Laid Back Bali Style
From luscious fruits to smooth sand beaches
Bali might be one of the most Instagramable places in the world. There are colorful drinks and dishes at almost every restaurant and bar you come across and they’re almost all delicious. Some parts of Bali are, in some ways, a hipster’s paradise as it is almost easier to find a gluten-free acai bowl than it is to find a local, family-owned Balinese restaurant. If you’re coming from a place like California you’ll sense familiarities in the cuisine offerings.
That beach life
Our first stay was in Seminyak which is the major tourist area of Bali and about 20 minutes from the airport. One major draw of Seminyak is that it’s right on the beach and has endless options for dining and nightlife. You can pretty much walk around safely here (although there are no real sidewalks) but the Bali sun can be blistering, so be mindful you don’t get too beat down and put on that sunscreen! Taxi rides were an easy option for us as they aren’t pricey and convenient to hire through apps like Grab.
Travel tip: If driving or grabbing a taxi, there are HEAVY amounts of traffic in popular areas so you’ll need to plan accordingly. One thing to note as well is that Grab is the only app that we found to work with US credit cards. All the other apps (like Bluebird and Gojek) will only work with cash but the prices are fixed so all options were reliable and good. Hiring other taxis from the street will come with more variability and uncertainties with pricing and quality, so just be aware. If you’re planning to do a full day around various Bali destinations, it will be better to hire a driver for the day. Prices range from 300-800k IDR for a 10 hour driver and you can find them online. We found our driver, IWayan, through a Facebook Bali travel group and he was amazing!
Walking around Seminyak
Seminyak mostly caters to those that want to shop, eat, and party with amazing day beach clubs, fusion restaurants, and many name-brand and boutique stores. It’s also not far from the water park, Waterbom Bali (Highly recommended for anyone visiting Bali), which was one of the most amazing and clean amusement parks I’ve ever been to.
We also enjoyed our hotels, the Aloft Seminyak and Montigo Resort Seminyak, as they had great facilities and outstanding staff. I’ve never been to hotels where every single staff member was as kind and attentive as these two hotels. The Aloft Seminyak staff provided a level of care and service that surpassed some 5 star top tier hotels I’ve been at in the past. Truly exceptional.
Poolside at the Aloft Seminyak
The Montigo Resort Seminyak’s staff was also great and they had an incredible spa on site. They had many great packages and we partook in a Daddy/Mommy and me spa packages and facials that left all of us feeling incredible. The massages were amazing and the spa provided a zen like setting with tea and fruits. I would highly recommend the spa even if you aren’t staying at the Montigo Resort Seminyak.
Elle enjoying her Mommy and me spa treatment
1 of 3 pools at the Montigo Resort Seminyak
Hanging out at the pool at the Montigo Resort Seminyak
As enjoyable as our two hotels were I would say that Seminyak, as an area just didn’t hit the mark for us. It was a bit too crowded and touristy and although there is a lot to see, do, and eat, it seemed more catered towards a younger audience.
A change of pace
For our second stay we ventured more inland to the city of Ubud. Ubud ended up being a much better fit for the Byeans as it is definitely less touristy than Seminyak. We rented an Airbnb right outside the city center for around $48/night. For us, it was great that Ubud was easy and peaceful when needed, but also just a 5-10 minute scooter ride to most of the eateries and attractions.
Our Ubud villa
The Byeans on scooters in Ubud
Summer school session in Ubud
Ubud had a variety of things to do. From the Bali Zoo (AMAZING!) to the sacred monkey forest, eating delicious sushi to getting a satisfying Korean shaved ice dessert, it offered a mixture of things for our family. Renting the villa was also great for us to just have days where we could work and study which added a little structure to our travels.
We even got to make our own silver jewelry at Ganeca which was something I never thought we’d ever do but was so much fun. It was great to learn something different and immerse ourselves in another part of the Balinese culture that wasn’t really known to us before.
One of our silver making instructors
Christopher working on his silver necklace
Things in Ubud were also about 30-40% cheaper than in Seminyak. We’d eat out for an average of $20-30 USD for all of us and getting around in a scooter was much easier than if we had attempted it in Seminyak (I would advise against it). We rented two scooters for $10 USD/day and gas was about $1/day.
In all our two weeks in Ubud allowed us to take in various parts of the Balinese culture while also giving us the flexibility to just be a normal family.
As beautiful as the beaches and landscape are in Bali, the Balinese people are even more lovely.
Our Ubud Villa hosts, MD and Ketut
Whenever you’re in a new country there’s a part of you that is a little reserved and cautious. Am I going to get ripped off as a tourist? What areas aren’t safe? Who is sketchy and who is trustworthy? When I first arrived in Bali, I was quickly proven wrong. Of all the places I’ve traveled, I’ve never been to a place where the people were so honest, kind and lovely. From cab drivers, hotel staff to chefs…everyone we came across in Bali were amazing.
I asked a few Balinese during our stay about why everyone is so kind and the consistent response was that the people of Bali view everything from a communal perspective. They believe that life is lived through one’s community and those that are selfish in nature eventually get ostracized and shunned.
Coming from America, where we focus a lot of our energy and time on ourselves and bettering our own lives, this deep-rooted sense of community was very refreshing. All the Balinese we’ve encountered seemed to have a sense of pride and purpose, all the while bringing a kindness to everything they do. The easy-going and communal like-mindedness amongst the Balinese is comforting and feels like you’re amongst old friends.
Our host, Otan, at the Montigo Seminyak
Our driver, IWayan, from Ubud
After each country, we reflect on the trip and discuss what we learned as a family. What we learned from Bali is that life is not meant to be lived individualistically. We hope to infuse more of the Balinese spirit into our own lives and perspectives so that we can build more community in all facets of our lives.
ByeanVoyage Disclaimer: Content on ByeanVoyage represents our expert experience, opinion, and subjective perspective. Reader's experience may vary due to many factors. The content provided is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered financial, tax, or legal advice.