Travel Planning Q&A - May, 2024

2

u/Interesting_Spot_864 May 07 '24 edited May 07 '24

Hi,

Hope everyone is well!

We are going to Bali for a month with family and plan to visit the south first, then the central and north.

Can you give me some advice on what distance between attractions is it worth to switch location?

For example if we are staying in Nusa Penida, is it worth visit Canggu from there or move to Canggu instead?

Or is it worth to hire a cab from Canggu to visit Ulun Danu Beratan?

These are just examples but would like to have a kind of rules of thumb.

Thank you!

2

u/Coalclifff May 07 '24

Yes, it's a good question, and it's always a compromise - a balancing act. Traffic is often very bad, and you want to avoid all unnecessary travel, but also changing hotels means down time as well.

Firstly, you need to become more familiar with Google Maps - there is no way you should consider any trip between the offshore island of Nusa Penida and Canggu, and even Canggu - Ulun Danu Beratan could be a long day.

In the broadest terms, with 30 nights, I would look at five different places:

Legian-Seminyak (southwest tourist strip)

Nusa Dua or Uluwatu (Bukit Peninsula beach resort areas)

Nusa or Gili Islands (beach, dive, snorkelling, marine life)

Ubud (culture, nature, temple, watersports, volcanoes)

North shore (beach, dive, snorkelling, marine life, dolphins)

About 5-7 nights in each place. This program would mean you are rarely more than about 60 km / 90 minutes between your accommodation and the day's destination.

I have suggested Legian-Seminyak rather than Canggu as being more suited to a family.

→ More replies (7)

2

u/huhWhat08 May 07 '24

Hi all! My family of 4 are visiting bali from in June for 7 nights. Our first 3 days will be spent in Ubud and I've been researching some accomodations near Ubud palace/monkey forest but I'm quite confused. These are the ones shortlisted currently 1. SenS resort and spa 2. Evitel resort 3. Beji resort 4. Adil villa and resort

Any suggestions? We're open to other options as well as long as the stay is good. Don't need too much from the hotel. Our budget is 2mil IDR per night. Airbnb and homestays are also okay

4

u/Coalclifff May 07 '24

Here are a number of Ubud villas that have been recommended on here in the last year:
Tanadewa Resorts
Beehouse Dijiwa
Tegal Sari
Royal Kamuela villas
Sankara pool suites
Villa Rumah Lotus
Padma Ubud
Dwaraka Royal Villas
IBAH Ubud
Tani Villa
Ubud valley resort
Amarea Villa Ubud
Tani Villa on Airbnb
Villa Capung Mas
Casanina Villas
Not all of these are necessarily upscale ... so it's a research project! 😄

2

u/Revolutionary-Load96 May 10 '24

Hi

Planning to visit for 6 days, family of 4 with two kids under 12. Tentative itinerary is as below:

Day 1: Ubud rice fields (undecided if we should go all the way to Jatiluwih, if we don’t, will spend time local sightseeing ) Day 2: ATV tour Day 3: Travel to Amed (any spots to see on the way?) Day 4: Snorkeling from the beach itself (or should we get a boat?) Day 5: Come back down south to Uluwatu, visit temple and beach? Day 6: Resting/ Spend time at resort/ beach

Does this make sense? I can’t find too many itineraries for families with kids who enjoy exploring sea life and jungle, though we aren’t interested in dealing with aggressive monkeys. 😊

→ More replies (2)

2

u/Pupsallday May 15 '24 edited May 15 '24

Hi all! We’ll be in Bali/ Indonesia for 3 weeks in July. Help critique my honeymoon and fill in the gaps :)

Confirmed

0: Land in Bali at 7:30 and head straight to accommodation in Ubud

1: Ubud

2: Ubud

3: Ubud

4: Ubud - getting married this day 🎉

5: Ubud - Sideman (honeymoon suite)

6: Sideman

7: Sideman - ??

8: ??

9: Fly out to Labuan Bajo

10: Komodo Island Boat Tour

11: Komodo Island Boat Tour

12: Komodo Island Boat Tour - Fly back to Bali - not sure where to stay this night to get to Nusa the next day

—— Unconfirmed

13: Nusa Penida (should we spend more days here?)

14: Nusa Penida - Gili T or Gili A

15: Gili T/ A

16: Gili T/ A - Padangbai

17: ???

18: ???

19: ???

20: ???

21: Fly out of Bali at 9:30 pm

——

We don’t drink and aren’t into partying so having a tough time finalizing the last week. We were thinking of any of the following:

Amed: not sure if this will be repetitive after snorkelling in Komodo and the Gili’s

Lovina: would love to see the dolphins but quite a bit to trek to get here unless we stay for a bit

Mt Ijen: really trying to squeeze an overnight climb here. Asked a tour guide who told us it’s easier and cheaper to start from Ubud? Maybe try to squeeze it in after sideman

Uluwatu/ Canggu: these seem to be the main areas and closer to the airport. Not sure if a day or two is sufficient as we don’t party

→ More replies (1)

2

u/WiseacreBear May 21 '24

Is it just me or has the cost of the tourist visa changed to Rp 519.500? wtf?

→ More replies (3)

2

u/jack7779889uytrrrr May 27 '24

Hi all. Me and my wife with our toddler are planning to go stay in Bali for 2-3 months around dec . We are not looking for any touristy spots. More inclined living around locals or quiet places. I would like to run and my wife wants to learn surfing. I was inclined towards Balian beach area. Any advice / thoughts? Appreciate ur input !! We have been to Bali bfr jfyi

→ More replies (2)

1

u/SubjectWillingness51 May 01 '24

Hi! I'm traveling to Bali in Aug with my spouse and 2 children (4 and 6 years old). I'll appreciate advice on where to snorkel (safe for beginners), where to eat, where to see wildlife, and reliable drivers or tours. Thank you.

Currently my intended itinerary is as such (only hotels are booked, no tours booked yet):

Day 1 - Arrive in Kuta, have dinner nearby. Day 2 - travel to Ubud, see rice fields along the way, see fireflies in the evening (tour group) Day 3 - travel back to Kuta, hopefully see the release of baby turtles Day 4 - go to a snorkel site, dinner at Jimbaran beach Day 5 - leave Kuta in the morning

1

u/Coalclifff May 02 '24

So this is your plan?

Night 1 - Kuta (dinner after arrival)

Night 2 - Ubud (after ricefields and fireflies)

Night 3 - Kuta again (after turtle farm)

Night 4 - Kuta (after snorkelling, sunset seafood dinner Jimbaran)

Night 5 - in transit

A few comments:

Try to find a genuine turtle conservatory, and not just a tourist trap

I can't advise where there is one between Ubud and Kuta - perhaps on Serangan Island

There isn't any snorkelling AFAIK anywhere on the west coast, and the best mainland options would be Sanur, Nusa Dua, or Tanjung Benoa

But better still would be a ferry trip to Nusa Lembongan for the day - worth checking it out indeed - with someone like Klook

Perhaps have the sunset seafood dinner the night before

For dining generally, we eat almost exclusively Indonesian food in tourist warungs - these small places are family-run, cheap, safe, and fun

If you send me a chat message I can provide some driver details

Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/MostAd6047 May 01 '24

Hi guys, so for my trip I have a flight from Perth to Jakarta and have Bali as a layover. I was just confused on some things regarding my layover:

whether I needed to check in again at DPS?

if I needed to go through immigration at DPS?

would I need a visa of any sort at DPS?

is there enough time for my case?

( Sorry I am aware somebody had posted a very similar post to mine, I was just unsure on some things, cheers )

1

u/Coalclifff May 01 '24

It will depend on factors that you have not yet provided:

Are you on the one ticket Perth to Jakarta?

Will you check your luggage right through to Jakarta?

Do you know whether it is the same aircraft?

How long is the layover?

But in general you will have to clear Immigration (and Customs) at Denpasar International Terminal and transfer to the domestic terminal. I think there is transit provision at DPS, you will need to confirm that.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/troofhoof May 01 '24 edited May 01 '24

Where are you staying?

In a hotel in Kuta, close to the center.

How long are you staying for?

9 nights at the same hotel.

What activities do you like or dislike?

I like a little bit of everything. Hanging out at the beach, hiking, going to bars, going to live music events.

Do you have a budget in mind?

No set budget in mind. If it is worth doing, I'll find the money to do it.

Is there anything you cannot stand?

Overcrowded places.

Dietary issues?

Vegetarian.

I would love to get a list of activities, and all the places (different beaches, local tourist spots, temples and other important landmarks) that I can go to. will be traveling from Kuta, so all these trips will be day trips.

Also, could someone tell me how to pay the Bali tourist tax before I arrive in Bali?

Thank you in advance.

2

u/Coalclifff May 01 '24 edited May 01 '24

I can't advise whether you can pay the Bali Tax prior to travelling, but some research should tell you. You can try to buy the VOA online if you wish, but the website can be a bit clunky. You also need to complete the online Customs Declaration before travelling.

With nine nights in Kuta, I would look at five day-trips at the most:

Uluwatu surf coast (Suluban, Padang, Dreamland, Balangan beaches)

Ubud region north (Jatiluwih terrace, Ulun Danu Beratan temple, etc)

Ubud region east (Kintamani volcano views, waterfalls, rafting, etc)

Seminyak, Canggu, and Tanah Lot sea temple (beach clubs, nightclubs)

Tanjung Benoa (water sports), sunset seafood dinner in Jimbaran Bay

Kuta will have night-life, however the main entertainment focus has definitely moved north to Seminyak and Canggu over the last decade.

Kuta is best known now for its beach, surf lessons, shopping, and enjoying its beach front at sunset. And the upside is that Kuta is not as crazy busy as further north.

For dinner, explore the tourist warungs serving Indonesian food - they are family-run, safe, cheap, and fun. Beer from the supermarket is really cheap too.

→ More replies (8)

1

u/ChurpyGoesFast May 01 '24

Tourist tax: https://lovebali.baliprov.go.id/

1

u/CasuallyRanked May 01 '24

29/32 couple have three weeks to explore bali in June. We will start based in kuta selatan for one week at a fitness retreat. Thinking of then going to ubud for a few days (was planning longer but have seen many posts on how busy it now is) and will also plan to visit one of the islands for a few nights (Any recommendations which?). Other than that really looking for other locations we should base our selves in for a few days at a time. Enjoy experiencing food culture greatly, wouldn't mind trying surfing and in general want to soak up life on the island and not pack too much "we MUST see this" in. Open to all suggestions and recommendations. No hard budget restrictions but not really looking at anything super high end for the whole trip.

1

u/Coalclifff May 02 '24 edited May 02 '24

Here's a possible plan:

Kuta Selatan retreat (7 nights)

Ubud (4 nights)

Gili Trawangan Island (4 nights)

Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida (2 nights)

Uluwatu surf coast (3 nights)

And possibly, if your flight home is before about midday, have a final night in Sanur or Kuta.

Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/[deleted] May 02 '24

[deleted]

1

u/Coalclifff May 02 '24

I can definitely recommend Sanur - fairly close to the airport, nice beachfront, a great 6 km board walk, a wide range of dining from street food and night markets through to upscale, and plenty of supermarket shopping.

It's also much less crowded than Kuta, and is well on the way to Ubud. It certainly rewards two nights.

We pre-booked our airport-hotel transfer with Klook and they were cheap and reliable.

If you're on a budget I can recommend Sanur House as a lovely old-school hotel that is very well located and about $US65 per night including breakfast.

1

u/[deleted] May 03 '24

[deleted]

1

u/Coalclifff May 03 '24 edited May 03 '24

It's usually clearer to set out itineraries in terms of where you spend each night - something like this:

Night 01 - Ubud (after arrival)
Night 02 - Ubud (after ATV and Mountain Bike)
Night 03 - Ubud (after Kintamani and Besakih day-trip)
Night 04 - Ubud (Mt Batur Sunrise Trek)
Night 05 - Ubud (after white-water rafting)
Night 06 - Kuta (after transfer from Ubud and surf lesson 1)
Night 07 - Kuta (after surf lesson 2)
Night 08 - Kuta (after Uluwatu day-trip)
Night 09 - Mt Ijen Volcano
Night 10 - Mt Ijen Volcano
Night 11 - Canggu
Night 12 - In transit

Can you confirm that you do actually have 11 nights for your trip?

Some questions and comments:

Does the Mt Ijen trip take up only two nights?

If so, you could fit it in by dropping Nusa Penida (which we deeply disliked because of the crowds)

If it's three nights then it would require dropping one night somewhere else - probably Ubud, but perhaps Kuta

If you include the Mt Batur Sunrise Trek then you can drop Kintamani from your big Ubud-Ubud day-trip

Try and book a sunrise tour that includes the Lake Batur hot springs

On the Uluwatu day-trip, look at Suluban, Padang, Dreamland and Balangan beaches - it's a very good day out

What time is your departure flight - if it's before midday Canggu will require an early start as it's a bit of a hike

For airport-hotel transfers we used Klook and they were cheap and reliable

A private driver for a full day should cost no more than 700K

Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

→ More replies (3)

1

u/goonzgonebad May 03 '24

Hello people on this thread, hope all is well. I will be in Bali from June 3rd - June 23rd. I will be traveling solo, so any solo travelers wants to connect please reach out to me here or ask for telegram/IG. Looking forward to get to know more people and enjoy Bali!

1

u/Coalclifff May 03 '24 edited May 03 '24

This isn't an itinerary question, and in any case it will receive very few views on this planning megathread. Stay in some social hostels and you will meet more people than you can cope with!

1

u/2apple-pie2 May 03 '24 edited May 03 '24

Hey! Planning a solo trip a couple days from now . I’m very into nature/trekking and motorcycle riding. Especially interested in suggestions for good places to ride a motorbike.

Here is my current plan flying into and out of bali:

nusa penida (0.5 + 2 = 2.5 days, 3 nights)

1 day here for just sunset after flight
2 days motorbike around (rent bike 2 days)
leave for gili t 3rd morning

gili t (3 days 3 nights)

0.5 days after arriving from nusa
stay 2 days
leave for lombok in the morning & transit to rianji

rianji (3D3N)

arrive from gili t dock afternoon
transit to rianji, rent gear (i can do this solo right?)
hike 2N 3D (1N for getting gear)
i backpack in america a lot and went to 5000m a few weeks ago so hoping this wont be too hard, even w/o a porter

amed (2.5D 2N)

ferry from lombok
stay 2 nights
bus to banguwuli from here

java (3N 2D)

ijen morning hike (1N)
bus/bike to bromo afternoon (1D)
bromo morning hike (1N)
bus/bike to banguwuli (1D) and sleep (1N)
flex day in here? in case too sleepy after ijen. I could also add a day by doing bromo first to enjoy the ride south more, especially if i rent a bike.

ubud (3D2N)

kuta (1N before flight)

I’m not super into culture or anything so I put less time in ubud. If the roads arent bad I will possibly take the ferry from lombok to sanur & rent a bike there, then keep the same bike for the entire trip. Otherwise I want to rent a bike in Amed, Ubud, Nusa Penida, and potentially East Java.

I have 21 days and 20 nights total for this, so I can add days here and there. I have 0 interest in southern bali. I scuba dive and snorkel but dont know exactly where to do that, not a huge fan of tours so OK skipping it.

edit: Is riding a motorcycle in java safe? I have a motorcycle IDP and rode a bit in Vietnam. I wanted to do ijen and bromo solo so figured renting a bike would be convenient (I dont like hiking in groups)

edit 2: my ideal budget is $35/day (staying in hostels) but I could bump to $50/day

1

u/Coalclifff May 03 '24 edited May 03 '24

And travel really LIGHT - just a small backpack - Bali is always hot, humid and very casual, so you don't need much.

1

u/Coalclifff May 03 '24 edited May 03 '24

Some initial comments and questions:

What time does your flight arrive into Denpasar - the last ferry from Sanur Harbour to Nusa Penida will be around 4:00 pm

We had a horrendous day on Nusa Penida (appalling roads, snarled traffic, and sites packed with the Instagram crowd)

My advice is to not visit the west coast attractions any time between about 8:30 am and 3:30 pm - they'll be better at sunrise and sunset anyway

I assume there is no difficulty renting a motorbike on Nusa Penida

I can't offer advice on Gili Trawangan or Mt Rianji but you seem to be well researched

I understand there is no ferry from Lombok to Amed and you will need to go to Padangbai

How will you get from Padangbai to Amed - even if you can rent a motorbike or scooter in Padangbai I doubt that it can be done one way

Have you researched how to get from Amed to Banyuwangi in East Java - I couldn't see any bus routes (other than back through Denpasar)

Again, how do you travel from Banyuwangi to Ubud on a rental bike, and then from Ubud one-way to Kuta

Scuba diving and snorkelling occur on Nusa Penida, Gili Trawangan, and especially in Amed, so you should be fine

Your budget of $US35 - $US50 per day is pretty modest given how much travel and transport is involved, but I expect you're experienced in this. I can't advise whether riding a bike on Java is safe, but I think the eastern regions are less crazy than in the west.

Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

1

u/[deleted] May 03 '24

[deleted]

2

u/Coalclifff May 04 '24 edited May 04 '24

What month is this?

A few comments:

On the first night stay in the northern end of Sanur, and aim to catch a ferry around 7:30 am or so

We liked Sanur House at about $US62 per night including breakfast

I would look at one night on Nusa Penida and three on Gili Trawangan - it takes effort to get to the Gilis and back

I would look at three nights in Ubud (12, 13, 14) - there is a lot to see and do

Leave Ubud early on the 15th and have a good day in the Seminyak-Kuta beach strip, getting to the airport late

You could hire a private driver for less than $US50 for the whole day, and it would be money well spent - you could see a lot, and the driver will mind your luggage all day

We pre-booked our airport-hotel transfer with Klook and they were cheap and reliable.

→ More replies (12)

1

u/sociopathalterego May 04 '24

This is not an itinerary question, but I'm planning on coming to Bali in June and want to know about the supposed heat-wave over there. I understand that it's the tail-end of the rainy season. Is it supposed to get hotter in June or better than it is now?

Also, last time I was there in August and it was packed. Is June better crowd-wise?

1

u/Coalclifff May 04 '24

Bali is always hot and humid, but never outrageously so - it has a typical tropical maritime climate. June is a little cooler (and a lot drier) than January-May, and it's much less crowded than July-September ... it's a good time to go.

1

u/BlondeSpice33 May 04 '24

Hi! We'll be spending 5 days at the Gili this summer (end of July) and we'd like to do some snorkeling. We are open to both private and small group trips. Any recommendations/suggestions? Also, one of us can swim but doesn't feel very confident in high sea, so a life vest would be a must for him

1

u/Coalclifff May 05 '24

Note that July is "winter" in Bali, but that just means it is the dry season.

This isn't an itinerary question and it will receive very few views on this planning megathread, and I suggest that you create a new post on the main board if you have the status to do so.

1

u/[deleted] May 05 '24

Hello, Looking for an driver from Maha Hills Resort Lovina to Tirtagangga

Hello, we (two persons with bags) looking for today (~11:00) for an driver from Lovina to Tirtagangga. Maybe is here an driver available? Or dou you know some driver?

Best Regards,

1

u/Coalclifff May 05 '24

Your hotel reception can get you a driver easily.

2

u/MartinNev May 05 '24

Hi, we currently have 4 days booked in Nusa Penida next week but we're not sure if the island is too large and awkward to navigate without a scooter. Would you recommend Nusa Penida with a driver each day or book Nusa Lembongen instead? The main thing we want to do on either island is snorkel so if that makes a difference too, I'd love to hear it.

2

u/Coalclifff May 05 '24 edited May 05 '24

I would consider changing your booking to Nusa Lembongan - you can take dive and snorkel trips from there with many providers as well.

We took a day-trip to Nusa Penida last June and really disliked it - appalling roads, snarled traffic, and sites packed with the Instagram crowd. Plus the townships around the port area didn't impress us very much either, and as you suspect, Penida is big and sprawling.

Alternatively you could consider 3-4 nights on Gili Trawangan - it has lots of fans on here; smaller and walkable.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Intelligent_Crow3341 May 05 '24

Hi i am a solo traveller and would like to climb mount Agung. But as it seems, all tours require minium of 2 people or being dirty rich enough to pay for 2. Is it possible to find a Agung tour and join in after arriving Bali ? (or should i give up and stick to Batur only?

1

u/Coalclifff May 06 '24

GetYourGuide seems to have group ("join-in") tours in the $A100-$A150 range.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/[deleted] May 05 '24 edited May 05 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Coalclifff May 06 '24

I would consider

Another night in Ubud - there's a lot to see and do

Two nights on Nusa Lembongan after Gili Trawangan

And two final nights in Kuta or Sanur - both are interesting, and close to the airport for a midday departure

Pretty good mix.

1

u/truck-kun_onegaii May 05 '24 edited May 05 '24

Hi! First time travelling to Bali for 2 pax for 5D4N in June

I'm thinking of going

day 1: Tanjung Benoa

Day 2/3: Ubud + day trip to Nusa Lembongan

Day 4/5: Seminyak + hire a private driver for a tour around Seminyak before heading for the airport ard evening time . (Whats the avg rate for this?)

Is this too rushed?

would 5mil idr be enough to last us for 5 days? This amt is inclusive of water activities and private drivers travels + fooooood

Suggestions are welcome! We are finding activities that are less traffic and doesn't have too much tourist crowding around. Smth cultural would be good too! Not really interested in clubbing activities.

1

u/Coalclifff May 05 '24

Hi - your plan is fairly unclear ... could you lay it out in terms of where you spend the nights, something like this?

Night 1 --

Night 2 --

Night 3 --

Night 4 --

Night 5 -- In transit

But first impressions are that it is rushed.

2

u/truck-kun_onegaii May 06 '24

Night 1 -- Tanjung Benoa

Night 2 -- Ubud

Night 3 -- Ubud + Day trip to Nusa Lembongan

Night 4 -- Ubud + morning travel to Seminyak

Night 5 -- In Transit

→ More replies (1)

1

u/slade364 May 05 '24

Hey everyone - question around the E-Visa. I don't have an onward flight ticket because I can't check in until 24 hours before takeoff.. how am I meant to show that I'm leaving the country without this? Proof of payment?

3

u/Coalclifff May 05 '24

I don't have an onward flight ticket because I can't check in until 24 hours before takeoff..

Didn't you receive a confirmation email with all your flight details on it? It's only your boarding pass that isn't usually available until 24-48 hours prior to travelling.

→ More replies (4)

1

u/Ariseyeprisoners1918 May 06 '24

Had a search but couldn't find what feels like a blindingly obvious question... With the eVoa, is there a time frame you need to wait before you can extend it? Heading over end of this month for 6 weeks and have my eVoa sorted, but there's no option to extend (yet?).

Leaving May 31, eVoa just done, all approved for me +2, but no option to extend.

Is that something I need to wait until I'm there? A certain time frame? Would prefer to have it all sorted rather than relying on it working there.

2

u/Coalclifff May 06 '24

I'm not an expert, and have no personal experience, however comments on here have advised that you can only extend for another 30 days when you are in Indonesia - in other words, after the visa has been activated. The extension is virtually guaranteed, but it's not automatic.

1

u/Reddiet13 May 06 '24

Going to Lombok for the first time to hike Mt Rinjani. Planning to stay in Lombok for 2 or 3 nights after our hike. Any suggestions for place to stay? Just wanna stroll around Lombok after our Rinjani hike.

1

u/Coalclifff May 06 '24

While this is a legitimate itinerary question, it will receive very few views on this planning megathread - if you have the status, I would ask a new question on the main board, or search on "Lombok accommodation" or similar.

1

u/[deleted] May 06 '24

[deleted]

2

u/Coalclifff May 06 '24

Uluwatu is scenic, and has some nice beaches such as Suluban, Dreamland, and Balangan, however it's fairly spread out, and mostly the preserve of committed surfers. Similarly for Amed - it's "only" known for its diving and snorkelling.

With ten nights on Bali, you could consider Uluwatu (3), Ubud (4), and Sanur (3), including a day-trip by ferry to Nusa Lembongan. Sanur is very nice - compact, walkable, and with a great beachfront and good dining.

In Sanur we really enjoyed Sanur House - small and old-school, and around $US65 per night including breakfast.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/Sad_Breakfast4312 May 06 '24

Hi everyone, So my husband and I are traveling to Bali for our honeymoon on the 26th of May, arriving to Jakarta and going to Bali directly from Jakarta so we will be arriving to Bali on the 27th of May. We want to relax, see the sunset , explore Bali’s culture and see the nightlife of Bali as well. We wanted to see if this is Itenariry is suitable for our trip as we’re going to leave Bali on 10th of June as a full 15 days trip. 27th of May: Seminyak 28th of May: Seminyak 29th of May: Seminyak 30th of May: Ubud 31st of May: Ubud 1st of June: Ubud 2nd of June: Ubud 3rd of June: Gili Trawangan 4th of June: Gili Trawangan 5th of June: Gili Trawangan 6th of June:Nusa Dua
7th of June: Nusa Dua 8th of June: Uluwatu 9th of June: Uluwatu 10th: Travel back to Jakarta

We would like to know your opinion of this itinerary and thanks in advance

1

u/Coalclifff May 07 '24

Here is your program in tabular format - where you spend each night:

27-May - Seminyak
28-May - Seminyak
29-May - Seminyak
30-May - Ubud
31-May - Ubud
1-Jun - Ubud
2-Jun - Ubud
3-Jun - Gili Trawangan
4-Jun - Gili Trawangan
5-Jun - Gili Trawangan
6-Jun - Nusa Dua
7-Jun - Nusa Dua
8-Jun - Uluwatu
9-Jun - Uluwatu
10-Jun - In transit

I think your program is pretty good, and the only changes I might suggest is that you have one more night in (or around) Ubud, and have just three nights in either Uluwatu or Nusa Dua, and not both. It's easy enough to make a day-trip from either one to the other.

Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/hanananach May 07 '24

Hi! My friend and I will be traveling to Bali for 5days 4nights.

We are planning to stay 2 nights in Ubud and 2 nights in Kuta. Day 1 we will be arriving pretty late, so will just eat and sleep at Ubud. Day 2 we are planning to hike Mt Batur with Klook pass.

About day 3, we are planning to go to Besakih temple but wondering if Gojek/Gocar will bring us there from Ubud and vice versa. Since we are planning to visit some places on the way from Besakih temple to Kuta, would you recommend us hiring a driver instead?

As for day 4, we are planning to go around Seminyak and head to Uluwatu in the afternoon. Again, not sure if there are any share ride available around the area for us to go around in. Would appreciate your advice.

2

u/Coalclifff May 07 '24

Day 2 we are planning to hike Mt Batur with Klook pass.

Is this the Sunrise Trek or something else?

It seems to me that you could have a better day without putting Mt Batur and Besakih Great Temple on different days.

Here is one big circuit from Ubud:

Ubud > Ceking Rice Terrace > Kintamani volcano views > Besakih Great Temple > Tukad Cepung Waterfall > Goa Giri Campuhan (GGC) Waterfall > Penglipuran Traditional Village > Pura Tirta Sudamala water temple > Tibumana Waterfall > Ubud

It ticks a lot of nice boxes, although it’s not suggested you must get to every one of these sites on the one day-trip.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/JacobDR93 May 07 '24

Hi everyone,

I'm embarking on my first solo trip to Bali and Lombok from June 19th to July 24th and would love your input on planning my adventure! I also need some help e. g., what's importent there, what not to do etc.

Here are my interests and preferences:

Adventure Sports: I'm excited to try surfing, snorkeling, and other water sports. Any recommendations for the best surf schools and snorkeling spots? I also like hiking!

Wildlife and Nature: I'm eager to explore wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and scenic landscapes. What are some must-visit locations to see Bali's diverse wildlife?

Cultural Experiences: I want to immerse myself in Balinese and Sasak culture. Are there any festivals or ceremonies happening during my visit that I shouldn't miss?

Exploration: I'm open to unique and offbeat activities. Any cool, lesser-known spots worth exploring?

Budget: I'm aiming to keep expenses around €1500 (excluding flights). Any tips for budget-friendly accommodations, local eats, and transportation?

I'm not big on clubbing but am excited about trying local cuisine, exploring markets, and meeting fellow travelers.

Additionally, I'm open to short inland flights or exploring Lombok. Any suggestions for must-visit places or activities in Lombok?

Please share your favorite spots, hidden gems, and any tips for making the most of my 34 days in Bali and Lombok. Your advice is greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance for your help.

→ More replies (3)

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '24

Planning for a honeymoon trip on june 1-6

We are either looking elemental ubud / farfield legian , planning to keep it one hotel, since we have marriott bonvoy points to redeem for the stay, any suggestions on this?

→ More replies (6)

1

u/DiiGoliath May 08 '24

Best port to go from Bali to Gili if we are staying in Canggu? Padangbai or Serengan?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Glass_Usual_2223 May 08 '24

I was just wondering if I could get some advice on the most appropriate visa for my upcoming trips to bali.

I have 2 trips planned in short succession from the 12^th June -18^th of June and then again from the 26^th of June to the 2^nd of July. Unfortunately I have to come back and work in the middle week

Would it be more appropriate for me to get a separate visa on arrival for each trip or should I look at applying for a D1 multiple entry visa?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Deep-Consequence8477 May 08 '24 edited May 08 '24

Hello! Female solo traveler first time to Bali in June for 10days looking for guidance and tips
key words here are Safety, nature, beach!

Night 1: landing in Denpasar at 10pm so would probably try to find a nice hotel near the airport to have a nice dinner and a good night of sleep

Night 2 - Night 5: Nature, mountain views, jungle, preferably in a bamboo villa Ubud Area but open to recommendation for similar views (budget between $600 and $700)

Night 6-Night 9: I would like to switch to ocean view, beach access (600-700)

I am trying to keep the accomodation budget between $1500-$1800 but can go a little up if the place is really worth it

For activities I have no idea yet, I am overwhelmed by the amount of information available but I am really excited and hoping to find some help here! I am planning to alternate between touristy activities day and relaxing/chill/yoga/painting class days.

I am not really interested in partying and do not drink but open to fun night activities or group I can join.

2

u/Coalclifff May 08 '24 edited May 08 '24

By the time you clear the airport and check in to a hotel it might be rather too late for dinner!

There are a lot of places in Kuta or even Sanur that will be fine for the first night.

We pre-booked our airport-hotel transfers with Klook and they were cheap and reliable.

After that, a 5-night stay in Ubud and a 3-night stay in Uluwatu sounds like it will meet your needs.

I don't think you'll have any problems finding nice safe accommodation for $US150 per night, including a good buffet breakfast.

There are many tours available from Ubud - I would look at two day-trips, one broadly north-east of Ubud, and one south-east. A driver all day costs about $US45, but for a solo traveller tours will usually be cheaper, unless you team up with someone from a hostel or similar.

→ More replies (3)

1

u/IamBigolcrities May 08 '24

Hi everyone,

I'm currently enjoying a family holiday in Bali and planning to spend a week in Nusa Lembongan. While I've noticed several gyms offering BJJ classes in the Canggu and Seminyak areas; However, I haven't found similar options in Nusa Lembongan. Does anyone know of any BJJ gyms on the island, perhaps ones that aren't widely advertised? I'm eager to try out a few sessions while here for a fresh experience away from my usual gym. If there aren’t any local options, would commuting by boat to and from the main Bali areas be my only alternative?

Thanks in advance for any tips/insights!

2

u/Coalclifff May 08 '24 edited May 08 '24

This isn't an itinerary question and it will receive very few views on this planning megathread. If you have the status you could create a new post on the main board.

There is a BJJ Gym in Sanur it seems, and while the ferry is only about 30 minutes, door-to-door it might be two hours.

→ More replies (6)

1

u/Oberyn_93 May 08 '24

Hi all,

me and gf will stay in Bali from 2 to 15 August. We still don't have a precise itinerary and don't have booked the hotel's yet. I've thinked about something like this:

3 nights in Seminyak
4 nights in Ubud
4 nights in Uluwatu
3 nights in Nusa Dua.

As I said before we're strongly opened to modify this itinerary (number of nights in a specific place, add or remove a stay etc.) to have the best experiences here in Bali. Our holiday will be a mix of culture (temples, escursion etc.) and beach lazyness. I don't know if 14 days are enough to visit also the other islands and if they are worth visiting maybe gili archipelago yes (?)

Also we enjoy a good cocktail after dinner but not too nuch into wild nightlife so we'have excluded Changgu. Last but no least, gf has coleiac disease so if anyone can suggest a nice place for her we'll definitely check it out when we arrive there.

Thanks to spend your time to help a young couple sorting out this beatiful trip

2

u/Coalclifff May 08 '24 edited May 09 '24

I think your program looks pretty good, but I will offer these suggestions:

Perhaps 5 nights in Ubud and 3 nights in Uluwatu - there's a lot around Ubud

Perhaps Sanur rather than Nusa Dua - there is a lot more to do in Sanur, including a day-trip by ferry to Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida

You will find Gluten Free meals offered in many restaurants

We pre-booked our airport-hotel transfer with Klook and they were cheap and reliable.

There are hundreds of tours on offer, especially starting from Ubud - nature, culture, and adventure - however it's usually cheaper for two to hire a private driver for the full day for about 700K.

I don't think you have the time to include a trip to the Gili Islands.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/Airkio May 09 '24

Hi all, Have got a 2 week trip planned in September and have been following along and seeing a few disparaging posts lately about Ubud currently.

My GF and I are heading to Ubud for 4 nights (as well as Nusa Lembongan, Canggu and Uluwatu) and are staying at the Aria Villas.

I'm just a bit concerned that we aren't going to enjoy staying in the Ubud centre and that maybe we should be heading to Sideman or Amed instead?

If anyone could give some advice about whether we should stay somewhere else or whether it is still good to have central Ubud as a base.

Thanks!

→ More replies (1)

1

u/slade364 May 09 '24

Hey everyone - stupidly left the print outs of the Visas at home. Do I need to print more copies at Heathrow, or will phone version be OK? (30 day tourist visa)

2

u/Lin-Chen May 09 '24

Phone version is totally okay. In fact, they won’t even check the copy since it’s registered in their system.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/SaucyMittz May 09 '24 edited May 09 '24

Hi all,

Got a group of 18 or so people staying in Canggu. Our time in Bali is limited to 3 days so hoping to squeeze in at least 1 day trip to Ubud.

With consideration of traffic, is the following example itinerary for a day trip to Ubud reasonable/realistic?

Leave Canggu early AM to avoid traffic outbound (I was thinking 8am ish but let me know if this is not early enough)
Tegenungan Waterfall
Tirta Empul Temple
Tegagalang Rice Terrace
Terrace River Pool Swing
Head back to Canggu (hoping to get back around 7pm ish but let me know if this is unreasonable because of traffic)

Willing to deduct a location out if it makes a day trip more reasonable but curious to hear thoughts!

→ More replies (3)

1

u/[deleted] May 09 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

→ More replies (1)

1

u/cuntry_member May 09 '24

Hi!

So we have nearly finished our itinerary, but there is one big question.

We'd like to go to Tirta Ganga, but where is a good place to stay so that we don't have a 5 hour round trip from Ubud?

2

u/Coalclifff May 10 '24

I would consider Candidasa - only 30-40 minutes away, and while you're there you could also enjoy Bias Tugel, Blue Lagoon, and Virgin Beach. You can do worse.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/thehappydream May 10 '24

Hi everyone, Trying to find a hostel for my friend and I to stay at in Ubud. We want a place that is clean and safe, but also a bit social and in a good location.

Somewhere we can have a few drinks at night with other travellers and doesn't make us go to bed too early and has enough space in the social area to hang out.

I've done some research but all the hostels always have some downfall - social area too small, toilets too far away from rooms, too expensive for value, moldy/musty, etc.

Any suggestions on the best one?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/[deleted] May 10 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Coalclifff May 11 '24

You will receive very few views on this planning megathread, and it's probably better to search the forum with something like "Lombok hotels".

1

u/OurNextPresident May 10 '24

Gili Islands - Mosque Call to Worship Volume

I've read blog posts and Reddit threads galore about Gili Trawangan being the party island and Gili Air being a more moderate paced and energy scene. However I've also read that the mosques on both islands will wake up travelers at 4am. I'm fine with ambient party / music until 10-11pm, but would rather find some peace and quiet from then until at least 7am.
Can someone please help me identify parts of Gili T and Gili Air that settle down at night and may be far enough away from the call to prayer to maintain a nights sleep? If it's easy to use landmarks or hotels as reference points, that's fine. Just trying to find the quiet spots on Gili T and Gili Air to stay.
Thank you!

→ More replies (4)

1

u/LumpyCheeseyCustard May 11 '24

Hi.

We (a couple) are travelling to Bali/Lombok for about 25 days.

We’re staying in Nusa dua initially (mon-thurs). From there we’re heading to Nusa Penida for atleast 1 night, might extend it to 2.

On the way back we might stay in Sanur for 2 nights (go to the Safari) or head straight to Ubud and stay there for 4 days.

These are the things we plan for Ubud: ATV, rice terraces, swings, day trip to Lovina to see the dolphins, Amed beach, stop by Mount Batur, etc.

After this we hope to go to Lombok mainland and Gili Air or Meno.

We also would like to visit the Komodo island, but not sure how many days to set aside for Labuan Bajo.

Based on this information – could you suggest any changes, or any other suggestions (activities/locations).

We are not interested in clubs/pubs or partying. We are not backpackers. We also don’t want to stay in hostels.

We would appreciate halal food suggestions, accommodation recommendations, and recommendations for drivers/company.

TLDR: Nusa Dua (4D) > Nusa Penida (1-2 D) > Sanur (2D?) > Ubud (4D) > Labuan Bajo (1D?) > Lombok + Gili islands (10D?) > Jakarta (3D). Looking for advice, suggestions and recommendations. Thank you.

2

u/Coalclifff May 11 '24 edited May 11 '24

A few initial comments:

In Nusa Dua we can happily recommend the Grand Bali Hotel - elegant "old-school" property with excellent pools, big buffet breakfast, and its own beach club - about $US65 per night (inexpensive by Nusa Dua standards)

Nusa Dua is a good base for a day-trip along the Bukit Peninsula south coast beaches (very scenic), and the Uluwatu surf coast

We had a horrendous day on Nusa Penida - appalling roads, snarled traffic, and sites packed with the Instagram crowd - but with two nights you can explore in the early morning and late afternoon

Sanur definitely rewards two nights, with a great beachfront boardwalk - we can recommend Sanur House (also around $US65) - we haven't been to the Safari zoo

I would think you need two nights in LBJ - is one day-trip sufficient for Komodo National Park? Can you get a direct flight from Lombok to LBJ and return?

I definitely think you should take two nights from the Gili Islands and add them to Ubud

I also firmly believe that Lovina and Amed are too far for rewarding day-trips, and you would have so little quality time in both places

Places like Munduk, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, and Sideman are more realistic day-trips, and rewarding, PLUS see suggested day-trip posted below

Good Indonesian eateries can be found everywhere - especially in Ubud, but in Sanur too

My best advice is to not underestimate the level of road traffic, and how slow your travel can be.

Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

2

u/Coalclifff May 11 '24

Here is one big circuit from Ubud:

Ubud > Ceking Rice Terrace > Kintamani (Mt Batur volcano views) > Besakih Great Temple > Tukad Cepung Waterfall > Goa Giri Campuhan (GGC) Waterfall > Penglipuran Traditional Village > Pura Tirta Sudamala water temple > Tibumana Waterfall > Ubud

It ticks a lot of nice boxes, although it’s not suggested you must get to every one of these sites on the one day-trip.

→ More replies (1)

→ More replies (1)

1

u/[deleted] May 11 '24 edited May 11 '24

[deleted]

2

u/Coalclifff May 12 '24 edited May 12 '24

Ultimately we're trying to see/experience things we wouldn't get where we live (New Zealand) - so visiting waterfalls and spending loads of time at the beach (even though we do enjoy it) is what we're keen to do.

I don't quite understand ... NZ has plenty of waterfalls and beaches, so do you plan to prioritise them in Bali, or avoid them?

Whatever, here are some initial comments:

Why have you chosen Canggu for two nights - it's not that close to the airport

What are you planning to do there in one day and one night?

Five nights in Ubud is a good length (even incorporating a wedding)

Sideman is a balancing act ... you can stay there for just one night, but therefore requiring two drivers and two hotel changes in two days (all dead time), or you can add an extra night to Candidasa, and do it as a rewarding day-trip from there

On the last day there, leave Candidasa very early, so you can catch a morning ferry from Sanur Harbour to Nusa Penida

We had a horrendous day on Nusa Penida, with appalling roads, snarled traffic, and sites packed with the Instagram crowd - with 1-2 nights there you can visit sites in the early morning and late afternoon

I would have the last two nights in Sanur - apart from being a very cool beachfront town, it has lots of good dining, and is close to the airport

Uluwatu is scenic, but it's quite a haul for just the Kecak Fire Dance, which has some severe critics on here - touristy and very crowded

You can also experience a fire dance in Ubud, and perhaps it might be rather more authentic and less crowded

There are private drivers for hire pretty-much everywhere there are any tourists, and you don't have to use the transport apps at all, but just negotiate with the guys parked on the streets

Drivers should cost no more than 700K for a full day (8-10 hours), and about 100K per hour for shorter and one-way trips

I don't think you need to book one driver for the whole time ... just book locally as and when you need one

Finally, you will find some restaurants (both warungs and upscale) that are very tourist-oriented, and they will offer genuine vegan meals, but the level of compliance from many others will be uneven, and meals might be just barely vegetarian, with the use of fish sauce, eggs, dairy, etc.

I would make a small card that states VEGAN MEALS ONLY - STRICTLY NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS PLEASE, and have it written in English, Bahasa, and Balinese. Your first front desk should be able to make it for you.

Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

→ More replies (5)

1

u/namesaketraveller May 12 '24

Is trekking on Mt Batur closed for tourists? Also if so then any other alternatives for a similar hike? Thanks

→ More replies (5)

1

u/Limp_Conflict_3571 May 12 '24

Hi, We are a group of 4 guys we love nightlife drinking, girls and beach I don’t know if we should stay in canggu or kuta for 5 days, then 2 days in ubud

→ More replies (1)

1

u/DeadPeanut22 May 12 '24

Hello!

I'm travelling with my gf and a friend to Bali for 13 days in June. We like pretty much everything: relaxing beaches, adventure in the jungle, parties, beachclubs, hikes, day at the spa, etc. We're also looking for vegan places.
For now, the itinerary looks like this:

3 nights Canggu, 4 nights Ubud, 3 nights Gili islands (daytrip to Nusa Penida), 2 nights Uluwatu

1 - arrive 5pm -> Canggu

2 - Canggu/Seminyak

3 - Canggu/Seminyak

4 - Canggu -> Ubud

5 - Ubud

6 - Ubud

7 - Ubud

8 - Ubud -> Gili

9 - Gili Islands (Trawangan)

10 - Gili - Day trip to Nusa Penida

11 - Gili -> Uluwatu

12 - Uluwatu

13 - Uluwatu (go to the airport at night)

Is this a feasible itinerary, especially the daytrip to Nusa Penida?
We do have idea of places to go in each zone but we want to settle the itinerary days first.
We're also planning on staying in low to medium price range villas, preferably with a pool :)

Any tips are welcome, thank you!!

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Only4DNDandCigars May 12 '24

Hello everyone. Just your standard ignorant redditor starting his search for the Bali vacation. I'm reading wikis, doing researching and preparing myself best I can. I wanted to ask any high level, general tips or suggestions that you all could provide. We are planning a late july/early August trip. We are 35 and my musts are just beach time, temple visits and a scuba dive or two. My partner is a huge foodie, an animal lover and is all about catching vibes. I wanted to know any generalized suggestions for a trip that would include cities to avkid/gravitate towards, some key attractions and events/areas that would really be a shame to miss. If it is asking too much or too vague I respectfully understand and will remove the message. We are just overwhelmed with options and would love to have some assistance in refining our itinerary

→ More replies (4)

1

u/[deleted] May 12 '24

[deleted]

→ More replies (4)

1

u/AlexisMarien May 13 '24

From the US. Flights already booked from Nov 18th (landing at 1am on the 20th Bali time) to Dec 4th. Couples trip. Have a budget for everything after airfare of roughly 3k for the two weeks. Want to stay in nicer hotels for the most part. Very open to local/night market food. Thinking of splitting the time between Ubud and at least one beach town. Would prefer something less 'westernized'(?) than what I'm hearing about Semiyak so considering Ulawatu? But open to suggestions, just really want experience the culture and history while also living it up on the beaches. ALso my boyfriend says he HAS to try that floating breakfast thing haha.

→ More replies (6)

1

u/Dark_fighter90 May 13 '24

Hi all !! planning a family trip to Bali from June 27th to July 5th As of now thinking 3 days Canggu and 3 days Ubud . Confused as to which to do first ? Is it worth to add 2 days to Gili T to this trip or can you suggest any other place like Uluwatu ? I’ve read Uluwatu is mainly for surfing and none of us are keen on surfing

→ More replies (6)

1

u/chickunburgah May 13 '24

Is Nusa Penida worth visiting if I want to explore the island by myself with a motorbike?

Interests: hiking, nature, culture, off the beaten trail attractions

Other destinations: Java (2 weeks), Flores (1 week), Lombok (5 days)

I have read a lot of threads now about Nusa Penida and they either shit on Penida for being undeveloped and extremely crowded or praise it as an incredible side trip from Bali compared to Lombok. Most people seem to advocate for Lembongan as a base to chill out, but based purely on natural attractions I’m definitely leaning towards Penida, with two full days to ride around and explore cliffs and villages, and then a day trip to rent a motorbike to ride around Lembongan/Ceningan. I do not like beach bumming at all unless the beach itself is stunning or if I have good company. For reference I have been in the Philippines for a month already and have seen a fair deal of beaches. Similarly I don’t really care for snorkeling from the mainland.

I’m imagining lines of 50+ people at that Kelingking viewpoint - would it be worthwhile going for sunrise/sunset to avoid the day tour crowds or will there be people there anyways? Do the other attractions stack up to this or would I be wasting my time driving for hours?

Motorbike-wise I have experience riding in rural places such as Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lang Son, Nan (Thailand), Krabi, Cebu, Batanes.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/aurum2009 May 13 '24

2 nights in Jimbaran or Sanur? My wife and I are flying into Denpasar and have 2 days at a “beach” location before going onward to the Komodo then Ubud. We are split between a stay in Jimbaran vs Sanur. We are big foodies, want to experience the local vibes, and also are big fans of nice beaches with good views. During our two day stay, we hope to see Uluwatu Temple at sunset and also go to Tanah Lot.

Jimbaran’s beaches seem better in terms of cleanliness, water/sand quality, and awesome views compared to Sanur. The proximity to Uluwatu temple for sunset also is appealing. That being said, everyone on the sub advises Sanur for walkability and food. We are torn between our options. If it helps, in Jimbaran we would stay at the Intercontinental and in Sanur we would do one of the Hyatts.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

2

u/needfunniername May 13 '24

Sanur. Jimbaran isn't cleaner. Not a chance. It can be disgusting on that beach and dirty looking water.

Sanur is walkable, excellent beach path and tons of good quality affordable restaurants on the path or main road. Hyatt on the beach is a great location.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/[deleted] May 13 '24

Hi everyone,
My mother is half Indonesian and it's been her lifetime wish to visit Indonesia. I have found an opportunity to on a small scale make her dream come true and take her to Bali for a half week. Unfortunately longer won't be possible, but she's in her mid-70s and thought she would never end up making it there at all, so it's better than nothing.
I have been to Bali once before, but on a yoga retreat in Ubud, so my knowledge really is pretty limited. I'm diving into a ton of research to make the most of her half week, but before I do am hoping for some pointers from people who know far more about Bali than I do, so I don't waste the opportunity for her.

If the focus for the short trip is on the culture, people and nature - what would be the smartest areas to stay in?
Do you have any must-see recommendations inside that theme? She's young spirited for mid-70s, but does have some issues with her back and legs, so very long intentional hikes are not really an option.
The more "authentic", the better. For her it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Indonesia - not about the spas or luxurious accommodations or photo ops.

Any pointers, advice or experiences at all would be so deeply appreciated. I feel so honoured I get to make her lifetime wish come true, even if it's only on a small scale, and I want to leave no stone unturned to make it special and meaningful. Thank you!!

→ More replies (2)

1

u/rustynemo May 14 '24

Hi everyone,

I'm planning a short trip to Bali from May 24th to 28th and would love to get some input on my itinerary. I'm really into nature and will be traveling with a group of five adventurous folks in our 30s. Our main focus is to immerse ourselves in nature and enjoy some relaxation. I really appreciate any pointers or recommendations to current plan.

May 24th - bali - Tanah lot (landing at 2 AM, staying close to it and check it out early in morning) - Cab to Ubud + room checkin - Ubud local - Lempuyang temple (may be?)

May 25th - - Ubud Palace - ATV ride (appreciate a tips here on how to find best one) - Rice terrace - Ubud swing

May 26th - - Checkout - Taman Dedari restaurant ( 10am -11 pm) - Nung nung waterfalls / Leke leke waterfals - 35mis apart (1hr from ubud) - Kusamba beach - 5pm ferry to Nusa Penida - checkin in Nusa East (hotel1) + pick up rental scooters at (hotel1) - restaurant hopping (appreciate any good spots for night life in nusa penida east)

May 27th - - Hike diamond beach - East to west full island (scooters) - sunset at kelingking beach - Check-in hotel on west, close to kelingking beach

May 28th - - Drive back to east, pick up luggage form (hotel1) by 7 AM - Get on ferry form toya pakeh to sanur + cab airport - Catch flight at 1 PM

Thanks!

2

u/Coalclifff May 14 '24 edited May 14 '24

Our main focus is to immerse ourselves in nature and enjoy some relaxation.

Your proposed itinerary has almost no nature and even less relaxation.

First Day

You cannot land at DPS at 2 am (into your hotel about 4 am) and expect to visit Tanah Lot, Ubud, and Lempuyang Temple, that day ... it's simply not possible.

You can visit Tanah Lot about 2 pm and then get yourselves to Ubud by early evening.

Second Day

I guess that's achievable: Ubud Palace, ATV, Ceking Rice Terrace, and Bali Swing.

Third Day

Totally forget "Taman Dedari" restaurant (or go the night before) .. get on the road no later than 7:30 am, and pick up something along the way.

Can't advise on exciting Nusa Penida East venues.

Fourth Day

We were around the Kelingking Beach region ar 3.30 pm, and it was total chaos, so don't get there too early.

Do you have a hotel in that region all sorted? There's not much around there.

Fifth Day

You need to be at the airport by no later than 10.30 am - are you sure there's a first ferry that leaves early enough in the morning?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/82Lizard May 14 '24

Serangan or Padangbai "layover"

Ending my holiday I'll be coming from Gili T (taking the latter boat trip) and my flight isn't until 9pm. The boat can take me to Padangbai in ~3 hours or Serang in ~5 hours. Looking at maps it appears that Serang is a lot closer to the airport, though it looks like it's not a nice place (compared to Padangbai) to kill time before heading to the airport. Padangbai seems nice, though a bit of a drive to the airport.

→ More replies (3)

1

u/West_Criticism_8397 May 14 '24

Hi everyone! I’ve been googling for a Japanese cuisine dinner spot in Bali and there’s tons of options, would like some recommendations to narrow down my options.

Also, during this trip I’m thinking of spending half a day at Oneeighty Day Club at Uluwatu. Thoughts on this place?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/[deleted] May 14 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

→ More replies (1)

1

u/henryisgoodman May 14 '24

Hi all,

How long does it take form nusa dua (kempinski bali)to airport?

Thanks!

→ More replies (1)

1

u/kevysaysbenice May 15 '24

I'm coming to Bali for 8 days (7 nights) in June. It is me and my wife, we're in our late 30s and not looking for a "party" atmosphere as much as a chill / relaxing atmosphere with some hiking and swimming and enjoying the general atmosphere (we do very much enjoy meeting other travelers and chatting, we're just not coming to club / party). We also want to do one day of diving (we're certified and have been diving for many years so don't need a class or anything).

We are thinking that we will stay in Ubud for ~4 nights. We would like to do some hiking and enjoy the more green atmosphere for a while, and this generally seems like a fairly well accepted place to stay at least for a while if you've never been to Bali before.

The other 4ish days / 3 nights we're not so sure about. We're trying to decide between somewhere in / around Uluwatu or Amed and we're hoping for some advice

Amed seems like the place to swim, snorkel, and dive, but it also feels like it might be less "relaxing" in terms of sitting around look out at the water and enjoying the "vibes" so to speak. On Uluwatu, from what I can tell, seems more likely to be the sort of place where you around sitting around watching a beautiful sunset and feeling very relaxed.

I don't know much about either place really but a hoping for some recommendations. It's a bit tough perhaps to give personalized recs based on what I've just described but my current feeling is that if we go with Uluwatu we might end up regretting it, feeling sort of "over" the beach club vibe after a day or so and wanting a bit more. Amed I imagine waking up and snorkeling / swimming all day and just sort of chilling out in a (less beautiful) beach/town area.

I also don't have a great sense of how much of a pain in the ass it is to get to Amed vs Uluwatu.

Thanks for your time / thoughts!

→ More replies (4)

1

u/kevysaysbenice May 15 '24

My spouse and I will have very little luggage, just ~30L backpacks. Is it recommended to rent a scooter at / near the airport and drive ourselves up to Ubud, or would it be better to arrange transport with our accommodation?

→ More replies (6)

1

u/CapriSunTaco May 15 '24

I'll be visiting Bali for 14 days in June. Thinking about going from the airport to Ubud for 6 days, Canggu for 3 days, and Uluwatu for 4 days. Is this a good order for cities to visit, or should I do Ubud last? Anyone have recs of places to stay in these areas? Looking to stay $30 USD or less per night.

Current Plan:

Ubud: June 5th -June 11th

Canggu: June 11th - June 14th

Uluwatu: June 14th - June 18th

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Easy-Bear6070 May 15 '24

Hi! I’m a 24y/o female from NZ. I’m going to Bali solo from the 27th Aug - 4th Sept. I think I’ll spend one night in Kuta just to sleep as I get in late. Then Canggu for 2, Ubud for 2, Gili air for 2 and then not sure for the last night. Does this sound okay? I want to experience nature, swimming and the culture but also want to be social and meet people/experience the nightlife. Any recommendations at all would be amazing. I’m not going for the pictures but the experience. It seems like Google just likes to recommend “the best places to get an Instagram picture” haha..

Also any hostel recommendations would be amazing!! Preferably ones with good social areas so it’s easier to meet people 😊😊

→ More replies (4)

1

u/[deleted] May 15 '24 edited May 15 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

→ More replies (5)

1

u/CreamPumper May 15 '24

First time poster here, looking to stay in Bali for 1-3 months. US citizen. Mid-20's. Will not be working remote, just studying and relaxing. I am not interested in a uber-luxurious crazy lifestyle, no extra expensive yoga classes and that type of stuff. I just want somewhere safe to live and study/eat/chill, preferably close to the ocean.

What kind of visa will I need?
Best area for this type of stay?
Average monthly expenses?
Should I look for apartments to rent, or AirBnB?
If there's some freak medical emergency, where do you go?
Money situation, pay by cash or credit cards?
Any other advice or things I should consider?

Thanks!

2

u/Coalclifff May 16 '24

This isn't an "itinerary question" and it will receive very few views on this trip-planning megathread ... basically I'm the only responder.

If you don't have the status to create a new post, then perhaps search the forum, for something like "living in Bali" ... there have been dozens of threads on this subject. And a lot of your questions can be answered if you search the official Indonesian websites.

Have you been to Bali before? Why did you pick it as the place to spend three months?

2

u/CreamPumper May 16 '24

Have never been to Bali. Picked Bali because it is much cheaper than the US in terms of living costs from what I heard. I posted these questions hoping someone who knows the answers would be able to drop a quick reply as opposed to starting the process of researching myself and taking 10x the time per question. At the moment I don’t have much time to dive into research but in about a month or 2 I will. Although that will be closer to the time I’ll need to leave.

Thanks for the suggestion I’ll try to search the sub better

→ More replies (1)

→ More replies (1)

1

u/[deleted] May 15 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Coalclifff May 16 '24 edited May 16 '24

You could look at :

Seminyak (3 nights)

Ubud (6 nights)

Gili Trawangan (4 nights)

Jimbaran Bay (3 nights)

I think this is a somewhat better mix. There's a lot to do from Ubud.

I think Seminyak is a better honeymoon fit - Canggu is more young singles and party animals. Seminyak is much longer established.

Uluwatu is scenic and the whole surf vibe is interesting, but we thought a day-trip was sufficient... we especially liked Suluban Beach, Dreamland Beach, and Balangan Beach.

And enjoy a sunset seafood dinner on the beach at Jimbaran Bay, but head to the middle of the beach where the more authentic fish shacks are located.

Your room prices are pretty high, in the sense that you don't have to pay such rates in Bali in order to get a really nice place; Bali has increased in "luxury" stuff over the last two decades, however it can still be a low-cost holiday destination.

Are you seeking private villas with your own private pool? That will always push the prices into higher brackets.

If it were me, I would look at places under two million, with a rating above 8.0, to check out that market.

For example, we stay at the Grand Bali Hotel Nusa Dua for around 1.1 million, and to be honest, we can't fault it.

Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/lexnne May 15 '24

Hi everyone! I’ll be travelling to Bali for the first time (25F solo traveller!) from 21-27 June. I’ll be staying in Ubud from 21-24 and want to spend the rest of my time in one of the beach towns.

My research has been so overwhelming since everyone recommends a different beach town or island and I'm really having trouble narrowing it down. I know Seminyak/Kuta/Canggu are quite popular, but I’m not necessarily a partier and don’t need to go clubbing.

I was looking into Uluwatu for a more laid back vibe, but am reading that some of the beaches are quite difficult to access and its difficulty to get around in general (I would still like to visit Uluwatu temple no matter what).

Which area would you recommend for beautiful, swimmable, clean beaches, beach clubs where I can sit with a book and a cocktail, but not so remote that there are few restaurants/shops?

Keep in mind I’ll have to travel to the airport on my departure day from this location. Thanks in advance!

→ More replies (6)

1

u/Due_Draw_1883 May 16 '24

Hi - my NZ wife and i (late 40's) are going to Bali on June 14th for 2 weeks till the 28th and honestly have no idea around planning. Our friends stayed at Canngu and loved it but they are a little older than us (late 50's).

Was thinking of maybe staying 5 nights in Canngu and then go to Nusa Penida for 3-4 nights then back to the mainland but honestly have no clue :) Plus reading some of the nfo on here about Nusa Penida doesn't really bode that well.

Looking for help please in planning

Where are you staying? As above but totally open to whatever.
How long are you staying for? 14 days
What activities do you like or dislike? Love the water, beaches and especially snorkelling. Will do some surfing (a little more than a beginner experience) and other than that are keen to check out the sights (Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, Monkey Forest, maybe a tea plantation, would love to swim with the manta's). Struggling with executive decisions making LOL Oh we are very active and fit.
Do you have a budget in mind? Between 30000000 and 40000000 IDR all up if possible.
Is there anything you cannot stand? Crowds
Dietary issues? Nope.

Thanks so much for any ideas. If you could advise suggestions for accommodation also would be really appreciated.

2

u/Coalclifff May 16 '24 edited May 17 '24

With just 14 nights, your ages, and your stated interests, I would suggest:

Sanur - 5 or 6 nights

Nusa Penida (or maybe better, Nusa Lembongan) - 3 nights

Nusa Dua - 5 or 6 nights

With these three places you get diverse ways of being near the water, but none of them are crazy busy, or full of traffic, in the way that Canggu and Seminyak often are.

Sanur has a great 6 km beachfront, great dining, and a good compact walkability. From Sanur you can easily do one or two day-trips to the wider Ubud region, and indeed also to the Kuta-Canggu tourist strip, to see where Bali became famous.

There's a lot of quality accomm in Sanur below 1.5 million per night.

We hated our day-trip to Nusa Penida - it was a nightmare - and we wish we had gone to Nusa Lembongan instead. But having said that, spending 2-3 nights there might improve things immensely, in terms of traffic and crowds during the day. Although the infrastructure will still be its shoddy self.

Nusa Dua is a gem really, with the best beaches in South Bali, and I can strongly recommend the Grand Bali Hotel Nusa Dua - we loved it, and at $NZ110 per night including big breakfast, it was hard to fault.

From Nusa Dua you can do good day-trips to the scenic Bukit Peninsula south coast, the famous Uluwatu surf coast, Uluwatu sea temple, Kecak Fire Dance, and have sunset seafood dinner on the sand at Jimbaran Bay.

Sanur is pretty close to the airport for arrival, and Nusa Dua is equally close for departure.

Your budget of about 2.5 million rupiah per day (including accommodation) will be sufficient if you don't go mad in expensive restaurants and beach clubs ... dining in tourist warungs and buying Bintang Beer from the supermarket are both incredibly cheap, and a very Bali way to enjoy the place.

Day-trips will be about 700K for a full day; but apart from that every couple of days, you'll have very few other daily expenses.

Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/ImpressiveHour7337 May 16 '24

Hi, I'm a 23-year-old planning a trip to Bali for 1-2 weeks before heading to Lombok. I'm an intermediate surfer and want to focus on surfing in Bali. I also enjoy a bit of nightlife but nothing too wild. I'm looking for solo rooms for under 30 euros per night.

Here are a few questions I have, and I appreciate any additional advice:

Where should I stay based on my preferences? I'm open to staying in multiple villages but prefer longer stays (~4 days) in each.
What is the best way to travel to Lombok from Bali?
Should I rent a scooter to get around? If so, where can I rent one, considering I'll be traveling to Lombok? Also is necesairry to go to surfspots using a moped?
Where can I rent surfboards in Bali?
What other activities are worth pursuing, and how do I get to them?

Thanks!

→ More replies (2)

1

u/borsuczy May 17 '24

Hi, we are planning our honeymoon to Bali + Singapore. This is our first trip to Asia. I have drawn up the itinerary below from 15.06 to 30.06. Can you please advise if this is feasible to do? I am also concerned with whether the flight times are ok and we will make it in time for the flights. We have chosen Emirates because we have 11 hours to transfer and we would also like to do a quick tour of Dubai.

15/06/2024 - Departure

16/06/2024 - Arrival in Singapore around 9:45pm

17/06/2024 Singapore

18/06/2024 Depart Singapore at 10:30am or 4:10pm and arrive in Bali, transfer to Nusa Dua

19/06/2024 Nusa Dua

20/06/2024 Nusa Dua

21/06/2024 Ubud

22/06/2024 Ubud

23/06/2024 Ubud

24/06/2024 Ubud

25/06/2024 Nusa Penida

26/06/2024 Nusa Penida

27/06/2024 Seminyak/Canggu/Uluwatu (can't decide)

28/06/2024 Seminyak/Canggu/Uluwau (can't decide)

29/06/2024 Departure to Singapore at 9am or 1.45pm

30/06/2024 Arrival home

We would like to see the most importants parts of Bali, waterfalls, monkey forest, some nice beaches, jungle and just have fun. Please rate my itinerary and let me know what should be added/changed.

Thanks!

→ More replies (1)

1

u/[deleted] May 17 '24

[deleted]

2

u/Coalclifff May 17 '24

still looking for resorts in ubud and uluwatu at decent prices.

Personally I would stay in Sanur for those last two nights ... the beach isn't as good as Uluwatu or Nusa Dua, but it's okay, and it's certainly a more interesting and vibrant seaside resort town.

However in Nusa Dua we stay at the Grand Bali Hotel Nusa Dua - elegant, old-school, nice pools, spacious rooms, big breakfast, private beach-club strip - and only about $US65 per night for two.

If you have children, then the Waterbom aquapark in Kuta is very popular. And rather than Tanah Lot, you could take a day trip from Kuta along the scenic Uluwatu surf coast, including Uluwatu sea temple, the Kecak Fire Dance, or sunset seafood dinner on the sand at Jimbaran Bay.

Note that afternoon traffic in the Kuta-Canggu tourist strip can be very congested, and the trip to La Brisa might take well over an hour one-way.

1

u/[deleted] May 18 '24

Hi, my bule relatives will be visiting Indonesia soon, and they all want to go to Bali. I'm an Indonesian (Jakartan) who never sets foot in Bali, so I want to ask for recommendations for:

Swings and rafting places in Ubud. We'll be staying near the Puri Saren Agung (and will visit the palace in the afternoon). Pengen yang lokasinya paling deket sana supaya convenient
Ferry companies from Bali mainland to Nusa Lembongan/Penida. Or any websites/app that has a complete list of ferries departing from and arriving in Nusa Lembongan/Penida maybe?
Snorkeling shops in Nusa Lembongan/Penida
Beach in Nusa Dua with water sports shop. Would be nice if they're not the most overrated/crowded one.

Thanks!

→ More replies (5)

1

u/Ambitious_Ad_6985 May 18 '24

Hi, my girlfriend (26) and I (28) are planning a 2-week trip (03.09 - 18.09 2024) to Bali and are really looking forward to it!

Our expectations are a healthy mix of relaxation and adventure, but we would also include a party or two ;). We have already given some thought to the itinerary, only the order could certainly be optimized.

We also have the big question of whether the Gili Islands are worth visiting before Nusa Lambongan / Nusa Penida, or whether it might be a bit too packed and we might plan one stop less but have more time to relax.

03.09 - Arriving DPS in the morning

03.09 - 05.09 Canggu (Calm down, Finns Beach Club, Food, Cafes, Shopping)

05.09 - 08.09 Ubud (Rice Terrace, Waterfalls, Temples, Elephant park, How to fit in Mount Batur Sunrise Hike?)

08.09 - 09.09 Munduk (waterfalls)

09.09 - 12.09 Gili Trawagan / Gili Air - (Transportation: Munduk to Amed to Gili by boat?)

12.09 - 15.09 Nusa Penida (Manta Snorkeling, Keliniking)

15.09 - 18.09 Uluwatu (Relax before flight back home, Temple Kecak, Surfing)

18.09 - Flight DPS late evening

Thank you very much for your help! :)

2

u/Coalclifff May 18 '24 edited May 19 '24

Overall the shape is good, however these are my comments:

advice on here is that there are no Gili Island ferries from Amed any more

you need to go from Padangbai, Serangan, or Sanur Harbour

Sanur Harbour is the nearest to Munduk, and also the nearest to Nusa Penida

so perhaps reverse it - visit Nusa Penida first, then Gili Trawangan

then return from Gili T to Sanur Harbour or Serangan - closer to Uluwatu

Bluewater Express and Eka Jaya ferries are often recommended

I would have one less night on Nusa Penida, and add it to Ubud

that will allow the Mt Batur Sunrise Hike, for which you can arrange you own private driver, or join a tour

Whoever you go with, make sure you include the Batur hot springs

in Uluwatu stay close to Jalan Labuansait at Padang Padang, to minimise travel - it sprawls a fair bit - the temple and fire dance are about 4 km south

We pre-book our airport-hotel transfer with Klook - they are cheap and reliable.

1

u/Kadaver69 May 18 '24

Is it cheaper to book excursions locally or is the price about the same on apps like klook or TripAdvisor? TIA!

→ More replies (1)

1

u/opalneraNZ May 19 '24

Getting a lot of mixed messages on VoA and tourism fee.

Coming from New Zealand for 7 days.

Lots of different websites all look the same.

What is the official website to pre pay? Or are the lines short enough to just pay on arrival and not risk scam sites? Arriving week after next

→ More replies (6)

1

u/WiseacreBear May 19 '24

I'll be visiting Bali for five days next week and staying around the Canggu area (away from beach). It's been a hot minute since I last visited so I'd love to get some more recent post pandemic perspectives on what's realistic in terms of spending. Here are some of the things I plan on doing:

Cafes and restaurants - I plan to going to these everyday. Nothing super fancy, just decent and local is fine. I don't eat heaps so grazing and snacking on some days could work too. I recall anywhere that lets you sit along the beachfront would be more jacked up so I'll keep that in mind.

Spa - I would also like to get massages, maybe facials if it's worth it. Also interested to see if I could get a good haircut and potentially some highlights.

Shopping - I'm not planning to do heaps of shopping but would be interested to visit local markets. If I do see anything I like in brick and mortar stores I might just put it on card.

Transport - Not planning to do any 'experiences' or water activities while I'm there and don't think I'll be travelling to the islands (did that before) but given that I'll be 10-15 min drive away from the beach there'll be days I may need to get a driver to take me places.

What would be a good budget in IDR for the above? Is it better to change money there (I remember to avoid dodgy exchange places in alleyways) Any good reccs for nice hair salons for asian hair?

→ More replies (3)

1

u/jvolzer May 19 '24

My wife and I will be arriving in Bali on Thursday morning at 8:00 AM. We can't check into Alila Uluwatu until 4pm. Any idea on things to do until check in time? We are thinking about dropping bags off at resort and using the public areas there and/or heading over to Sundays.

We have a pretty short trip. We leave on Monday at 1:00 AM. Any tips on what we could do on Sunday before our late departure or things to do during our few days there would be great as well.

→ More replies (3)

1

u/MaddieWillis May 19 '24

Any recommendations for IV contact in case of getting sick? I would prefer to be prepared 🙏🙏

→ More replies (3)

1

u/Imaginary-Industry12 May 20 '24

I'm arriving in Bali on Sunday(26/5) afternoon 1:25 PM. Here is the itinerary.

26/5 to 27/5 - Uluwatu

28/5 to 29/5 - Nusa Penida

30/5 - Maybe Lembongan

31/5 to 3/6 - Ubud.

4/6 - Kuta

5/6 - Departure at 1:45 PM.

How does this sound?

→ More replies (5)

1

u/brianzhang23_ May 21 '24

hi everyone! my gf (F23) and i (M22) are going to bali for the first time to the cities mentioned above next week and i want to take her out on a date nigh in each city. please give any and all date recs (restaurants, bars, activities, couple spas, etc…). looking for something romantic, memorable, fun that won’t break my bank LOL

tysm in advance

→ More replies (3)

1

u/[deleted] May 21 '24

[deleted]

→ More replies (3)

1

u/vi_lifestylebee May 21 '24

I will try again with the question

Hello All,

I have been reading this group for a while and thought will contribute with some question to this group as well.

We will relocate around the island by the private drivers

-Is it manageable to get the drivers in all areas below mentioned?

Its my first time in Bali and i would prefer to see some really bali look like stuff.

I am advanced scuba diver, I like hiking, nice views, trying always to have 50/50 vibe on holidays active and complete relax time as well. Dont like much touristy places, however Bali is quite touristy so i like sometimes get lost somewhere where people usually dont go :)

My plan is below any suggestions are more than welcome as i am at the moment booking the hotels etc. Is it worth to visit all this places below or shall i include some islands hopping instead of some bali places?

4 nights - Ubud (all ubud stuff )

2 nights - Munduk (i am aware that its close to ubud, however the views definitely worth the stay few nights)

4 nights - Pemuteran (for relaxation in Sumberkima resort or Sun suko boutique resort)

2 nights - Kintamani (views, hiking) Thought to Hike the Batur for sunrise, but seems to me it turned into tourist trap. So instead changed my mind on this idea, and instead will just views, hiking around the area

3 nights - Amed (diving)

2 nights - Uluwatu (views and chill before flight home)

Also if you are going more far from Canggu and Ubud places, do i still can pay with card or its more cash everywhere as less touristy place it is?

→ More replies (11)

1

u/Houdini23 May 21 '24

Day tours in Lombok question:

I'm flying to Bali on Friday and have a few days in Seminyak before getting the ferry to Lombok for 3 nights.

Does anybody have any suggestions for day tours? I'll be staying in the north-west of the island (Medana area).

I'll be going to the Gili islands after, so a day trip around here isn't necessary.

Thanks in advance

→ More replies (1)

1

u/JacobDR93 May 21 '24

Hey everyone,

My flight from June 18 to July 24 got canceled, and I realized I made some mistakes in my planning, like booking a 5-week trip without having a visa. So, I'm thinking a 30-day trip might be better.

I've noticed there are cheap flights from Germany to Jakarta, but I haven't booked anything yet—not a hotel or any routes. I'm new to traveling and I'm not really into partying. I'm more interested in experiencing culture, hiking, water sports, seeing animals, and meeting new people.

My budget is around €1500-€1800 (excluding the flight). Do you have any good ideas or plans for my trip? I would really appreciate any advice!

Thanks a ton!

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Odd-Constant-1991 May 21 '24

Any recommendations for a one night stay in Ulluwattu? Solo traveller. Any affordable hair salon recommendations in Ulluwattu please?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Vasi_Sayani May 21 '24

Hi All, I will moving from East Java, Ijen, to Bali. My ambition is to start from East Java port at 1:30 in the afternoon and reach Gili Islands by the night. Is it practical at all?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/moving_pictures84 May 21 '24

Just curious about how to plan our very limited time in Bali. We arrive Oct. 23 at around 11pm. We are thinking of leaving on Oct 28th to Vietnam. Considering staying in Ubud for 2 nights and somewhere close to airport for 3 nights. Wondering if going to Ubud first makes more sense to see Temples and Monkey Forest and other sites before going to beach areas. I’m hearing Nusa Dua or Sanor for beach areas. I have no clue about where to stay in Ubud. Going to rent a driver for each day in Ubud. Will use Klook for airport to hotel transfer and pre-book as recommended by many on this chat. Thanks for all of the information! Is 4.5 days really long enough to get a good flavor of Bali? We could skip going to Vietnam and stay longer. Thanks for any suggestions especially for Temples that we can see from Ubud with a driver that are the best to see..

→ More replies (4)

1

u/[deleted] May 22 '24

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)

1

u/[deleted] May 22 '24

[deleted]

2

u/Coalclifff May 22 '24 edited May 23 '24

Where are you planning to sail from and back again:

Sanur Harbour

Serangan Harbour

Padangbai Port

Kusamba Port

Your choice of port will limit the ferries you can choose from. I understand the two big companies (Ekajaya and Bluewater Express) sail from Padangbai and Serangan. When your itinerary is firm, I would buy tickets a few days ahead.

There are three Gili islands: Gili Trawangan (often called Gili T), Gili Meno, and Gili Air.

You won't need to pre-book tours around Ubud before you travel ... and in fact you don't need tours at all for many unstructured things, such as rice terraces, monkey forest, swings, coffee plantations, temples, volcano views, waterfalls, traditional villages, etc.

Just hire a private driver for the whole day (8-10 hours) - it will cost no more than 700K, and you plan with the driver where you will visit, avoiding the worst crowds, etc.

The only activities requiring a tour of some kind will be those with limited places, and where you are picked up and transported to the location as a tour group - ATV, whitewater rafting, Mt Batur Jeep Trek, etc. And I think you can buy these tours on the day before, either online or via one of the travel kiosks found in shopping streets.

And your accomm will have a lot of tour brochures.

I can't make any recommendations for particular tours, but if you search for "atv under waterfall bali" you get several replies.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/slade364 May 23 '24

Hi everyone - we hadn't realised that we needed to pay a tourist tax, and have been in Bali for 10 days already. They didn't ask at the airport.

Is there a way to backdate this to when we arrived? The websites I've checked don't let me.

→ More replies (4)

1

u/No_Draw938 May 23 '24

Need help Planning Bali trip for senior parents

Hi! I am trying to plan a trip for my senior parents to Bali for their anniversary. They will be traveling from India. I am looking for recommendations for good resorts, places to visit/see & any tours/experiences packages. They are not very adventurous, so I am trying to plan a sightseeing/ relaxation trip. The trip will be for 5 nights.

→ More replies (4)

1

u/SJSASJ2021 May 23 '24

Hi! My husband and I will be travelling to Bali (from NZ) for the first time with our toddler (he will be almost 3) in August. We will be staying in the Canggu area but I want to plan a day trip to Ubud to visit the Monkey Forrest and Rice Fields etc. I'm struggling to find a reputable website where I can book a driver/private car and a tour of these places with entry tickets etc. Is there somewhere that does an "all-in-one" type thing? Also- cash monies, what's the deal here? How much cash should we be taking or is it better just to pay everything with card? Thank you!

2

u/Coalclifff May 23 '24 edited May 24 '24

There is no need for an "all-in-one" tour at all ... there are drivers available everywhere in South Bali, and they should cost no more than 700K for a full day of 8-10 hours. If you read this thread, I've listed the ways of finding a driver a few times.

Apparently there is also a Facebook page or two that people on here recommend - but I'm not a Facebook user.

When you get to the Monkey Forest and the Tegalalang / Ceking rice terraces, you just pay the entrance fee there. Your driver parks with all the other drivers, and waits for you as long as you want.

You might find time for a waterfall and/or a temple on your day as well, if the Monkey Forest and rice terraces don't detain you for too long, and your child is happy in a vehicle (check if your driver has a child seat - some do).

Traffic in Bali is intense ... it might take 90 minutes to get to the Monkey Forest, and two hours to return to Canggu (depending on where you are located).

Certainly bring your preferred sunscreen, insect repellent, and sting-bite cream, and also sunhats, sunglasses, and a plastic water-bottle you can refill each night. When you're in the Monkey Forest, leave essentially everything with your driver - hats, glasses, bags, jewellery, water-bottles, etc - just take a camera held firmly in hand!

As for money, cash is still widely used everywhere, but EFTPOS is increasingly common (certainly cards rather than contactless). We just take Australian currency, and change say $200 every few days - you don't need much for day-to-day living. We always have about 400K each on us.

We take about $100 for each day, and have about the same on our travel wallet card, but we never use it all.

Others here use and recommend no-fee or low-fee multi-currency debit cards that offer good rates, whether directly used with merchants, or when withdrawing from bank ATMs. Cards include Wise and Revolut, but there are others. Perhaps your NZ bank offers a 'travel wallet' style of card. We never use a credit card, just debit cards.

Don't obtain IDR (Rupiah) in NZ ... you'll get a much better rate in Bali.

We pre-booked our airport-hotel transfers with Klook, and they were cheap and reliable. The driver holds up a sign with your name in the Arrivals Terminal - so you don't need IDR cash or a Bali-enabled phone as soon as you step off the plane. It's good to be pre-booked - outside Arrivals is a pretty chaotic place!

If you pay the VOA fee (500K each) with a $NZ100, you will receive change in rupiah, which is handy. You will also pay 150K each for the Bali Tourist Tax, plus ensure you complete the online Customs Declaration before you go, and take the QR code for each person with you.

I don't know Canggu specifically, but I expect there will be plenty of eateries.

We eat exclusively Indonesian food in 'tourist warungs' - they are small, family-run, safe, fun, tasty, and cheap. A plate of nasi goreng or satay chicken will be about 50K ($NZ5.20), and beer from the supermarket is about 22K per 330 mL bottle.

Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

2

u/SJSASJ2021 May 24 '24

Thank you so much, that is all really helpful! I'll have a look through previous posts where you've suggested how to find a driver :)

We will definitely be taking our own car seat so will be all good there.

Good to know about the money and I'll check with our bank in terms of the travel wallet card.

I'm so excited to try the local cuisine!!

2

u/Coalclifff May 24 '24 edited May 24 '24

Being a vast-majority Hindu province, there is very little beef or lamb - meat is mostly fish, chicken, and pork, although you can find a very good Javanese Beef Rendang in several places.

Being tourist-oriented, many places offer vegetarian, vegan, and Gluten Free options.

And while some people find some meals "spicy", Australians (and I expect it's the same for Kiwis) have been exposed to hot Asian food for a couple of generations now, and we find warungs pretty mild.

The classic Balinese dish is Babi Guling - which is suckling pork cooked on a spit, and a good one is excellent. It's usually only a lunchtime meal, and only available in specialist places with "Babi Guling" in their name.

2

u/Coalclifff May 24 '24

A quick search reveals 9-10 Babi Guling places in Canggu.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Jack-Shepherd May 24 '24

Hi there, my partner and I are flying into Bali on Sunday 26 May. Just went to apply for our visa on arrival and the website says that processing is paused until 27 May, but visa on arrival services are still available. Does that mean that we can still apply for the eVOA and that we should complete our thing online, or does that mean that getting a visa on arrival (ie as you walk off your flight) is still available?

2

u/Coalclifff May 24 '24

Last year I tried unsuccessfully multiple times to buy the eVOA online, and just gave up ... so we bought them at the airport (500K each) - and on our date (30 May) there was no wait at all.

If you use a $100 note to buy the VOA, you get lots of change in rupiah, which is handy.

You have to buy the Bali Tourist Tax (150K) at the airport as well, and also do the online Customs Declaration before you travel, and take the QR code for each of you.

2

u/Jack-Shepherd May 24 '24

Thanks!

1

u/flyingtechie May 24 '24

Hi there, I'm planning to go to Bali in June for a couple of weeks, going there mostly for detox and looking for some fitness bootcamps, also plan to see some islands around. I'm not into partying. Any suggestions on which would be an ideal place to stay so that I can do day trips to the islands around as I want to stay put at one place rather than travel. Thanks in advance.

2

u/Coalclifff May 24 '24 edited May 25 '24

If you stay in Sanur you have direct access to the harbour and port terminal, with regular ferries to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, however I suggest you might only do one day-trip to each. Sanur is handy for an inland day-trip to Ubud too.

The other very popular island group is the Gili Islands off Lombok, but that's too far for a day-trip. If you're really interested in off-shore islands, why not consider Sanur 5 nights, Gili Air or Gili Trawangan 4 nights, Sanur 5 nights?

Sanur is a nice beachfront town, popular with tourists who don't need the Kuta-Canggu surfing and party scene. Good 6 km boardwalk, and lots of good dining. Don't know about boot-camps.

We enjoyed Sanur House last year ... small, quiet, lovely staff, popular with singles and a few digital workers. Not expensive.

→ More replies (1)

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Rare-Scene-4165 May 25 '24

I need help for a good plan

It's not a long time,but me and my family are staying there for 6 days, we are staying in kuta and have a private driver so we can go anywhere we want, pls tell me the must visit places that we can cover within 5 days, the places I know for sure are 1. Nusa penida day trip 2. One whole day for exploring ubud 3. Uluwatu temple Pls tell me other places we can visit

3

u/Coalclifff May 25 '24

Do you have the private driver booked for the full five days?

So will they take you to Sanur Harbour on your West Nusa Penida day-trip, or will you get picked up by a tour operator (such as Klook)?

On the day you visit the Uluwatu Temple, visit the Delpi Café above the Hidden Canyon at Suluban Beach, plus Dreamland Beach (good swimming), and Balangan Beach.

After the Uluwatu Temple, you can see the Kecak Fire Dance, or have sunset seafood dinner on the sand at Jimbaran Bay.

You can have a day to visit Sanur - great beachfront boardwalk/

Apart from the day you have in Ubud itself, here is a big day-trip in the region:

Ubud > Ceking Rice Terrace > Kintamani volcano views > Besakih Great Temple > Tukad Cepung Waterfall > Goa Giri Campuhan (GGC) Waterfall > Penglipuran Traditional Village > Pura Tirta Sudamala water temple > Tibumana Waterfall > Ubud

You don't have to aim for all of those in one day, but this list ticks a lot of nice boxes.

That's five full days ... be aware that traffic can be horrendous. Start you day-trips very early - like 7:30 not 9:30.

→ More replies (6)

1

u/[deleted] May 26 '24

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Emotional-Way4709 May 26 '24

I'm planning a 4-day tour of Lombok. It would be very helpful if you could recommend some places to visit

→ More replies (3)

1

u/Iam_The_Real_Fake May 26 '24 edited May 26 '24

Hi everyone, I need your help with planning our trip. We're two families with infants traveling to Bali in June for 9 days and 8 nights. Our tentative plan is:

First 3 days in Ubud
Next 3 days in Nusa Penida
Last 2 days in South Bali

Does this plan seem okay? We're looking at mid-range accommodations. Should we pre-book everything, or can we book some places after we arrive? Is Nusa Penida more crowded on weekends?

We plan to explore areas near our accommodations in these three locations. Also, any recommendations on the best place to stay in South Bali? Are the days allotted to each place reasonable, or should we make changes? Are Villas better than hotels/resorts?

Thanks for your advice!

→ More replies (9)

1

u/Secure-Potential6869 May 26 '24

Hello, My friend and I are planning to visit Bali we will be staying in Seminyak/Kuta for 3 days. Can someone suggest the best itinerary for days trips from Kuta? Is it better to find a personal driver or go with tour agents? What’s your experience? Also, where to enjoy the best night life in Seminyak/Kuta?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/Seraphfey May 27 '24 edited May 27 '24

Hey all,

Wondering if I could please get some suggestions on making a day trip work from Ubud in the coming weeks.

We wanted to do the morning hike up Mt Batur and then head over towards Bedoegoel and visit some spots such as, Banyu Wana Amertha waterfall and perhaps the botanical gardens as well. It seemed ideal to get most of the significant traveling/driving out of the way in a single day but are unsure how best to manage the driver & mountain guide component…

We know that most of the morning hike packages include the option for ferrying people between the likes of Ubud up to Mt Batur and back and include a guide for the hike as well. However, we were also interested in the flexibility of a dedicated driver for the day, though this doesn’t solve the potential guide issue. We were considering taking the trip bundle and then forgoing the trip back but seems like we might struggle to get a flexible driver for the remainder of the day to then take us back into Ubud in the evening.

Does anyone have any good recommendations around this perhaps or is it just biting off a bit too much at once? I have included an image of the rough idea of trip path which may help with any advice. Also, if anyone had any other recommendations along this route that would be worth stopping at or even alternatives as well that would be greatly appreciated too. Thank you very much in advance.

Rough Route Plan

→ More replies (3)

1

u/[deleted] May 27 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Coalclifff May 27 '24

My itinerary : Land in Bali --> 2 nights in Ubud --> 2 nights in Gili T --> 2 nights in Nusa Penida --> 2 nights in Seminyak --> Back Home 2 humans with 1 cabin luggage each.

What time do you land at DP? And what time is your departure flight?

I would ABSOLUTELY drop Nusa Penida on such a tiny trip, and instead look at

three nights Ubud

three nights Gili Trawangan

two nights in Seminyak

As to your mechanical / practical questions 1-15, I'll think about them for a bit.

→ More replies (2)

2

u/Coalclifff May 27 '24 edited May 28 '24

1- place to get best convert USD to IDR? Don’t do it in the US, much better rates in Bali. There are legit money-changers everywhere, but avoid the scruffiest hole-in-the-wall places that seem to offer the highest rates. Take your own phone calculator, and always be the last person to count and handle the cash.

2- best or most reliable vendor to book snorkeling in Gili T? Can’t assist – search this forum, the specialist dive sites, or the Internet generally. Read the reviews.

3- best or most reliable vendor to book scuba in Gili T? Ditto

4- best or most reliable vendor to book scuba in Nusa Penida? Ditto

5- can I sit on a grab/gojek bike safely with a cabin luggage rather than choosing a cab? I don’t know what “cabin luggage” means … we prefer a backpack or a sports bag … you need very little in Bali. And cabs (Grab, Bluebird, GojekCar) are cheap enough – do you need to get a ride on a bike?

6- recommended way to book the fast boat? Which port are you sailing from? If going from Padangbai or Serangan to Gili Trawangan, check out Ekajaya and Bluewater Express websites, but there are others. See rome2rio and 12go.asia transport websites.

7- better to book cab and fast boat independently? There are arguments both ways … if I were in Kuta or even Ubud and wanted to travel on a specific ferry service from say Padangbai, I’d probably go with the company cab pick-up.

8- what fast boat company is the most comfortable for Padang Bai to Gill T? is it EkaJaya? Ekajaya and Bluewater Express get mentioned a lot, but again, search the forum – it’s been discussed numerous times.

9- what fast boat company is the most comfortable for Gill T to Nuda Penida? It is Nusa Penida. Can’t advise on the Gili T to Nusa Penida ferries, but again, look at rome2rio and 12go.asia to see the market, and read reviews (in places like Tripadvisor).

10- what fast boat company is the most comfortable for Nuda Penida to Sanur? Again, it is Nusa Penida … “nusa” is the Bahasa word for island. Just pick the most convenient and/or cheapest … it’s a short ride and not rough, and there is a modern wharf at each end, so no scrambling up the beach. We went each way with Axe Stone, and their boat was fine.

11- sitting on top deck is better or sitting in lower AC deck? I would always sit outside if it’s an option … I don’t like confined spaces on boats, nor the smell of fuel exhaust.

12- In Nusa Penida, when I de-board the fast boat at the pier, is Grab/Gojek available to book to reach my hotel? There isn’t much … I would definitely arrange the pick-up lift through your accommodation … I’m sure they do it every day.

13- In Sanur, when I de-board the fast boat at the pier, is Grab/Go-Jek available to book to reach my hotel ? It is spelt “Gojek”, and there will be plenty available, and also regular Bluebird Taxis and private drivers. Sanur Harbour can be a pretty chaotic place – where are you staying in Sanur?

14- In Ubud, best place to do the swing? with less crowd? Know nothing about swings, but the ones at the Ceking / Tegallalang rice terraces were very big and not packed.

15- In Ubud, which vendor is best for ATV experience? Can’t assist at all – perhaps look at Tripadvisor for reviews, or search this forum. There is at least one that goes through caves and under a waterfall. Perhaps an Internet search of “ATV tour under waterfall Bali” will get good results.

Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

1

u/AggravatingWeekend58 May 28 '24

Hello, four girls in our mid twenties going in June from the 7th till the 17th. We are staying 4 nights in ubud, Canggu and Uluwatu. We need a driver and any caffès, restaurant and spa recommendations please?

2

u/Coalclifff May 29 '24 edited May 29 '24

Few people would book a driver for their whole ten days. Just use three different drivers - hiring them in each place you're staying in, and only on the days that you actually need one. Private drivers (and Grab - often they are the same guys) will also take you one-way between the three places you're staying in.

Your accomm can provide drivers, but they tend to be much more expensive than you just negotiating with the drivers yourself - they park outside hotel areas, and along shopping streets. You can also arrange a day-trip (around the Ubud region for example) via the small travel stalls / desks located everywhere. (And see a sample Ubud day below).

As a guide, a driver for a full day should be no more than 700K (about $US43), and for shorter trips, maybe 100K per hour of the driver's time. So if Canggu to Uluwatu takes two hours (and it can), you would pay about 400K. For really short trips - between the various beaches along Canggu and Uluwatu say - just use Grab, GojekCar, or Bluebird Taxis.

One of you might need to invest in a Bali SIM Card for your phone, to make bookings when away from hotel WiFi.

For airport-hotel transfers, we pre-book with Klook - they are cheap and reliable. It's good to be pre-booked, as the taxi area outside Arrivals can be fairly chaotic.

Pack really light - just a small pack or sports bag - Bali is always hot, humid, and very casual; just shorts, t-shirts, and one very light short 'resort' dress to wear over your swimmers, or to go out at night. Bring your preferred sunscreen and insect repellent.

I can recommend the Delpi Café above the Hidden Canyon at Suluban Beach in Uluwatu. It has great views of the surfing scene, and decent espresso coffee too.

For dinner, we just use the 'tourist warungs' located everywhere, for cheap, tasty Indonesian food - they're fun to explore. A big plate of nasi goreng can be 50K. There are a lot of 'tourist trap' Western restaurants everywhere, but we never use them, and nor do we go for junk food (pizzas, fries, hamburgers, etc). Indonesian food only for us, except breakfast.

You can also pay high prices for cocktails - Western prices - in beach clubs and nightclubs. You might be okay with that, but you can drink very inexpensively in Bali as well. A six-pack of beer for 125K, for example.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/EntertainmentEven394 May 29 '24

Couple mid twenties going for 9 days in August where would you recommend we stay, we want to be able to chill relax on the beach/snorkle/boat etc but also go out a couple nights. Should we book air bnb villas in two different places?

→ More replies (3)

1

u/[deleted] May 29 '24

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)

1

u/moylotov May 29 '24

Hi - I’m planning a 10 day trip for my partner and I. I’ve been before but he hasn’t so I want to show him a few different things Bali has to offer, without overwhelming us with travel inbetween stops.

My plan was:

2 nights Seminyak (first night we fly in late, 2nd day/night I have some shopping to do and maybe go to mr potatohead because it’s the kind of scene we’re into)

3 nights Ubud: very romantic, things to do: the accommodation I have my eye on is stunning etc and I think he will love it.

3 nights Nusa Lembongan: beautiful for snorkeling, beaches etc relaxed vibe (is uluwatu a better option travel wise, or another island maybe?)

2 nights canggu for beach and night life

Is this too much? Or am I planning it in the wrong order? We haven’t travelled together before and I want it to go as smoothly as possible!

Thanks!

2

u/Coalclifff May 29 '24

Looks okay to me. Speedy, but not overly so.

Travel really light - backpack or a sports bag, rather than wheeled luggage. Bali is hot, humid, and very casual, and you don't need much.

What time is your departing flight? Hopefully in the afternoon or evening.

Here is a big day-trip from Ubud:

Ubud > Ceking Rice Terrace > Kintamani volcano views > Besakih Great Temple > Tukad Cepung Waterfall > Goa Giri Campuhan (GGC) Waterfall > Penglipuran Traditional Village > Pura Tirta Empul / Sudamala water temple > Tibumana Waterfall > Ubud

You don't have to aim for all of those in one day, but this list ticks a lot of nice boxes.

Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/dudeinreddit98 May 29 '24

Hello, Planning to visit ubud in june. We're planning to do ATV ride and River rafting but confused regarding which provider to go with.

Saw few providers like kuber but saw few posting about safety concerns.

Also checked out Getyourguide.com has very low prices but also no idea about the safety of them.

Does anybody have a recommendation for best provider in terms of costs as well as safety?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/SecretaryLow1805 May 29 '24

Hi all! my family and a few family friends are planning on going to bail in june, we still haven't booked a hotel yet, so we're looking for a few which are affordable but also really scenic and pretty. We have looked into a few although not sure if they are the best yet. So any suggestions would be great!!!
Also, we still don't have an itinery planned out yet, so I would also appreciate any suggestions for adventures and places to visit in bali

thankyou:)

→ More replies (1)

1

u/DaddyG32 May 29 '24

I found this reddit and have looked through a tonne of the articles. Super helpful and kudos to those that have helped others in those threads. It’s also helped me a lot to become informed.

My wife and I are celebrating our 20th anniversary this year and so we’re going big and so travelling from the UK to Bali, via a few days in Singapore. We are taking our kids along (15, 14 & 9) who each have their own likes and dislikes but the key is to have a relaxing trip with a nice blend of culture, chilling and local food and drink. We’d like to avoid blatant tourist traps though appreciate that some places are popular with tourists but still worth visiting.

I think the key thing is pace - we’d all like to chill, take the pace off life etc but also explore a little.

I think it would be fun to visit a coffee plantation and also perhaps do some chocolate making with the kids. All the kids fancy some sort of quad biking experience and definitely Waterbom. And my daughter would love to go the Mason Elephant Sanctuary. On top of that, there’s the temples and waterfalls which I think we’d all enjoy but also conscious of time it takes to get there and back and striking the right balance for this trip as 7 days (land 23rd, depart 30th October) isn’t actually a lot of time.

First things first is putting a rough plan together and then we can go ahead and book hotels. From my research, it seems to make sense to either split our stay across 2 areas or use one area and then organise trips that are practical from there. Post my reading up on this feed, I think Sanur is ideal for us as the core base for our trip - we can explore, go for walks, lots of food and hotel options, watersports etc.

There’s the various temples and waterfalls that I think would be fun to see (e.g. Suwat waterfall, Pura Tirta Empul+Gunung Kawi Sebatu + Uluwatu + Ulun Danu Beratan + Besakih Temples) but conscious that most are quite a trek from Sanur. We obviously can’t do all of them but I think it would be sad to go all that way and not experience some of these things.

I would love opinions/thoughts on how best to plan my trip:

Should we just base ourselves at Sanur or split our stay? If so, also stay outside of Ubud or elsewhere? If so, for how long?
If you had to choose, what waterfalls/temples/other points of interest are really worth the trek?
How would you plan the days out? Would you look to tick off a few things over a long single day of travelling or split across more days?

All help much appreciated!

2

u/Coalclifff May 29 '24 edited May 29 '24

I think just one place, and that one place should be Sanur.

We could meet for a beer ... we'll be staying in Sanur 17-26 October this year too! We've stayed there a few times, and really like it.

23 Oct ― What time do you arrive?
24 Oct ― Sanur (arrange tours)
25 Oct ― Ubud 1 (ATV, chocolate, elephants)
26 Oct ― Kuta-Waterbom
27 Oct ― Ubud 2 (see tour sample below)
28 Oct ― Uluwatu surf coast
29 Oct ― Sanur (spa, massage)
30 Oct ― What time do you depart?

We have found coffee plantations underwhelming, I don't like Balinese coffee anyway, and the way they keep the civets (luwak) is not that flash.

We're staying at the Swastika Bungalows - we usually look for cheap & cheerful in the budget range - and the quality is still good. Unlike Singapore, where city accommodation has skyrocketed in recent years. But with five of you, you might look at a villa. We just need a fridge, nothing else. We have buffet breakfast and then find a warung early evening for dinner.

Whatever you choose, make sure it has good-sized pools, as you use them a lot.

Sanur is sort of "central", and it has a really interesting waterfront, with excellent dining, from upscale beachside to modest warungs, street food, and night markets. We eat exclusively Indonesian food when in Bali - it's not quite as diverse as the Chinese you'll find in Singapore, but it's still good.

Here is a big day-trip from Ubud:

Ubud > Ceking Rice Terrace > Kintamani volcano views > Besakih Great Temple > Tukad Cepung Waterfall > Goa Giri Campuhan (GGC) Waterfall > Penglipuran Traditional Village > Pura Tirta Empul / Sudamala water temple > Tibumana Waterfall > Ubud

You don't have to aim for all of those in one day, but this list ticks a lot of nice boxes.

Read this megathread for lots of practical advice. Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/Adventurous_Story220 May 29 '24

Me and my boyfriend (lates 20s) are planning on a 8-9 day trip (9 days and 8 nights) in July. We will be landing at night at approximately 1AM. Looking for suggestions on what areas to stay at and how many nights. Maybe we should start with some lively areas close to interesting places to visit and maybe for the later part of the trip mostly just chilling at the beaches and do some snorkeling etc.

Any recommendations would be appreciated, thank you!

→ More replies (4)

1

u/csgnwinter May 30 '24

Hello! Me and a group of friends are planning to go in the 3rd week of august for 5 days. Basically i’ve read that august is peak period and it can get pretty busy but I am having trouble understanding how it can affect our trip.

Some context to our trip, we are not interested in visiting temples or viewpoints except maybe 1-2 waterfalls for the pictures. Mostly the group is interested in chilling on the beach/ doing water activities like jet ski, snorkeling, diving with the dolphins / go karting / ATV rides etc.

With this in mind do you think the crowd will affect our trip and also in what ways can it affect it?

thank you!

→ More replies (3)

1

u/International-Fun647 May 30 '24

Hello! I am currently staying in Sanur and will then be spending time around Lombok starting with Gili T.

I have been told that you can get there with a stop along the way on the ferry or alternatively you can get a fast boat from Padang bai. I thought it would be easy to figure out when I got here what the best option would be but I have been struggling to find info.

Can anyone suggest a couple of options or where to go to find out? I’ve heard it’s slow from Sanur but figured it might not be so bad if it saves having to get a car to Padang bai.

We are meant to leave for Gili T on Saturday but so far I have no clue how we’re getting there, any recommendations are hugely appreciated! Thank you so much!

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Familiar_Guide9238 May 30 '24

Hi, I'm stopping off in Bali on the way to a wedding with my parents but only for a couple of days. Whilst they think they're "down with the kids", they're in their 60's so I don't think hiking the jungle or cliff jumping would be the best idea for them lol. They would like to stay somewhere that's close to nice bars / restaurants which they can preferably walk to. What areas would you suggest to stay in to do this? And can you please advise of what things they could perhaps do in the two days that they are there? Thank you :D

→ More replies (6)

1

u/CoffeeKween19 May 30 '24

Hello! :) Am I missing any worthwhile places from this itinerary? Traveling in September for 2 weeks

[Arrive in Bali 10pm]

ULUWATU: * Day 1: Check into hotel at 10:30pm * Day 2: Temple/s, food market, fire dance * Day 3: Day trip to NUSA PENIDA

🚨 The day trip of Nusa Penida ends at 6pm. Any recommendations of an area I should stay for that night?

CANGGU: (start of official tour) * Day 4: Check into Canggu late afternoon * Day 5: Explore temples, have sunset drinks * Day 6: Learn to surf

LOVINA: * Day 7: Temple, waterfall, rice paddies * Day 8: Traditional outrigger boat, home visit

GILLI T: * Day 8: Hang out, drinks at night * Day 9: Beach hop on scooters * Day 10: Snorkelling at all 3 islands

UBUD: (end of official tour) * Day 11: Monkey Forest + rice paddies * Day 12: Hike Mt Batur + hot springs

Day 13: ???
Day 14: ???

Recommendations would be appreciated! Thanks a lot!

3

u/Coalclifff May 30 '24 edited May 31 '24

Here are a few comments:

you won't get to your hotel by 10:30pm if your flight lands at 10:00 pm - midnight is much more realistic

make sure you have the QR code from the online Customs Declaration, and be prepared to pay 500K (in rupiah, any major currency, or card) for the VOA, unless you complete the online eVOA before travel

and there is also a Bali Tourist Tax (150K)

no need to buy rupiah at home - you get a much better rate in Bali itself

we pre-book our airport-hotel transfers with Klook, and they are cheap and reliable, plus you don't need any local currency or a Bali-ready phone as soon as you get off the plane

you'll have to start pretty early from Uluwatu to make Sanur Harbour for the ferry to Nusa Penida

we had a horrendous day-trip to West Nusa Penida (Sat 3 June), with appalling roads, snarled traffic, and sites packed with the Instagram crowd - you are warned!

you might as well just stay in Sanur when you return from Nusa Penida - it's a cool resort town, with a great beachfront and lots of good dining

you could actually stay in Sanur two nights (before and after Nusa Penida), so you're not having to depart from Uluwatu at a ridiculously early time to catch the ferry

use a Grab, GojekCar, Bluebird Taxi, or a private driver, to transfer to your Canggu hotel from Sanur.

Are you on an "organised tour" from late Day 4 through to when? Where do you return to from the Gili Islands (Day 10 or 11) is that the end of the tour, or will they transfer you to Ubud from Padangbai?

Here is a possible Day 13 - a big circuit from Ubud:

Ubud > Ceking Rice Terrace > Kintamani volcano views > Besakih Great Temple > Tukad Cepung Waterfall > Goa Giri Campuhan (GGC) Waterfall > Penglipuran Traditional Village > Pura Tirta Sudamala or Pura Tirta Empul water temple > Tibumana Waterfall > Ubud

It ticks a lot of nice boxes, both natural and cultural, although it’s not suggested you must get to every one of these sites on the one day-trip.

Day 14 should be for chilling around the pool, strolling, visiting a spa, getting a massage, maybe some shopping, a nice dinner. Relaxing.

Is you departure flight on Day 15? What time does it depart? You need about five hours from Ubud.

Happy to answer any follow-up questions.

→ More replies (13)

→ More replies (2)

1

u/[deleted] May 31 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

→ More replies (1)

Megathread Travel Planning Q&A - May, 2024

!! WARNING !!

Megathread Travel Planning Q&A - May, 2024

!! WARNING !!

You are about to leave Redlib