Bali has been on my destination list for some time, in fact, in February before covid a friend of mine invited me on a girl trip to Bali but it never materialised. So when my husband-to-be started bringing up honeymoon destinations, Bali was the forerunner. It didn’t take much convincing before he was booking the honeymoon of my dreams.
My husband and I had not flown out of the country in a while and were really out of touch with travel procedures post covid. If you planning to travel soon after a long time or deciding to go to Bali then read on I’m excited to share the details from the planning to landing with you.
‘Bali is more than a place. It’s a mood, it’s magical. It’s a tropical state of mind.’ – Unknown
Bali is a small island situated more to the west of Indonesia and is only 5,780 square km but it’s such a vibe. It’s usually a hub for travelers, yoga lovers, and honeymooners but the island of the gods has so much more to offer whether you want to visit the many temples, you are on a spiritual journey, want a hiking adventure or simply immerse yourself in a luxury hotel so how you choose to define your adventure is entirely up to you. The first thing you need to ask yourself is what do you want to get out of Bali? I’ve compiled a list of questions and quick answers that will help when planning your trip. If you would like more detailed tips, advice, and reviews read the other posts on Bali or watch the review videos on my YT channel.
What type of Bali trip are you going on?
Bali seems like a small island but there is so much to do and impossible to do everything in a general 7-10 day trip so before booking make a list of activities on your to-do list. We went on honeymoon and our trip consisted of relaxation, couple activities, water sports, shopping, and effortless touring. We didn’t book any activities in advance as we decided not to have an itinerary, this also gave us the freedom to compare tours, look for the best prices, and get locals’ advice on the best spots.
Where to Stay in Bali?
We chose Nusa Dua situated in the south of the island. It’s only 15mins from the airport however quiet further away from other popular Bali sites. The area is known for luxury hotels, fine dining, and resort vibes and is quite isolated from the hustle and bustle of Bali life. This area is perfect if you looking for a quiet/romantic or a resort type of holiday. If you looking for a more cultural or vibey holiday then this is not the area to choose. It is further away from other main Cities/Towns/Villages so depending on the type of trip you doing you should book more central to the activities you have planned.
When to Travel to Bali?
We traveled at the beginning of March which is towards the end of their rainy season but they say the best time to go to Bali is between May and August as the weather has settled. We had no rain during our stay and was perfect for all types of activities including snorkeling. November and March is their rainy season which can limit you on certain activities but worse than that I was told that it comes with loads of mosquitos.
Who to Book with?
Bali can be done on a budget or in luxury and is vast in its hotel offerings so booking your own accommodation and flights is a great option as there are so many gorgeous villas, stunning guest houses, and affordable air bnb’s. We however chose to go with a package from Flight Center. The package in our case not only worked out cheaper but as it also had small perks like a dine-around card, trustworthy transfers, and the option to book tours with the same tour company which we wanted for a hassle-free honeymoon. If booking directly I would suggest getting a reputable company for airport transfers or using the Gojek App as it is so easy to get scammed or overcharged when still finding your way.
How long does it take to get there from South africa?
We flew with Qatar ex Johannesburg which was an 8h 20m flight. Thereafter it was a 10hr flight from Qatar to Bali. This was exhausting especially if you have a short transfer time in between and delays. If you fly with Emirates you can get away with 40mins less travel time as it only takes 9h10mins from Dubai to Bali. If you really want to save time then you also have the option of flying with Singapore Airlines which is 10h 25m and then from Singapore to Bali, it’s 2h 40. The latter we found was more pricey. Try to do a longer transfer if flying via the middle east as it gives you some time to stretch and relax before getting on another lengthy flight.
When traveling to a new place you kind of figure things out pretty quickly with the use of the internet and apps. Oh! how easy it is translate or search these days but I have a little daredevil streak and like to risk it and figure out things as we go along so here are a few nice to knows that we learnt as the days passed.
Getting around the island can be really expensive or really cheap if the right channels are used. Besides the tour transfers, we used a transport App called Gojek to get around to close by towns. It was efficient and really affordable compared to the double rates that private taxis wanted to charge to the same destination. If you are going to use the private taxis be sure to bargain as they usually quote high and then bring the rate down according to how desperate they are for your business. Scooters are a huge part of Bali’s transport system and it is possible for a tourist to hire a scooter but this is not recommended by the locals if you are not familiar with the roads. The roads are narrow and busy and there are probably about 30-40 scooters at any time with no proper system and only an unspoken etiquette between drivers.
Bali’s Currency is the Rupiah and be very prepared to be confused if you are used to only seeing 1 or 2 zeros on your country’s notes. Their currency works in the thousands and millions so everything sounds expensive but in actual fact, Bali is one of the most affordable international holidays you can do right now. We use Rands in South Africa so we exchanged them for Dollars before we left and then exchanged them for Rupiah in Bali. Most places do accept dollars but this is not recommended as they will quote higher if paying in dollars. You can change your money almost anywhere in Bali starting at the airport and your hotel to the hundreds of money exchangers on the street. You usually get a better rate at these money exchangers but make sure it’s a proper exchange place and not a scam. We made friends with the hotel tour operator who took us to his connected money exchanger who gave us a better rate for the dollar.
Tour operators come by the dozens in Bali most locals will be happy to give you their own version of a tour for a nice sum of money. This is where you need to be careful. Bali’s main source of income is tourism and with its small population, there are many that would take advantage of profiting off it. We used a company called Discova for our tours which came recommended by Flight Center. Private Tour Operators can be really dodgy in my experience, they ask for your WhatsApp number if you just enquire and will hound you daily to book with them to the point where I even had to block some numbers. You will also see a lot of “tour huts” which are rural sheds along the roadside which are offering tours. We were told to stay away from these as many as just a sham. You could pay for a tour and when you pitch up the day of the arrangement there is a new person there that knows nothing about a booked tour. Best to rather book with a reputable registered tour company that is giving value for your money.
Just like other far east countries Bali has a lot to offer on the shopping front from designer brands to streetwear. Brands are the same price as it is elsewhere and sometimes even more. Markets are where you going to have all the fun and there are plenty on almost every road and every area. The best shopping we did was in Seminyak. On the outside, it seems like every stall is selling the same thing but there are so many hidden gems from boho chic beachwear to dainty souvenirs. If you are not a bargaining type of person steer clear as it will be a tedious process. Prices are made up according to the time of day, how you look, and loudly you have expressed your want for the item. The first price is not the price you pay, most of them will ask you how much do you want to pay. Go in low and then negotiate. Don’t be hasty and shop around for better prices, majority of the time you can get it next door cheaper.
Balinese are warm and welcoming people. The genuineness of their smiles makes breakfast time a joy and throughout the day you will encounter different people in their respective jobs greeting, smiling making your stay so pleasant. I don’t recall anyone ever being off-modish or abhorrent. English is widely spoken and it is easy to converse with the locals. This humble nation is hardworking and lives a simple life that centers on religion. Unlike the rest of Indonesia which follows Islam, the Balinese predominately follow Hinduism. You will see small prayer offerings almost everywhere and statues of their gods grace the streets of Bali. It’s social practice to greet a Balinese person by pressing your palms together, joined at the fingertips facing upwards lower than the chin. This is called Sembah, it is a respectable way to greet in Balinese culture not to be confused with the act of worship where the same hand position over the forehead is carried out with a mantra.
I’m going to be very honest here, my husband and I are both fussy eaters and we didn’t enjoy the food as we did the place. Our hotel breakfast was amazing at first which came with the 5-star service and options but after 7 days we got a little tired of the flavors. Food can be cheap or work out pricey depending on the type of eateries you choose. The hotel poolside food and cafe food was costly and came in small portions. We also used the Gojek Food App to order but it was a little confusing with food choices so we stuck to the safe franchise choices. We really did enjoy the food at one of the beach clubs but it was a basic mezze platter and margarita pizza and most beach clubs have a minimum spend. We were also told not to miss out on the beach sunset seafood dinner in Jimbaran but ended up with food poisoning. I don’t know if this was just our luck or a bad choice of food but next time we find ourselves in Bali there is a big possibility we are going to be choosing an all-inclusive option.
If you have not made up your mind as to whether Bali is the trip for you, just close your eyes and do it. Everybody’s experience in Bali is different, you are either going to come back loving it or not and if not, hey! it’s a memory to add right. Sampai jumpa, sampai ketemu. Goodbye (See you later)
