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'The Island of the Gods' is a favourite holiday destination for travellers and for good reason. It's filled with breathtaking tropical beauty and vibrant culture and is home to some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet. If it's your first time visiting, these tips will help you make the most of it.
Where to stay in Bali
Most tourists head to the developed southern tip of the island, where there's a huge variety of accommodation on offer.
Kuta
Travellers are welcomed with open arms in Kuta, Bali's happening tourist hub. It's party central here day and night, as scooters zip by t-shirt shops, incense wafts through the air, and music pumps out of open-sided bars and restaurants. At 2.5km long, beautiful Kuta Beach attracts travellers from around the world and has been a popular surfing spot since the 1970s. Get there early to snag a good spot on the sand and beware the pushy hawkers selling everything from pineapples to jewellery.
Every water sport you can imagine can be found in Kuta, along with several waterparks, but squeeze in a day trip or two to really get the most out of your time in Bali. Get your adrenalin pumping on a whitewater rafting adventure, get back to nature on a guided hike, or sign up for an Instagram tour that takes you to the best photo-ops on the island!
Seminyak
If your backpacking days are behind you, or the hectic pace of Kuta is a bit much, stylish Seminyak may be the answer. Seminyak is quieter and a little more upmarket than nearby Kuta, but just as big on fun. Five-star hotels with all the trimmings line the beach, and the streets are awash with designer boutiques and galleries, sophisticated bars and restaurants.
A 90-minute drive from Seminyak will have you in the temples and rice fields of Ubud, or why not escape the crowds completely and head to nearby Lembongan Island for a full day of snorkelling and seeing the sights? At day's end, be sure to watch the sun go down from Double Six Beach back in Seminyak with an icy cold beverage in hand – the sunsets from here are magical.
Ubud
Those seeking a peaceful place to lay their hat will find it in the highlands of Ubud, about an hour inland from Kuta. Yoga studios, vegetarian cafes and craft markets sit alongside t-shirt shops and roadside restaurants, and accommodation ranges from jungle glamping to exclusive luxury resorts – all budgets are catered for. Ubud is also where Bali shows its spiritual side, and travellers are welcome to join in.
Be sure to visit Tirta Empul Holy Spring, a temple where locals and tourists alike can bathe in holy water. More than 1000 long-tailed macaques live in another spiritual spot worth visiting, the 25-acre sanctuary known as the Monkey Forest. There are three temples to explore in the jungle, and monkeys wherever you turn – swinging in the trees overhead, running along the ground and going about their monkey business. If you don't mind one of them climbing up onto your shoulder or grabbing at your belongings, buy some bananas to feed them at the entrance.
Be sure also to take the 20-minute drive to Tegallalang Rice Terrace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These lush, tiered rice fields offer a picturesque place for wandering about and winding down. Get there in the cool of the morning to avoid the crowds, and enjoy a tasty lunch in one of the humble restaurants overlooking the rice fields.
Best time to go to Bali
The dry season runs from April to October. Because of the optimal weather, this is the peak tourist season, especially July and August. Christmas is also a busy time due to the Australian summer holidays. Be aware that accommodation prices will be a lot higher, roads will be congested, and crowds will be bigger.
The best times to visit Bali are April, May, June and September, on the outer edges of the peak season. You'll find cheaper accommodations and fewer tourists but can still expect good weather.
Getting around
Public transport in Bali
Bali has many methods of transport but not all are convenient for travelers. Although cheap, the local open-air minibuses known as "bemos" aren't the most punctual and enjoyable way to get around. A better option are the public shuttle buses that run in the popular tourist areas of Bali, such as Kura-Kura Bus.
Driving in Bali
Traffic in Indonesia is notoriously chaotic, so think carefully when considering driving in Bali. Many travelers choose to hire a scooter or motorbike. If you do, be very cautious on the hectic and busy roads. Helmets are mandatory, and a valid license is also needed to drive in Bali.
Driving a scooter or bike in Bali does have its advantages. They are quicker than buses, convenient, widely available and a lot of fun!
Things you must do while in Bali
The sunsets in Bali are absolutely amazing, throwing beautiful shades of orange and pink onto the water. Make sure you catch at least one sunset from a beach-front bar.
For an unforgettable experience, I recommend waking up at ridiculous-o'clock to hike Mt Batur, an active volcano, and watch one of the most magical sunrises of your life. So worthwhile!
Take a day trip out to one of the islands, like Nusa Lembongan, and spend your day snorkelling, parasailing, feasting on fresh seafood and exploring the beautiful blue water.
Bali offers up an abundance of amazing food – be sure to have at least one sunset seafood feast at Jimbaran Bay.
Be sure to spend some time being pampered at a Balinese spa. Treat yourself to regular massages and beauty treatments, because Bali is all about relaxing and unwinding.
Like I said, down-time is king in Bali, so pack your swimwear, sunscreen and a good book. Spend your days lazing by the pool, sipping cocktails and enjoying your well-deserved break.
Balinese foods you have to try
Sate lilit
These satay sticks consist of minced meat (usually pork or fish) with coconut milk, ginger and chilli, wound around a sugar cane or bamboo stick and grilled to perfection over charcoal.
Nasi campur
Usually served with white rice, nasi campur consists of several different elements, making it a tasting board in a bowl. The dish often features shrimp/prawn crackers called krupuk, as well as grilled fish, curry beef and tempeh, fried egg, green beans and eggplant.
Babi guling
A Bali specialty, you're unlikely to find babi guling (roast suckling pig) anywhere else in mostly-Muslim Indonesia. It can be either served on its own or as part of another dish, with the pig roasted over the fire to bring out the full, smoky-sweet flavours of the meat, enhanced by the stuffing of onions, ginger, garlic and tumeric.
Lawar
Take veggies, minced meat, and coconut, throw some babi guling and rice into the mix and you've got lawar. Readily available from warungs (kiosks) across Bali, lawar can come in a number of varieties, served most commonly with jackfruit or pork. You can even find dragonfly lawar if you have a more adventurous palate
Pisang goreng
Feel like a sweet treat? Pisang goreng consists of deep-fried banana fritters, often accompanied by ice cream or drizzled in caramel or palm sugar sauce.
Pisang Rai
Perfect for a mid-morning snack to go with your Balinese kopi (coffee) or a light dessert, pisang rai takes two of Bali's most delicious fruits and combines them to make coconut-banana bites. The banana is cooked with rice flour before being covered with grated coconut to give the pisang rai its signature texture. It can also be served with brown sugar and pineapple sauce for a true sugar rush.
Travel insurance
We all know that the good times can take a slight detour when travelling. When the going gets tough, Travel Insurance Direct policies aim to do the heavy lifting and may assist with travel insurance cover such as emergency medical insurance to help keep your trip moving in the right direction, so you can refocus on the fun.