Why You Should Add Bali to Your Round the World Trip

by aseper | December 21st, 2011   Tweet

The entire region of Southeast Asia is a hotbed for backpackers and those on long-term trips, and Bali is at or near the top of the list. And why wouldn’t it be? The beaches, the rice terraces, the temples, the food, the drinks, and the super cheap prices have travelers coming back for more. No matter what type of trip you’re on, adding an island paradise is always a good idea. If you are planning a RTW trip, then it makes perfect sense to add Bali to your itinerary.

While Bali is definitely the most touristy part of Indonesia, there’s a reason for that. Unfortunately because of the popularity, there are those travelers who leave Bali off their list. Long-term, RTW travelers love to find new and off-the-beaten-path locations, and even if you are not the type who likes super touristy destinations, there are plenty of ways to experience the Indonesian culture in a place like Bali.

Our sister site over on BootsnAll has been putting together city guides that focus on long-term, RTW travel. They have been updating, revamping, and adding tips and advice for getting the most indie experience out of a trip to any city. If you are thinking about adding Bali to a RTW trip, then it’s a good idea to head on over to Boots and see what they have to say.

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Bali in November

by Cristina | September 12th, 2011   Tweet

Nowadays the weather is very unpredictable, especially when we talk about November in Bali, which , technically, marks the start of the wet season. Depending on luck , you might experience hot and sunny days…or just the opposite. Still, it’s hot and humid. Don’t plan to do any mountain climbing or biking, but don’t be afraid to enjoy the outdoors. Sure, it might not be the perfect time to soak up the sun on the beach all day, but Bali has so much to offer than just cocktails and tanning.

November falls during the beginning of the wet season. The temperatures are warm and the heavy downpour usually lasts during late evening and night. But you might also be lucky and experience only sunny whether when you visit Bali in November. Temperatures range between 25C (avg low) and 30C (avg high).

>>read more about the Weather in Bali

Since you’ll be traveling during the low season, the airfare is typically cheaper but it’s a good idea to book slightly in advance. It’s also easy to book an affordable hotel room and the budget travelers will probably prefer a hostel .

Unless you want to do mountain climbing or biking, the November weather shouldn’t interferer with your plans. You can spend the day soaking up the sun. Sure, it’s just as possible to be not so lucky and catch some cloudy days while in Bali. But, when that happens, you can check out the sights, the temples, pay a visit to the shopping mall or enjoy some relaxing spa treatments.

It’s possible to practice all water sports, so don’t be shy and try snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking and canoeing, among others. November is still a good month for surfing in Bali.

Bali International Jazz Festival takes place in November and features performers from all over the world.

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Bali in January

by Cristina | September 13th, 2011   Tweet

There aren’t many events taking place in January but if you are on a low budget and always wanted to visit Bali, take advantage of the low airfare and come here. It’s humid and rainy, but that shouldn’t stop you check out the sights.

January is part of the wet season and , as a result, is one of the rainiest months in Bali. This doesn’t mean it will rain all the time, but it will rain almost every day (usually in the afternoon). It’s not a suitable month to visit Bali if you plan to engage in outdoor activities, such as mountain climbing, mountain biking or hiking. Otherwise, just pack some rain gear and you are good to go sightseeing. Temperatures range between 17C and 30C and the humidity is 75%.

>>read more about the Weather in Bali

Since January is part of the low season, expect to find affordable airfare , especially if you book slightly in advance. Finding a cheap hotel is also easy and now you can even book hotels which would usually put a big hole in your travel budget. If you prefer a hostel , you’ll be able to find very good rates.

The weather isn’t exactly good for sunbathing, especially if you are unlucky to visit Bali when it’s windy and cloudy. But it’s possible to enjoy some sunny days and you can plan some activities around the beach.

January is a good month to visit the sights. If rains catches you off guard, you can always hide in a temple, museum or in a shopping mall.

Early January is busy as the New Year celebrations continue during the first days of the month, especially in places where foreign tourists like to spend their time.

In January, the Balinese celebrate Pager Wesi, a holiday dedicated to Sang Yang, the creator of the universe. There are important celebrations on the island.

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Getting from Bali to Singapore (and return)

by Cristina | September 13th, 2011   Tweet

Singapore is a city-state in Southeast Asia, well known for its cosmopolite feel, exotic food and many shopping opportunities. For those not used to the high humidity, Singapore will be quite a test. The temperature is high year round and it rains daily.

Quick summary

While there are ferries between Bali and Singapore (with a stop in Batam), it takes a long time to cover the distance and there are only 2 ferries a week departing from/arriving in Bali. Therefore, the only way to get between Bali and Singapore is the 2h 35 min flight. There are plenty of airlines connecting the two places, so make sure to shop around.

Changi Airport (airport code: SIN) is the main airport in Singapore, a major aviation hub in Southeast Asia. It is hub for Jetstar Asia Airways, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Tiger Airways, Qantas and Valuair. It currently serves more than 100 airlines flying to over 200 cities worldwide.

Flights from Denpasar (Bali) are run by Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia AirAsia, Jetstar Airways, KLM, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Valuair. On large booking engines (eg. Kayak) , you can book one way flights from US$207 on Garuda Indonesia. However, if you search for flights directly on the airlines’ websites, you can find one way flights from US$80 on Jetstar Airlines. The flight time is 2h 35 min.

Generally speaking, you’ll get the best value if you book the flight 2 to 4 weeks before departure. But exceptions can be found, particularly when you can find a last minute deal.

Technically you take the ferry from Bali to Batam and then to Singapore, but there is a big problem. While there are quite a lot of connections from Batam to Singapore, there are only two boats a month from Bali to Batam, which means your travel plans will really have to depend on the schedule.

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Getting from Bali to Australia (and return)

by Cristina | September 13th, 2011   Tweet

Those who travel within Asia will, at one time or another, travel between Bali and Australia , or the other way around. Australia’s airports offer at least some flights into Bali operated by low cost carriers, which are excellent choices for those on a budget.

Practically, there is only one way to get between Bali and Australia: by plane. Ideally, you should choose an airport located closest to Bali , rather than fly into a larger hub, which is too many hours (and too much money) away. The reason for this is that once you are in Australia, you can choose to travel by land to the destination.

Quick summary

There are two airports to choose between if you want to get to Australia fast and not spend too much on a ticket. The flight time to Darwin is about 3 h and the rates start at US$97. And the flight to Perth takes 3h 40 , with rates starting at US$127. Sure, these are rates valid for the end of the dry season in Bali and the start of spring in Australia.

Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) is a major hub for Qantas and a secondary hub for Virgin Australia and Jetstar Airways. It is the busiest airport in Australia. Direct flights from Denpasar (Bali) are operated by Garuda Indonesia, JetStar and Virgin Australia. Flights start at US$409 one way for an adult on JetStar. The flight time is 4h 45 min.

>>read more about Flights to Sydney

You can also fly from Bali into Brisbane Airport (BNE), which is also hub for Jetstar Airways, Qantas, Virgin Australia and Pacific Blue. Direct flights between the two airports are operated by JetStar, Strategic Airlines and Virgin Australia. The cheapest fare is offered by Virgin Australia and starts at US$459. The flight time is 5h 40 min.

>>read more about Flights to Brisbane

Perth Airport (PER) also receives fights from Bali. The airport is hub for Strategic Airlines, Alliance Airlines, Cobham, Network Aviation, Qantas, Skippers Aviation and Skywest Airlines. It is the fourth busiest airport in Australia. The direct flights from Bali to Perth are operated by Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia AirAsia, JetStar Airways, Skywest Airlines and Virgin Australia. The cheapest tickets are offered by Indonesia AirAsia and they start at US$127 one way. The flight time is 3h 40 min.

>>read more about Flights to Perth

There is also the possibility to fly into Darwin Airport (DRW) , which although it’s not among the top five busiest airports in Australia, offers excellent rates for connections to/from Bali. Indonesia AirAsia and JetStar operate flights between Denpasar (Bali) and Darwin and the rates start from US$97 one way (on Indonesia AirAsia). The flight time is 2h 55 min. Generally speaking, the fares are comparable to those into Perth.

>>read more about Flights to Darwin

There are also direct flights from Bali to Melbourne Airport (MEL) and Adelaide (ADLS) but the fares are high (from US$446 one way on Virgin Australia, respectively from US$630 one way on the same airline).

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Getting from Bali to Jakarta (and return)

by Cristina | September 14th, 2011   Tweet

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia and is located northwest of the island of Java. The Big Durian offers a lot of things to do and many put the city on their must-visit list while in Asia. Since Bali is located quite close to Jakarta , many travelers chose to travel between the two cities when working their way to mainland Asia or to Australia.

Quick summary

The Bali to Jakarta route is served by plenty of low cost carriers which makes flying really affordable. Single tickets start at US$30 and you can get between the two places in about 1 ½ hours.
But many budget travelers choose to travel either by a combination of bus, ferry and train or by bus and ferry. It does cost less than flying but you’ll be traveling about 24 hours (if there aren’t any delays).

Soekarno Hatta International Airport (CGK) is the main airport serving Jakarta and the island of Java. It is hub for Batavia Air, Cardig Air, Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia AirAsia, Lion Air, Merpati Nusantara Airlines, Republic Express Airlines, Sriwijaya Air and Wings Air.
Direct flights from Denpasar (Bali) to Jakarta are operated by Batavia Air, Citilink, Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia AirAsia , Lion Air , Merpati Nusantara Airlines, Sriwijaya Air and Wings Air. The cheapest flights are offered by Indonesia AirAsia and start at US$60 one way. The flight time is 1h 40 min. Return flights start at US$125 per person, on the same airline.

You can use a mix of bus , ferry and train to get from Bali to Jakarta.
First you need to travel from Bali to Yogyakarta, Malang, or Surabaya. This can be done by bus and ferry.
Buses to Yogyakarta leave each evening from Ubung Terminal in Denpasar. It takes about 15 hours and the bus ticket also includes the ferry crossing (over Rp200,000 / US$23 per person).
Buses to Surabaya leave from the same terminal. The ticket includes the ferry crossing and the total travel time is 8 to 10 hours. Prices start around Rp150,000 / US$17.25 per person.

From Yogyakarta you can take the morning train to Jakarta. The price for the express train is around Rp300,000 / US$34.50 per person and the total travel time is 8-10 hours.
From Surabaya you can take the Express train to Jakarta, either during the day (departure at 8 a.m.) or during the night (departure at 8 p.m.). The total travel time is 10 h 30 min. The fare is about Rp200,000 / US$23 per person.

>>read more about The train from Jakarta to Yogyakarta

The alternative is to take the bus and ferry from Bali to Jakarta. Tickets can be bought from the travel agents in the town(s). Two companies operate on this route: Lorena and Pahala Kencana (buses depart Denpasar at 6:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.)
The total travel time is about 24 hours but the buses are clean and you are also offered two meals. Delays can and will occur (sometimes even up to 10 hours). The price is about US$30 per person.

It is possible to rent a car and drive from Bali to Jakarta, but you’ll also be taking the ferry. So make sure to consider the price for crossing with a vehicle. The total travel time is about 21 hours. For your safety, do consider taking some breaks along the way.

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Bali Beach Hotels

by Cristina | September 21st, 2011   Tweet

Bali is one of the most sought-after vacation destinations in the world. Honeymooners and those looking for a relaxing escape usually prefer to stay close to the beach and have as many facilities as possible available in the hotel. Thankfully, it’s not hard to find hotels which offer spa facilities, as well as massage centers and private pools.

Here is a list of mid-range and luxury hotels located either right on Kuta or Nusa Dusa beach or close to these beaches.

This 3-star hotel is located just 5 min walk from Kuta Beach and offers a lovely setting for your vacation. The modern rooms are located around the outdoor pool. The hotel also offers a spa and a restaurant. There’s free parking and wi-fi. All rooms have AC, TV and a minibar. Breakfast is included in the room price. Pets are not allowed in the hotel.
During November 2011, prices start at US$73 per standard double room per night.

This 4-star hotel is located right on Kuta Beach and offers free parking and wi-fi. The hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool, a spa and a fitness center. All rooms have TV, AC and minibar.

During November 2011, prices start at US$99.14 per room per night, excluding breakfast.

This 4-star hotel is located right on Kuta Beach. It offers an outdoor pool and a spa. The Balinese-style rooms have balcony, TV, mini bar and tea/coffee makers.

During November 2011, prices start at US$109 per deluxe double room per night, including breakfast.

This 4-star hotel is located 165 ft from Kuta Beach and offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center and a spa. The hotel also provides free shuttles to Discovery Mall. All rooms have flat-screen TV and work desk. There’s free wi-fi in the lobby and restaurant. The room prices include the buffet breakfast.

During November 2011, prices start at US$110 per superior double room per night.

This 5-star hotel is located on a private stretch of beach along Nusa Dusa. The hotel offers a private pool, a spa, free parking and free wi-fi. All villas feature fully equipped kitchenette, minibar and an open-air bath. Breakfast is included in the villa price.

During November 2011, prices start at US$554.18 per one-bedroom villa per night.

This luxury hotel offers a private beach, a golf course, a fitness center, a pool and a massage center. All rooms have flat-screen TV, safe and ironing facilities.

During November 2011, prices start at US108.04 per deluxe twin room per night, excluding breakfast.

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