Quick Look
Bali is one of the most romantic places on the planet. With tropical landscapes that are straight out of storybooks, breathtaking weather and the famously friendly Balinese radiating their trademark “good energy,” this island in the middle of Indonesia is a prime honeymoon destination.
Bali is known for its spiritualism. While Indonesia is mostly Muslim, Bali is predominantly Hindu, and people come from all over the world to seek spiritual clarity. There are at least 50,000 shrines here. You can thank the book (and movie) Eat, Pray, Love for putting Bali’s spiritual side on the map. Most travelers visiting Bali engage in personal journeys, get holistically aligned, and learn new spiritual practices.
But there’s more than spiritual quests. Because the island thrives on tourism, offering stunning natural attractions, cheap hotels and epic nightlife, visitors come for leisure tourism as well. For every person seeking to detox from the stresses of modern life, there’s another getting black-out drunk and partying all night.
It’s a one-stop destination. In Bali, you can frolic on miles of beaches, explore jungles, visit bustling villages, haggle at street markets, go white water rafting, climb mountains… there’s something for everyone.
Summer is the best time to visit. Bali is close to the equator, which means it’s warm and humid year-round. The average temperature is 82-85 degrees in May, June and July (the hottest season). April and September (the shoulder season) is great as well. Couples visiting in fall and winter can expect some rain, but December to February is the wet season, where it typically rains daily, the sea is a little rough and the beaches can get dry. That said, it is rare to have consistent, all-day downpours. There are generally bursts of rain in the morning or night.
There are no direct flights from the US to Denpasar International Airport. Most airlines stop at an Asian hub like Taipei, Hong Kong or Seoul. Total flying time averages 22 to 28 hours from the US.
We recommend arranging airport pick-up in advance, whether through your tour operator or directly with the hotel. The airport can be hectic, and many unauthorized drivers will try to offer you a ride.
Your passport must be valid for six months after the date of your arrival in Indonesia. This is important if you actually want to get past customs.
Expect traffic on main roads and tons of pedestrian traffic on sidewalks. Bali is crowded, with a population of 4.5 million, and nearly 3 million visitors a year.
Bali Honeymoon Packages
All top tour operators and travel companies (like Virtuoso or Thomas Cooke) offer romantic honeymoon packages to Bali. It’s a top seller, especially since Eat, Pray, Love came out. Tourism rose and has remained consistent since 2010. A slew of luxury properties opened after the movie debuted to accommodate all this new interest.
Couples can find amazing packages through specific resorts. You have to decide if you want to stay on the beach or in the jungle (though it’s common for honeymooners to split their time between both.)
Cost Of A Bali Honeymoon
Bali is expensive, even if you’re expecting to splurge. Haggling with merchants at the market is practically a national sport, hour massages are only $10 and it’s rare to pay more than $20-a-person for an authentic meal (or $40 for a lavish, high-end dinner).
Five-star resorts are no different. A room may go as low as $199 a night, and a massive suite can start at $700. Compared to other island destinations, this is a steal.
A typical round-trip flight from the US to Bali averages $800, though the fare goes higher in the summer. We’ve seen flights as little as $440 round-trip from West Coast cities like San Francisco.
Guide To The Main Regions Of Bali
Bali is split into 8 regencies (or districts), each of which comes with a different feel. Most honeymooners stick to the main areas below:
Seminyak
Seminyak is the main tourist beach town, filled with hotels, restaurants, markets and nightlife.
Some would say it’s the party central of Bali because it’s laden with backpackers and young Aussies who like to get down. It’s also crowded and feels slightly out of control–motorbikes speed down narrow streets and dogs wander around looking for food handouts.
On the other hand, it’s budget friendly and only 20 minutes from the airport (another reason why backpackers settle down here).
Honeymooners can find some great hotel options here, like Anantara . Seminyak is generally associated with Kuta and Legian, other party beach towns, all of which are the developed with tourism in mind. Kuta is a popular surf town and Legian is nightlife central. They definitely scream “party, party, party!” so honeymooners tend to stick closer to Seminyak if staying in the area.
Jimbaran Bay
On the southern peninsula, a twenty-minute drive from Seminyak, Jimbaran Bay is a more upscale beach town.
It’s quiet with beautiful landscapes, plenty of al fresco restaurants and some of the best five-star resorts in Bali .
Thanks to the amazing breaks, Jimbaran Bay is a mothlight to surfers. You’ll see dudes and dudettes toting boards at beaches like Uluwatu and Balangan. Definitely take lessons before wading in (or hang ten like a pro if you know what you’re doing) or skip the surfing and and visit a shrine in Uluwatu .
Ubud
Deep within the jungle, Ubud is the reason people fall in love with Bali.
Built along the Ayung River, Ubud is home to healers, art galleries, family-run restaurants, sacred temples, rice paddies and luxury resorts, many of which sport impressive views from infinity pools . Ubud is also the epicenter of Bali’s spiritual side, offering many different activities to encourage soul searching and spiritual practice. Even if you’re not in the market for that sort of thing, it would be crazy to go all the way to Bali and not spend time in Ubud.
Nusa Dua
The most upscale region of Bali, Nusa Dua easily seduces honeymooners. This self-contained resort complex is where you’ll find the mother lode of five-star resorts as golden beaches that are considered the most beautiful on the island. You’ll find little to do outside the resorts (there is a small village for shopping and some shrines) but you’ll be so pampered and relaxed you won’t even notice.
Best Attractions And Activities In Bali
Most honeymooners spend at least five days in Bali: why travel all that way to leave right after you get there? Bali is cheap enough to spend a whole month here without breaking a financial sweat, and there are more than enough activities and attractions to fill that time. Such as…
Tapping into your spiritual side. We’ll say it again. Bali is a place of spiritual healing, spiritual practice, and spiritual soul searching. Whether you’re visiting the Sacred Monkey Forest or even getting holistically realigned at a spa, tapping into your spiritual side is part of the Bali package.
Visiting Uluwatu. Even if you’re not a surfer, Uluwatu is where the cool kids hang. The sprawling beach is surreally beautiful, and the surf lifestyle has attracted a hip, cool crowd. If there’s a beach town that gets more Instagram love than Uluwatu , we’d be amazed.
Seize the views. The views of Bali from higher ground are staggering, especially from the infinity pools in Ubud. Plenty of beach resorts also offer bars and restaurants with a second level, so you can enjoy panoramic seascapes while enjoying a cocktail with your wife.
Top Restaurants In Bali
When Anthony Bourdain makes a visit to Bali, you know the food scene is impressive.
Bali’s dining scene is definitely unique, combining French, Asian and American influences. The Balinese love coconut and curry, and anything that can be roasted over a fire pit.
Most local or authentic restaurants serve up classic, traditional dishes like nasi goreng, and you can bet there’s going to be some spice in the dishes (an Indonesian trademark).
Bali is also a foodie’s paradise because everything is so affordable. Even the most expensive restaurant on the island will only set you back about $100 per person (with wine).
We’ve rounded up the restaurants that are the best on the island, perennial favorites for honeymooners.
Summary
Bali is everything you could ask for when it comes to an exotic, budget-friendly honeymoon in South East Asia. There’s luxury hotels, excellent dining, nightlife, water activities, sprawling beaches, verdant jungles, ancient shrines and scenic landscapes. The food is awesome, the street culture is magnetic, and the outdoor adventures (from surfing classes to white water rafting) are some of the best in the world. Honeymooners will find so much to do, a week may not be enough.
Bali is magical, and a honeymoon can feel straight out of a fairy tale. Thanks to the altruistic nature of the Balinese, and their strong faith in Hinduism, Bali abounds in good vibes: it’s rare to find a Balinese man or woman having a bad day.
Bali is a long trek from the states, but it’s worth it. Just ask the 3 million travelers who visit every year.
