Bali Beaches and Beyond
When I would think of Bali, I imagined an island on the other side of the world pungent with the scent of flowers and full of monkeys, surfers, and wannabe Instagram influencers taking pictures in rice paddies in hopes of growing their following. I also never imagined that I’d go there, not only because it’s so far away, but I figured it would be an expensive trip - after all, the Real Housewives of OC went there, and I wasn’t currently on Andy Cohen’s payroll, so… it seemed out of the question. Lucky for me, my friend was planning to go with a group of her friends when I was invited along, I decided to go for it.
Although Bali can be expensive to get to (and it can take a full day to get there), once you arrive on the island, it’s actually very affordable. Sure, you could stay at a ritzy resort, but you can also get an Airbnb (like we did) that has a pool and everything you need - and for all of us, it was only about $250 per person TOTAL for ten days. We ended up staying in Bingin Beach, located in southern part of the island and known as a popular spot for surfers. On our first day, we ventured to Uluwatu for lunch, took a random road to explore a beach, and walked to watch the sunset over the ocean. Not a bad start to the trip.
My favorite day in Bali was when we took a ferry to the Nusa Islands. These islands are about an hour away, and we spent the day riding around on motorbikes, finding hidden lagoons, and taking in the amazing scenery.
Before I’d left, I knew that we’d be going to Ubud for two nights in the middle of the trip. Known as a spiritual city in the middle of the island, Ubud has amazing shops and restaurants, and right outside the city is lush jungle, rice paddies, coffee plantations, and sacred temples.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was going to Tirta Empul Temple, built in 962 A.D. Known for its holy spring water, Balinese Hindus go for ritual purification. After I left, all my sins were washed away - at least, until I committed more.
Throughout Bali, you’ll find daily prayer offerings, called canang sari. You’ll see these everywhere - on statues, in the street, outside of homes, in cars - literally all over. Carefully prepared, canang sari are a representation of the Balinese people’s devotion to their gods and a wish for peace and abundance in the world, and they’re made with woven palm or banana leaves, flower petals, and often crackers, a small amount of money, or incense.
If you’re after a relaxing and spiritual retreat, read on to see what do do, where to go, and where to stay.
What To Do
Explore nearby beaches. No matter where you are on the island (as long as you aren’t in the middle), you’re going to be close to stunning oceanside spots. We visited Dreamland Beach, Uluwatu Beach, Bingin Beach, and Sundays Beach Club, which was probably my favorite. One thing I’d suggest you do when visiting a public beach is bring gloves and a trash bag to pick up litter. While some beaches were spotless, others were littered with plastic that had washed up from the ocean. It was pretty heartbreaking to see, so doing our part to clean up what we can will help make a difference.
Shop in Seminyak and Ubud. These two areas had trendy boutiques and open-air shopping markets and were a great place to buy a few things for friends back at home (and for myself).
Go snorkeling - or surfing, if you’re up for it. The waves in Bali are no joke, so I wouldn’t recommend novice surfers attempting to catch a wave without a pro to help you, but there are plenty of spots to try this. Or, if you’re like me, find a calm spot to take your snorkel gear and check out life underwater.
Visit temples. Especially in Ubud, there are ancient temples all over the town. Take a stroll, and take in the history - and don’t miss Tirta Empul.
Go to the monkey sanctuary. I didn’t have time to visit the Ubud Monkey Forest, but some friends did and they loved it. Just beware, they’re cute but they’re also little thieves and can leave you dirty (seriously - after a monkey hopped on a friend’s shoulder, his white shirt was marked with dirt), so I’d recommend wearing workout clothes that you can easily wash after.
Get a massage. I got a massage at our Airbnb and at a nice spa in Seminyak for just $25. Take advantage of the inexpensive pricing and indulge in the treatments that you can’t afford in the U.S. Just make sure to tip well!
Take a hike. In Ubud, I strolled the Campuhan Ridge Walk on my own, and it was a great way to have some time to myself while fitting in a bit of exercise.
Visit the rice paddies and coffee plantations. The rice paddies in Ubud are simply stunning (you’ve probably seen loads of Instagram photos of them), so being able to view them in person is treat. My friend and I went to a coffee plantation to try the different types of coffee they make (we later learned how controversial Luwak coffee is - so you may choose to forgo trying that) - but sampling a variety of brews with a view overlooking the jungle was a great way to spend an afternoon.
Where To Go + Stay
Our time was mostly divided between Bingin Beach and Ubud, with a scattering of day trips throughout. Here’s what I’d recommend:
Divide your time (if possible) with half of it spent in Ubud, and the other half near the beach. Two nights in Ubud just wasn’t enough!
Wapa di Ume is a gorgeous resort that we stayed at in Ubud with beautiful pools and grounds, a great restaurant, and a to-die-for tub in our room. After staying at an Airbnb, it felt nice to splurge and have a luxurious stay for a couple of days.
Airbnb’s are a fantastic option in Bali, especially if you go with a group. Our house had its own pool, huge bathrooms, and a lovely yard - and it was super cheap when we split the cost between the six of us.
Potato Head is another fun place to stay. Located in Seminyak, this hotel is has a “see and be seen” vibe, with a restaurant, bar, and live music. And on that note….
Seminyak is a vibrant, energetic city full of hip restaurants, clothing boutiques, and high-end hotels. While Bingin Beach is a low-key surf spot, Seminyak is hip, cultural, and full of trendy shops and people.
If you want an adventure, take a ferry to the Nusa Islands. This string of islands is an easy day trip, and once you’re there, you can rent motorbikes to get around and explore. Check out the Blue Lagoon, discover beaches, go snorkeling - the options go on and on.
Going to Sundays Beach Club, located at the southern tip of Bali, was one of my favorite days on the island. It wasn’t an authentic island experience (I’ll be honest about that), but the beach was one of the nicest I’ve even been to, and the water was the warmest and clearest I’ve ever seen. To get in, you’ll pay a fee and from there, you have beach and pool access, and are free to use any of their lounge chairs, along with kayaks and paddleboards. There’s a great restaurant and bar right on the beach, so you can enjoy your margarita with an ocean view. Is there anything better?
What To Consider Before You Go
It’s not close, and that means flights aren’t cheap. It took a full 24 hours for my west coast flight to arrive in Bali (with three stops), so if you don’t want to travel that far, there are plenty of places that are closer if you’re just after a sunny island.
Bali is a third world country. This is easy to forget when all you see are picture-perfect beaches and resorts, but there’s much more to the island than that. People would approach us and beg for food, nearly everyone gets around by motorbike, and while some beaches are spotless, others are littered with trash.
Back to the motorbike - this is how most people get around, and it’s basically a run-down version of a motorcycle. I was terrified every time I got on one, and would sometimes opt out of day trips because I was worried about riding on one for an hour. This might be something to consider when you plan transportation, especially considering how narrow roads are.
Bali belly is a real thing. I was able to avoid it while I was there, but it caught up to me once I got home. Because you aren’t supposed to drink the water in Bali, you need to be careful about what you eat and drink, because you could get an upset stomach that might keep you away from the beach and close to the bathroom.
