The Indonesian island in the Malay archipelago is distinguished by national color and natural charm. But you need to choose the best resort in accordance with your vacation plans. Where to relax in Bali in January or May? In Bali you can go diving or surfing, visit nature reserves and temples, bask in the spa, enjoy a massage or practice yoga, and study local life and traditions. Some tourists do not stay at one place at all, because the island can be explored up and down in a relatively short time. Where to relax in Bali? Reviews of tourists will help to decide.
How to get to the island
The areas of Bali, where it is better to relax, are scattered around the island. The exact choice of resort depends on the preferences of tourists, budget and plans. The international airport is located in Denpasar, the capital of Bali. There are no direct scheduled flights, only charter aircraft fly. It can be reached with transfers. At the lowest price, flights can be found from Vladivostok or Irkutsk with a change in Hong Kong. Flying from Moscow is usually more expensive. The best offers are from Qatar with a connection in Doha or at Thai Airlines (via Bangkok). You will have to get from St. Petersburg with two transfers. Usually docked in Istanbul and Singapore.
To fly with minimal cost, tourists usually choose this scheme: it is advantageous to get from Moscow or another Russian city to Southeast Asia (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hong Kong), and then overcome the rest of the way with low-cost flights in combination with other modes of transport, if required. The most popular low cost airlines are Air Asia, Tigerair (for flights from Singapore), Lion Air (from Indonesia). For fifty dollars you can fly from Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore or the Philippines, tickets (about ninety dollars) from South Korea, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, China are a little more expensive. Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy a ready-made tour and fly on a charter flight, and then plan your vacation yourself.
Southern Bali
Where is it better to relax in Bali in January? In the rainy season, the weather is suitable for a beach holiday, and you can also enjoy the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises. Where to stay? The southern part of the island is suitable, where the capital is located with an international airport and resort centers with the best hotels and restaurants, for example, Jimbaran, Kuta, Sanur, Ubud, Uluwatu, Nusa Dua. The most attractive and noisy resort is Kuta, which is confirmed by numerous reviews of tourists. The city was a small fishing village and a place of pilgrimage for the hippies who came from Kathmandu. Today it is a huge tourist center in which life is bubbling around the clock. Those who appreciate peace and quiet will not be able to fully relax here. At the same time, Kuta includes the best white sand beaches, a large selection of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops, night clubs, the airport and eternal transport chaos.
Where is it better to relax in Bali in winter? A quiet and relaxing holiday, travelers say, can be enjoyed in the villages of Seminyak, Kerobokan. The noise is less than in the tourist Kut, and the general atmosphere is suitable for relaxation. The resort town with wonderful beaches, excellent shops and a choice of hotels of different price categories, and even close to the airport - Tuban. Legian has fewer clubs and shops, but Kuta is very close, so if you want entertainment, you can go there. Sanur is the first tourist center in Bali, which today is considered a more respectable place than the beloved youth of Kuta. High-end Sanur hotels with pools and exclusive dining. Restaurants and shops are more expensive, among the souvenirs you can find valuable antiques.
Where is it better to relax in Bali for rich tourists? The small fishing village of Jimbaran today has become one of the most respectable resorts. On the white beaches of Jimbaran washed by the azure waves, there are two of the most luxurious hotels - Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton and several other five-star hotels. The calm sea is almost independent of the ebb and flow, picturesque sunsets and dawns, many water sports and excellent fish restaurants - all this makes vacation in Jimbaran a real pleasure. The luxury resort is Nusa Dua, where everything is done for the comfort of tourists. There is no local trade, locals do not enter the resort area, the service is top-notch, there are chain hotels, gourmet restaurants and expensive shops, private beaches.
Where to relax in Bali in December to go surfing? At the southern tip of the island is the resort of Uluwatu, which is suitable for lovers of water sports. The waves in this place are excellent, but in general the infrastructure is poorly developed. The main purpose of a short trip to Uluwatu is usually to visit local temples. Enough day trips. But this resort is popular with those tourists who are tired of the round-the-clock fun and noise of Kuta or the strict elitism of Nusa Dua. So where to relax in Bali? Uluwatu is a solitude on picturesque (but not equipped for really comfortable rest) beaches.
A unique place in the southern part of the island is Ubud. The resort differs from other tourist places only by its location in the depths of the island. Ubud is a good alternative to a lazy beach holiday. The sea is an hour away, but you can admire the picturesque hilly landscapes, rainforest, rivers flowing among the cliffs and cliffs, rice fields. There are no more such resorts in Bali - this is also confirmed by numerous reviews of tourists. The culture and nature of the island is concentrated in Ubud, there is a center for wood carving and a jewelry gallery, high-class hotels and a host of leisure options. You can visit the ancient city and the colorful local market, go to the rainforest with a guide, learn belly dancing, painting, play unusual musical instruments and touch the Balinese culture.
Eastern part of the island
The beaches of Bali, where it is better to relax for surfers or lovers of a relaxing pastime, are scattered throughout the island. In the eastern part are the resorts of Padang Bai, Selang, Chandidas and Amed. Padang Bai is the place from where the easiest way to get to the neighboring islands, and recreation in Padang Bai by itself is a pleasant pastime. Here you can swim with scuba diving, sunbathe on a comfortable beach, spend time in the numerous cafes of a small village. Chandidasa in the recent past was a quiet fishing village. Now there are many restaurants and hotels, which has led to a decrease in the beach area. The main type of relaxation is swimming with a mask and flippers, diving. Often in Chandidas, those who want to explore the eastern part of the island stop for a while. For an overnight stay, it is better to choose places on the coast, because the village is stuffy, noisy and dirty. In Ameda and Selang, scuba diving enthusiasts will like it, and the northeast coast is suitable for ordinary swimming, but the beaches are rocky or with black sand.
Northern Bali
In the north, there are much less places to relax, but spending time here can be more exciting and interesting because of the unique opportunity to get acquainted with Balinese culture and history. According to reviews, the most popular resort destination in the north is a small group of Lovina villages. It has good infrastructure, budget hotels, night clubs, inexpensive restaurants and shops, but few souvenirs. Lovina is much inferior to the tourist Kuta, but beaches with black volcanic sand attract a separate category of tourists. Silence and a relaxed atmosphere are enjoyed by families with children and older couples. So where to relax in Bali with a child is understandable. Lovina is a good choice.
Resorts in the western part
Where is it better to relax in Bali? Resorts in the western part of the island are the least popular, although tourists often go here on excursions to get acquainted with the local culture, see ancient temples and visit the national park. Tourism infrastructure is very poorly developed, all resorts are concentrated in the northwestern part of the island. Choosing the western part of Bali is only for experienced travelers who can refuse comfortable hotels in favor of small huts, similar to those in which the locals live.
Best surf spots
The beaches of Bali, where it is better for surfers to relax, are Canggu or the Bukit Peninsula. There are enough experienced surfers and beginners, creative people and advanced youth in Canggu. The infrastructure is quite developed, there are many European cafes and restaurants, the nightlife is not too eventful, but there are regular parties, so in any case you will not be bored. Where is it better to relax in Bali in May for lovers of water sports? The surfing season lasts from April to November, at other times the conditions are slightly worse. A good wind for kitesurfing is in July-August. In the vicinity of Canggu, it is good to relax with your family, but you will definitely need a scooter or car to move around. The beaches are mostly wild, not crowded, with a minimum of tourist amenities like sunbeds.
Where is it better to relax in the summer in Bali? The second option for surfers is the Bukit Peninsula with the most expensive and beautiful villas on the hills or high cliffs. The view of the ocean opens up truly mesmerizing. The peninsula has a special microclimate. It is hot and dry, there are no rice fields, but you can take a walk along winding country roads buried in verdure. Bukit is a high rocky coast with secluded beaches, which often have to go down the stone steps. The peninsula is secluded, but this is the heart of the surf Bali. For beginners, there are fewer opportunities, so it is better to ride with an instructor.
Choosing between Bukit and Cangu, experienced tourists are advised to consider seasonality. From November to March there are almost no waves in Canggu, but you can go to the eastern part of Bukit and the east coast in the Sanur area. Or you can just settle in Kut and go where you like it more. Beginning surfers are better off choosing Canggu. Not very confident surfers Bukit waves will not be able to. You can also focus on Kuta beach, where all the main Bali surf schools are located. Classes for zero students are held there. It should be borne in mind that some schools offer their students free transfers from the place of residence to the school and to the place of practical training. Therefore, you can settle in any area you like.
Beach vacation
Where to relax in Bali? Judging by the reviews of tourists, Sanur, Nusa Dua and Jimbaran are suitable for an exclusively beach holiday. In general, Bali is unlikely to appeal to those who want to spend most of the time on the beach. There are very high waves, in some places the bottom is reef or rocky. The only exceptions are the above-mentioned Nusa Dua, Sanur and Jimbaran, where there are practically no waves, you can sunbathe and swim relatively freely. Many beaches have black volcanic sand, there are stones and corals in the water that are exposed at low tide, few amenities (umbrellas, sun loungers, etc.), and in winter the beaches of Kuta are filled with garbage that throws the ocean. An important detail - there are practically no closed private beaches.
Weather and rest by months
Where is it better to relax in Bali? Resorts, weather, sea - tourists with different needs travel to different parts of the island. The rainy season lasts from March to November, the rainiest months are December, January and February. Rains are of varying intensity, the greatest amount of precipitation falls in the west and south of the island. At this time, it is difficult to plan excursions, you can spend time on the beach, but there are a lot of algae and garbage on the shore, high waves can rise. But the cost of rest in the rainy season is much lower. Where to relax in Bali in February? Ubud is great for those who want to soak up the spa or do yoga. And where better to relax in Bali in January? For Christmas and New Year there are many tourists from Europe. The Gili Islands, the resorts of Sanur and Nusa Dua are very popular, and on New Year's Eve, the loudest parties are held on the beaches of Kuta.
Where to relax in Bali during the dry season to spend as much time as possible on the beach? You can go in April, but the high season begins in May and lasts until the end of October. At this time, the conditions are ideal for visiting excursions, swimming and sunbathing, playing sports. There is no excess humidity and there is practically no rain. You can choose almost any resort. The surfing season on the island lasts all year round, but it is better to come to the general tourist. Surfers most of all love August and July when the correct waves form. Bali resorts, where it is better to relax at this time, are not limited to tourist Kuta, Sunar and Legian.
What to see for a tourist
Where to relax in Bali? Those who want to get acquainted with the local culture can stay at almost any place they like, because the island is easy to move around. Tourists in Bali are attracted by ancient temples, each of which is unique in its own way. Amazing interior decoration, a huge number of different ornaments and decor. Many temples have exceptional historical significance, while others are simply interesting to see. Such sights are indicated on signs by the word pura (palace). There are several types of temples: pura puseh is dedicated to the founders of the settlement and faces the mountains, pura desa is a temple of spirits that are beneficial to the locals, pura dalen is a temple in honor of the deceased, facing the ocean. There are several Buddhist shrines, for example, the Brahmavihara Aram Monastery in the city of Banjar, and the Catholic Church in the Palasari.
Attract tourists from all over the world and other attractions of Indonesia. On the eastern shore, for example, is the ancient city of Almapur with royal palaces. In the past there was the capital of the kingdom of Karangasem, founded at the end of the seventeenth century. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the state turned into the strongest in Bali. After the arrival of the Dutch colonialists, Karangasem showed no resistance, so the palaces were not destroyed. You can visit the architectural ensemble Taman Gili. This complex of buildings, built in 1710, has long been the political and social center of the kingdom. The town of Gianyar to the north-east of Denpasar is famous for the dilapidated castle of the eighteenth century. In addition, you can go on an excursion to the monument to the god Ganesha, the Elephant Cave and the complex of royal tombs of the eleventh century.
The island is rich in natural attractions. On a small plot of land fit tropical jungle and lakes, magical beaches, outlines of sleeping volcanoes and rocks. Virgin forests with monkeys - a place of constant pilgrimage for tourists and a real Balinese classic. One of these is near the resort village of Ubud. Humanoid animals do not mind eating dried fruits and nuts from the hands of tourists. At the same time, you can visit the volcanoes and mountains nearby, which are considered sacred. This is the volcano Agung, Kintamani and Mount Batukaru. Fans of cultural leisure will like numerous museums: the State Historical Museum, the Rice Museum, the art center, the art museum and the museum of private collections.
Shopping on the island
They do not come to Bali in pursuit of world brands and unusual purchases, but a large number of local sellers of unusual souvenir products interest tourists. So, you won’t be able to leave without a purchase. Balinese culture has presented many interesting gizmos. Tourists buy national clothes, traditional jewelry, figurines and musical instruments, fabrics, paintings and folk art.
What you need to know about Bali
Where is it better to relax in Bali? Many tourists categorically do not like the island (despite the good service and sufficiently developed tourist infrastructure), but this is only because the prevailing idea of it does not coincide with reality. The ocean, for example, is here from all sides, but it’s not possible to swim calmly everywhere. White sand and calm waves from pictures in the catalogs of tour operators - these are Jimbaran, Nusa Dua or Sanur. The remaining areas are beaches with coarse sand and large waves, on which it is almost impossible to stay for those who feel insecure in the water. And in the rainy season in these areas, the ocean throws piles of garbage ashore.
Housing in Bali is relatively cheap. You can rent a house with a pool and a garden at the price of "odnushki" in some of the remote areas of Moscow, but the final cost of rent depends on the time and duration. Villa will cost less if you rent a house for a long time. Realtors profit from newcomers, there are those who can take a deposit and disappear in an indefinite direction. Therefore, it is better to search for a villa through a community of travelers or the local population. If you intend to rent a house for several months, then prepare immediately the whole amount, because in Bali it is not customary to break down the payment by months.
You can live in Bali for a small amount, but only for those who are ready to save on everything, live in the outback and eat exclusively lean rice. For a tourist, such a vacation just does not seem budgetary. Travelers often complain about the lack of civilization and amenities (sunbeds, towels, locker rooms and a shower) right on the beaches, expensive alcohol and seafood, and the inability to move normally around the island. Traffic on the roads is crazy, traffic jams are not indicated on maps, and traveling by bike or taxi is much safer than walking. On the island there are a lot of dogs that sleep during the day right on the roads, and at night they rush at people.
Ordinary tourists before going to the island need to determine exactly what they want to get from the rest. Bali is a very special place, which in its usual form is not suitable for everyone. And for a good service you will have to pay a lot of money. Greece, Turkey or Thailand and other countries are more suitable for inexperienced Russian tourists, while Bali will be interesting for experienced travelers who are not afraid of difficulties and are willing to selflessly study the features of the local population. You will have to study if you do not want to overpay for food or spend the night on the beach, where at night from the bushes you will be watched by thousands of small eyes of spiders, snakes, frogs and large cockroaches.