Beautiful Bali

One of our team members experienced an exciting familiarization trip to Bali, discovering the island’s breath-taking destinations and experiencing stunning hotels. Read on to find out about her travels and recommendations.

Bali is a paradise island with pristine beaches, exciting water sports, lush rice fields, tropical forests, mountainous landscapes and colourful cultures. There are so many picturesque regions, cities, beach villages and more to discover in Bali.

Kuta
The coastal village of Kuta in South Bali is definitely one of the island’s highlight destinations – it’s a backpacker’s haven full of Australians and only a 25 minute drive from the airport, so it’s a great first stop, especially for budget travellers. Kuta is renowned for its immense party scene and surfing, and there are various accommodation options to choose from.



Accommodation
Offering beachside properties to suit all budgets and demographics, we definitely recommend the Discovery Kartika Plaza hotel in Kuta - a 5 star accommodation with an infinity pool and bar and outdoor restaurants on the beachfront. This hotel is very chilled out and offers affordable luxury. There’s a rejuvenating spa to take advantage of at Discovery Kartika Plaza which offers an extensive range of massage therapies and treatments. 



Another hotel option in Kuta is Asia’s first Hard Rock Hotel, where you can order electric guitars, record players and original 12 inch vinyls to play in your room and enjoy a recording session in the in house studio – you can even depart with a cd complete with vocals of you rocking out to your favourite songs. Rooms are decorated with the usual rock paraphernalia and clothing from the Rolling Stones is on display, so you’ll feel immersed in music here. With a range of room types on offer, the ultimate in luxury are the suites starting from $6000 per night. 



Bedugul - Denpasar
To witness the best of Bali’s tropical lush rice paddies and natural springs, visit the hilly Bedugul area situated north of Denpasar, Bali’s captivating capital (which has a population of 900,000). This small mountain lake resort is situated in Bali’s highlands, home to the renowned Bali Botanical Gardens as well as soaring volcanoes, crater lakes and luxury resorts.



Accommodation
Enjoy the Saranam Hotel, which offers a peaceful meditative retreat. This hotel opened just a year ago and its set atop rolling hills with beautiful views of green landscapes. Saranam Hotel boasts a large yoga studio and offers cleansing juices and smoothies, as well as healthy cuisines, so it’s a fantastic accommodation choice for a rejuvenating vacation. Just 2 hours from the airport and an affordable 5 star retreat, the Saranam Hotel is ideal for couples and families. 



Seminyak
Seminyak is Bali’s most upscale beach resort, home to an array of luxurious hotels, fine dine restaurants, chic fashion boutiques, art galleries, stylish nightclubs, cocktail bars and a beautiful coastline adorned with pristine sands and lush palms. Seminyak is the cool pit stop for travellers with an epic night scene.



Accommodation
Seminyak is famed for its epic sunrise views, and where better to watch one than from the W Bali Seminyak. This deluxe 5-star hotel is situated on the stunning Seminyak Beach, with a buzzing vibe, eclectic neon colours and fantastic restaurants. The hotel boasts 229 spacious rooms, suites and villas, each with private balconies that offer garden or ocean views. Erring on the side of the health conscious, W Bali Seminyak even has a DIY juice bar and 24-hour spa. The hotel’s outdoor pool overlooking Seminyak Beach is worth a visit even if you’re not staying here.



Nusa Dua
Your final sojourn in Bali should be Nusa Dua – an area invested in by the government over 30 years ago, to attract tourism with some of the best views of the sunsets in Bali, numerous 5 star hotels, sandy beaches with crystal clear waters, an 18-hole golf course, pristine gardens, temples and great shopping opportunities.


 
Accommodation
For a traditional and authentic Balinese experience, stay in the Ayodya Resort - an oceanfront hotel with a renowned spa offering luxurious pampering treatments. This hotel offers exceptional hospitality with a variety of complimentary daily activities such as Balinese cultural dancing classes, and learning to make religious offerings for prayers. With butler services and complimentary fruit baskets available on selected room categories, as well as serenity and stunning scenery, click here to book your stay at Ayodya Resort with our exclusive offers.

Bali Sightseeing
Just north of Denpasar is the Taman Ayun temple which was built in 1634 and granted a UNESCO status. The site is replete with ancient Hindu shrines, decorated with gargoyle figures and set in a stunning courtyard surrounded by lush green coconut trees. En route to the site you’ll pass lush paddy fields, religious statues and local shops selling goods ranging from motorcycle parts to local fruits and sugar canes.



To experience a unique type of temple different from others on the island, you should definitely stop to visit Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, which is a water temple adorned with statues of Hindu gods and goddesses. It’s located on the shores of Lake Bratan, so it’s surrounded by some breath-taking landscapes.



Another stop worth a visit in Bali in is the Bali Pulina coffee plantation in Ubud, where you can enjoy fantastic tea and coffee tasting, as well as a giant full harnessed swing out over a steep green lush tropical valley - this one is for the brave and makes for a very thrilling experience!



For the ultimate day trip, visit the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park to see majestic statues of Hindu deities and one of the tallest statues being built, which is a cultural icon for the Balinese. This epic cultural park hosts a variety of art and cultural performances and exhibitions.
 

 

Many tourists enjoy cooking classes in Bali, which are available across much of the island and are easily affordable. Taking a cooking class allows you to get a fascinating insight into the island’s culinary delights and unravels secrets to a fantastic satay!
 

The Gili Islands are a group of 3 tiny Islands - Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air – in Indonesia, near the coast of northwest Lombok Island. These islands are the perfect relaxing getaway with no motorbikes, no cars, powdery white sands and sparkling turquoise waters. There are incredible sunsets, amazing scuba-diving and snorkelling and quirky little beach bars and restaurants.

You can fly to Bali with several airlines including Thai Airways, who was awarded with World’s Best Economy Class, World’s Best Airline Lounge Spa and Best Economy Class Onboard Catering at this year’s Skytrax World Airline Awards. In addition, the airline ranked as one of the 10 best airlines in the world. Thai Airways is Thailand’s national flag carrier offering passengers award-winning services and an all-round excellent flight experience, with unique Thai elements. We definitely recommend flying with Thai Airways!

Check out a selection of our Bali holiday deals and get that next holiday booking in your calendar!