Bali Travel Guide and Tips for First-Timers!

Accommodation in Bali

There are endless accommodation options in Bali, from luxury family-sized villas to small-budget Bungalows. I promise you will find the perfect place to rest your head, that will suit your style and budget. 

Here are three places I’ve stayed in the past that I absolutely loved; 

Suzuki Villa 2

A two-story villa in Seminyak that comfortably fit my family of 5. The villa had a private pool, lounge/kitchen area and was within walking distance to heaps of good restaurants in Seminyak.

Villa Bella Sanur

 Another three-bedroom private villa with a large pool and open-plan living space. But this time in Sanur. Villa Bella is very well-designed and comfortable! (if you’d like a closer look at, check out my IG Reel).

Menzel Ubud

Heading north to Ubud, although you’ll still come across plenty of traffic, Ubud has a more spiritual vibe and the scenery is magical. Menzel Ubud is located only a short drive from town and offers rooms with views of their rice fields. The staff here are incredible, and breakfast by the pool was the best way to start the day.

Travel in Bali ~ Quick Tips For Your First Visit

Keep your cash in small notes; If you’re bartering and after a cheap price, it’s not the best look to then pull out a massive note and ask for change.

Be respectful when bartering and have fun with it; Usually, in the end, you’re only arguing over getting a couple more dollars off, just let it go! There’s a good chance you earn a much higher wage than they do. (but that’s not to say let them rip you off, just be reasonable)

Explore outside of Kuta/Legian/Seminyak areas; Even if it involves a long car ride it’ll be worth it. Especially if you’re after amazing beaches or rice terraces. 

Yes, Bali is cheap but try to stick to your budget; When you travel to Bali there’s always so much to do, see & buy. So it’s very easy to overspend. Especially at high-end restaurants and beach clubs, (prices there are very similar to Australian venues).

Don’t drink the tap water; A little bit on your toothbrush won’t hurt but much more could upset your tummy & give you diarrhea. I’m sure nobody has time for that!

If you want to see the monkeys at Ubud or Uluwatu, hold onto your valuables; These monkeys are savages and will grab whatever they can.

Travel around Bali with a driver?

Hiring a local driver in Bali is (in my opinion) the best way to travel Bali and see the sights that you are interested in visiting. And, all on your own schedule. 

Booking a driver can be organized prior to arriving in Bali, or once you have arrived. Your hotel will be able to assist with this or feel free to comment below and I can send you my drivers details.

Below is a suggested two-day itinerary, which includes your driver taking you to temples, beaches, rice terraces and waterfalls. I did this a few years back with my family, and we all loved it!

Bali Travel Day 1

Abian Desa Rice Terrace in Tegalalang:

It’s so pretty here; the rice terrace is so green and lush! The entrance fee is only 25k IDR, and there are optional extras, such as the Bali Swing, that can be paid for once inside.

There are walking tracks throughout the rice terrace and a few photo ops set up, (ie. I♥️Bali sign).

Tirta Empul Temple:

This temple was only about a 20-minute drive from Tegalalang and there’s a nice restaurant along the way to have lunch at. Tirta Empul is a Hindu temple where worshippers come to bathe in the famous holy spring water. While we were visiting there was a Hindu festival happening and although it was super busy it was beautiful to see. So many locals dressed in white, creating offerings to the gods and playing music.

To enter the temple you will need to have your legs covered, so wear or take something long to cover yourself. You can borrow a sarong when you arrive, but I can only imagine how much the previous person could have been sweating! 

As you exit the main temple area there are heaps of local market stalls. You’ll notice they sell many of the same goods that can be brought in Seminyak but for a much lower price!!! 

Tegenungan Village Waterfall:

There’s an entrance fee to this waterfall and the money goes to the local village, Rp.10.000 for children and Rp.20.000 for adults. From the car park, it’s a long walk, and 165 steps down to the waterfall.

Surrounding the waterfall are many slippery rocks so I recommend taking appropriate footwear, such as water shoes.

The swimming area is safe (even for kids) as long as care is taken on the rocks. It’s a shame you can’t swim right underneath the waterfall here, they have it roped off!

After you’ve swum at the waterfall there’s a small “hot spring” pool you can have a dip in before you hike back up the stairs.

Bali Travel Day 2

Uluwatu Temple:

Located on the edge of a cliff, the temple offers the most amazing ocean views. The views are much more impressive than the actual temple. The entrance cost is Rp.50.000 for adults and Rp.30.000 for children. I’d recommend coming here in either the morning or later afternoon as it’s always so hot and most of the walk isn’t undercover. You’ll also need to have your legs covered up, again they’ll have something you can borrow if you didn’t bring yours.

Some may be excited to see monkeys in Bali but seriously these monkeys have no shame and will snatch whatever they can from you. Keep your valuables close and don’t take food with you.

Padang Padang Beach:

This beach has become so popular they now charge an entrance fee, Rp.15.000 for adults and Rp.10.000 for children. To enter you walk down a staircase, partly through a cave to the most beautiful beach. The water is such an impressive colour and there are waves out the back for anyone who wants to try surfing. But close to shore it’s very safe to swim. You could easily spend all day here, without even leaving the sand you can get, surfboard hire, local shopping, food & drinks.

Melasti Beach:

I’d never been down this end of Bali before, driving down through the limestone cliffs we got the most beautiful views. The water was crystal clear and clean. Unfortunately, when we arrived the tide was out so the water was only knee-deep. It wasn’t the best for swimming or snorkelling but still beautiful.

Melasti is a quieter area in Bali, and didn’t have that typical Bali feel. I actually felt like I was somewhere in the Middle East. Stunning area though and if you love the ocean then you need to go!

When you look at a map of Bali it seems like such a small island but it’s not. There’s so much to see and do when you travel to Bali. If you have any other questions about holidays in Bali please comment below.

Another area of Bali I love is Amed. So many incredible and unique snorkelling locations that can easily be accessed from the beach.

Amed is about a 2.5-hour drive from Denpasar airport.

I’ve put together a guide of the best snorkelling spots, click here for Amed Travel Guide!

Thanks for reading, 

Happy Travels.