Bali? for two adults

[VikingNorthUtsire]

We'll be in Hong Kong in May and looking for a second destination to make it into a holiday.

We've been to Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia in recent years and enjoyed all of them.

Thinking of Bali as it was our first choice for honeymoon many years ago but we didn't make it there. Been reading threads here where opinions seem to be mixed.

We like low key resorts with some touristy places (cafes, bars) but nowhere too noisy or frenetic. Don't like big self-contained resorts (we ended up at a place like this in Mexico, it was full of American groups on all inclusive packages day-drinking in the pool, and it was like Center Parcs in being almost impossible to actually get off the resort, especially on foot). Ideally somewhere with a little quiet hotel with a pool where we can wander out, see the local sights, eat street food, drink a coffee or a couple of drinks.

Can anyone recommend resorts in Bali to look at? Ubud is on my list but seen negative comments about that being very busy.

Wondering whether to avoid the resorts in Bali altogether and head for Lombok.

We don't know anyone in person who's been there any time recently so would love any advice.

PS we'd be looking to stay maybe 8 nights, potentially split between a couple of different resorts.

We went about 8 years ago and it was the biggest disappointment! We stayed in Sanur and it wasn't great but also travelled up to Ubud which was much prettier but very busy. We found Bali generally very scruffy and tired looking with pushy desperate people ( tourism there is struggling). Even the food was indifferent. Wouldn't recommend

I’ve been to Cangguu in Bali a few times. It’s a chilled out, hippyish area with a great beach with good surf if you’re into that. Lots of health food cafes & lots of good restaurants with traditional food too. Mainly budget, but nice, small hotels & guest houses (but I’m sure there are some more upscale ones too). There’s a great bar on the beach that does amazing cocktails. If you can cope with all the irritating 19 year old hipsters, it’s the best place I’ve stayed in Bali

We went to Sanur last March for a week and heading back in April for 10 days.
Sanur is more family oriented and also appeals to older adults as well, I don’t think there’s a wild nightlife scene. We’re in our early 60’s and enjoyed great food in lovely restaurants, some of which had live music but we tended to go for the more low key live music.
We stayed in an hotel last year but have booked a villa with a private pool for our next stay. There are some lovely looking resorts right on the beach side but I believe they offer options of B&B so you can go elsewhere for lunch and dinner. A villa or homestay might be a good option for you. Having our own villa means we can sit quietly with a drink once we’ve been out for dinner/drinks. I don’t know what hotel options there may be for adult only though if that’s what you’re thinking about.
We are planning to do an overnight on Nusa Lembongan, a half hour boat ride away from Sanur, it’s an island off the mainland and looks to be a bit more quiet than the main areas in Bali itself.
I think Bali is like most places in that it is what you make it. There’s a huge choice of accommodation, restaurants, bars etc, you can be as quiet or as busy as you want to be. I loved it there, hence going back again soon.
Happy planning!

Mixed reports on Sanur! I watched a couple of vlogs filmed there (I know, I know) and my main impression was that it could have been anywhere. The hotels and restaurants along the boardwalk seemed to have been built in a western style and it just felt a bit....meh?

I am not a snob about my holidays, I promise! But it's a long way to go and I don't want to come away thinking we might as well have been in Spain.

I'm a bit nervous about ferries as that was the worst bit of our Thailand trip. But will investigate.

There’s lots of little side street off the main drag in Sanur with Warungs, which are local eateries, they’re probably more traditional Balinese.
Others who have been to other parts of Bali will be able to tell you how traditional they are but I guess Sanur isn’t for everyone, like a lot of places.

Thank you, I will check those out ☺️ It does sound like the different resorts are quite varied in character so am trying to do my research!

Most people I know have come away a bit disappointed. It’s Aussie holiday central and not very authentic. For me, I’d do more in China. Obviously not beaches but you cannot beat the Great Wall if you have not seen it. I’d leave beach resorts to another holiday.

Beijing is amazing but not relaxed and peaceful at all. I don’t know if China is visa free yet. I haven’t been anywhere else in China but as a pp said, The Great Wall is incredible.

What about Cambodia? The cities are amazing, busy but not quite as busy as Beijing and I understand Cambodia has beautiful beaches if you want somewhere more relaxing. The food is Cambodia is fantastic and it’s rich in history, even if some of it is difficult to get your head around, The people are wonderful and the culture is fascinating.

@Femalefootyfan The op is already in HK so presumably will have sorted entry to China. I do know Beijing isn’t relaxing but she’s already in China. Rather than be on a beach that could be anywhere (in many ways) why not explore? You can easily build in down time but who would not want to see the Terracotta warriors and other amazing things in China. There are opportunities to relax!

Would you combine with Japan? Bali is fine, we went from Oz when the kids were tiny, combined time in Java with time in Ubud and Sanur. Both Ubud and Sanur were fine, but Sanur not somewhere I would be rushing back to. If you want beach could your route through the Maldives? Open jaw ticket out to Hong Kong and back from the Maldives, and buy a single from Hong Kong to the Maldives.

Unfortunately I have a disability and get fatigued easily so we definitely need a relaxing week after HK. Not necessarily a beach, and we're also open to other countries if we can't find the right resort for us in Bali.

A friend went there for a week and said it was OK for a couple of days but otherwise was boring. The friend isn't the sort to say something like that unless it was an honest opinion.
It was tagged on to a HK visit.

If you like low-key and not frenetic I would skip Bali and head to Lombok (next island, short hop on a plane). All the pluses of Bali, amazing beaches and food, but way more chilled.

We went to Bali 8 years ago too as part of a longer Indo trip. The north west away from crowds was lovely, amazing snorkeling in the marine reserve. Everywhere is pretty busy from Canggu to Ubud to Uluwatu. Nusa Lembongan is nice, it is quieter. It was good to go to but I wouldn't bother returning unlike Thailand or Malaysia for example.

How about the Philippines instead?

The OP is going to HK in May, she’s not already there

@OhDear111 , the OP starts with "We'll be in Hong Kong in May".

Yes. Hence my post was where can you go from HK. The rest of China is obviously easy but not if you just want to flop.

@OhDear111 , your post didn't read that way.
The op is already in HK means she is in HK now.

HK in May was how I read it. Not now. It’s March. Anyway, she wants beaches and I’m not good at advising on beaches.

I visited Bali 16 years go and stayed in Ubud which was lovely, but clearly from pp much busier now and traffic was bad then. If you are looking for something quieter without huge resorts what about Laos?
Luang Prabang ticks a lot of boxes- fewer people, excellent food, lots of cafes and independent shops. I stayed here:
https://satrihouse.com/
for weather in May:
https://www.selectiveasia.com/laos-holidays/weather/may
I also agree with @OhDear111 it’s an excellent opportunity to visit China if you’ve never been. Cambodia is an another good choice.

sihanoukville is on the coast in Cambodia, but has been ruined by rapid development and Chinese investment in casinos etc. A quiet hotel with a pool can be relaxing in Siem Reap and it is a magical place. I stayed here in 2019
https://viroth-hotel.com/

Not the OP, your post. Don't worry about it.

Seminiyak in Bali is very nice - tons of good restaurants and good shopping. It’s a completely different vibe to Sanur. If you don’t want to do a resort, you can get a staffed villa with pool so it’s a real holiday. You could also do that in the mountains near Ubud, there are incredible landscapes and beautiful architect-designed houses.

I’ve been to Bali many times and have never had a bad holiday, but I’ve never stayed in a resort and always researched my accommodation and the areas where I stay.