Activities & Hotels
Travel Arrangements.
If you’re on this page, it means you’re thinking of coming. Amazing!
At the moment, we’re crossing everything that come July 2023, the world will still be completely open. We’re counting down the days until we can see so many of you again. Unbali-evable!
Where to go
Places in Bali.
Bali is full of beautiful beaches, hotels, restaurants, cafés, wellness spas, night life and outdoor activities. You can easily spend a week or two in just the one spot or you can jump around the island experiencing the best of what’s on offer. Where you go and stay will depend on how long you’re visiting for and the kind of holiday that you’re after.
We’ve listed some personal recommendations for activities/places to stay, grouped by location. Given it’s been three years since our last visit, things will have changed a lot, so we suggest you also check some blogs/websites for other suggestions (we’ve listed some at the bottom of the page to get you started).
Just a reminder – “official” wedding activities from 28 June to 2nd July (Welcome Drinks, Wedding and Recovery BBQ) are being held in Canggu. We’re staying in Seminyak in the week leading up to the wedding (we arrive 24th June) and will be hitting up some of our favourite spots around there too (Sunday Brunch on 25th June, dinner/drinks on 27th June). Get in touch if you’d like to join – the more the merrier.
It takes about 20 mins by taxi to get from Seminyak to Canggu, and most other places on the island can be reached within an hour. Your hotel/villa/restaurant will happily arrange transport for you.
Places in Bali.
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Seminyak is considered to be one of the more glamorous parts of the island, and you’ll find plenty of luxury resorts, private villas, amazing restaurants (Barbacoa, Bambu Bali, Da Maria Bali, Kynd, Sisterfields) boutique shops, great nightlife (Motel Mexicola, La Favela, WooBar Bali) and stunning beach clubs (Ku De Ta, Potato Head, Mrs Sippy, La Plancha) there.
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Canggu has a more laid-back surf and beach culture, and is known for cool cafes, trendy restaurants, hip shops, fun beach clubs (La Brisa, Finns, Café del Mar and The Lawn). Beginner surfers can pick up a lesson or two here too (of course taking inspiration from the Martha and the Muffins song, Echo Beach)
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Head to Ubud if you’d prefer to switch off completely and focus on finding yourself (or the odd monkey). It’s known for history, culture, spirituality and wellness, with plenty of galleries, shops, waterfalls, museums, markets and historic sites, as well as being an Instagrammer’s dream (Bali giant swing, Waterfalls, Puri Saren Royal Palace, Tegalalang Rice Terraces, Ubud Monkey Forest).
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Other places we love on the island include Uluwatu, which is a (more-experienced) surfer’s paradise with incredible views from clifftop hotels and clubs (Savaya, Sundays Beach Club, Single Fin Bali) and sites (Uluwatu Temple).
Jimbaran Bay is an iconic spot, famous for its fresh seafood and beachfront restaurants, as well as some stunning hotels (sunset drinks at the Rock Bar and Grill is a must).
If you’re after some adventure, go hiking and camp on top of Mt Batur (an inactive volcano) for stunning sunrises, and stop off at the Batur Natural Hot Springs to revive your legs afterwards. Or relax with a massage at one of Bali’s thousands of spas/massage parlours. You can also find some great cooking classes dotted across the island (Sokasi Cooking School, Casa Luna Cooking School).
If you have a bit more time, the Gili Islands (great for diving, partying and snorkelling) and Nusa Lembongan (where you can go snorkelling/diving with Manta Rays) are lovely places to spend a few nights completely relaxing and switching off, too.
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Don’t believe us? Have a look at what some of the expert-digital-nomad-gap-year-influencer-type have to say:
Where to Stay
Hotels in Bali.
One thing Bali is not short of, is accommodation. There are options to suit every price-range and requirement. If you prefer villa-life, there are some stunning villas around too.
Below are hotels we’ve stayed at, or come highly recommended, ranging from luxurious to very affordable.
We’re staying at Hotel Villa Lumbung in the lead up to the wedding – it’s cheap and cheerful and very kid-friendly, so feel free to join us if you want to be around familiar faces.
Recommended Hotels
