Weddingbee Blog

Why yes, I did just shamelessly twist Elizabeth Gilbert’s words. They fit in the title so nicely that I couldn’t help it. Anyway, in my first honeymoon post I recapped our own experience in Bali, and in this one I hope to give you some useful insider’s information (e.g. where to eat, places to stay, things to love in Bali…see the connection to the title now?), in case any of you are interested in going there for your own honeymoon, or just a fun trip away. What makes me (sort of) qualified to give this “insider’s” scoop? As you might remember, Mr E and I grew up in Indonesia. Bali was always on our route whenever we went from our passport countries to our respective homes in Indonesia, so we saw quite a bit of the place. Also, whenever our families needed a break, it was the place to go!

I loved the island back then, and I love it now. We have seen it go through hard times (right after the nightclub bombings in 2002) and good. Throughout all that the attitude of the Balinese people has remained as resilient and gentle as ever, and I think it is those people that keep us coming back time and time again.

Where to stay

The brilliant thing about Bali is that there is such a wide range of accommodation options to choose from. From budget bungalows, to luxury villas with your own private beach, and everything in between—the hardest part is knowing where to start! The different parts of Bali all have their selling points, and seem to attract different types of travellers. We stayed in Kuta, which is the main tourist and shopping centre of Denpasar. Some may dislike the noise and crowdedness of this area, but we got all the peace we needed at our hotel, and only had to brave the masses when heading out to eat or shop. The great thing about Kuta is that it is central to everything, and there are so many great restaurants within easy walking distance.

The beach is within walking distance too!

Other top areas to stay include Seminyak, Sanur, and Nusa Dua. Seminyak and Sanur are similar to Kuta, but slightly less central and less busy. Nusa Dua is a great area for water sports and the beaches are also nicer there, however the hotels are also more pricey! For peace and quiet, you can’t go past Ubud—the art and cultural centre of Bali. The climate is also cooler there as Ubud is at a higher altitude. The one drawback” it is a little less accessible than the other areas.

I’m not going to give you a list of hotels to stay in, as there are just too many, but my advice would be to do your research, keep an eye out for internet deals and be sure to read reviews before you book. A bonus is, of course, that accommodation in Bali is generally cheaper than staying somewhere of the equivalent standard in your home country.

Where to eat

From my previous post, you’ll know that eating was high on our list of priorities while in Bali. As with accommodation, you will be spoilt for choice! Whatever your taste buds like, whether it is Greek, Indian, Indonesian, or whatever, you will have a range of restaurants to try. We like going “around the world” when we eat out in Bali, so here is a list of our top five favourite restaurants that we have discovered over the years. All these restaurants are located in the greater Kuta area, many within walking distance of each other:

1. For Greek/Mediterranean inspired cooking, you can’t pass up Daddy’s Cafe. It doesn’t look like much as it is located above a convenience store and you have to walk up a rusty spiral staircase to get there but I assure you that their seafood kebabs are incredible.

2. Kunyit Bali is a great spot for authentic Balinese cuisine. Our favourite dish is their satay campur.

mmm…babi kecap and satay for me please!

3. Mama’s German Restaurant on the famous Jl. Legian is always filled with contented customers. The service is very upbeat, and the sausage will keep you coming back.

4. Located under the Bali Dynasty Hotel is Gracie’s Irish Pub. I still have dreams about their sticky toffee pudding…

5. For some reason, the best margherita pizzas I have eaten have always been in Bali. Cicelo’s Pizza Pasta Bar, located right next to Daddy’s Cafe, makes the best.

Those are just a few restaurants to get you started—I’m sure you will quickly find your own favourites if you make the trip!

Things to Love

Ahhh, so many things to love about Bali!

There’s the beach of course, and a range of water sports available, water and wildlife parks to visit, volcano tours, and much, much more, including the shopping, whole villages where they craft silver jewellery, wood carving workshops, cooking classes, etc. Whether you want to be a blob by the pool, or go out and take advantage of every activity available, you probably won’t be disappointed.

Parasailing in Bali, 2007—just to prove I can be active sometimes.

Other Tips

• If you don’t love hot and humid monsoonal weather like we do, then it pays to visit Bali some other time rather than January/February.
• Bargaining is accepted and expected in Bali. Feel free to bargain away at most roadside stalls, etc. But don’t try it in the shopping malls, no one will be impressed.
• Only drink bottled water, otherwise you might catch the dreaded “Bali Belly.”  Also be careful when eating fresh fruit from stalls, or raw vegetables at restaurants. Annoyingly enough, I had never had Bali belly until our honeymoon. Running to the loo every few minutes for two days isn’t very romantic.

There you go, that’s my insider’s guide for you! Of course, there is much more to say about the place, but I think these main points will get you started at least. If you have any questions or would like to know something more specific about honeymooning in Bali, then feel free to drop me a line!

*All photos taken by myself or Mr E