Bali is a large island in Indonesia known for it’s rice fields, volcanos, beaches, yoga and meditation retreats and unique culture. It is difficult to decide where in Bali to go because the Island and what it has to offer varies according to location. Having been to many of the areas in Bali, I would recommend a few days on a beach(Seminyak or Nusa Dua) and a few days in central Bali, Ubud. If the thought of organizing your own trip through Bali is overwhelming, visit Discover Bali, for guided tours.
-Babysitter: Many expats use the same nanny to assist with the children while in Bali. Her name is Made Sudiasih and she has worked for countless expat families and we are still in touch with her. She brings crafts for the kids and is really good with children, the cost is only $5 an hour. Contact: lampung09@yahoo.co.id
-Driver: It is helpful to have a driver/guide throughout your stay in Bali, particularly if you are traveling around the island. I highly recommend Ardika…..Balinese man with an aussie accent–he was great, perfect english and knew the hidden sights that became my favorite places (the herb walk). Contact: http://baliartasaritour.com/
The traffic in Bali is horrendous so give yourself alot of time. Seminyak is about 30-45 minutes from the airport but could be doubled with traffic. Ubud is @ 2 hours from seminyak with traffic.
*SEMINYAK- (If you are looking for the hustle and bustle of Bali (nightlife, high end shopping, luxury hotels, sleek restaurants) this is the place. The beach here is average, there is surfing and a long stretch of sand but its not the most beautiful beach in Bali (go to Nusa Dua for that).
HOTELS/VILLAS:
*Elite Havens: http://www.elitehavens.com/ This is a popular site for villa rentals. We stayed at the Bali Asri and it was wonderful. The villas vary according to # of bedrooms and size but most have their own pool and the option of having meals prepared for you. It was @ $400 a day with a cook, groceries were extra. Many, including ours, were walking distance to the beach and town.
*Other hotels recommended are: The Legian and The Oberoi–both on the beach. We also stayed at the Four Seasons in Jimbaran, the hotel was beautiful but I wouldn’t stay in Jimbaran.
SIGHTS:
* Waterbom- This is a great waterpark in Jimbaran, about 15-20 min. drive from Seminyak. It has rides for big kids and a small waterplay area for the little ones.
*Ku De Ta- Go here on a Sunday, they have brunch and activities for the kids, bring your suit because it is on the beach and you can spend the day here on their loungers by the water.
*The Herb Walk-This is the place our driver, Artika, took us and I had no idea it existed. It can be anywhere from 1-3 hours, touring the jungle to learn about the medicinal and cooking herbs used in everyday life. At the end of the walk you can try the various herbs in teas and coffees. There are a variety of herb walks in Bali but have Ardika take you. It is on the way to Ubud.
*Jenggala- A pottery studio, showroom and gallery. They have beautiful pottery to purchase and a workshop for adults and kids to make their own creations. It is located in Jimbaran which is about 15-20 minutes from Seminyak and could be combined with the waterpark.
*Spa day at the Ayana- The Ayana hotel is the old Ritz Carlton in Jimbaran. The spa is beautiful and follow it with a drink at their famous Rock Bar overlooking the ocean.
*Surfing- Obviously Bali is known for its surf and you can find boards on the beach to rent for the day.
FOOD: (Seminyak has some of my favorite restaurants in the world)
*La Lucciola- Italian food right on the beach
*Sarong- Indonesian food in a beautiful outdoor setting
*Sardines- Known for its fish and desserts and coffee are on a veranda overlooking the rice fields
*Metis-French mediterranean restaurant
*Potato Head- A beach club with 3 restaurants and 2 bars–fun scene
SHOPPING: (I absolutely love some of the stores in Seminyak, most of them are off of the street Jl Kayu Jati.!!!!!)
*LuLu Yasmin- She is a brazilian designer that started with one store and has now grown to 4 stores in Bali. It is great quality, I still wear a dress and shoes I bought there 8 years ago.
*Ebony Eve-An Aussie designer, feminine/bohemian style clothing
*Mister Zimi -Another Aussie owned clothing store
*Magali Pascal- A high end clothing boutique
*The Orchard- If you get tired of clothes shopping, this place is a furniture store and will ship anywhere in the world
*UBUD: (@ 2 hours from airport)
HOTELS:
*The Four Seasons- This place is beautiful from the minute you walk in….the spectacular lobby, the rooms with their own plunge pool and the service, all 5 star!
*The Hanging Gardens- We didn’t stay here but I know many that have raved about it, especially their famous infinity pools overlooking the jungle
*The Amandari- Part of the luxury Aman hotel chain, you can’t go wrong with Aman. Pricey but worth the money.
*The Chedi Club- We had lunch here overlooking the rice fields and the grounds are beautiful.
SIGHTS:
*The Kecak Dance- A traditional Balinese fire dance at the Uluwatu Temple at sunset (6-7 pm).
*Ubud Monkey Forest- We didn’t do this but its a nature reserve and hindu temple complex with a variety of monkey species. You can purchase bananas to feed them but be cautions, they can be aggressive.
*John Hardy- It is a workshop and showroom and there are tours of the jewelry factory. You can get big discounts here.
*Rice Terraces- Have your guide take to you to walk through the rice terraces and their are handicraft shops along the way.
FOOD:
*Mozaic- The only restaurant in Indonesia to be selected for the Pellegrino list (100 best restaurants in the world). The setting is romantic to say the least– dining al’fresco in the courtyard lit by twinkling lights. Try the gastronomy tasting menu!
*Bridges- Highly recommended, 7 platforms to dine with beautiful views. Great wine and cheese menu
*Lovacore- A popular modern restaurant that has a menu that is made up of only local ingredients
*Kubu- At the Ritz Carlton on can dine in their own romantic private cocoon overlooking the river
*NUSA DUA:
I haven’t been to Nusa Dua but most agree that if you are visiting Bali and are looking for a beautiful beach, Nusa Dua has the best beaches on the island. Many expats stay at the Westin.
*SOUTHEASTERN BALI: (@ 2 hours from the airport)
I prefer the west coast of Bali; however, the accessibility to surfing the Nusa islands (30 min. by boat) and also accessing the Gili Islands and Lombok can be worth the stay. There is also a safari park here. We stayed in a beautiful villa near candidasa: Villa Tirta Nila http://www.villatirtanila.com/
If you are looking to get away and isolate yourself from the outside world (no restaurants, shopping, nightlife) then this place is great. There are 4 bedrooms that are in different sections of the house so it’s perfect for 2 families, amazing staff that will cook, organize outings, etc., a beautiful pool, sand volleyball court and gorgeous modern decor. The safari park is 30 minutes away, there is also a white sand beach @ 45 min. away and a water palace, Tirta Gangga, which is worth a visit. You can rent a boat from Amed to the Gili Islands (45 min.) and to Nusa Lembongan (30 min.) for good surf. We had 2 dinners out, one at the Amankila, another Aman resort in Bali and the other was Vincents, which had a great ambience and good food! We also did some white water rafting through Ayung River Rafting and it was really fun. https://ayungriverrafting.net/
