For a long time, we had been considering a trip to Bali during our son’s school vacation. Finally, in April 2024, we turned that plan into reality—and returned exhilarated. It was one of our most fulfilling international trips in recent years. We stuck to the places we truly wanted to see, resisting Instagram’s recommendations, and explored gorgeous, peaceful locations away from the jostling crowds.
I will be sharing all our experiences from the trip — the food we enjoyed, the places we visited (and skipped), and the things nobody tells you about, in later posts. For now, let’s take it step by step and relive the journey together.
The first great dilemma – where do we stay?
Putting together our 7-day Bali itinerary, the biggest challenge we faced was deciding where to stay. Bali, despite its size on the world map, is incredibly diverse, with each region showcasing its own unique sights and experiences.
One of the many stunning beaches in Bali
A little bit of research and conversations with people who have been to Bali told us that the southern part of the island was more popular with tourists. South Bali offers a mix of beaches, cultural landmarks, and the allure of a vibrant nightlife – something that most people look forward to. However, the clubbing side of Bali was not on our agenda since we were travelling with our young son. Still, there was plenty to see in the southern region, and we were not ready to rule out our stay there.
Looking at other places, Ubud piqued our interest, given the immense travel convenience we could enjoy by basing ourselves there. Not only is Ubud the cultural hub but it is also strategically located in the heart of Bali, making it easier to explore the attractions across the island. This was important since the most common refrain we heard from our Bali-returned friends was about the time and distance involved in travelling from one point to the other.
“Traffic in Bali is a nightmare,” an acquaintance remarked. “It took me nearly an entire day just to visit two places.”
While it may seem somewhat fastidious, for travellers like us, making the most of every trip matter, as we may not have the chance to revisit the same international destination soon. Slow travel can wait a bit.
So, South Bali or Ubud?
Both!
After carefully weighing the pros and cons of both locations, we realized that the most efficient way to follow our itinerary was to stay in both.
It made sense for us to stay in Ubud for the larger part, as staying there allowed us to take easy day trips without getting caught in the traffic chaos. It seemed to be the perfect place for nature-loving oldies like us, with a child in tow. Besides, we were keen to experience Balinese culture from close quarters. Ubud offered this and more!
The busy Pura Taman Saraswati temple at Ubud
Meanwhile, choosing between Kuta, Seminyak, and Jimbaran — the preferred locations in the south — we ultimately decided on Jimbaran. Kuta offered budget-friendly stays with easy access to beaches and a buzzing party scene, while Seminyak boasted upscale beach clubs, trendy cafés, and luxury shopping. Both locations primarily catered to young couples and party enthusiasts seeking to partake in Bali’s lively nightlife.
On the other hand, Jimbaran — to be precise, Bukit Jimbaran — aligned perfectly with our itinerary. Gauging from the information on the net, Jimbaran seemed to be a quieter place with less traffic.
First stop: Our stay at Bukit Jimbaran
We searched extensively online for a hotel that best matched our key criteria—family-friendly, budget-friendly, and conveniently located near the airport as well as our planned sightseeing spots. There were several well-known hotels in the Jimbaran area, along with numerous villa properties. Finally, we zeroed in on MaxOne Hotels at Bukit Jimbaran, a small boutique hotel situated 12 km away from the international airport and right next to one of Bali’s most prominent tourist attractions – the GWK Cultural Centre. It took us just 5 minutes to reach the Centre from our hotel and enjoy the evening’s program.
View from our hotel – Beach at the distance
There were no hassles in commuting as the hotel was right on the main road and cabs were quick to reach the location, without us having to give any directions. This was a major relief, especially in a place where we didn’t speak the local language and weren’t sure how widely English was understood. As for food, we didn’t explore many nearby options, as we preferred dining by the beach in Jimbaran.
Thus, although we spent just one night at Bukit Jimbaran, it turned out to be a decision well worth it.
Restaurant at the hotel
Dining at Jimbaran Beach
Next up: Ubud
I had envisaged Ubud to be a slice of green paradise, my mind filled with vivid images from the movie “Eat, Pray, Love”. In reality, Ubud is a bustling town, with people of various nationalities strolling through the streets. I was pleased to see many of them had their children tagging along.
It was a hard task to find suitable accommodation in Ubud. There was an abundance of resorts, villas and guesthouses – all looking enticing online. We wanted to stay within walking distance of Ubud Palace and other attractions in the area, so that we could visit those places at leisure.
While exploring Ubud on Google Maps, I noticed that many properties near the palace were situated in narrow lanes branching off from the main road. Whenever I came across reviews that mentioned the discomfort of having to lug suitcases far down these alleys, I crossed out such stay options vigorously.
Finally, we booked a property called Bali Breeze Bungalows located some 2.5 km away from the palace. Although it wasn’t exactly walking distance, it all worked out eventually.
And oh, were we glad about our villa — or was it a bungalow? Tucked away from the bustling main street, it comfortably accommodated us and featured a functional kitchen along with a reasonably sized swimming pool. A charming porch with a large dining table became our favorite spot for breakfast. Did I mention we had a paddy field right across from our bungalow? Waking up to an oasis of tranquility every morning, my expectations of Ubud were truly fulfilled!
Breakfast with a view
Pool with a view
There were a host of eateries and supermarkets around, and every evening after a much-needed soak in the pool, we found ourselves raiding the supermarket to stack up on noodles and other snacks that we would enjoy in the comfort of our bungalow. Spas abounded in the area – a welcome relief for my aching feet, as I indulged in some amazing massages. More importantly, we found a reliable currency exchange nearby, making things even more convenient.
We spent 5 nights in Ubud and were glad that the location perfectly complemented our itinerary, allowing us to explore Bali without a hitch.
Parting advice
Just one — do your own research thoroughly while settling for a place to stay. It is essential to align your stay with your itinerary while remaining flexible about locations. If that means splitting your stay between multiple places, then so be it.
All of us have our own priorities while travelling. For us, we are travellers with itchy feet – we rarely linger at our hotel, preferring to be out sightseeing instead. Also, we are quite non-fussy with the amenities that are provided/not provided. On the other hand, some days we might just want to put up our feet and relax, checking into a nice resort. So, take your pick of stay options and location as per your own convenience and expectations from the trip.
Don’t forget to consider key factors like distance, travel time, and the best way to navigate your itinerary on the basis of your stay. And there you have it – an amazing experience awaits you! Wishing you a fantastic vacation, and I hope this post helps in some way.
PS: Coming up, episodes on our extensive travel through Bali – stay tuned!
Here’s a sneak peek:
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