiple days. The jetlag was also creeping in at this point, and I was SO tired. Book yourself the full spa treatment at Spring Spa Canggu. We spent the entire morning at this luxurious spa, and I treated myself to a full body scrub, facial, traditional Balinese massage, hair mask, and blowout. I left feeling like a QUEEN. Because of how inexpensive everything is in Bali, the entire morning of treatment cost around $100 USD. I finally found my zen on this trip, for real.
· Shopping and Restaurants: Canggu’s streets are lined with outdoor cafes, juice bars, and trendy boutiques. After our spa treatment, we spent the rest of the morning wandering Pantai Batu Bolong and the surrounding area! The Loft was a great breakfast cafe where I enjoyed the best waffle topped with fresh fruit and yogurt.
· Pool Clubs: The trendy, yet relaxed vibe of the pool clubs in Canggu were by far my favorite. We visited both La Brisa and The Lawn during our time at Canggu. La Brisa was unique due to the beach beanbag seating that they had along the ocean front, as well as multiple seating areas around the pools. We enjoyed staying here through the evening, sipping a drink, and watching the sunset. The Lawn provided much more of a sophisticated vibe and is known for their infinity pool that spans the length of the entire club and overlooks the ocean.
Tips:
Many of the popular pool clubs get incredibly busy in the afternoon, so come earlier in the morning to ensure that you can find a spot! Most of the clubs we visited had free seating, as well as daybeds available to rent. The Lawn waived the daybed fee if your party spends $1 million IDR on food and drinks ($70). This is a great option if you plan on staying there for a lengthy period of time. We spent well over this minimum simply by eating and drinking at the club, and we then received 5 star treatment all day because of being seated in the day bed section!
IV. Northern Bali
The Northern Bali region possesses many of the area’s most beautiful waterfalls, as well as a few must see attractions. Although it was a bit of a trip, we ventured there with our favorite driver and managed to see the area in one day!
To Do:
· Attractions:
1. The Ulun Danu Beratan Temple: This unique temple was well worth the drive to Northern Bali. It sits along the western side of the Beratan Lake, creating the most gorgeous backdrop that makes it appear as if a portion of the temple is floating on water.
2. The Handara Gate: The gate provides the most elaborate entrance to a local golf resort. Although I am no golfer, this iconic site is a must-see while in Bali and provided the most amazing background for a photo!
· Waterfalls: The Gitgit Waterfall and the hike through the forest leading to the bottom of the falls was absolutely gorgeous! It was such an incredible feeling getting into the pool and feeling the falls splash down on us! The not so wonderful feeling…hiking back up the stairs to leave the falls. No amount of stairmastering at the gym could have EVER prepared me for that!
V. Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is an island off of Bali that is known for its beautiful waters and the manta rays that roam these waters. We took a day excursion from the main island of Bali and took a boat for the day to Nusa Penida.
To Do:
· Snorkeling: Nusa Penida is known for their snorkeling due to the area’s gorgeous reefs, as well as being one of few places that is home to manta rays. Swimming with these giant rays is the biggest draw to snorkeling, and we were lucky enough to spot the manta rays and float amongst them! Definitely book your snorkeling excursion before arriving to the island. Our Air B ‘n B owner provided us with the name of a small company that she is familiar with, which was incredibly helpful. Being on a small tour allowed us to easily stop at many different reefs and provided us with a better chance of seeing manta ray activity due to our boat leaving less of a wake.
· Kelingking Beach: This iconic beach is a must-see when visiting Nusa Penida. The cliffs span the crystal blue waters and form into what people believe to look like a dinosaur head. Seriously, go see the view!
Tips:
The trip to Nusa Penida was extremely exhausting, especially since we did the entire excursion in one day. Driving to the dock and taking the boat to the island was definitely not glamorous, and that is putting it lightly. We did the entire excursion in one day, but I would suggest spending one evening in Nusa Penida. Also, if you are prone to motion sickness, make sure to bring Dramamine! The boat ride to the island, as well as the boat ride throughout our snorkeling excursion, went through some extremely rocky waters.
VI. Hotels, Transportation, and Communication
· Hotels: During our time in Bali, we opted to stay in an Air B ‘n’ B that was a tropical, trendy villa near Seminyak. This allowed for us to each have our own room and bathroom, as well as a private pool area! I would definitely suggest renting an Air B ‘n’ B if you are looking to save money on your trip or want to have a private location to come back to. We snagged our villa for only $80 USD per night! I would also check with either the Air B ‘n’ manager or hotel to see if they have transportation services or other perks available to you. Our house manager was incredibly helpful before we arrived and provided us with contact information for a driver. She arranged our transportation to and from the airport, which took away so much unnecessary stress of trying to coordinate something on our own!
· Transportation: I will reiterate – ask your hotel or Air B ‘n’ B manager if they have contact information for a specific driver that they prefer. Our Air B ‘n’ B manager got us in touch with one of her drivers and coordinated airport transportation. If you preplan anything for this trip, please coordinate your ride to and from the airport. Bali’s airport in Denpasar was a mad house, and I am so glad that our driver knew to expect us and that we had exchanged pictures so we could find one another. Having a driver that is familiar with the location of your hotel or Air B ‘n’ B is also very important. The road system in Bali can be extremely confusing and locations can be hard to find, even for the locals. It was comforting to know that our driver had been to our Air B ‘n’ B hundreds of times and knew how to find it!
Befriending this driver worked to our advantage during the entirety of our trip! Wayan was incredibly kind, spoke some English, and knew great local spots to take us. We hired him to be our day driver for four of the days of our trip. He charged 500,000 IDR ($35 USD), stayed with us the entire time, and drove us as far as the Northern Bali region. Towards the end of the trip, Wayan became like family and participated in the excursions with us. Hiring a day driver is a great way to see Bali and allows you to get to know the locals!
Another form of transportation is through Bali’s version of Uber, Go Jek. For evenings out, we would use this service to have a driver drop us off at a location. Neither of us paid for phone coverage while in Bali; to use Go Jek, we connected and ordered a driver while on Wifi.
· Communication: Download Go Jek and WhatsApp. Go Jek is Bali’s form of Uber and is a great service for quickly ordering a ride. WhatsApp is a texting service that allowed us to communicate with the locals while on Wifi. If you opt to not purchase an international phone plan, you can definitely still survive while in Bali. Most of the restaurants, stores, and pool clubs have Wifi that is accessible for guest use.
VII. Currency
Bali is a dream vacation spot due to its beauty and affordability! The exchange rate sides heavily in favor of the US, causing you to live like a total QUEEN while there and not even bat an eye. Bali uses the Rupiah and everything is in increments of 10,000 Rupiah (IDR). 100,000 IDR equates to about $7 USD. Throw around those millions, ladies!
I would HIGHLY suggest getting currency before you land in Bali. My sister and I got a lump sum, and my bank only charged me $10 for the exchange. We each took around $2 million IDR each, and it ended up not being nearly enough. Most of the large stores, restaurants, and bars in Bali will take card. However, some of these locations require a minimum, and others charge a surplus if you use your card with them. In addition, you will want to make sure you have cash on hand for the following: paying drivers, purchasing goods from street vendors, and paying for attractions such as entrance fees to temples and palaces. Because we hired a driver nearly every day and filled our day with many excursions, we ended up using our cash quickly and had to go to an ATM.
VIII. Weather
· November-March: This is the rainy season, and it is known for being hot and humid.
· May-August: This is the season where Bali experiences little rain and temperatures tend to be moderate.
· April, September, October: This is a fairly mild time of the year for Bali, and is also a time with fewer tourists. We traveled in September and experienced only 1 rainy day with cooler temperatures. The rest of the trip was dry, sunny, and averaged around 75 degrees F. It was seriously the PERFECT weather!
IX. Packing
Our Bali trip included such a variety of excursions that I had an incredibly hard time packing everything into just 2 bags! However, here are some items that you may consider including on your list.
1. Versatile Beach Cover Up
I invested in a simple cover up that was trendy and could dual as a top with a pair of pants. We spent many days lounging at the various pool clubs, and I wanted a chic coverup that would allow me to relax at the club, as well as could be converted into a tunic for dinner after leaving the lounge. This coverup was an item that I brought with me nearly everyday because of the amount of water related activities that we partook in! I opted for a simple black cover up and purchased a more upscale, white two piece set to wear to the nicer pool clubs. Get something that you LOVE, you will get your use out of it on this trip! (Linked at End of Post)
2. Flowy Active Wear
We frequently participated in excursions that required us to be active, with the chance of also getting into water. I needed to find something that I could comfortably hike in, that could easily go over a bathing suit, and that looked cute for photos. Seriously, it’s not as easy as it sounds! Hiking to waterfalls, plunging into springs, and dunking in Holy Waters requires outfits that can withstand water or that can be easily worn over a bathing suit! I would suggest cotton tie shorts and a tank top with waterproof shoes.
3. Long Skirt or Sarong
If you plan on visiting any of the Holy Temples, plan on packing a long maxi skirt or sarong. These are required to be worn before entering the temples. Many locations will have sarongs available to be rented on site. However, I preferred to bring my own to ensure that it fit me properly and was a pattern that I would want to be seen in pictures.
4. Comfortable Shoes
For this trip, we walked so much, and I was so happy that I invested in both comfortable, trendy tennis shoes and cushiony sandals. I would also suggest getting a pair of water shoes or rubber sandals that enclose your foot if you plan on doing any hiking or visiting waterfalls.
5. Backpack
Take a backpack that you can store any items you might possibly need while exploring! We used our backpack on every excursion and always brought dry clothes, a small towel, sunscreen, a bottle of filtered water, granola bars, sunglasses, and a bathing suit. You never know what the day may bring!
6. Medicine
In addition to your normal toiletries, I would suggest bringing activated charcoal. Luckily, we never had any encounters with Bali Belly while there, but it is ALWAYS better to be prepared! I also brought Dramamine for any sort of motion sickness. I typically don’t struggle with this, but I am so glad that I grabbed some last minute. The roads in Bali tend to be extremely busy, and the driving can get a bit crazy. The boat ride to Nusa Penida was also one of the rockiest trips I have ever been on, and I am grateful that I had enough melatonin for each day.
Bali is an incredible destination! There are so many iconic sites to experience, areas to explore, and foods to try. Creating a detailed plan prior to visiting the Island took away so much of the stress that International travel can present, as well as ensured that we got to experience everything on our Bali Bucket List!
XOXO
Abbey Rose
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