While preparing for the Oceania Champs earlier this year, I was fortunate to get a week of training at Smash Travel in Bali!
I had been in Bali over the New Year period doing my annual fast, and after a short training camp in Jakarta with some friends of mine, I found myself back in Bali before heading back to Australia for the tournament.
My friends actually knew the head coach at Smash Travel (Ajay) and told me he’s great to train with.
So – I fired off a Whatsapp message and asked if they could take me in for a week.
Toni is a player from Sweden who lives in Bali and runs everything. Everything was super smooth and easy to book and after a few minutes of chatting I was ready to get training!
Arriving in Bali
I arrived in Bali a few days later and was picked up from the airport (included in the camp) and taken to the accommodation (also included in the camp).
The accommodation is a local guesthouse about three minutes walk from the badminton hall – it’s run by a local family who are wonderfully friendly and I was settled in quickly.
The guesthouse has spacious rooms with a balcony on each, air conditioning, a fridge and kettle, and also a semi-indoor pool for guests. For me, it was more than comfortable.
The only thing you should know is there’s no kitchen access, so it’s not possible to cook your own meals.
This meant I was ordering my meals from GrabFood, but that was totally fine for me.
Especially since it’s Bali, so you have many delicious things to choose from and it’s easy to stay healthy!
The training
It’s an intense schedule but nothing more than you would expect at other camps.
Monday – 8am to 11am Tuesday – 8am to 11am, 3pm to 5pm
Wednesday – 8am to 11am
Thursday – 8am to 11am, 3pm to 5pm
Friday – 9am – 11am
Saturday – 1pm to 4pm
Sunday – OFF
So basically you train twice a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays, every other day is one 2-3 hour session except for Sunday.
There’s also the chance to add in some private sessions with Ajay, which I did do ($50USD/hr) and thought it was valuable.
Of course, the camp will be slightly different for everyone, depending on how many players are there at the time and the levels. During my week there was only one other (foreign) player at training, but some local players join in the training too, including Ajay’s son who is still a young kid but can seriously play!
The training is held at a newly built badminton complex called Jayaprana, just around the corner from the guesthouse.
As for what we did while I was there, it was mostly the same format every day.
Sparring with Toni and the local Bali players
Drills with Ajay – sometimes he will drill a new shot with you, sometimes focus on footwork, sometimes he works on technical things. Some specific things him and I worked on were – backhand technique, improving smash power, deception at the net, reverse slicing, and various tweaks to my footwork.
Fitness and conditioning drills
Ajay’s coaching style is very relaxed and there is no real structure to it – by that I mean it’s not like there’s a daily schedule where you do 20 minutes of warmups, 30 minutes of footwork, 30 minutes of drills, 30 minutes of sparring etc etc.
He kind of just watches you play and picks out different things for you to work on. Some days you spar a lot, some days not much. Some days you will do lots of conditioning work, some days you won’t do any.
Warm ups, warm downs and stretching you mostly do on your own – so it helps to get there a little early and stay a bit later so you don’t waste your court time on that.
I know some people prefer really structured training, but I personally don’t mind either/or. I think it kind of suits the Balinese vibe anyway that things are a bit more freestyle and keeps it interesting!
What are the facilities like?
Jayaprana has five courts and it’s built for badminton, so the ceilings are high and there is no wind.
The courts are mats but I don’t think they’re Yonex or Victor mats but some local brand. This means they’re not tournament quality, but still pretty good, and certainly better than wooden courts.
As for shuttles, they use a local brand of shuttles, again not the same quality as Yonex/Victor/Yangyang shuttles but still fine to train with and I had no complaints about the quality.
Inside the courts they also have a little drinks shop where you can buy smoothies/juices and also regular stuff like water and Pocari Sweat or Nescafe.
There are showers too if you want to rinse after training.
Overall it’s a small but good quality facility.
As for stringing, luckily you’re in Indonesia, which is a badminton crazy country! So finding badminton shops to string isn’t an issue. Unfortunately, they don’t do it at the hall, but some local stores can do it and they’re not too far away.
It’s also cool that since you’re in Indonesia you can find lots of cool badminton gear you might not always find at home.
I bought tons of gear that I can’t find easily at home, including playing kit, a bag, wristbands etc.
All my teammates are jealous of my new shoes!
What does a typical day look like?
First, you wake up at 7:30 am, get all your crap together and run to the hall.
Then when you arrive ten minutes late, you realise you can relax because it’s Bali and nobody is going to yell at you.
Train for three hours.
Walk back to the room and order some food on Grab.
Eat.
Go to sleep.
Wake up again at 1:30pm for afternoon training.
Train for two hours.
Get back to the room at 5:30pm.
Do some laundry and think about what to eat for dinner.
If you’re tired, just order Grab. If you have energy, you can head out to Seminyak beach and eat at one of the nice restaurants, or eat at one of the local places around.
Go to sleep.
Wake up and do it again!
Would I recommend it?
The short answer is yes. I had a great time and would recommend it.
Now for the fine print:
It’s a small camp. Like I said, the hall has five courts and there is one coach.
If you’re an elite-elite player (as in, you are aiming to compete with world-ranked #500+ players, national level players in your country, advance far into Future Series/International Series tournaments), then it might be a bit small for you. You are not going to find a big squad of elite sparring partners from around the world like you would in the big camps in Dubai and Thailand. For context – I compete internationally and my world ranking at the time was around 600.
Ajay is a high-level coach so of course, working with him will still be great, and I’m sure they’ll bring in whatever top players they can to spar with you. For example, Toni knew I was prepping for the Oceania Champs so he arranged one of Bali’s top players to come in and give me some games (he was waaay better than me). But also remember Smash-travel accepts beginners, which is fantastic, but it means it’s also not catered specifically to top-level players.
UPDATE 2024: Ajay is no longer the coach there, I can’t vouch for the new coaches but Indo coaches are generally high level.
Still, if you’re not preparing for elite-level international competition (which is 99% of us) and you simply want to get better at badminton, I think Smash Travel is a great camp and tons of fun. For anyone B grade and under it would definitely be beneficial.
I paid for the all-inclusive package for one week. The price is reasonable and personally I thought it was very fair value for money.
Booking is easy, just hit them through their website smash-travel.com.
After a hectic year and feeling absolutely drained, it was time to clean up the body, mind and spirit with a fast.
Last year I did my annual fast at Atsumi in Phuket. It was a resort specifically designed for fasting. Everything was prepared for you and available within the resort – which during a fast is like a dream (since you sometimes barely have the energy to think). It was simply wake up – drink tea – go to yoga – get a colonic/enema – get a massage – sit in the sauna – meditation – sleep. They also take care of all your water needs and preparation for breaking your fast.
While I felt it was worth every cent, it was rather expensive (about $2,500 USD for 14 days).
This year I wanted to see if I could do it slightly cheaper, DIY style.
I scouted many locations, including other areas in Thailand, the rest of Asia, Costa Rica, Europe, but Bali came up as the best candidate. Firstly, because it’s closer to home (five hours closer than Thailand!), secondly, because there’s a beach and it’s warm (very important!), and thirdly, because it’s inexpensive.
The first task was to find a place where I could do my daily enema/colonic.
There are actually many places you can do this in Bali, mostly around Kuta and Ubud.
However, the only place that used the colonic system (closed system) that I prefer was based in Canggu.
That was perfect, as I’ve always wanted to check out Canggu since it popped up on the backpacker map some years ago.
Next step was to find a place to stay that was both nearby so I could walk to my daily colonics, and also inexpensive.
Since I’m a bit of a Bali newbie, I didn’t realise Christmas time was absolute peak season so the pickings were thin. However, I did find a great no-frills place at EVA Guest House, about a ten-minute walk from Aqua Spa.
There were also many health food spots in the area, perfect for when it came time to break fast and rebuild.
With everything booked, it was time to get down to business!
Day 1
This year I started my fast on the day of travel.
Normally I wait until I arrive, since not eating on the plane is kind of hard (since it’s so boring and there’s nothing else to do). However, I decided this time it would be efficient to start fasting the morning of my travel day, so that I was already 24 hours in when I arrived.
I landed in the evening at 9 p.m., so when I arrived at the guesthouse I was already 21 hours fasted.
While it was upsetting to give up all my free food on the plane, it was a huge mental boost knowing that I’d already gotten through Day 1 on my first night in Bali.
Day 2
I woke early, around 6 a.m. and headed straight for the beach.
I was surprised to see even that early, the beach was packed and there were hundreds of surfers in the water and walkers on the sand.
Canggu happens to be a hot surf destination, so there were lots of people getting surf lessons early in the morning and people renting out boards.
I spent about thirty minutes there doing some light walking and stretching, then headed back to the room to do some housekeeping – I needed to buy water and some other supplies.
One thing I was doing during my fast in Phuket was taking psyllium husk and charcoal each morning, which helps push things through your system so you can expel it during your colonic. I managed to find these things at Active Whole Foods, which was just a $1 moto-taxi away.
Then it was time to head for my first colonic session.
It was easy enough to book – it’s all done online and the clinic is easy to find on the main street.
When I arrived I was greeted by three nurses who talked me through the treatment – since I’ve done it many times before it didn’t take long and then it was away to the races.
The clinic is great and the system looks new, however, the one thing I wasn’t a fan of is there’s no shower in the room to wash off after your treatment. Otherwise, I was really happy with the staff and equipment.
At around $45 per session, it’s pretty good value.
If you don’t know what a colonic is, it’s a treatment where you insert a small hose up your bum and it flushes your system with water for about 45 minutes, kind of like doing an enema over and over. The amount of junk that comes out of your colon even after not eating for several days will amaze you.
My first colonic was surprisingly pretty clean.
After passing some old matter in the first five minutes, it was mostly clean for the rest of the session. Who knows if it will stay clean for the week, or there’s a lot of trash hiding up there that will take a few more sessions to clear.
After that, it was time to simply head back and lay low for the rest of the day. While it’s tempting to try and work, I’ve learned the first days of a fast work best when you clear body and mind.
Day 3
I went for my daily colonic again around lunchtime, and passed quite a lot of waste.
It’s always suprising to see how much still comes out even after not eating for days!
Overall, I still was feeling strong without too many symptoms.
This is kind of a good thing and a bad thing, because when your body starts to detox, you really start to feel bad.
This means things like fatigue, light-headedness and just feeling kind of shitty in general.
This is known as the herx reaction, or die-off.
So this could have meant two things – either my body is so clean and has not many toxins to clear, or the worst is yet to come.
However, one thing I did notice is my sweat started to smell.
We know our body purges things through the three P’s – poop, pee and perspiration.
With my sweat starting to smell, this seemed to be a good sign that my body was finding and expelling toxins.
The perfect thing to do at this stage is a deep heat sauna, so I headed to Power + Revive – a gym about 10 minutes walk from my guesthouse – and signed up for their 5 day pass.
This gave me access to the gym and their workout classes, but more importantly, to their recovery area!
This includes a dry sauna and a cold plunge, which were both excellent.
I spent about 20 minutes in their sauna sweating out demons, and then spent a few 30 second dips in the cold plunge, which was so much colder than I expected!
I am not new to ice baths, but for some reason, this cold plunge pool felt much colder than I’m used to, even though it wasn’t at ice temperature. Maybe not having eaten for 3 days had something to do with it.
By night time, I was finally starting to feel some hunger pangs.
72 hours down! 48 more to go.
Day 4
Day 4 was definitely the toughest day.
After my colonic I sat in the waiting room and zoned out for about two hours. I didn’t feel sick, but I felt so fatigued and definitely didn’t have the energy to walk home.
When I finally got home, I collapsed on the bed and stared at the ceiling for hours.
I was also supposed to hit the sauna, but didn’t have the power to walk up to the gym, and also take a walk on the beach to do some grounding and get some sun, but didn’t have the legs for that either.
I just lay in bed and watched shows on my laptop, trying to let my body rest and do its thing.
Day 5
Last day!
On this day I did manage to get my butt out of bed and head down to the beach in the morning.
I took a half-hour walk and did some stretching.
I had my colonic booked for later in the day, and knowing it was the last one I tried to get the most out of it. When doing colonics, it’s not just a matter of lying there and passing the time. You are constantly working, trying to let as much water into the colon and then expelling it, and the process can be exhausting. However, the more you’re willing to work, the better the results will be. Even after five days, I still passed quite a lot of gunky green matter. It’s such a good feeling knowing it’s out rather than in!
After a slow walk home, the rest of the day was pent in bed reading and scouring the internet for what I was going to eat the next day.
However, at this stage I had fasted around 115 hours, and was feeling strong again. In previous fasts, the “sick and tired” stage of the fast usually lasted around 2-3 days, but it seems on this one, I only had one shitty day (Day 4).
Now it was just a matter of chilling out and waiting until re-feed time.
Day 6
I went to bed early the night before, but didn’t sleep well. Not sure why.
Just kept waking up and going to the toilet.
Eventually, I got out of bed at 7 a.m. and spent an hour or so just relaxing and drinking water.
Then it was time for my first meal.
When I say “meal” I mean my first calories, and for me I like to break my fasts with bone broth.
I had ordered some organic bone broth from Bali Broths and felt myself coming back to life just watching them heating up on the stove.
Then I sipped down about 400 ml slowly by the spoonful and felt amazing.
After a short break, it was time to break with some fruits.
Fruits are always great to break a fast with, since they’re about 90% to 95% water.
My go-to is always watermelon!
One of my favourite parts about Asia is you can always find fresh fruits, usually cut and packed for you fresh daily, and Bali is no exception. For about $3 you can get a big box of fruits like so:
Finally, the last part of my fast was to get in some fats with some raw milk.
Raw dairy is not easy to find in most places around the world, but Milkup in Bali runs a beautiful dairy and whole foods operation here which sells both raw goat and cow milk.
Some people say dairy is not great to break a fast with, but I think raw dairy is great and full of nutrients! It’s always food in liquid form so doesn’t stress your digestive system too much. I took down a few glasses of raw milk, and then a cup of goat kefir. Delicious.
After that, it was back to eating as normal.
Later that day, I started with a few small meals from some cafes on my street.
First was some salmon and veggies, and a gluten free wrap.
It’s hard for me to say how “refreshed” I feel after a fast, I seem to return to baseline quickly now that I’ve done it so many times, and also since I don’t drink, smoke, or eat much junk food, my body never really feels that “dirty” to begin with. But, I can say I’ve seen definite benefits from making it a regular part of my life, and I’m sure I will continue to do so!
The Rebuild
The following week was a full on week of just exercising and eating.
It is one of my favourite things in the world to experience your body rebuilding after a fast.
I spent my afternoons at Body Factory Bali, which is a fantastic gym, probably one of the best I’ve ever been to.
After working out, I would spend the rest of the day eating and reading at the various cafes around Canggu.
There are so many good healthy-food cafes in the area, I was spoiled for choice:
How Much Did It Cost?
How much is it to do a water fast in Bali?
Here’s what I spent:
Colonics, 4 sessions: 2.2m IDR/ $145
Guest House, 6 nights: 3.8m IDR/$250
Gym/Sauna 5 day pass at Power + Revive: 55k IDR/$35
Bottled water 10 litres: 50k IDR/$5
For breaking fast:
Fresh fruits delivered: 100k IDR/$6
Milkup (raw milk/kefir): 155k IDR/$10
Supplements – Charcoal, Bentonite, Psyllium, Diatomaceous Earth, electrolytes (I brought these from home): ~$50 USD
So, definitely cheaper overall, and still a really good quality and worthwhile experience with good facilities.
However, be aware I am an experienced faster and it’s not a problem for me to do a 5 day fast unsupervised. However, if it’s your first time doing a fast of this length, it would be important for you to have someone guiding you, which fasting centers and resorts are ideal for.
As for the rebuild, here’s what I spent:
Body Factory Bali Silver membership (7 days): 1.3m IDR, or $85.
Eating: Around $30-$40 per day for 3 meals.
Would I do it again?
Definitely!
I’m already planning to do my annual fast again next year in Bali, and while I’m open to other options such as Ubud, I think Canggu is the easiest and cheapest option. Looking forward to it!
When trotting around Canggu, you might see a piece of wall art on the side of a restaurant that reads “Bali is never a bad idea.”
Bali is full of wonders and treasures and it’s no wonder it’s been a favourite holiday destination for decades.
Here’s one thing you may not know about Bali, though.
The island is huge.
For example, are you trying to decide between Ubud and Kuta?
Choose well, because I can promise you will not be spending a lot of time in both. Driving between the two is over an hour, and since traffic in Bali can be horrendous, it will be even longer during rush hour.
How do you know where’s the best place to stay for you?
This guide! Below I’ve mapped out the main areas of the island, and not only are they quite distant from each other they’re all very different as well.
By the end of this guide you should have a much better idea of what Bali has to offer, and which part of the island is going to give you the Bali experience you’re looking for .Of course, if you have any questions, you can leave them in the comments below. I’ll be here!
How to get to your destination
Your first challenge is getting to your accommodation in the first place.
Most likely you’ll arrive via Denpasar Airport.
Luckily, buying a tourist sim at the airport is extremely easy (they’ll all be hounding you as soon as you exit baggage collection). Once you have data on your phone you can simply use the Grab app (similar to Uber) to order a ride.
You can also pre-book your ride with Klook, but in my experience that’s not really necessary.
Expect to pay between $20-$40 to get from the airport out to the beaches, depending on which one you’re going to.
Sanur – Smaller beach area – quiet but not much happening, a few nice restaurants/hotels though.
Denpasar – Central area with less tourists, more local living
Map of Bali
This is a map of the most popular areas to stay in Bali.
As you can see, all the areas people typically stay are in the south of the island (where the airport is).
Of course, the north of the island can be visited too, but as a tourist you’re probably coming to Bali for nice restaurants, some shopping, live music on the beach, a comfy hotel, maybe a massage and a few fun activities, and the north isn’t really the place to find all that (it can make a great day trip, though!)
Click on each coloured tear drop to see the name of a place and a screenshot.
We’ll go through more details of each of them in the guide below.
Where To Stay In Bali
Kuta
Kuta is probably the most common area for tourists in Bali.
Bali frequenters tend to hate the place, but I think it’s not a bad spot for first-timers or people who aren’t accustomed to travelling in Asia.
Things might be a little more expensive here but it’s basically an entire beach town set up for tourists, so everything is accessible and you will never have trouble finding a place to stay or something to eat.
Do be aware that it’s a favourite for backpackers and younger travellers and a lot of partying goes on here – that means drinking during the daytime and noisy nightclubs after dark.
However, it’s easy enough to stay away from those areas if you want – though if you’re trying to avoid that kind of thing my recommendation would be to simply stay in another area (discussed below!)
Points of interest around Kuta:
Waterbom Bali – A huge waterpark, great for kids
Discovery Mall – Huge mall with all your favourite brands
Kuta Beach – most popular beach in Kuta (maybe all of Bali?!)
Bombing Memorial – The Ground Zero Memorial in remembrance of the Bali bombings
Beachwalk Mall – Big, sprawling mall in Kuta
You should stay in Kuta if you are:
A backpacker looking for hostels/budget accom and trying to save money.
It’s about a 10 minute walk from the beach, and the facilities are super modern and clean. Capsule beds means you get to enjoy your privacy while still being able to socialise with other backpackers.
Beachfront on the wonderful Legian Beach, the resort is fully equipped with an amazing pool, spa, gym, plus a kid’s club for you to leave the little ones while you go for a cocktail.
Three fantastic restaurants serving everything from local fare to steaks and seafood means you never have to leave!
You can think of Seminyak as the calmer baby brother of Kuta.
You can still find clubs, parties and cocktails on the beach here, but the vibe is much more mellow. Think beanbags on the sand, listening to live acoustic music, rather than raving and tequila shots.
It’s also very tourist-oriented so very suitable for first-timers and inexperienced travellers. A lot of the area around Seminyak is walkable, so it’s quite nice in the evenings to just walk around, maybe buy a few souvenirs and look for somewhere to eat.
If you love a more laid back beach where you can chill with a drink and some lunch, this is also the spot for you. Seminyak is home to a yuuuuuge stretch of beaches consisting of Petitenget Beach, Kayu Aya Beach, Seminyak Beach, Double Six Beach and Legian Beach. This stretch of white/golden sand beaches is lined with restaurants and beach clubs and is perfect for taking long walks, or having a drink and laying out on the sand for an evening. Yes, good for swimming too!
There’s also a diverse mix of accommodation so whether you want a 5-star hotel or a hostel dorm, you’ll find it here no problem.
Points of interest in Seminyak:
Eat Street – Long street with lots of great restaurants! (mostly international food)
Seminyak Beach and others – a beautiful stretch of beaches with beautiful sunsets!
Shopping – many boutique stores for clothes/souvenirs
Nia Cooking School – Popular cooking classes in Bali
Seminyak Flea Market
Nyaman Gallery – Well-known local art gallery
You should stay in Seminyakif:
You want a beautiful beach!
You want a good selection of places to eat and drink, without the big crowds.
You want to be near Kuta, but not in the centre of the action.
Modern hostel with both female and mixed dorms, shared kitchen and an on-site restaurant. Fantastic location makes it a 5-minute walk to the beach and surrounded by many great bars and restaurants to choose from.
Not the cheapest hostel, but great value for money for what you get.
A local guesthouse offering basic accommodation but they do all the basics right.
Private rooms with private bathroom, a beautiful garden setting, and well managed. Upgrading to a room with kitchen is possible. Five minutes walk to the beach makes it a perfect choice.
Hands down the best hotel in Seminyak, it features a beautiful infinity pool that opens right onto the sand. The rooms are equipped with huge TVs and beautiful bathrooms with rainshowers, and if you feel like splurging, you can upgrade to a villa with your own hot tub over ocean views.
A fully equipped spa and fitness centre, not to mention two fantastic restaurants to cater to your holiday cravings.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly who the target market is for Canggu – people say it’s for backpackers, but I don’t think that’s accurate.
Here’s what Canggu has to offer:
The best gyms on the island
Many health-focused restaurants – on menus you’ll find things like “tropical smoothie bowls”, “pumpkin protein brownies” and “liver and marrow patties”
A few vegan restaurants
A pretty good surf beach
Lots of coffee
Many shirtless gym bros and girls working out in bikinis
I love the area, but I think it’s quite pricey and is aimed at a slightly higher budget than what a backpacker can afford. I usually spend about $100 a day in Canggu on food and accom, and that’s when staying in a budget guest house. Not to mention, I joined the most expensive gym of my life while I was there (about $110 USD per week).
Points of interest in Canggu:
Canggu Beach – Great for surfing lessons
La Brisa Farmers Market – Every Sunday!
The Lawn – Popular beach club in Canggu with huge parties every Friday
FINNS – Infamous party spot in Canggu – 11 bars/4 pools, nowhere else like it!
Pura Tanah Lot – Famous sea temple in the ocean
Bali Body Factory – Amazing gym for those looking to stay fit! Day passes available.
LOTS of great restaurants
You should stay in Cangguif you:
Want to party! (but – peace and quiet can also be enjoyed in Canggu)
Want surf lessons.
Looking to get healthy (many healthy restaurants and gyms)
This small hostel does everything right – clean rooms, nightly social activities, many areas to mingle including the pool and lounge, and a short walk to the beach.
This is where I stayed on my first trip to Canggu. It’s a very basic guesthouse but has an excellent location, right across from Bali Body Factory gym and surrounded by great restaurants.
It’s about a ten minute walk to the beach, and the management is wonderful.
Nothing flashy but if you’re on a budget, it’s everything you need!
Ubud is famous for being Bali’s “hipster/yogi/vegan/spiritual” retreat where you can get away from the clubs and the parties and instead meditate yourself into a new you.
Up in the north of the island, where quiet roads among rice paddies is the norm, here you will find many vegan/whole foods/healthy restaurants, meditation and breathing classes, yoga schools, fasting and cleansing retreats and the like.
It is quite a distance from the beaches, but don’t worry – you will definitely be enveloped in enough greenery and nature to keep you happy!
Even if you don’t want to stay here, it’s a fantastic place to head for a day trip and enjoy a bike ride in the paddies or a stroll through Ubud town.
You should stay in Ubudif you are:
Wanting peace and quiet
Wanting to get healthy
Looking a spiritual/relaxing experience
Want to enjoy the “Eat Pray Love” type of Bali trip.
Points of interest in Ubud:
Sacred Monkey Sanctuary – Famous monkey conservation sanctuary
Campuhan Ridge Walk – The most popular walk in Ubud
Tegenungan Waterfall – Beautiful falls where you can swim a short drive from Ubud
Ubud Art Market – One of the best markets in Bali!
Tegalalang Rice Terraces – The most famous paddies in Ubud
Ubud Water Palace – Hindu water temple in the centre of Ubud
This boutique hostel is stylishly designed and sits within a a local Balinese housing compound. A few activities are put on during the week and free wifi is available throughout.
If you like small tasteful hostels, this is a great choice for your stay in Ubud.
If you’d like to indulge in daily fresh pastries, sweets, champagne, while relaxing in your own private pool in your private villa overlooking Ubud, this is the spot you’re looking for.
There is also an on-site spa a wellness centre where you can get a massage or take a yoga class to ensure you stay vibrant and healthy during your stay.
Whatever you need, the staff will attend to your every need.
I have not spent much time in Jimbaran personally, but it’s a spot that is popular with surfers due to the many unique surf breaks, and has some beautiful beaches.
It’s also a popular honeymoon spot, as the area is more targeted towards luxury vacationers rather than backpackers and young people.
You will find many luxury resorts here, and some of the best beaches on the island.
It’s not far from Kuta but is significantly less touristy and crowded.
Points of interest in Jimbaran:
Kedonganan Fish Market
Jimbaran Beach – One of Bali’s best!
Dreamland Beach – Very popular!
Padang Padang Beach – Famous surf beach
Balangan Beach – Another famous surf beach
Pura Ulun Siwi – Black stone temple
You should stay in Jimbaran if:
You’re on a honeymoon and want a bit of liveliness, but nothing too crazy.
You love good beach.
You looking for upper-end accommodation.
Where to stay in Jimbaran:
For the backpacker:
Personally I don’t think Jimbaran is the greatest spot for a backpacker, but if you’d like to stay around here I’d go with the Bali Bobo Hostel.
It’s a little far from the beach, but as far as hostels go it does all the basic things well and is decent value for money.
Set right on the sand of Jimbaran Bay, this beachfront resort has everything you could desire.
Your own Balinese villa set in a tropical garden, three on-site restaurants to cater to all your cravings, a gym to get your morning workout in, a spa to relax and rejuvenate in the afternoon, and a stroll on the beach outside to close out your evening.
Nusa Dua is Bali’s luxury corner, and widely considered the most flashy place on the island.
Home to countless luxury resorts and villas, and the island’s best golf course, this is the part of Bali designed for people who have money to spend.
A 7km beach walk that runs along the coastline which is beautiful to stroll along in the evenings.
The nightlife is very subdued, and most evenings you will simply see couples and families (of all ages) enjoying meals in up-market restaurants and strolling in the sand.
It is significantly more flash than Jimbaran and if you’re on a honeymoon, this would be my choice.
You should stay in Nusa Dua if you are:
Money is no issue.
You want a luxury vacation.
You want to be away from parties, noise, and nightclubs.
You’re on honeymoon and want to impress.
Where to stay in Nusa Dua:
For the budget traveller:
Nusa Dua isn’t really the place you want to be staying on a budget (try Seminyak, Kuta or Canggu instead).
However, if you need to stay around here for whatever reason, a good choice is Amaris Hotel.
It’s a no-frills hotel quite close to the beach that goes for around $25 a night.
Where do I start with this beautiful property!? Located on your own private beach in Nusa Dua, the villas at The Royal Santrian will feel like a home you never want to leave.
Private pool, outdoor seating area, separate dining and sleeping/living areas, indoor and outdoor showers, bath tub, and once you step inside I’m sure you’ll agree – immaculately furnished and designed.
An on-site restaurant serves both western and local dishes, and a classy bar to ensure your champagne or cocktail glass is always full.
In my opinion, the best beachfront offering in Nusa Dua, perfect for a honeymoon or a romantic getaway.
Sanur Beach is around 15 minutes from the centre of Denpasar by taxi and is a much quieter and smaller version of Kuta or Seminyak.
The crowd here is usually couples or families and you won’t find many nightclubs or bars, but rather lots of good restaurants, bakeries and boutique stores.
Sanur is not very popular, but personally I enjoy hanging out here and do so quite often when I’m in Bali. There are a few good restaurants on the beach where you can spend the evening enjoying good food and drink, reading a book and digging your feet into the sand. Luxury!
Points of interest around Sanur:
Blanjong Pillar – the oldest historical site in Bali
Sanur Beach – has a great promenade running along the coast perfect for walks
Sindu Night Market – street food!
Massimo Gelato – the line is always huge, but worth it
You should stay in Sanur if:
You want all the tourist comforts without the bustle.
You’re a couple wanting a quieter beach.
Where to stay in Sanur:
For the backpacker:
Stay at Suwardika Homestay.
A basic hostel that has everything you’d expect in a decent backpackers. 10 minute walk from the beach and one of the cheapest in the area. Great value for money.
Best rates here.
For the budget traveller:
Stay at Sekar Waru.
A very typical Balinese guesthouse with basic rooms with big beds and a small outdoor seating area (you see this a lot in Bali).
Close to the beach (about ten minutes) and all rooms come with a TV and private bathroom. Free wifi and bike rentals also available.
If it’s your first time in Bali – I probably wouldn’t bother with Denpasar.
It’s a very local area and the things people come to Bali for – beaches, shopping, food and fun – is not really abundant around Denpasar.
Last time I stayed in Denpasar, I found myself catching a Grab almost every night to Sanur Beach to eat and hang at the beach.
If you want to be near the airport – choose one of the places in Kuta. It’s only a short drive away.
There it is! Your ultimate Bali accommodation guide. Hopefully, this has given you all the info you need for your perfect Bali adventure. Any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below. Otherwise, have fun and travel safely 🙂
The Gilis are a trio of islands in Indonesia, famous for their beautiful beaches, chilled vibes and stunning scenery. Once a hotspot for partying backpackers, the islands have developed in recent years and while it still retains its old school charm, there’s now something here for everyone.
This guide is designed to be a quick reference guide for those trying to find somewhere to stay. All the options in the Gilis can be overwhelming, so I’ve consolidated the best choices into this easy to use list. Each island into this Each island offers something unique, so if you’re heading to the Gilis keep reading – I’ll run through each island and the best Gili islands hotels and hostels available on each.
Let’s gooooo.
An introduction
The Gili Islands is made up of three main islands.
Gili Meno – a honeymooner’s dream, with secluded white sand beaches, total tranquillity and flowers draped across every pathway.
Gili Trawangan (codename Gili T!) is the spot – host to an array of fun bars, beach-clubs and great music. Expect hostels teeming with backpackers ready for ‘gram-worthy nights out.
Gili Air offers something in the middle – serenity amidst live bands on the beach, all tied up with amazing diving and yoga.
Each island is car-free, making them little hubs of health and calm. There’s the occasional moped (normally driven by several children!) but the main method of transport are horse-drawn carts or bare feet!
If you’re after a detachment from hustle bustle life, this is your spot.
Gili Meno
This little island is probably one of the most romantic areas of Indonesia, with crystal waters, long stretches of white sand and stunning natural surroundings.
It’s popular among honeymooners for this exact reason, and the slow-paced life offers an escape from it all. Expect total peace and quiet, flowers at every turn and utter relaxation. As such, there isn’t a huge backpacker scene, with most solo travellers heading to Gili T’s party vibes.
For those travelling with children, there are options – head to the bigger hotels to avoid the swarms of couples.
This is a classic island hostel and the perfect spot to mingle with other backpackers.
Breakfast is available and the hostel features a bar where you can congregate and socialise, along with many other social areas which are very tastefully done. It’s obvious the hostel has been made with solo travellers in mind!
It’s a short walk from the beach, and free wifi is provided.
If you’re after paradise within paradise, this is it.
This resort is made up of boutique villas that cater to your every wish. A terrace, private pool, sea views, room service, and all the other bells and whistles.
The rooms are gorgeous and decorated like mini-mansions, the way it should be.
Of course, restaurants are available on site as well as a bar, and room service is always available so you never have to leave the villa.
‘Gili T’, as the island is affectionately known, is the party hub of the trio. Expect the same beautiful beaches as Meno, just dotted with plenty more late-night bars and live music nights.
This island tends to be most popular with solo travellers who want to meet other people, make the most of the cheap beer and party late into the night. But fear not, there’s a quieter side to the island for those who want the choice of a night in!
There are heaps of low-priced hostels on the island for backpackers, as well as some luxury options if you’re here for the paradise-vibe more than the tequila.
Where to stay on Gili T?
For the Backpacker
For a second option, you’ve got Jati Village Hostel. Hostels with pools are a bit like unicorns, really, but Jati Hostel brings that and much more. The tidy garden is home to a large pool area as well as plenty of space to relax and meet people. There’s also a bar in the hostel, so you don’t have to wander far to find a nice cold Bintang. The dorms are clean and each comes with a private bathroom. Jati also offers an on-site restaurant, bike hire and tennis-playing facilities. What more do you need? Best rates here!
This guesthouse matches affordability and comfort, with modern, air-conditioned rooms, a beautiful pool, and free wifi. This mini-resort is well-located, so you’ll be within walking distance from some of the best dive shops on the island. For this price, it’s one of the best options available. Often booked out, so reserve early.
My favourite of the Gilis, this island is the perfect blend of activity and relaxation. With excellent dive schools, Gili Air is a great place to get into holiday mode.
This reef here is also wonderful for snorkelling, a good alternative for young children.
In fact, the island itself is very family-friendly, with loads of outdoor pools, horse-riding and beaches that are safe to swim on. Not to mention, this island is home to some of the best Gili islands hotels!
Spend your days barefoot-wandering and enjoying the sunshine before a night of fresh seafood and live music on the beach. The nightlife might not be as lively as Gili T’s, but there’s always something going on on this little island…
Where to stay on Gili Air?
For the Backpacker
Captain Coconutsis probably the best hostel across the three islands. It’s set just back from one of the best beaches on the island, in a field of palm trees. There’s a large outdoor pool with sun-loungers and shady cabanas. You can choose from a cheap dorm room (picture hammocks, mosquito nets and a super airy wooden treehouse) or mini-bungalows with private bathrooms. There’s an incredible restaurant, too, offering vegan and veggie food. Just an awesome place overall, you won’t be disappointed. Best rates here.
For the Budget Traveller
Mowies on the Beach quickly became my second home, mainly thanks to the staff and the delicious food offerings. The hotel is set just off the beach, with a large outdoor pool available to guests. The roomy bungalows are kitted out with speedy WiFi and TVs. Cross the sandy path to the restaurant and enjoy their huge menu – it’s packed with veggie, vegan and healthy options, as well as huge burgers! A stunning ocean view from your window tops it off as a small piece of paradise. Best rates here.
When I say we’ve saved the best best ’til last, I mean it.
Tucked down a shady, sandy lane just off the beach, this collection of ten private villas will have you weak at the knees.
Stepping stones lead you across tranquil waters to the reception area, before you’re taken to your private villa, complete with private swimming pool, half-outdoor bathroom, and fully equipped kitchen.
Breakfast is served in your room daily.
The on-site spa is a stunning bamboo chapel-style building, offering the best treatments on the island.
There’s an airy, outdoor yoga shala with regular classes, as well as an in-house travel agent service.
While I was reading the newspaper today I came across this article, called Travel Deals of the week.
Here’s what it says:
“We bring you some of the best travel deals going – both in New Zealand and abroad. Bookmark this new page and check back each week for all the latest specials.”
Of course, this is right down my alley, so I browse through it and by the end of it I’m rolling my eyes. In fact, I’m kind of annoyed. It’s articles like this that make people think travelling is so impossible.
7 nights in Bali for $2,399 NZD ($2,050 USD)
Hotels in Tokyo for $351 NZD a night ($300 USD)
The biggest newspaper in New Zealand is trying to make people believe that these are the “best travel deals” of the week. That’s pretty shitty. Most people I know, including myself, would take one look at those prices and think, “Wow, travelling must be expensive. I’ll never be able to travel to those places! I guess I’ll just wait until I win the lottery.”
And it’s also why I get so many people asking me, “How do you afford to travel so much? You must be a millionaire!”
I’ll tell you right now – I’ve travelled quite a bit, and I would really struggle to spend $2,050 in 7 days. (especially in Bali!). And I’ve never paid anywhere near $300 for a hotel room.
Take a look at this Bali bargain:
“The Our Golfing in Bali package from Our Asia includes three rounds of golf including caddy and cart, or two two-hour spa treatments. It also includes airfares from Auckland, seven nights’ accommodation at the Pan Pacific Bali Nirwana and more. It’s priced from $2,050 USD pp, twin share and must be booked by March 28.”
Let’s bust this myth right now.
7 nights in Bali for $2,050?
You could have 7 weeks in Bali for $2,050.
In fact I’ll prove it right now:
Flights
Return flights from Auckland to Bali for 7 weeks (at around the same time as our “deal”):
7 weeks (49 nights) in a private room with en-suite, A/C, TV + DVD player, free wifi, hot shower, parking, complimentary breakfast, 24 hour reception, and security:
With a few simple internet searches, and you’ll get yourself 7 weeks in Bali, including flights and a private hotel room, for $1,281 USD.
I put all this together in about 10 minutes. Actually, it was more like 5 minutes and then another 5 to take screenshots and upload the pics for you. If I was planning this trip for real, I’d browse a few more accommodation websites, do some of my cheap flying tricks and I’m 120% sure I could knock another few hundred dollars off that price. There’s a lot of places to go in Bali, so finding something even cheaper wouldn’t be hard at all.
Also let’s not forget; your “travel deal” also included two 2-hour spa treatments. Let’s throw those in, just so we’ve covered everything.
They were going to put you up at the Pan Pacific Nirwana, so I checked out their spa menu. Their 2-hour spas are $70 each.
Since you’ve saved around $800, I guess you can now have 11 spas instead of just 2. Which is good, because you also have anextra 6 weeks of vacation to enjoy them all, along with all the other great things in Bali.
Anyway, you get the point. Travel being expensive is a common misconception that we need to break, because it makes people give up. It stops people from travelling. It makes people think you need thousands of dollars to see the world, and you don’t.
So why do we think like this?
It’s pretty simple. The reason you only hear about fancy 5-star resorts and super expensive holiday packages is because they are the only ones who can afford to advertise. B&B’s and guesthouses can’t afford a newspaper advert. They can’t afford a billboard. Not only that, no one wants to promote them because there’s no money in it. If you were an agent, would you prefer to collect commission on a $500 room or a $5 room? It’s lame, but that’s just the way it is.
This is one of the reasons I built this blog. I wanted to show you that travel is not expensive or impossible. There’s a good chance it’s even cheaper than your life at home right now.
Take a look at this place in Bali, for example. Its dorm rooms are $6 per night, with free breakfast and wifi.
It’s not glamorous, but if you stay here, you can forget about 7 weeks.
$2,050 would pay your flights and accommodation for 7 months.
Wouldn’t that be nice? Paying for a 7 month holiday with one paycheck?
You’ll also notice it has a 79% rating on Hostelworld, which is pretty good (anything above 80% has been excellent, in my experience). If I were heading on a backpacking trip to Bali, this is probably where I’d stay.
This is how people travel for so long – if you look in the right places, be smart with your money and stop yourself from being too fussy, long term travel is not a mystery at all.
For you aspiring world travellers who have been putting your trip in the “too expensive” box, I hope I’ve changed your mind at least a little bit. If you’re planning on travelling somewhere this year, use my searching for flights guide to get a super cheap flight. Use my accommodations guide to find a cheap place to stay. Be your own travel agent and book it all yourself. And if you have any questions, just ask. Hopefully you’ll be able to do more travelling this year than ever before.
Oh, and please don’t bookmark that travel deals page. Unless of course, you’re a millionaire.
