Updated 2016
For a wealth of truly local information about Bali, be sure to dig through the Travel Guide to Bali; you’re likely to find what you’re looking for here.
Start with the basics and get to know the nuts & bolts of Bali.
With a proud Hindu culture, cheap prices, great tourist infrastructure, thousands of bizarre temples, and amazing beaches and food, this little island has a little bit of everything – and then some. Bali is its own Garden of Eden, with thousands of tourists coming to enjoy her beauty and warmth. Take a photo tour and you’ll know why you want to.
Bali’s beauty is captivating and many a traveler has come away from the island describing the experience as being almost mystical. There are lush forests, fertile rice paddy fields, volcanoes that peak through the clouds and beaches that give way to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
While the island is a paradise, it is not without its hassles. The tourist scene can be overwhelming. There is a never ending stream of backpackers looking for good times and good waves and it is exceedingly easy to get caught up in it all. If you spend all of your time amongst foreign travelers you will only get a glimpse of what makes the island so special.
What to do
With so much natural beauty, it is little wonder that Bali is a favorite among adventure travelers. Whether you want to go overland by foot, take a stroll through the villages, or pedal your way on a bike around the island, BootsnAll has some excellent Adventure Trips in Bali that are surprisingly affordable.
Surfing and partying are two things that keep the town of Kuta high on most people’s lists, but whatever you do, don’t miss the rest of the island. Taking a cooking lesson in traditional Balinese cuisine. There are excellent beaches in many other areas, and many craft villages and volcano views throughout the interior. Try to get to Ubud, which is the art center of the island and also easy to reach from the airport and Kuta in the south.
Getting there
As an island, your choices are the ferry from Java, or booking a flight into Bali and its main international airport just outside of Denpasar. You can get to any of the southern resort cities in 30 minutes or so by taxi from the airport, and for under US$10 as well.
Where to stay
There are hundreds of resorts and hotels in Bali, and many of them are very basic and amazingly cheap. Those places tend not to be available online, but you will find good places and good values in the country no matter how you book. There aren’t many actual hostels in Bali, but many places are listed there anyway, particularly on the budget end. Often the best deals are had by looking locally once you’re on the ground. Book the first night of your arrival and then play it by ear after that.