Tell me your best things about Bali?

[FettleOfKish]

Inspired by the numerous mentions in ongoing underwhelming places thread, and my upcoming trip to Bali, please tell me the things you did enjoy there??

If you are one of those who hated it, this thread is not for you, kindly move along. I'm looking for some positivity please!

For info we're staying outside of Ubud and in Uluwatu, quite high end accommodation, 8 nights total, 3 nights in Singapore on the way there.

I'm not expecting untouched Maldives style deserted beach, and I am expecting many many Australians. I'm hoping this will mean I'm simply comfortably whelmed, rather than being under or overwhelmed!

gili islands

It’s years since we were there, but we did a dawn boat trip to see dolphins. It was amazing. But I’ve since read it’s become too big and isn’t recommended due to the number of boats around the dolphins.

If you’re divers, we had great dives in Tulamben and somewhere I can’t remember the name of. Ubud is worth a visit.

Just steer clear of Kuta, the rest of it is nice.

Some fabulous stylish shopping in Seminyak - go to Namu for clothes/accessories including recycled shell and wooden bags by Christian Graciel (he used to design for Balmain) and stingray flipflops - Namu's owner Paula used to design for Prada. Go to Quarzia for stunning silk prints (scarves, kimonos, dresses, etc) and Carga for homeware. I know you probably weren't intending to shop but I always do a one day blitz in Seminyak when I'm in Bali as it's actually a hotbed of designers who've moved to Bali for the lifestyle. (I used to live in Asia).

The Aussie influence in Bali also means that the coffee is usually very good so it's not all downsides. 😜

Thank you Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for.

@LiquoriceAllsorts2 you're about the 100th person who's told us Gili islands so we may sacrifice one night in Ubud for a 2 day / 1 night trip, I'm just cautious that it adds yet more travelling to an already very travel heavy 2 weeks (we're offshore, so have domestic flights each before we even start going long haul).

Depending on who's on the trip with you but we did a dawn trek up a mountain (can't remember the name!) but it's timed that by the time you reach the peak the sun rises, it was amazing albeit tiring but so worth it!

This was in Ubud somewhere I'm sure

The temples are just beautiful and there are so many. It is my main memory of Bali, Ubud I really liked, I liked the monkey temple. There are beautiful rice terraces around to go see. Stay away from the coffee places though the Luwaks are treated horribly. Kuta as well is Benidorm for Aussies. I loved Bali.

I went to Gili islands, not impressed. Maybe I was in the wrong places. Book into loads of traditional dance performances in Ubud, they are amazing and the music is something else. I'm transported back to Ubud imagining the gamelan music.

Surfing
Ubud
Art
Gilli islands
Nightlife
Late night restaurants

The people. The hospitality staff were the nicest people I have met on any holiday.

Amed, snorkelling, turtles, amazing accomodation, Not Bali but Gili Gede in Lombok, the people, the value for money, august weather

We did a day trip to Nusa Penida would definitely recommend. We also hired a driver for a day while staying in Ubud and got him to take us on a tour around the temples/waterfalls/rice fields, he was amazing and took us to all the best places!

You cannot fault the customer service, we have never had a bad interaction there.

I know everyone says to stay away from Kuta but waterbomb park is there and if you like water parks it's a must! Also, Kuta is an experience in itself. They have the turtle rescue centre which, depending on time of the year, allows you to release a baby turtle into the sea at sunset. That's quite special

I did a half day bike tour in Ubud with jegeg tours which took you through the rice fields and ended up with an amazing lunch at their family home, would highly recommend.

if you like water parks the one in kuta is one of the best in the world.

Tanah lot temple

Thank you so much everyone! Lots of inspiration here.

We did a home meal in Mauritius that we were a bit sceptical about (in terms of rich Westerners paying to see how less privileged people live) but it was one of our best experiences there overall, so we'll look into that.

We stayed with a local family in Bali, livingin the middle of rice paddies with an outdoor bathroom. It was a great experience but they really did not want us to go out. Ever. And we got food poisoning due to their questionable cooking. 😂

The best thing is it’s really easy to get to some really nice places. Gili islands. Lombok and also Komodo are amazing. Bali itself not so much

I spent a month in Bali 10 years ago and it was epic! I'm too scared to go back in case it doesn't live up to that experience!
Sunset at Tanah Lot Temple is a must. Fairly easy/cheap to get to from Ubud. We made the mistake of booking accommodation there and the whole place shut down after sunset.
There's a little fishing town called Padang Bai, most of the Gili boats leave from there but it was our favourite place. There's a beautiful hidden white sand beach called Bias Tugel just over the hill there.
Enjoy the kindness and hospitality of the locals and the amazing food.
I can still smell the incense from the offerings left outside houses, temples and shops, just lovely. Enjoy your trip!

Thank you for this thread, OP - I’m off to Bali in October!

So excited. When are you going?

I haven’t been there for 25 years so obviously can’t really say what it is like now, but it was one of my best holidays. Had an absolutely wonderful time visiting temples including the Mother Temple, walking around rice terraces with a local, visiting a local house near Ubud where we briefly stayed (ubud, not the house) , and journeying through the mountains to visit a temple in a lake which we had to get to on a boat. Saw sunset at Tanah Lot. Also went to a Hindu dance which was amazing to see. Wonderful food and the people were friendly. The Monkey Forest at Ubud was a nice experience. Stayed in both Sanur and Ubud. Visited Lombok for a couple of days, there was hardly anything there then. And the best thing, snorkelling off the Gili Islands which I understand have changed quite a lot, there were no hotels there then and I don’t remember a single building. Did meet Australians, mostly backpackers at the time. The food was really nice!

This was super touristy but I really enjoyed it:

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1380108-d3264822-Reviews-Kecak_and_Fire_Dance-Pecatu_Bukit_Peninsula_Bali.html

I loved Sidemen and Munduk for the tranquility (although not sure if I'd travel far to get there when time is short).

Gili Air was lovely (really liked that it was walkable), as were the Nusa islands.

Hope you enjoy your trip OP!

I thought swimming with manta rays would be one of the highlights of the trip but the water was choppy AF and got back into the boat pronto. Def check weather and conditions if you do this!

October for us too! Ubud and then Uluwatu. The other thread was worrying me but I feel much better now! Can't wait

Menjangan in the north relaxing and not touristy

Some thoughts (avoid Kutu and you'll be fine).

Ubud - white water rafting is a lot of fun, beautiful and you get to play in waterfalls. There are some great cycling tours in Ubud - downhill riding through rice paddies. Ubud has good cooking classes. Tegalalang Rice Terraces - go early.The Holy Spring Water of Pura Tirta Empul - really special experience. Kanto Lampo easy waterfall to access.

Uluwatu - some of the best hidden beaches in Bali. Uluwatu Temple - go for sunset, you will also see Kecak Fire Dance. Thomas Beach in Uluwatu, one of the best beaches in Bali. Single Fin is a fun cliffside bar. Cliffhouse, fancy beach club. There are some really good quality restaurants and cafes here.