There was one big reason we chose Bali as our post-school, first-time independent travel destination. This one reason rose above the rest: aย lucky flight sale to Bali with Jetstar.ย Yep, we’ll admit it, Jetstar’s return-for-free sale really helped us choose Bali. However the proximity to home, the culture, and the sheer beauty of the island were welcomed positives.
We were a bit dubious to begin with because most of what we had heard about Bali wasย Schapelle Corby (soz, this is the reality of being 90s kidย Australians), volcanic eruptions and the Tiger Air cancellation issues. It made us quite sceptical about whether a Balinese holiday was right for us. But over the course of the two weeks, we were pleasantly surprised.
After spending a night in Melbourne Airport (much to the annoyance of our parents), we arrived in Bali groggy, hot, and disorientated. We endured passionateย hassling until finally finding an official airport taxi to get us to our destination: Uluwatu.
Uluwatu
Uluwatu is nothing short of impressive. The temple is placed precariously on a cliff edge and has become one of Bali’s biggest icons. In terms of temples in Bali, it isย definitely one of the most memorable ones we saw.
Accommodation is not difficult to find in Uluwatu and ranges from resorts to hostels, and it is also very affordable.ย While staying in Uluwatu we had delicious meals from Single Finย which is aย classic Uluwatu institution. And don’t forget to pay a visit to Nalu Bowls for breakfast — you might be on holiday but Bali is the perfect place for a health cleanse.
Legian
After Uluwatu, we travelled north to Legian. Our first stop to the famous Kuta Beach left a lot to be desired. It was covered in litter from one end to the next. Pretty disappointing, but it is worth checking out Kuta Beach just to experience it.
So, we needed a pick-me-up.. and the DMZ Museum did just that. If you are a child (or a child at heart) then this will hype you up and keep you entertained. The DMZ Museum is an interactive 3D illusion art museum — it may notย be something you would think of checking out in Bali butย it isย soย worth it.
The memorial for the 2002 Bali Bombings is another must-visit for Australians to pay your respects to the lives lost.
We found Legian to be an optimal spot for tourists looking for a more cultural trip but wanting to still be close to Kuta nightlife. Itย has much better vibes and is not too inconvenient.ย If you strictly wanted to visit Bali to party and club then Kuta is the place to be.
Sunsets at Kuta Beachย
Gili Trawangan
We decided on a change of scenery and flew over to the neighbouring island of Lombok. Lombok is known to have a less “touristy” and intense feel than Bali. After even a few days in Bali we were ready for the change in atmosphere.
Upon arriving inย Lombok we journeyed up the coast to Bengsal Harbour. Even this short boat trip up the coast was enough to make us fall in love with Lombok and promise to one day return and explore it. Arriving at Bengsal Harbour itself was pretty intimidating. There were loads of pushy locals to get on their boats. You have to be careful here because not all the boats are legitimate.
Using a tip from a friendly taxi driver, we looked for a building with a megaphone attached to the roof. From this building we bought tickets and caught the boat to Gili Trawangan (also known as Gili T). It only cost about $2 each — bargain!
We chose this option over getting a fast boat directly from Bali to the Gili Islands. This was due to the increase in wind intensity (read: intense waves) which would’ve rendered even the strongest stomach, and the journey itself, unsafe.
The Gili Islands, with no motorised transportย and a population of only 800, was a stark contrast to the constant thrum of Legian. We spent 4 days on Gili Trawangan and did not regret a second of it. It was the perfect destination for beach-goers and anybody interested in watersports, snorkelling, and diving. There are plenty of options to choose from and you will get offered activities plentifully around the island.
However, being Tasmanian, our guilty pleasure on this island was getting some much-needed Vitamin D whilst reading on the beach (with a cold Bintang in hand, of course).ย Walking or riding around the island is also tranquil way to spend a morning. And then you can top off the afternoon havingย a cheap massage with water views. Nobody could argue that this isn’t a leisurely holiday.
We stayed at Puri Hondje which was not the most budget-friendly place on our trip, however, the staff wereย very friendly and the place was gorgeous.
Ubudย
On return to Bali, we moved up to Ubud for 4 days. We had heard great things about Ubud so the expectations were high! And, it did not disappoint. Out of all the places we visited in Bali, Ubud was our hands-down favourite.
Ubud is heralded as the cultural capital of Bali and focuses less on partying. There are plenty of things to pack your day with here. Whilst in Ubud we visited the Monkey Forest, andย so manyย templesย (Goa Gajah, Elephant Temple, Tira Empul Temple, and Sarawati Temple). The Elephant and Titra Empul Temple are the must-sees. Titra Empul is where the sacred cleansing tradition is performed.
A monkey at theย Monkey Forest, Ubud
If you have ever heard of Ubud then you probably think ofย beautiful rice terraces. These would be the Tegalalang Rice Fields which you can explore in Ubud. The stunning rice fields cascade down the hillsides creating a wonderful effect. Despite this being the most tourist-packed spot in Ubud it is definitely the most worth-while and beautiful place to visit.ย Having visited Bali in the wet season, we got lucky as there was hardly anyone at the fields when we visited.
If you feel likeย seeing more of the beautiful Ubud landscape then doing the Campuhan Ridge walk, or seeing the Tegenungan Waterfall could satisfy. There are coffee plantation tours for the caffeine lovers, and plenty of art villages for the creative types. Basically, Ubud has it all.
Sanur and Tanah Lotย
Between Ubud and Sanur, we spent the day travelling West to visit the famous Tannah Lot Temple. This was another highlight for the trip – the impressive culture and architecture of this temple wasย astounding. The only downside was large mass of people who had the same idea as us!
Tanah Lot temple
We then spent two days in Sanur, the first day exploring the beaches and local stalls, and the second walking more into the Denpasar area. The beaches at Sanur were clean which was a pleasant surprise compared to Kuta.ย The area was more family-friendly with resorts lining the sandy shores. If you are looking to spend timeย by the beach or perhaps a snorkelling trip toย Lembongan, Sanur could be yourย perfect place.
For the both of us it was our first independent trip overseas. We had never travelled without family before and Bali was such a great place to start.ย Not only did we discover interesting places and learnย about a vibrant culture, but we gained a feeling of independence and achievement. We recommend Bali as a place to visit, whether for two weeks or two months. Bali has a lot of diversity and intrigue to offer travellers of all ages.
As a special note to those fresh out of school, we found that travelling could not be a greater way to gain confidence, experience and knowledge and thoroughly recommend it to school leavers. We had an amazing time on our trip and has only made us keener to travel and explore in the future.
Bali Basics
LANGUAGE:ย Indonesian
CURRENCY:ย Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
COST OF A ย BEER IN A BAR:ย 25,000IDR
WHAT TO EXPECT:ย Lots of Australians, chatty locals, Bintang beer everywhere, temples, scooters and lots of street vendors
OURย FAVOURITE DESTINATION:ย Ubud
Some Handy Hints
Money
- Bring money with you before you land because trustworthy exchange places are hard to come by. However there are lots of ATMs.
- Travel money cards are useful if your bank covers the Indonesian Rupiah.
- Bartering is a big thing. Normally you can get items for half the price they initially say, even in proper stores you can get a discount.
- Donโt let people help carry bags unless youโre willing to pay them.
- Tipping is optional and often it has been incorporated into the bill.
Transport
- Arrange airport pick up initially (if your hotel offers it) as the hustle and bustle and people hassling you can be quite frustrating.
- Agree on a price before you leave the destination if using a taxi.
- Know where youโre going because the drivers often do not, download and use citymaps2goย (or another offline maps tool)ย before leaving.
- If you decide to use the scooters,ย stay within your limits and do not take risks! There are many horror stories from locals about tourists using bikes.
Partying
- Be careful of the alcohol as methanol can be used in place of ethanol. This can be lethal. Always watch your drinks be made and drink from reputable brands.
- The best clubs are in the Kuta area if you are looking for the epicentre of Bali nightlife.
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Been to Bali or have questions? Comment below!
15 thoughts on “Bali Guide: Bali For Beginners”
Would love to go to Bali – was thinking of going for my next trip, but decided on Sri Lanka instead! Loved the guide, will keep it in mind for when I finally book my ticket to Bali <3
http://www.eleonoreeverywhere.com
Sri Lanka is amazing! One of the best places I’ve ever visited ๐ How long were you there for?
Lucy x
WOW – Now I have serious wanderlust! Your trip sounded amazing. I particularly love the pic of the Tanah Lot temple – it looks incredible. I will definitely bookmark this for future travels, I love your ‘handy hints’ and ‘Bali basics’ – really helpful for someone like me who knows NOTHING about Bali. Thanks for sharing!
You should definitely visit one day ๐ A beautiful part of the world.
Lucy
It’s great that you saw (and wrote about) some of the lesser known parts of Bali. I was there last year, but there’s so much more to see! I have serious Gili-envy, too! Thanks for sharing… ?
Bali has been at the top of my travel list for a while, and this article is making me want to go even more! The photos are just beautiful. I’ll keep this guide handy when I book my travels. Thanks for sharing!
Omg, I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Bali! Your guide definitely gave me insight, and uh…Jetstar has return for free sales?! Say whaaaa?! Haha, I’m so glad to have read your post!
Ressa
@ressamazing
I am Indonesian, and Bali is one of my fav places back there. This guide will be very useful for those who want to visit for the first time. I’m glad you enjoy your visit xx
♥ Fillia@thereforewego
Bali looks absolutely incredible! So many colors, it looks unreal.
Beautiful pics and great tips. I felt the same way about many of the public beaches in Bali, not just Kuta. We wound up retreating to the private beach at our resorts. ubud was definitely a favorite, especially the white water rafting!
Bali has been on my wishlist for a couple of years but I didn’t have the chance to go forward with this dream yet, and I really want to go there. You guide is so interesting and I’m going to keep this on mind!
Thanks so much Liana – I hope you make it there one day!
Lucy x
This was great! I never been to Bali but I am very interested to go. I never thought when I go to Bali that I would be interested in visiting a Museum but after reading that your experience, I think I would enjoy the interactive 3D illusions, sounds very fun! Great article!
I’m headed to Bali next month on a whirlwind journey, and your post has been very helpful. I plan to spend two nights in Kuta and three in Ubud before heading out on a sailing ship around Bali!
Nice blog… I am very interested to visit Bali. I dont get any chances for visit Bali.