Where to stay in

BALI
2017 GUIDE
 BALI BASIC TRAVEL TIPS

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Deciding where to stay in Bali can make or break your trip. So picking the area and hotel to call ‘home’
for a few days is essential…

Whilst there is no denying both the good and bad of Bali I love it. The ‘Island of the Gods’ has so much more to
offer than luxury resorts and party spots and is small enough you can stay in more than one place on your trip
there.

After spending over 8 months here in 5 visits I think I’ve finally got it sussed out – hope this helps!

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Main South
The long beach strip along the south coast from the airport up to Tanah Lot is one of the most popular places to
stay on the island, but each part is different.

Kuta – Good for partying and ease of access

Kuta gets a bad (fair?) rep as being the party central part of the Island. When I was 21 I loved it but now I give it
a wide berth (Though maybe sometimes you’ll find me reliving the good old Alley cat days).

It is close to the airport, full of nightclubs, bars, small shops and plenty of haggling opportunities. There are
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plenty of accommodation options and shops here which are a good price and right by the beach.

POPULAR KUTA ATTRACTIONS:

KUTA BEACH SUNSETS | DISOVERY MALL SHOPPING | NIGHTLIFE

LUXURY
Sheraton Kuta Resort

This luxury resort is bang in Kuta, connected to a

mall and has beautiful pool views of the ocean and
sunset.

Check It Out

MID-RANGE
The 101 Hotel

Affordable choice with rooftop pools and has a party

vibe you can join in or avoid. Located on the main
party road.

Check It Out

BUDGET
Gora Beach Inn

Affordable twin rooms built around a pool. A heavy

party place located in the Poppies streets
surrounded by shops.

Check It Out

Seminyak – Good for beach chills

and stylish nightlife
Further along the coast Seminyak still has plenty of
restaurants, nightlife and the beach but also comes
served up with some of the famous premium
nightspots such as Potato Head and Ku De Tah. It is
slightly more chilled out than Kuta and here you will
find plenty of luxury hotels and villas.

POPULAR SEMINYAK ATTRACTIONS:

BEACH CLUBS | FANCY
RESTAURANTS | SUNSETS

LUXURY
Sawangan Villas

My favourite place in Bali I stayed – luxury private villas with breakfast chefs, pools and in the heart of Seminyak.

Check It Out

MID-RANGE
The Ize
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Great location in Seminyak and affordable prices.
Clean minimalist look with a rooftop pool and chill
vibes.

Check It Out

BUDGET
Hotel Neo Petitenget

A little out but part of the class and affordable Neo

chain. Has a pool, simple rooms and the staff wear
silver wigs?!?

Check It Out

Canggu – Good for surf and chill

Moving along the coast you hit Canggu which is my
favourite of the three. With a more chilled out surfer
vibe here you will find plenty of Acai bowls and cool
coffee shops as well as Echo Beach which is well
known for it’s surf. There are also plenty of rice
terraces around you so you get a good mix of the
inland and the coast. It is also in the direction of
Tanah Lot, one of the most famous temples in Bali.

If you are a digital nomad in Bali then Canggu is

also great with the DoJo co-working space being a
reliant internet and working spot.

POPULAR CANNGU ATTRACTIONS:

SURFING | TANAH LOT TEMPLE | RICE PADDIES

LUXURY
Pan Pacific Tanah Lot

Beautiful and luxurious golf and pool resort. Further

away from Canggu but over looking Tanah Lot and impressive sunsets.

Check It Out

MID RANGE
Bali Dream Villas

Not the easiest to access but beautiful villas and rooms with a jungle feel and tranquil pool to escape the Bali
madness.

Check It Out

AIR BnB
Amazing Place!

If you are a group of friends and want to be near the beach this AMAZING 4 bed loft style Air BnB blew me
away!

Check It Out
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Traditional Balinese Dance

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The Bukit
Below the airport is a small bulge off the main Island known as the Bukit. Full of luxury resorts, private beaches
and local villages you are spoilt for choice here.

BTDC – Good for luxury resorts

The BTDC is a gated, private development which houses some of the most luxury resorts. It has a beautiful
beach (but not those killer sunsets) and some high end beach dining. To be honest, I am not a massive fan of
staying away from the real Bali but for a few nights to chill out you can’t go wrong here. The prices are pretty
steep but if you are on honeymoon or looking to literally just switch off and not explore this is a great spot.

LUXURY
The St Regis

I wish I could personally afford to stay here. The

food was amazing, the resort and service
impeccable and my friend who got to review it was
blown away beyond words.

Check It Out

MID-RANGE
Marriott Courtyard

A great affordable option on the outskirts of the

BTDC area. Marriott style luxury resort built around
pools and gardens with a short walk/shuttle to a
reserved beach area.

Check It Out

BUDGET
The Grand Whizz

Located right next to the Sofitel and minutes from

the beach this resort actually can be super cheap if
you look for the right deals at the right time.

Check It Out

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Nusa Dua – Good for village life
The BTDC sits within Nusa Dua but as it is outside
the development I’ll give it its only place to shine.
Home to one of the most ‘luxurious resort’ in the
world the Mulia – it sits in contrast to the small local
village of Sawangan slightly further in land I spent a
couple of months calling home. There is some great
surf around here near Geger Beach.

There are a few secret beaches nearby which are

stunning and usually empty (drive down the dirt

The Ritz-Carlton Suite Views

tracks near the Ritz).

POPULAR NUSA DUA ATTRACTIONS:

BEAUTIFUL BEACHES | SURFING & BLOWHOLE | LUXURY RESORTS

Top tip – For $80 you can get Sunday brunch at the Mulia with free flow food AND booze for four hours,
when you know how expensive wine is in Bali it will seem like a steal!

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LUXURY
The Ritz-Carlton

This recently opened hotel with its private beach,

Bali vibes and so much greenery is the ultimate
place to stay and relax whilst being close enough to
plenty of activities.

Check It Out

MID-RANGE
Swiss Bel Segara

Located further away from the beach but thus

affordable, simple rooms, great pool and a breezy
vibe. Car / Bike recommended.

Check It Out

BUDGET
Villa Anjing

One of those super chilled places in the village I

used to call home so you get a much more local
feel. Pool and ocean views at the top of the hill. Car /
Bike recommended + a love for a few dogs.

Check It Out

Benoa – Good for water sports

Benoa is the stretch of sand which points back to the
mainland on the map. The beach here is not the
best for sunbathing or families but has plenty of
water-sports options and as such the
accommodation prices here are usually cheaper
than the main Bukit area.

That said, the beaches here are a lot more local in

feel and with the water sports going on aren’t the
best sands for relaxing / cleanliness.

POPULAR KUTA ATTRACTIONS:

FERRIES TO ISLANDS | WATER SPORTS | SCUBA DIVING

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LUXURY
Mantra Sakala

This suite hotel + beach club with its lagoon pool

you can roll out of bed into was perhaps one of the
best hotels I have ever seen except when I stayed
the pool was closed due to Algae so I checked out
early.

Check It Out

MID-RANGE
Ibis Styles

A pretty standard Ibis hotel which can usually be

booked at a great price and good value given its
proximity to the beach.

Check It Out

BUDGET
Wangsa Condo

Apartment style accommodation down a small side

street but not a long walk to the beach. Great prices
and good pool to chill in.

Check It Out

Jimbaran – Good for seafood and

sunset
Jimbaran bay beach looks back across the airport
and has some killer sunsets. I always head down to
treat myself at Sundara beach club for an amazing
spice old fashioned and to catch the last rays of the
day from the pool. The beach is nice and there are
plenty of fresh fist restaurants to pick from plus a lot
of accommodation options. Being pretty close to the
airport makes this the perfect nearby stop point from
the Airport if Kuta is off the radar.

POPULAR JIMBARAN ATTRACTIONS:

FRESH FISH MARKET | DISOVERY MALL SHOPPING | SURF NEARBY

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LUXURY
Four Season

Again, one I wish I could stay at but I have only used

the Sundara beach club, pools and the resort
restaurants as a guest. Perfect location, great
rooms but insane prices. Maybe one for your
honeymoon trip…

Check It Out

MID-RANGE
Watermark Hotel & Spa

The Watermark Hotel is crazy cheap for the

accommodation it offers. With a rooftop and ground
level pool, top service and amazing room details
including private pool villas the five minute walk to
the beach is covered with your own private shuttle.

Check It Out

Uluwatu – Good for temples and

beach clubs
On the far south of the Bukit is Uluwatu – famous for
its beautiful cliffside temples and monkeys. It is also
home to plenty of luxury hotels, villas and surf bars. I

have hung out at Finns beach club and Single Fin which are great spots to chill by day or the latter for a few
evening drinks as well.

POPULAR ULUWATU ATTRACTIONS:

MONKEY TEMPLE | TRADITIONAL DANCE | PRIVATE BEACH CLUBS

LUXURY
The Ungasan

These beautiful ocean views and chilled out vibes

are all over Bali but here felt super special. You also
have the bonus of the beach club with its crystal
clear coral waters.

Check It Out

MID-RANGE
Uluwatu Cotages

An affordable option if you want ocean views from

your pools – a good choice if you have a group and want to stay in a similar place but not at villa prices.

Check It Out

BUDGET
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The Bingin Inn

Simple, affordable and a good option for this area.

Prices are pretty high around the Bukit but you can
usually get a crazy cheap deal here.

Check It Out

Rice Terraces of Ubud

Central Hotspots
Head inland in Bali and it seems a world away from the beaches. Known for hippy hangouts and Yoga sessions
the jungle and rice terraces are an ideal place to switch off.

Ubud – Good for culture and yoga

Ubud, the ‘cultural capital’ of Bali is home to the famous Yoga Barn, plenty of vegan cafes, lots of cooking
schools (trust me, you want to be able to cook Balinese food!) as well as the Monkey Forest which draws in the
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crowds. Enjoy the traditional dance here, visit the palace and pick up beautiful handcrafted woodwork.

POPULAR UBUD ATTRACTIONS:

CULTURAL SHOPS | MONKEY FOREST | THE PALACE | YOGA BARN

Top Tip: You may have seen the amazing Hanging Gardens pool hotels of Bali, but you need to be a
hotel guest… Jungle Fish Pool Club makes for a great alternative!

LUXURY
Mandapa: The Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz Carlton hotel here is something special.

100% in tune to the beautiful nature and feel of
Ubud. On the pricey side but good for a special
occasion (which Bali is ideal for!)

Check It Out

MID-RANGE
Sri Bungalows

I really loved staying here and opening the curtains

on to rice fields and a pool set within them. Great
hospitality and super close to everything in Ubud.

Check It Out

BUDGET
Pondok Frog

Offers brilliant priced rooms on the main road,

personal cabins in a little square with breakfast on
the patio each day. One of the cheapest places I
have stayed in Bali.

Check It Out

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Tegalalang & Kintamani – Good for

nature & Mountains
Slightly further north of Ubud is Tegalalang which is
well known for its rice terraces you should have
seen on any postcard of Bali. Most people will head
here for a few hours in the day but the in this beautiful location I loved spending two nights there and listening to
the sound of the jungle whilst watching the fire-flies dance outside the window.

Kintamani is also usually passed through quickly as people come to do the sunrise trek up Mount Batur and snap

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a few shots of the temple on the lake (you know the one, it is on all the brochures) but there is actually plenty of
trekking and lush greenery here so you can easily spend a couple of days exploring. Find a local guest house or

Lake life after trekking Mount Batur

grab a tent and enjoy the natural side of the island.

POPULAR CENTRAL BALI ATTRACTIONS:

RICE PADDIES | TREKKING MOUNT BATUR | ULUN DANU BRATAN TEMPLE

TEGALALANG
Abing Terrace

In the middle of the Jungle surrounded by palms

and rice fields and a beautiful pool. Pay the extra for
a suite to get the best views.

Check It Out

KINTAMANI
Segara Hotel

Super simple and nothing fancy but boasting a

great location right next to the lake. Friendly crew
and good for a pitstop.

5Check It Out

East Coast

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The east coast of Bali offers black sands and some great diving spots. Padang Bai is where the boats jet off
towards the Gili Islands but there is more to see than just the dock.

Sanur – Good for families

Sanur is a good middle ground between quiet beaches and noisy nightlife. You can get a good balance here as
well as a great base to take day tours from. The beach is protected by a reef making it a great spot for families.
With plenty of accommodation as well as bars and restaurants which aren’t exclusive to resorts you don’t have
to spend a small fortune here as you would in say the BTDC.

POPULAR SANUR ATTRACTIONS:

ISLAND FERRIES | TAMAN FESTIVAL ABONDEND GHOSTLAND | MASSAGE & YOGA

LUXURY
The Fairmont

My friends stayed here as a family and really loved

the facilities and the location. It’s a bit on the pricey
side IMO but seems a popular pick for those with
kids.

Check It Out

BUDGET/MID-RANGE
The Janan Villa

A great value option with extra space and a good

location – a really short walk from the beach but
worth it if you want to save some cash and still have
a pool and nice facilities

Check It Out

Amed – Good for scuba and relaxed

vibes
Amed has the ultimately sleepy town vibe to it. Think
black sands, plenty of dive shops and small huts to kip in and you get the picture. Music nights is shack like bars,
dust roads that kids play on and plenty of pop up hammocks. I loved it but got slightly bored after two nights.
There are also plenty of dive shops here. I used No Fear Diving, who can take you the 30 minute drive up the
coast to Tulamben to dive the Japanese Wreck of the HMS Liberty, a great dive site I have visited a couple of
times.

POPULAR AMED ATTRACTIONS:

HMS LIBERTY DIVING | BLACK SAND BEACHES

MID RANGE
Hidden Paradise

These cottages surround a tranquil pool and have a perfect location on the tip of the coast offering great ocean
views from the restaurant.

Check It Out

BUDGET
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Bila Bungalows

Cheap and cheerful with super nice hosts and a on-site dive centre. On the road just back from the beach views
and hammocks hanging outside each room.

Check It Out

Diving Sites in Amed

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Further Away
That sums up most of the main spots but of course, there is plenty more. A couple of last suggestions are below
but as with any Island, going to hunt your own ideal location is sometimes the best answer.

(I haven’t stayed over night in these locations so no personal accommodation recommendations…)

Lovina – Good for dolphins

Situated on the North coast and a popular spot on route from Java (the ferry crosses into Gilimanuk, 90 minutes
away). Lovina is well known as a spot for watching Dolphins. With the same dark sands of the north-east
imagine a laid back resort. With a lack of high rises and some good bargains to be had it might be worth the
(long-ish) trip up here during Dolphin season.

On a side note, there is a SICK dolphin attraction in the south of the island with toothless dolphins stuck in a
chlorinated pool just meters away from the ocean so head up here to see them in the wild rather than get fooled
into seeing them there.

South-West Coast – Good for peace and escape

The long stretches of beaches that span from Tanah Lot up to Gillimanuk makes for a stunning drive, which is
good as it can be painfully slow! If you have a driver it is well worth stopping off to see these empty stretches of
paradise to imagine what the Island could have been like years ago. There are a few hotels and guest houses
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dotted along which are perfect if you want to be away from the main tourist bustle of the resort areas and have a
bike or car.

Getting Around Bali

Getting around Bali is pretty affordable. Blue Bird taxi group offer metered fares, Uber now operates in the main

Familes at Tanah Lot

south and you can pick up a driver for the whole day for around $40 – There is also a great new service called
GoJek which is bookable by app and is a crazy cheap bike taxi service! For about $5 a day you should be able
to hire your own bike.

Want the honest truth about Bali?

Bali has its pros, but it also has its cons – After spending so long there over so many visits it would be niave for
me not to point them out. Check out this post to get an idea of what to watch out for in Bali:

Bali: Beautiful or Beyond Repair?

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