The world is finally re-opening and with travel restrictions getting lifted, many people are traveling now more than ever. One of my bucket list spots has always been Bali, Indonesia, so it was a fitting spot for my husband and I to spend our two week honeymoon there! There are endless things to do, places to eat, things to see, and both the country and its people are beautiful. The beauty combined with the country’s affordable prices for food, transportation and lodging- it’s no surprise that it’s become a popular place to travel in recent years! With so much to see and do in Bali, planning a trip there can be a bit overwhelming. Armed with these tips I picked up along the way and my Bali travel guide, you can make your upcoming trip unforgettable.
- Search Airbnb for Lodging: You can get incredible deals on amazing villas in Bali on Airbnb. During our time there, we rented out multiple beautiful villas with private pools from $40-$90 a night.
- If you want cheaper rates, go during the wet season: The best time to visit Bali is in the country’s dry season which is May-October, but if you don’t mind a few rainstorms, plan a trip from November-April and you’ll lock in a cheaper rate and less crowds! We spent a little over 2 weeks there in November and it only rained twice and for very short periods of time! It can definitely be hit or miss, but from my experience it was definitely worth it to go during the off season.
- Eat till your heart’s content: By far one of my favorite parts about Bali was the food. There are some amazing restaurants, bars and coffee shops you can eat at for practically nothing. A few of our favorites were: Livingstone Cafe, Kynd, Ku De Ta, Old Mans. Happy hours are insanely good too, so definitely check one out!
- Use GO-JEK for getting around : The GO-JEK app is an Uber-like service where you can order rides on mopeds or in cars to get around at an extremely affordable rate. With it being so cheap, I wouldn’t recommend driving yourself since it can be extremely chaotic and dangerous on the main island. If you go to a lesser populated area like Nusa Penida, you can rent a moped for cheap and get around pretty safely. Through GO-JEK, you can also order food, services, and anything else you might need directly to your villa.
- Explore different parts of the Island: Each spot within Bali has different vibes so it was incredibly fun to get to hop around and experience all that it had to offer. We split our time between Seminyak, Ubud, Canggu and also took a ferry to one of the neighboring islands Nusa Penida for a few days.
- Cash is king: Always carry with you a handful of notes since most places outside of the more westernized restaurants, bars, and shops only take cash.
- Visit Nusa Penida: If you’re looking for beautiful beaches, blue water, and natural island beauty, this Bali travel guide’s advice: don’t skip Nusa Penida! It does not have a bunch of trendy restaurants, clubs or bars, but it is perfect for adventure lovers who want to be outside and enjoy the beauty. Just a few of the things we enjoyed there were: Broken Beach, Kelingking Beach, snorkeling in Crystal Bay, Angels Billabong, and Peguyangan Waterfall.
- If hiking Kelingking Beach- bring lots of water and be prepared: Famous for it’s dinosaur shaped beach below, this one is a popular spot and for good reason. I have never done a hike like this one. It is not for the faint of heart or the scared of heights. It’s a bit treacherous and unsafe feeling but the views and beach below are spectacular. Bring LOTS of water. It is steep and no respite from the sun. There are locals selling water on the beach below for 10x the going rate. If you don’t actually feel up for the hike, you can still go and see the dinosaur head from above and take a picture. However, you might have to wait in a line for the photo op.
- Stick to bottled water: The water there is not safe, so be very careful when it comes to drinking any un-bottled water there and wary of drinking things with ice in them in lesser developed areas, make sure no water gets in your mouth when you shower, the list goes on. Luckily, I have done lots of traveling in third world countries so I am used to this but be careful so you don’t end up with “Bali belly”! If you want to have one on hand, you can also bring a handheld water purifier like a Steripen.
- Bring bug spray and lots of sunscreen! The sun here is intense and we definitely wished we had brought more sunscreen, as well as a strong bug spray is a good idea.
- The Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud: If you visit, hide any loose belongings or they might get stolen, and don’t look in their eyes! There will be signs telling you this, but I wish I had known in advance, and you’ll be glad you read these tips and travel guide for Bali beforehand. If you do want them to jump on you or come near you for a photo, you can wear an empty backpack (like we did) and they may jump on it!
That’s all I have for now! I hope these tips and travel guide help you on your upcoming travels to Bali and that you can enjoy the beautiful country as much as we did! As always, make sure you check the location’s travel restrictions and regulations before you go.
If you want to keep up with us and our travels (packing my bags as we speak) head on over to my Instagram to follow along!
