Bali Basics for the First Timer

Tips for planning your trip to Bali!

Hello readers! I have not written a full fledged travel guide, so this is going to be a fun journey! Recently I have had a couple of friends ask me what my best advice is for traveling in Bali, Indonesia. After typing novel length text messages with meticulous detail, I decided to take the professor approach to teaching. I figured that if one person wants my advice on the matter, maybe more of you exist. So, here is my outline!

Map out your trip!

I found the most helpful maps on Pinterest. Above is a screenshot of what you can find! I love a good visual and this really helped me understand how to strategize the places I wanted to visit. One of my personal strengths is strategizing, so I think this will be useful for you. Look up illustrated or maps and graphics that will show you a general idea of where all the big touristic places are located. Many countries are divided into provinces or districts and you will want to decide the best way to get from one place to the next. Consider the costs of traveling to the furthest destination and if you should take pitstops on the way to other popular places.

For all trips, the first thing I consider is the location of the airport. In this case, the main international airport is in Denpasar.

I had six days in Bali, including my travel days, and I planned to get rest and relaxation as much as sight see. My ambition was to visit three big, must-see locations. I chose Tegalalang Rice Terrace as my number one destination. Based on Instagram photos, my second choice was Pura Lempuyang a.k.a the Gateway to Heaven. My last goal was to see Tirta Gangga, the water palace. The airport is located south of the island and I usually think the best travel plan is to go to the furthest point and circle back to be closer to the airport. So, I booked a villa in Ubud and planned to stay for three days to travel to all three of my destinations. The last days were oriented toward the R&R part of our trip, which meant we would have to stay closer to the airport. I chose to end the trip in Seminyak.

Ubud is known for Bamboo villas! This one was hidden and part of the roof was open- we loved being surrounded by nature!

When I booked our Villa in Ubud, I was able to also book us transportation for a standard fee. Ubud is about an hour away, depending on where your accommodation is located and the timing of the drive for each season. I thought all of our transportation prices were reasonable and fair.

I think of all the places that I have traveled, I have had the greatest luck in Bali. The hospitality went above and beyond my expectations. The owners of our villa were wonderful hosts. When we shared our plans with them, they offered to be our tour guides and take us to every destination. I was surprised that they were so willing, but they said they were happy to take us because it was a great opportunity for them to visit places that they had not had time to travel to before.

Good Karma = Good Vibes

It truly felt like a Michael Scott moment: you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. In Bali, we took all of the shots! My travel tip to you is to be more daring and connect with the locals. Some good advice for the moment- as a rule of thumb, be good to the tourists in your own city. It’s just an extension of the golden rule.

Because every destination I wanted to see was on the eastern side of the island, three days in Ubud was just enough time to see all of those places. I was even able to check the weather to go to the rice terraces on a sunny day just as I had imagined. On the cloudy day, we saw the water palace and Gateway to Heaven. The drive was fairly long, but definitely worth it and perfect for our overall timeline.

Fun fact: I had this photo reposted and National Geographic gave me a great complimenting comment on Instagram. I felt awestruck!

The water palace has amazingly large lily pads that you will dream of laying in!

Time for Rest and Relaxation!

Fortunately, our Ubud hosts were also able to drive us to our villa in Seminyak. Are you gathering the lesson here?

Set aside a budget for transportation!

Some of you might be thinking that I am silly for not picking more travel destinations with two and a half days left in a trip, BUT I had goals in mind.

Bali is famous for their flower baths! The villa I booked had the perfect staycation vibe. With its own private pool and a beautiful bath tub, how could I not want to have some time inside? A lot of travelers take on the philosophy that you only need a bed and roof over your head for the night. Some options, like hostels, will help you save more money. I think this is a great approach to traveling, but I decided to pay for the convenience of being able to take the flower bath in my own villa. If you’re paying for it, use it!

Bonus! Our villa was located next to the beach! I have some wild stories I will have to share in another blog about Bali, so stayed tune. Anyway, my plan for the remainder of the trip was to do some light shopping for souvenirs, take my flower bath, go to the beach, and discover a Balinese restaurant.

Imagine my surprise when…

I discovered that a famous restaurant was five minutes away from our villa. We ate so well at La Laguna. One day, I want my own backyard to have the same intimate and romantic atmosphere.

La Laguna is famous and has a bohemian beach bum aesthetic.

But wait…there’s more!

Not only could we take a flower bath, they filled our pool with flower petals! Rather than paying for each person to take separate baths, we paid thirty-five dollars to fill the whole pool. I promise the novelty of the flower bath didn’t wear off and we had the best time taking photos.

And we ate dinner at the beach each sunset, beneath fairy lights and under colorful umbrellas.

Some of my favorite souvenirs are the artworks I found in the touristic markets of Bali. There is something for everyone. Just remember to drive a hard bargain!

Paving your own path

Of course there are many more places to see and things to do than what I chose. My next trip will likely involve the Gili Islands, Handara Gate, and Nung Nung Waterfall.

If you’re interested in diving or backpacking and want to see more of the island, you will likely want to spend at least two weeks in Bali. Again, taking a circular route might be your best bet. Traveling to the island means you will need to plan to be near a port that will take you by ferry. Many villas and hotels will allow for you to leave your luggage and pack a lighter bag for a short trip to nearby islands. The island is larger than it appears; give yourself time to make the trek from each district. It might feel overwhelming at first, but you will have it all figured out!

I hope you feel more prepared to plan your trip! If you have any more questions, leave a comment or send a message!

Bisous Babes,

-Jules