Why go to Bali?

Bali... it's the stuff of dreams... But why? Well, the people are really friendly and welcoming, and even though the official language is Indonesian, they all speak English (and some even speak French). There's also the sunshine, the incredible landscapes (volcanoes, rice fields, waterfalls, beaches), the sunshine (even if it rains often, it never lasts long), the massages, the culture, the food and, of course, the cost of living, which is really, really cheap! So why hesitate?

What budget should you plan for? And how can you find the best prices?

So my advice for travelling to Bali on a budget is... Buy your plane tickets and accommodation separately! Compare prices on different airline websites for plane tickets (and why not take the opportunity to stop over for a few days in Singapore or Bangkok) and compare prices for your accommodation (hotels and villas) on websites such as Booking, Agoda, Expedia or Airbnb (and treat yourself... renting an entire villa with a private pool or a great hotel is really inexpensive, so take advantage of it!).

For plane tickets, you can find return tickets from 500€ with two stopovers and no luggage, but you should budget for 700€ to 800€ for a single stopover, travelling with a reliable airline (Air France, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines or Qatar Airways, for example) and with checked luggage

When it comes to accommodation, depending on what you are looking for (luxury, remote working, honeymoon, secluded retreat, seaside or budget), you will find something to suit every price range! From 15€ (price for 2 people per night) for a small secluded villa in the rice fields to 100€ for a double room in a luxury seaside hotel, or 30€ for a villa with a private pool and breakfast served on site... you'll find everything, but in any case, it will be between 3 and 10 times cheaper than in the UK or Europe!

As for meals, breakfast is often included in the price of the hotel or villa, so you only need to add the cost of lunch and dinner, which is between €4 and €10 maximum for a full meal! Yes, restaurants are really cheap and the food is excellent!

Hiring a car with a driver for the day costs between 30€ and 50€ maximum, which is the best and cheapest way to visit the island! (Hiring a car would not be any cheaper and you need an international driving licence).

And as for massages... A must in Bali, they cost between 5€ and 15€, so why deprive yourself?

Here, for example, is a typical Balinese villa that we rented for four people, with a private pool and a generous breakfast served on site, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, in Ubud, for 60€/night (for four people).

Recommended itineraries in Bali: 4 ideas for 15-day itineraries in Bali

• Days 7 and 8: Enjoy your swimming pool and do some shopping in the town centre (the Ubud market is inexpensive, but don't forget to haggle over prices... often divided by 2 or 3 at the end... unless you've been ripped off! Take the time to enjoy a massage, then on the last evening, pack your bags to leave the next day for Nusa Dua (you can ask your driver to stop for one or two more visits along the way if you wish!).

For those who are afraid of getting bored on the first itinerary or who want to visit as many places as possible in 15 days, here are 3 other possible itineraries... it's up to you to decide and compare!

🌿 Itinerary 2: Bali 15 days – Essential and balanced with 5 different stages

This itinerary allows you to discover the must-see sights while maintaining a good pace.

• Days 1 to 4: Ubud

  In the cultural heart of the island: Ubud, with its rice fields (Tegallalang), temples, waterfalls and lively town centre with its market.

• Days 5 to 6: Sidemen

  An authentic and peaceful region, perfect for discovering a more traditional Bali.

• Days 7 to 9: Amed

  With its stunning seabed, Amed is ideal for snorkelling and relaxing on black sand beaches facing Mount Agung. Beaches, volcanoes, lakes and forests.

• Days 10 to 12: Nusa Penida

  Spectacular beaches, cliffs and iconic Balinese landscapes.

• Days 13 to 15: Uluwatu

  Surfing, beaches, cliff-top temples and magnificent sunsets. Discover a different atmosphere! Here, you'll feel like you're in Australia!

✅ This 15-day Bali itinerary is the most comprehensive for a first-time visit to the island, but with a more sustained pace with 5 stops.

🏖️ Itinerary 3: Bali 15 days – Relaxation and beaches (slow travel)

This itinerary is more suited to those seeking a trip to Bali focused on relaxation, beaches and wellbeing.

• Days 1 to 5: Ubud

  Massages, walks through rice fields and excursions around Ubud.

• Days 6 to 9: Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida

  Relaxation, snorkelling and idyllic beaches.

• Days 10 to 15: Canggu or Uluwatu

  Chilled atmosphere, cafés, beach clubs and surfing sessions.

✅ A perfect 15-day itinerary in Bali for a relaxing trip, whether as a couple or on your honeymoon, with three stops.

🌋 Itinerary 4: Bali 15 days – Nature and adventure

This itinerary is for travellers who enjoy hiking, volcanoes and wild landscapes and want to make the most of them.

• Days 1 to 3: Ubud

  Central base for exploring temples, rice fields and waterfalls.

• Days 4 to 5: Munduk

  Mountainous region known for its waterfalls and volcanic lakes.

• Days 6 to 7: Amed

  Snorkelling, black sand beaches, diving and walks in the forest and on Mount Agung volcano.

• Days 8 to 10: Nusa Penida

  Rugged landscapes, spectacular beaches and snorkelling.

• Days 11 to 15: Uluwatu

  Rest, surfing and cliffs after several days of adventure.

✅ A 15-day itinerary in Bali focused on nature and activities, ideal for the most athletic travellers.

💡 How to choose the best itinerary for 15 days in Bali?

If this is your first trip to Bali, stick to the essential itinerary. Don't try to see everything, but on the other hand, it would be a shame to go so far and stay in your hotel or on the beach all day! So choose the essential things you want to do!

Each itinerary can be adapted to your pace, budget and the season.

Days 9 to 15: Nusa Dua: The beaches! Treat yourself to a beautiful beachfront hotel with a swimming pool and unlimited massages!

• Days 9 and 10: 1 day for travel and settling in. The next day, visit the beach and find out the prices for massages (at the hotel or in town, from 5€ to 20€, you will find all prices). Locate the many restaurants around you. Decide on the programme you will follow for the rest of your stay: you will need to choose which beaches to visit (there are so many to see, you won't be able to do them all; some are accessible on foot, others by Grab, some have an entrance fee, others are free... with cliffs or temples nearby... etc.!), and choose the package you are going to take to visit the islands. You will find many street stalls offering "Nusa Penida" packages: taxi from your hotel + boat + meals + manta ray diving + snorkelling + beaches. You must book in advance. Take the complete package to see as much as possible in one day and remember to negotiate the price. Generally, they will halve the price advertised on their flyers!

Where is Bali?

Bali is in Southeast Asia, an island in the middle of Indonesia, between Java and Lombok, and part of the Indonesian archipelago of the Lesser Sunda Islands. It is not very large; the province of Bali covers approximately 5,600 km² (including the small islands around it that belong to it). The capital is Denpasar.

What are the formalities? Do you need a visa to go to Bali?

Wondering what the formalities are for travelling to Bali? Entry requirements for a country can change quickly, so in any case, my best advice would be to check this official website before travelling: https://www.traveldoc.aero In the meantime, here is a summary: To travel to Bali, you will need:

• 1 passport, valid for at least 6 months after the date of your return

• 1 visa, or rather an e-visa (e-VOA): This can be obtained on arrival in Denpasar, but it is much easier and quicker to do it online from the comfort of your own home before you leave. Be sure to go to the official website of the Indonesian Ministry of Immigration (and not other fraudulent sites that will charge you twice as much): https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id

• You will need to fill out a form that will give you a QR code within three days before you leave, the "All Indonesia" form: https://allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id

• As a foreign tourist, you will also need to pay a new tax (approximately 9€) on the LoveBali website: https://lovebali.baliprov.go.id

How can I get a reliable internet connection in Bali?

It's quite easy to get a good internet connection in Bali! In fact, many French people have moved there and are working remotely.

Firstly, you should know that all hotels and villas offer a very good internet connection in your hotel or residence, with excellent speed. If you need internet elsewhere (highly recommended if you want to order a Grab in town, the local "Uber"), you can buy an international e-SIM (or one for Southeast Asia or just Indonesia) in advance to connect to your mobile phone, or buy a local SIM card anywhere in town as soon as you arrive. So rest assured, you'll have no problem getting internet access in Bali!

Bali is an ideal island for a two-week trip. It's a beautiful island, but... it's far away! From the UK or Europe, you'll inevitably have to stop over somewhere, as there are no direct flights! So, if you're going to spend so many hours flying, you might as well make the most of it! Ten days is fine, but my advice is that 15 days is much better.

There is so much to see and do that it would be a shame not to take the time! The first itinerary is perfect for this! It's my favourite by far! It can be adapted from 10 to 15 days and allows you to really take your time without rushing! The other three itineraries are more for those who like to do as much as possible in as little time as possible... it's up to you!

Thanks to the diversity of its landscapes, it's easy to put together a 15-day itinerary in Bali that balances culture, nature and beaches. In any case, the programme will need to be adapted according to the weather!

Don't forget that it rains often in Bali, but most of the time, the rain only falls in the afternoon, so it's best to concentrate your activities in the morning and take advantage of the late afternoon to relax by the pool and get a massage, for example!

Here are 4 recommended itineraries in Bali, adapted to different styles of travellers:

🌿 Itinerary 1: Bali 10 to 15 days – Relaxation, beaches, landscapes and all the must-see sights – My favourite!

This itinerary is ideal for a first trip to Bali. It allows you to discover the must-see sights while keeping a relaxed pace and not moving around all the time! Many websites will recommend five or six different places to stay, but honestly, two places are more than enough to explore the area within two hours, and it saves you from having to move every night, allowing you to discover the joys of slow travel! This itinerary only includes two different places to stay! A holiday that is exotic, relaxing and unforgettable! Treat yourself to a magnificent private villa with a swimming pool overlooking the rice fields in Ubud and a luxury hotel by the sea in Nusa Dua, and then move around!

Day 1 to 8: Ubud: Book a villa in Ubud with a swimming pool and views of the rice fields, preferably close to the town centre!

• Day 1 and 2: Settle in. Explore your villa, its swimming pool and the surrounding area, do some shopping in town to stock up the fridge with fruit or aperitifs, enjoy your swimming pool, go out for dinner at a nice little restaurant near your accommodation, find your driver for the stay, who will take you everywhere for your visits (we often use the one recommended by the villa or hotel, but otherwise you will find drivers everywhere in town who will offer you their services), organise your itinerary with them for the next few days, take a stroll through the surrounding rice fields and set off to discover hidden houses and temples!

• Days 3 and 4: Visit the monkey forest, choose a few temples around the city to visit and, while you're at it, take the opportunity to visit a waterfall and taste some coffee (Kopi Luwak) and tea (avoid buying coffee or tea on site, as you'll find it much cheaper at the market in town!). The next day, don't miss the Tagalalang rice fields! They are truly among the most beautiful! Try to go early in the morning when the light is beautiful and there aren't too many people, and finish your walk with a swing over the void and a photo shoot! (Be careful, you'll find all kinds of prices for the swing, so don't get ripped off and don't stop at the first spot you see. Instead, go for the small private ones that you'll find along the road, with extraordinary views, for half the price and with a dress or sarong included!) And save some time in the evening to go and see a Balinese dance show!

• Days 5 and 6: Set out to conquer a volcano (Mount Batur, for example). You can choose a day hike to climb to the summit, or just take a walk around the volcano and a nearby lake and visit one or two temples. The next day, visit a village near Ubud where there are many artisans who create silver and gold jewellery. You can even sign up to make your own jewellery in one of the many workshops and take it home with you!

• Day 11: Nusa Penida: enjoy the package you have chosen! Swimming, spectacular beaches and cliffs, and all of Bali's most famous landscapes gathered on one island!

• Days 12 to 15: ENJOY!!! Go sunbathing from one beach to another, enjoy your hotel's swimming pool and massages, watch a Balinese dance show, have a drink in the evening while listening to music, and do your last bit of shopping (be warned, it will be more expensive than in Ubud).

✅ There you have it! This 15-day Bali itinerary is both the most comprehensive and the most relaxing for a first-time visit to the island.

✅ There you go! One last piece of information, so you won't be disappointed: Bali does have its flaws. Here are a few of them:

• It's far away and takes a long time to get there (no direct flights from France).

• There's a lot of rubbish on the beaches (Bali is located in a part of the ocean where waste from all over the world ends up, so it's important to be aware of this! The beaches belonging to luxury hotels are swept several times a day, so they're fairly clean, but the wild beaches unfortunately have a lot of rubbish on them.

• It rains quite often. So you have to plan each day according to the weather.

• Tourism is developing very quickly, so almost all tourist sites now charge an entrance fee! They're not very expensive, often just 1€ or 2€, but expect to pay every time you visit a volcano, waterfall, rice field or even some beaches... There you go!

Maintenant, vous savez tout ! Alors, allez-y, foncez ! Vous allez passer des vacances inoubliables !

TERIMA KASIH !