Bali in February - anyone been?

[Bellebelleagain]

Hi,

We’re keen to go to Bali over February half-term but wondering if it being the tail end of rainy season could (literally) cause it to be a wash out? Differing opinions from what I can find - some sites say to avoid as it’s too wet to do anything, others say it’s typically brief rain showers afternoon/evening but still perfectly fine for a holiday.

Has anyone been at that time of year?

thanks

It’s a long way for a week? Nicer places much closer!

I'm debating march and intrigued by anyone else's experiences too!

Been in February and it was good - the rain was not often and when it did come it was 5 minutes torrential and then gone

Thanks @allmycats thats helpful.

@TizerorFizz we’ll be going for about 2 weeks, only one DD still at school and works out that she’ll only be out for a few days as there’s a couple of inservice days tagged on. We’ve done long haul (Maldives and Mauritius) the past couple of years in Feb and it’s worth it to experience a completely different climate after what’s normally been a long, dark winter here in Scotland!

We were there for a month last year mid Feb to mid March and will do the same in 2024. Yes, it is rainy season but that usually means a few hours of very heavy rain, often at night, rather than rain for days on end. You can go a week with no rain at all, it is impossible to predict. It is very hot and humid though. Where are you thinking of going? The boats to the popular islands (Gillis are actually Lombok not Bali, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida have got very popular) are erratic in wet season, often cancelled and even if not I wouldn’t fancy the journey some days with rough seas so a bit harder to plan ahead. If you do want to go to an island just make sure you give yourself some leeway for getting back to the mainland before you fly home. We stay in Sanur these days as Seminyak has got so busy but we do like a few day trips over. My kids as teenagers and young adults love Seminyak and Ubud and a few days in Sanur, my eldest son got married at one of the fancy resorts in Nusa Dua which was fun for a few days but not really our thing. Lovina and Amed are nice for off the beaten track, Candidasa pretty but quiet. Canggu is my idea of hell on earth these days, what used to be a 20 minute drive can now be 90. Do be warned in wet season the winds drive a lot of rubbish onto the Western beaches so they can look a bit unappealing. Tbh living in Australia I don’t go to Bali for amazing beaches, I can drive 15 minutes for better. Contrary to popular belief it is not full of pissed up Aussies, just avoid Kuta (although post COVID the bogans have moved up to Legian). For us there is something very addictive about it, the people are amazing and the Hindu culture fascinating. If you if you have any questions ask away.

Thanks so much @Flatandhappy that's really useful. To be honest I hadn’t got that deep into the planning yet (had been looking at Indian Ocean and Caribbean but DD’s are v.keen on Bali)

So far Ubud has come up the most in my searches and with my DDs being 15 & 18 sounds like might be ideal for them?

I went to Bali in late January and it was great. It did rain now and then, but a quick tropical shower and then the sun came out again. Ubud is nice - monkey forest/temples and lots of places to eat and lovely boutiques. Think it'd definitely be worth staying in a couple of places, maybe Ubud and Seminyak like @Flatandhappy mentioned - one inland, one on the coast. I'm sure your DDs will love it!

Sorry no help with Bali but just to throw Goa/Kerala in as another option. Or Phuket/Krabi and nearby islands. Both good in Feb.

Personally I’d save Indonesia for summer one year when it’s better weather and you might be able to go for longer and include Lombok, Gilis, maybe Java etc.