BALI
Indonesia
QUICK TAKE
Bali has an Instagram problem — the famous spots are overrun and underwhelming in person. The island rewards going where the influencers aren't: the east coast, the mountains, the unglamorous towns with real Balinese culture. Traffic is brutal, so pick one area and commit.
WHERE TO STAY
FOR THE WELLNESS/RETREAT SEEKER
STAY IN
Ubud (north of town) or Sidemen
WHY
Ubud's rice paddies and yoga scene are real, but stay north of the center to escape the crowds. Sidemen is the quieter alternative — Mount Agung views, rice terraces, fewer tourists, authentic village feel.
OUR PICK
COMO Shambhala Estate or Four Seasons Sayan
~$150-400/night
FOR THE BEACH + NIGHTLIFE BALANCE
STAY IN
Canggu or Sanur
WHY
Canggu has the surf scene, beach clubs, and digital nomad energy — lively but not trashy like Kuta. Sanur is the opposite: calm, family-friendly, with a long beach promenade and an old-school Bali feel.
OUR PICK
The Slow (Canggu) or Hotel Tugu Bali (Sanur)
~$100-300/night
FOR THE LUXURY ESCAPE
STAY IN
Uluwatu or East Bali (Amankila area)
WHY
Uluwatu's clifftop resorts have the dramatic Indian Ocean views. East Bali around Candidasa has the island's most exclusive resorts (Amankila) with almost no tourists. Both require commitment — you won't leave the property much.
OUR PICK
Alila Villas Uluwatu or Amankila
~$400-1,200/night
SKIP THESE
- × Kuta/Legian
The Cancún of Bali. Loud, drunk, and nothing like the island you came for. Even the beach is mediocre.
- × Seminyak main strip
Used to be cool, now mostly tourist restaurants and traffic. The better Seminyak spots are hidden, and Canggu does it better anyway.
- × Ubud town center hotels
The center is a traffic-clogged mess. Stay 10-15 minutes north and you'll have the rice paddies and peace you imagined.
READ MORE
ABOUT BALI
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TEXT US YOUR DATESLast updated: January 2025 · Prices are approximate