'Living in Bali was one of the best experiences of my life. A great learning curve “ the people, the food and the ocean “ just a perfect setting to contemplate.,
Global superstar Leonardo di Caprio, a frequenter of Bali and an avid conservationist whose work has touched the waters of Bali, had this to say about his favorite holiday destination.There's not much to contest his claims, for Bali is often considered to be one among the most travelled destinations in the world, with annual tourist strength pushing 5 to 8 million.
What makes Bali such a vibrant affair?
Well, the nature certainly has played the biggest hand here. Beautifully surreal beaches, never ending stretches of pristine yellow sand and joyful way of laidback life fuelled by good food and music make Bali a truly chilled out place. What turns the tourism from good to great, however, is the nightlife in Bali. Despite being in a relatively less developed country like Indonesia, Bali houses some of the best clubs, lounges, pubs and discos in the world, with local nightlife revenue easily surpassing hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
A trip to Bali will be a liberating experience for you, without any doubt. The city is known to turn your stressed out life upside down into a frenzied whirlwind where every waking moment is a pure bliss. It doesn't come as a surprise, then, that nobody ever wants to leave this place!
Living Cheap in Bali
Bali, as mentioned before, is quite out of place in a country like Indonesia where per capita income is quite on the lower side in comparison with other regional forces like Singapore or Hong Kong.
So, as an extension of that fact, it can be guessed that cheap hotels exist in Bali is quite copious amounts, and if you are really bent on cutting your travel expenses down to a minimum, you can do much worse than living in Bali.
Among these affordable hotels in Bali, Tegal Sari should be mentioned with a special emphasis. Located nearby the central bus terminus, Tegal Sari is not only convenient but also quite pleasant. It provides all the basic amenities that tourists could ask for, and that too at prices that are hardly rivalled.
Masa Inn is a good alternative to Tegal Sari, if you are not able to find vacant rooms in the latter. Masa Inn is especially a great pick for travelers who are travelling by themselves. Hotel Sri Devi and Hotel Green Garden are good options, as well.
Regal Life of Bali Beaches
Bali, as most tourists who have been there would agree, is a synonym for enjoyment. Every carnal pleasure “ barring absolutely none “ seems to have made emphatic appearances here. However, if you truly want to make the most of what Bali has to offer, you should stay “ even for one night “ at one of the luxury Bali hotels.
These, quite contrary to popular opinion, are much different than luxury hotel and resort establishments around the world. Such luxury hotels in Bali are known to be hosts of extremely regal decor, comfort like you would never have known before and mouth-watering global delicacies.
There are, at present, over four dozen five star (or higher) hotel establishments in Bali, mostly operated by big budget global chains. Viceroy Bali, in this context, can be named to be the best luxury hotel in Bali, purely because of its majestically historic building, a rich history of important guests and an overall aristocratic air it possesses.
Oberoi Bali, operated by Oberoi Group of Resorts, is another must-mention name when the discussion revolves around luxury resorts in Bali. W Retreat and Spa, as well as InterContinental Resort Bali make prominent appearance, too “ justifying the worth of their billion-dollar brands.
What to See/Do in Bali?
As much as anything, the most of your time as a tourist when you visit Bali must be allotted to exploring the culture. Most tourists make the mistake of using up all of their trip time to just frolic around the beaches, when they could be exploring the rich culture of Indonesia that's so much different than what they are quite likely to be accustomed to.
Waterbom Bali is one of the most loved attractions of Bali. Replete with over 50 awe-inspiring and inviting rides that attract everyone young or old, the water park is a great family outing place, if you have kids accompanying you.
Spending New Year's Eve in Bali has become a cultural phenomenon among tourists. The festival of Galungan that is celebrated in Bali during this time of the year makes the whole scene in Bali around NYE a memorable one.
Umpteen scuba diving opportunities are available for those who seek some thrills. Authentic Indonesian seafood can be tasted along Kuta beach.
Things to Remember When in Bali
Indonesia is a somewhat conservative country. Even though Bali is a global hub of tourism and hospitality, the rest of the country isn't, and that is one fact tourists “ especially those who aren't from Asian countries “ should be aware of.
Food in Bali, even though it's positively awesome, should always be handled with due care. Too much of unprocessed or uncooked street side food should be avoided to steer clear of diseases like traveler's tummy.
Best Time to Visit Bali
Best time to visit Bali is probably the year end. The week that starts with Christmas and ends with the NYE is perhaps the most happening week in Bali, as millions of tourists descend down in Bali, occupying every place from luxury resorts to cheap hotels.
From expenditure point of view, this week is also the costliest one in Bali's yearly calendar, with most Bali hotels hiking their nightly prices as much as ten times higher.
If you don't like that idea, then pretty much any season or month is good enough to visit Bali. This has to do with the fact that Bali weather is tropical in nature, and doesn't fluctuate much across months.