Bali is the most popular island in Indonesia, being one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world, thanks to its various entertainment options, including surfing, diving, fishing, jungle tours, cultural tourism, yoga, Balinese massage, etc. Located in the southern hemisphere, in the tropics, between the islands of Java, Sumatra and Lombok, Bali attracts over 4 million visitors per year, due to its warm climate and countless opportunities to spend a dream holiday.
The Island of the Gods is a land of discrepancies, a mix of modern and traditional, of opulence and poverty.
Further down, I will talk about the experiences of a friend and mine, during a two-week journey in Bali, providing some tips for a beautiful holiday.
Climate. Bali has a tropical climate all year; the average temperature is around 30°C. There are two seasons: one dry, from April to September, and one wet, from October to March. Usually, the best weather is from May to August, which is also the busiest period.
Currency in Indonesia is the Indonesian rupee, the exchange rate on 15 June 2016 being approx. 1 EUR = 15,000 IDR, 1 RON = 3,330 IDR. It is good to have cash, but there are ATMs and many places where you can pay by card. Food prices are low compared to Europe; a main course in a restaurant costs between 50,000 IDR and 100,000 IDR, or between 4 EUR and 8 EUR.
Cities.
- Candidasa – a quiet coastal town, gateway to the east part of the island.
- Denpasar – the city is the administrative centre of the island, but not a major tourist destination.
- Kuta – a beach for surfers, by far the most developed in Bali, where you can find plenty of shops and clubs.
- Jimbaran – many seaside resorts, a beautiful sheltered beach, full of terraces where you can enjoy seafood.
- Legian – located between Kuta and Seminyak, is a suburb of Kuta.
- Lovina – black sand beach, suitable for diving enthusiasts.
- Nusa Dua – quiet, luxurious beachfront resorts, very large beaches.
- Padang Bay – a traditional and quiet fishing village, where you can enjoy sunbathing, snorkeling, diving, and eating fresh fish.
- Sanur – seaside resort with beaches suitable for large families.
- Seminyak – very large beach, with fine sand, more quite than Kuta, having many restaurants where you can enjoy the sunset.
- Nusa Dua – quiet, luxurious beachfront resorts, very large beaches.
- Ubud – the Bali’s art and dance center, where you can find museums and lots of souvenir shops.
Transport. Bali doesn’t have public transport, but renting a car with driver is not very expensive, reaching between 35-50 EUR per day, depending on how you negotiate. For us, it has proved to be an excellent way to visit the island; we went wherever we wanted, comfortably and stress-free. We were very pleased with our driver (Putu Driver tel: 6287860713393), who was also our travel guide. Avoid renting scooters because the roads are twisty, crowded and chaotic.
Accommodation. You can find accommodation for all budgets in Bali, but overall prices are lower than in Europe, and the services are very good.
Temples. A holiday in Bali would not be complete without visiting some of the 20,000 Hindu temples on the island. The most important are: Pura Besakih (Mother Temple) the greatest of all temples, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave).
Beaches. Due to its various landscapes, Bali is an island with very different beaches, each with its own charm. In the north, there are beaches with black sand, suitable for diving enthusiasts, the best known being Lovina and Amed, and golden sandy beaches (Nusa Dua) in the south. In the west of the island, you can find very long, grey sand touristic beaches (Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, Jimbaran), suitable for taking surfing lessons. In the east, which is more quiet, there are golden sandy beaches (Sanur). My favourite beach in Bali, Dreamland Beach, is located in the south-eastern part of the island, having all I ever wanted from a beach: clear blue water, white and surrounded by rocks and lush vegetation.
Some travel tips:
- 3 weeks before departure, we got vaccinated against typhoid and hepatitis A and B. This was our choice, but I have met many people who went to Bali without being vaccinated. The best thing would be to follow the advice of a doctor.
- Don’t forget to bring spray for mosquitoes and a sun hat, because you will surely need them.
- After a 15 to 18 hours flight from Europe, it would be a pity to stay only a week in Bali. For remote destinations I recommend at least a 10 days stay, in order to have enough time to see and feel the place.
- Try not to not stay in a single part of the island. Bali is an island rich in tourist resorts and you should spend time in each one of them.
- Visit other nearby islands, because each offers interesting, beautiful and different experiences. Gili islands are near Bali, where you should stay at least 3 nights. You will enjoy sensational white sandy beaches, spectacular sunsets, snorkeling and scuba diving with turtles.
- Visit at least a waterfall in Bali; the spectacular road through the jungle and the beautiful landscapes will give you an exquisite experience.
Our trip was organized as follows:
We flew from Bucharest to Dubai for 5 hours with Fly Dubai, stayed overnight at an airport hotel, then went on a day flight with Emirates Airlines to Bali. We left at 8 a.m. and arrived in Denpasar at 10 p.m., after 9 hours. Then, we spent 3 nights in Nusa Dua, 3 in Gili Trawangan, 4 in Ubud and 3 in Seminyak.
Further down, I will talk about the experiences of a friend and mine during a two-week journey in Bali, providing some tips for a beautiful holiday.
Enjoy!
Travel to Happiness!
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