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!

Really sorry that I can’t remember the names of the places…. but the best snorkelling of my life was in Bali (and I’ve been to Maldives, Fiji, Great Barrier Reef etc). It was in the north and we were by a reef, there was a huge sea wall that just dropped and the coral and fish were the most colourful I’ve ever seen.
If you’re a diver, I also did one of my favourite dives ever in the north - a shipwreck dive where we just walked off a beach and it was incredible!

Sundays beach club in Uluwatu is nice for the day - pre book so you get a sun bed/cabana.

We went in October last year and had torrential rain on more days than not so prepare for that! Also did Singapore, Ubud and Uluwatu so a similar itinerary to you.

The restaurants in Ubud are amazing. People are so friendly too.
The Gilli islands are not ‘in’ Bali . You have to travel to neighbouring Lombok first. I got the ferry and then get a little boat to the Gilli islands. Lombok is very different to Bali , mainly Muslim so different dress code and vibe and you need a malaria jab because it is in a different zone in relation to insect population because of the ocean trench between the two islands ( or something like that) . If you do visit the islands I stayed in a beautiful place called Puri Bunga with little bungalows in a garden around the hotel and a fab pool.

We went to Ubud after a wider trip. We did a cookery experience with a local chef and it was a community based project. Really enjoyed it as it was set in paddy fields. The food is amazing so I'd find a food tour if you can't be bothered with cooking. We went round a local food market and tasted a few things I'd never had before - snake fruit and one other thing that I don't know what it was!

Mount batur climb is busy but rewarding and if the weather is good great views. You can go to the hot spring baths afterwards too. Our guide was lovely but you don't need to hire anyone (although I would)

Jatiluwih rice terraces are a Unesco site and lovely, but not sure you don't get the effect elsewhere. I did think they were worth a hike or cycle round, but it's a bit of a drive so make the most of the trip whilst there.

Going inside the local houses is really good too as you get to appreciate why many of them look as they do.

The traditional dances are nice to watch. The temples are fab.

It's busy as hell, but so is most of SE Asia, so I cant' understand the issue myself, but I love a bit of hubbub. The people are lovely.

I honestly didn't understand that thread, but I suspect people go with expectations of a Bora Bora type location and it's a buzzy busy place. It's a bit like writing of Majorca due to Magaluf though and a bit daft IMHO.

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

im going to Bali in October too - that thread worried me a little also 🙃

The snorkelling sounds like Menjangan Island. The reef drop off absolutely blew my mind when I went - and I was even lucky enough to see a turtle.

We came back from a month in Bali yesterday, spent a month there in February too and have booked another month next year. We find Bali a bit addictive, can’t really explain why but we do. We used to stay in Seminyak but find it a bit busy these days (we are older) so stay in Sanur but still go to Seminyak for the amazing restaurants. If you can make it to Bambu (incredible Indonesian) or La Lucciola (Italian with stunning beachfront views) do. We went to a wedding on Gilli T, the islands have a great vibe but the boat journey is a bit chaotic. Haven’t been to Ubud for a few years but it is beautiful, if you are staying in one of the resorts in Uluwatu they are pretty cool. Try Sunday’s beach club and enjoy.

I agree. The north is beautiful and less touristy. We've been twice, staying in Menjangan and Pemuteran (as well as time in the interior and Ububd).
Such a beautiful place - particularly in the quieter areas.
The food is fabulous! (And the Bintang...)

Love Bali! Been twice, 30 years apart. It's changed beyond recognition but that's ok as you've not been before so nothing to compare it with. It's so much busier but the people and culture are still the most incredible in the world. It has a certain draw, a magic allure about it.

Hey, even Kuta is worth a visit, if nothing else to pay your respects at the memorial for all the people killed in the atrocious bombing. Then go for a grateful sundowner on Kuta beach.

Hope you have a fabulous time xx

We had a brilliant holiday there this summer. Such an interesting island with so much culture. We stayed in Sanur and outside Ubud. Absolutely loved it! Sangeh Monkey Forest was fun with huge trees and temples, and less touristy/calmer monkeys than the one in the centre of Ubud. We had lunch in a fantastic restaurant overlooking Mount Batur's caldera, which was a real highlight (there are a few to choose from). We really enjoyed Ulun Danu Beratan temple but we were glad we arrived early before it got busy.

The food is amazing, and the locals are some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet. We hired a private driver for about £30 per day which meant we could go see exactly what we wanted for much cheaper than the organised tours. I also recommend downloading the Grab app which we used lots for food if we wanted to eat in.

We love Singapore too - you'll have an amazing holiday!

Just got back from there the other day. We stayed in Seminyak and Ubud. Seminyak was a great fun beach vibe, good shopping, loads of fun surfing. No the beach wasn't pristine but it was fine and the surf was good. We nearly stayed in Uluwatu which looks beautiful but the surf was too advanced for us! Ubud we did loads of activities - white water rafting, quad bikes etc. so much fun. Fab food everywhere. Lovely people. Beautiful temples. I would say it was a great fun family holiday, not Maldives/Gili islands clear water idyllic gorgeousness but we had a good time. For context I live in Singapore and have travelled extensively in SE Asia so have plenty of places to compare it to!

Ok, I’m excited about our trip in October again now. We are staying in Ubud then Sanur! Going to look into rafting with kids.

No monkey forest though - they try and get into our house where we live (Singapore) and they snatch things!!

@Asiatoyork Make sure to get ice creams from Massimo while you're in Sanur - absolutely delicious and super cheap! And the restaurants along the boardwalk are lovely. Enjoy!

This made me laugh. Also in SG, also have macaques always trying to get in/terrorising dog in garden etc. We went to the monkey forest to tick a box and were the only people in and out in 20 mins and not taking photos 😁. It's a very pretty setting though with all the temples etc.

Its many years since I was in Bali as it was not then a tourist destination. The highlights were📧

Wonderful shopping for arts and crafts everywhere and also watching craftspeople make their wares.

Temples and dance performances.

The friendliness of the people.

The food!

Best advice to hire a local driver for a day or two. You can then see exactly what you want for as long as you want.

I love Bali. Its my favourite place in the world and have spent many months there though not for a good few years now. My advice would be to get chatting to the locals snd find yourself a driver. We spent a few days with someone we met on the beach and he drove us all over the island. Tanah lot, beautiful terraced rice fields, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan at Bratan lake, uluwatu temple, Besakih temple, all breathtaking. Agree that Mount batur is a must do. You trek to the top of the mountain at sunrise and when you look down from the peak the birds are flying beneath you, its magical. The island is relatively small but each place is very different to the other. Weve stayed in Kuta, Seminyak, Ubud, Sanur, Candidasa, and Lovina. A lot of people say avoid Kuta but I've had some of the best times of my life there, I love the chaos of the place, its such fun.
I really want to go back now!

Also love the food, the arts and craft scene, the shopping, the beautiful, friendly people, the gamelan music, the feeling of peace you find even amongst all the chaos of kuta. Magical place. Yep off to look at ticket prices now 😁

Just back 🥹 and missing it already! Bali is wonderful. I recommend visiting the turtle sanctuary in West Bali, a trip to the west Bali national park, where you can snorkel on coral reefs and see the most incredible marine life including turtles, visit Menjangan island and see the wild swimming deer, see the Bali Starling (only 50 left in wild 😢) and go jungle trekking to see monkeys in their natural habitat! Surfing/bodyboarding in West Bali and the most beautiful sunsets. Ubud for rice terraces, arts, food and shopping, whilst there go to the restaurant at Sayan point, it took our breath away. The people are just wonderful and the daily offerings, smell of incense in the air just make the whole experience magical. Bali is sooo cheap too.
Singapore, just amazing too! Highlights for us were Chinatown, a river cruise, trip to Universal (if you have kids), Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands and Jewel Changi. Prepare to go bankrupt in Singapore! We could have easily done another few days there too.
Enjoy ☺️

We loved Bali- my children loved the water Park in Kuta and still say it was one of the best days ever. When the water park closes head over to the beach to watch the sunset.
we stayed in Sanur which was lovely- we hired a driver who showed us the rice fields etc.
I loved Tanah Lot.
This year we went to Lombok and the Gili islands which are also well worth a visit (although maybe another year as Bali deserves its own time).
You will have an amazing holiday!

For recent visitors, what was the traffic like? I’ve heard it pretty bad so can restrict what you can travel around and do even though the distances aren’t huge.

It was ok on the highway but really bad within towns. Very small roads and many, many cars. Most locals are on scooters, lots of Grabs and Grab Motorcycles available but it did take a while to get from place to place. We found walking anything less than 2km was quicker.

We used a mix of cash (Indonesian Rupiah) and card. Card for pricier meals, hotel etc.

I loved U us, I loved all the temples and the amazing rolling hills, I loved the dolphins and scuba diving. I loved the Gili islands. I went to a cremation ceremony too.