Trip #1 

• Seminyak (and surrounds) - 8 days.

Accommodation/s
 

• Double-Six Luxury Hotel, Seminyak

 

Things to do

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• We did three tours through Discova Bali which took us to Nusa Penida, Ubud and various waterfalls around Bali. They have a range of different tours to choose from though so I'd recommend booking through your Travel Consultant and researching what level of exploration you want to do. You can choose more slow-paced tours right up to full adventure! We had a local guide named Sukarta and he drove us around over the three days and was able to give us so much insight into Bali and the locations we visited. Every single one of the included meals were absolutely unreal too, proper restaurant quality as well as hot and fresh (no packed sandwiches here). You can opt for private tours (just you, your travel buddy and a local travel guide in a private car of your own) or group tours (on a bus with other tourists and a travel guide). 

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• Go shopping in the Seminyak markets! There are so many flea markets, local stores and boutique designer brand stores where you can get really great 'bang for your buck'. The quality is awesome and there are some really beautiful designs you can buy while you're over there. Just don't forget to barter if you're shopping at the flea markets! The local shop attendants are usually pretty willing to give you a good deal below asking price. 
   

• Dine out in the surrounding restaurants in Seminyak. You can travel five minutes in any direction from your hotel and have endless top quality restaurants to choose from for breakfast, lunch or dinner. For foodies and shopaholics, Seminyak is the place for you. 
   

• Have sunset dinner and drinks at Capil Beach Grill & Bar. We did this on our first night and there was a local performer singing, amazing table service and comfy bean bags for you to lay on and take in the views of beautiful Double-Six Beach. 
   

• If you're a footy fan, you can find your league of choice playing in some of the local bars. We watched the NRL at Fox & Rabbit Sports Bar & Restaurant, Seminyak. They also had the AFL on so you'll be spoilt for choice. 
   

• Get a manicure, pedicure or massage at any one of the spas/salons! Just do your research first and check out their reviews online before you go. I recommend Bio Spa Bali. I had a wonderful local named Tomi who gave me an amazing hand massage and manicure and it was a beautiful, air-conditioned salon and I felt truly relaxed and comfortable there on my own. 
   

• Get to know the locals! We were lucky enough to have three days with our Discova Tour Guide Sukarta, where we got to know him really well and learn all about his family and life in Bali. On one of our tours we also got to know one of the locals working at a tea house we visited in Ubud, who sat with us while we tried the different teas and told us all about himself as well. There's so much to learn from the Balinese lifestyle and culture. I came away from a lot of my conversations with the Balinese people feeling refreshed, a little bit enlightened and with a new perspective and appreciation for the opportunities I have in Australia. 

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• Check out the monkey forest in Ubud! These monkeys aren't in captivity - they reside here by choice (because they're fed VERY well). You can get right up and personal with them as you walk through the beautiful forest and you can witness little tiny baby monkeys clinging to their Mothers and it's the CUTEST thing ever. Just hold tight to your sunglasses, phone or any loose items as they can be quite cheeky and pinch things from you. 

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Be mindful of

 

• Bali Belly! Do not drink from the tap water, I wouldn't even brush your teeth with it. Stay on top of your hygiene and make sure you are regularly washing and sanitising your hands (especially after each time you're handling cash). If you do happen to get struck with it, do not waste any time and get a nurse out to your hotel immediately so you can start getting better. We got a nurse from Saline Bali to come out to our room and hook us up with their special Bali Belly cure in an IV. Within about 20 minutes of having the IV hooked up to us, our symptoms (vomiting and diarrhoea) had completely stopped. We felt a bit groggy for the rest of the day so we took it pretty easy, but by the next day we had slept it off and were back by the pool. I absolutely swear by these IVs for a fast as possible recovery! We spent about $600 total for the both of us to have one, but we claimed it all on our travel insurance so we were only out of pocket by about $100 of excess in the end. 

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• You will need an e-Visa to enter Bali and I recommend to do this online PRIOR to travelling. The reason for this is if you wait to do it in Bali upon entry, you risk having to line up for hours with everyone else who needs to do theirs. We had ours online/on our phones and were able to walk straight past the crowds and enter Bali through a completely empty gate. You can do your e-Visa online here. 

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• You will also need to complete an e-customs declaration that can also be done online beforehand here. 

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• Currently as at April 2024 Bali requires a 'Tourist Tax' for all tourists entering Bali. It costs about $15 AUD and can be paid here prior to travelling. 

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• Some taxis will try and rip you off. We used Bluebird Taxis the entire time we were in Bali and they were always reliable, on time and cheap as chips! 
   

• Be careful of the sun... the humidity can distract you from how intense the sun rays are there and just an hour or two by the pool can equate to serious sunburn! At least that's what happened to us (and we were under a pool umbrella, not even in the direct sun). 

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• I recommend bringing your own pharmacy items such as probiotics, Panadol, hand sanitiser, sunscreen, mosquito spray etc. The pharmacies there charge a lotttt for these sorts of things so it's best to come prepared for anything. 

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• For the ladies - bring tampons and any sanitary items you may require! Even if you don't think you're due yet. These items are incredibly hard to find in Bali especially for a reasonable price or in the specific item you need. Again, it's best to be prepared just in case. 

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• While there isn't a 'tipping culture' in Bali per-say, I recommend tipping your waiters, hotel staff, taxi drivers, tour guide, salon workers etc. They are on absolute minimum wage (think $2 an hour) and a little bit goes such a long way. With how cheap everything is over there and the level of service they provide, it's always worth tipping them a little bit extra to show your appreciation. 

 

Food & Drink​

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• I recommend grabbing breaky at Machinery Cafe, Seminyak. They had some of the best coffee I've tasted (even in Australia!) and both of our meals were unreal. 

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• Head to Sanje Restaurant for sunset drinks or dinner! It was super beautiful sitting right on the water as the sun went down and the food was really top quality. 

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• Going to the Flamingo Beach Club is a musssst (and I cannot stress that enough). This was one of the most beautiful spots we ate at during our entire time in Bali and the food was some of the best we had. There's a beautiful infinity pool with uninterrupted views of the ocean, great music playing and even a gelato trolley. We ate, swam and relaxed on the day beds there for almost three hours and it wasn't long enough!

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• An essential visit is to the Amok Sunset Bar and Restaurant in Nusa Penida. This is hands down the most beautiful place I've ever eaten... words truly can't describe how unreal it is. The food is 10/10 and there are two pools you can choose from to swim in, as well as day beds to relax on for as long as you like. 

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• Our hotel food at Double-Six was top quality, very tasty and great portion sizes!

 

The Positives

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• It's so close to Australia! The flight was just shy of 6 hours from Brisbane to Bali. 

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• The Balinese people rely heavily on on Australian tourism so they're very welcoming and accommodating to tourists especially from our way! I felt incredibly safe here and despite a lot of cultural differences, it didn't feel too far from home with the footy on the TV in the pubs and a wide range of western food options in their restaurants. 

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• It's a great affordable holiday for any type of traveller. You can do it on a budget or super lux and it won't cost you an arm and a leg. It's very family friendly with a lot of hotel options with pools and friendly staff who are willing to help. 

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• The tropical weather is beautiful, it barely rains heavily there even in the wet season so it's a great place to travel all year 'round. 

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• It's so diverse so is suitable for all types of travellers. You can explore the best surfing spots, chase waterfalls, wander around the rice terraces in Ubud, shop 'til you drop in the local Batiks and jewellery stores or just flop and drop by the pool in your hotel. There's so much to see and do and will have you wanting to come back for more!

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• It feels very safe in Bali. Like anywhere, there are spots you should avoid however overall with how busy it is - I always felt like I could safely wander around even if on my own. The streets are bustling with tourists and scooters during all hours of the day so even if you get lost there will always be someone to ask to point you in the right direction. 

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• The Australian Dollar to Indonesian Rupiah conversion rate means you can get a lot for a little in Bali and you can splurge on holiday without draining the bank account. 

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The Negatives 

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• The only real downside to the trip was running the risk of getting Bali Belly, however that said - I would never let that stop me from travelling to Bali. I was quite reckless and wasn't very careful with my hygiene the first day I was there (handling cash then eating with my hands without washing them for example) so I think I could've avoided it if I was more careful. 

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• While it didn't really bother me, depending on the type of traveller you are - the traffic can be quite bad particularly around peak hour (6am to 8am and 4pm to 7pm) so it can take a while to get from A to B if you're out and about at that time. Personally, I took the time to look out the window and enjoy the sights!

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Final Thoughts and Recommendations
 

• Bali was one of those places that as soon as you land you start questioning 'can we live here?' It's so beautiful, so laid back and the lifestyle there is enviable to anyone who is currently caught up in 'the rat race' and wanting a slower paced life. 

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•  I'd recommend going for at least seven days minimum, ideally 10 days or more. There's so much to see and by the time you unwind and really relax into the lifestyle, you don't want to have to be rushing back onto a plane. 

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• Visit Bali outside of peak times if you can (avoiding school holidays, Easter, Christmas etc). It'll mean you can get around a bit easier with less crowds and you'll be more likely to book a reservation at the more popular restaurants. 

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• Just remember to take it easy. The vibes are high in Bali and the drinks are cheap! So it'll be tempting to drink yourself silly and to be out in the sun all day. Just remember there's so much beauty to see so don't overdo it by getting super sunburnt and hungover after your first day.

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• My experience with Bali Belly was another great reminder of why you should invest in travel insurance. You really can't put a price on the reassurance you experience when being covered while you travel. I have an annual policy with Cover-More Travel Insurance with a $100 excess. I have an unlimited spend on medical expenses which means any expense incurred will be completely covered and I'll only be $100 out of pocket. It's worth it's weight in gold!