Bali Travel Guide

Continuing the Bali Diary...

One of the most popular spot in Indonesia that also liked by many tourists is none other than Bali. A perfect place for summer gate-away. Bali also one of my favourite spots for short holiday. Offer a lot of nature escape such beaches and rice fields, Balinese foods, super convenient hotels, and lot of quirky and fascinating cafes. Also my-5-years experiences living there makes me missed that city so much.

Once a year my and my husband always takes our time in Bali just for a quick visit and escape the busy Jakarta. Here's  some of our guideline for a perfect summer vacation in Bali.

TRANSPORTATION

In Bali, the most convenient way for strolling around here is by motorcycle or car. You can rent a motorcycle or car (with or without driver) with various of type. The price range is also depends on the car it self, automatic or manual, with or without driver. Last time we went to Bali, we rent an Avanza (automatic) car for IDR 300.000/day without driver. We're more convenient to drive ourself there actually. If you travel with groups, you may need a bigger transportation such as mini van or bus.

Why do I suggest you to rent a transportation in Bali? It's simply because there's only taxi and 'ojek' for public transportation there. You won't find any bus or maybe 'angkot' in Bali. Well, online transportation is also not very welcome there so it will be difficult to find it there.

CAR RENTAL

Bali Rental (Pak Nyoman) - 0812.3955.561

Several times going back and forth here, I always using Bali Rental by Pak Nyoman. Good services with also affordable prices make me also recommend him to some of my family and friends.

ACCOMODATION 

Bali offers many kind of hotels and villas. Every location has its own uniqueness. If you want a private hotel with private beach, you can try Nusa Dua area. But privacy came with price. The most crowded area with many cafes, bars, live music can be find in Seminyak, Kuta, and Legian area. For catching a sunset you can enjoy stay at Uluwatu or Jimbaran area. Last but not least, Ubud will offer you a calm nature view with rice fields and everything greens. 

We often came to Bali and tried to stay at many different hotel because we liked to experience the hotel wherever we stayed.


TS Suite Villa, Seminyak

I spent one night here couple years ago as a second alternative to one of Nusa Dua hotels. Turn out to be a best experience. So now, when bringing larger company I booked here again. 

I spent my two nights in Bali here. I booked TSky, the two bedrooms villas on top floor with a private pool and it was amazing. It was clean, cozy, and convenient. The service is consistent. Free minibars, complimentary massages, 24h stand by facilities, free business center, etc. Every complaints are handled very well. 

I would like to return here every time I'm in Bali. And I also encourage you too. It's worth the price.

Entrance lobby











Room





Bathroom Goals
 

Private Pool



Hotel Swimming Pool at Roof Top

Sofitel Bali, Nusa Dua

This is a second time for me to stay in Sofitel Nusa Dua Bali. And I think I love this visit more than the first. The view is greater now. They also have room with direct access to the swimming pool. You don't have to walk to reach the pool, just keep swimming.

Several activities are there for you to enjoy  if you don't want to go outside the hotel. Me and hubby learnt some archery here which is a very plus point I've found on this visit; staying in Sofitel still mean that you can do outdoor activities like sunbathing, badminton, volleyball, and archery in private. Sometimes in the morning they also have an aquarobic (aerobic in swimming pool). 

What I love staying in most Nusa Dua hotel have a private beach, that can only be access by hotel guest. It really make me really enjoy the beach because it less crowded than the public beaches.

Entrance Lobby

Room

Archery session

Swimming Pool

Private Beach

Mulia, Nusa Dua

This is my first time to spend the night in Mulia Group hotel, and I try it in Bali. Overall, as a standalone Hotel, Mulia Resort have sufficient expectation to be called luxury resort. The hotel is so clean. In fact, this is the cleanest hotel I've ever visit so far. They will give you  complimentary 2 welcome drinks, one in the Bar, and one in ZJ's Night Club (yes, they have a night club in the compound). A Neorest Toilet!! automatic with warmer toilet is a rare thing to see in Indonesian Hotels. 

The hotel is so huge that makes you can explore and enjoy every corner of it. From swimming pool, private beach, night club, restaurants, and many more. The only concern is they don't have a valet service. Since the parking area is hard to access from hotel area, it a bit bothers me to always back and forth to the parking lot instead of the lobby and get some valet.

Lobby entrance

Room

My room view

Swimming Pool

Private beach

For any other hotel references, you can click my link here

FOOD 

SUCKLING PIG (BABI GULING)

The most authentic food beside Balinese Rice and Ayam Betutu is Suckling Pig (Babi Guling). Babi Guling consists of various parts of pork (meats and intestines) served with rice and spices. This food is very popular in Bali, almost every corner you can easily find this Suckling Pig restaurant. It seems that local Balinese families can create this food, with their own family recipes. The price range between IDR 30.000 - IDR 50.000 per portion. 

Up until now, Babi Guling restaurants are all traditional. Usually they open from 9.00 until sold out. No matter how crowded the restaurant is, they seem to make the food only from one pig daily. So the famous ones will be closed earlier than the others.

Here's several of my favourite suckling pig.

Babi Guling Pak Chandra

Jl. Teuku Umar, Dauh Puri Kauh, Denpasar Bar., Kota Denpasar, Bali

7 AM - 10 PM

Babi Guling Pak Dobiel

My first attempt tried this one and I love it! Even the portion I think little bit smaller than the other. I also love their soup, spicy but still taste very good. If you can not stand of spicy food, you can also request a non-spicy suckling pig here. Best time to visit is early morning to avoid crowds.

Jl. Srikandi No. 9, Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali

9 AM - 4 PM

Babi Guling Pak Malen

Still my favorite though so far. You can order mix or separated. I prefer separated because you will get the portion much more than a mix one. This scukling pig not as spicy as Pak Dobiel but the taste also very good. Best time to visit also early morning to avoid the crowds.

Jalan Sunset Road No. 554, Seminyak, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali

9 AM - 6 PM

Babi Guling Bu Dayu

My Balinese friends recommended me to try this suckling pig. Their opening time is different with the others, they open from 7 pm until midnight depends on how fast their stock decrease. So to be honest this is the best suckling pig I've ever taste. Not to mention they also have balung (pork knuckle soup) for those who like it. Sometimes before 7 pm the queue already there. Best time to visit actually a little bit night around 9 pm or later. 

ALERT this is very spicy so for you who can not stand a spicy one, you may want to consider to request a low spicy one.

Jl. Raya Kuta (depan BCA)

6 PM - midnight

SATAY

Sate Plecing Arjuna

This is my favorite since I was young when I used to lived in Bali with my parents. They served two kinds of meat : pork and beef satay. They also have two kind of sauce : Plecing and Sweet Sauce. Actually I prefer the sweet sauce rather than plecing. But most people love the plecing because it taste a little bit spicy. Other than that, they also have several soups like : meatball soup, sumsum soup, etc

Jalan Arjuna No.47, Denpasar Utara, Bali

9 AM - 3 PM

Sate Babi Bawah Pohon

Sate Babi Bawah Pohon (Lit. pork satay under the tree) started as Satay Stand on the parking spot on Jalan Patih Jelantik. It gained popularity due to its cheap price. However, the price come with smaller portion. Each skewer only consist two pieces of meat. Perhaps there are many other restaurant provide tastier and better portion than this place. But if you just want to do a quick culinary stop without making your tummy full, this is the place.

Parking spot lapangan trimaksih, Jl. Patih Jelantik, Legian, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali

9 AM - 6 PM

Price Range : IDR 20000 / portion

CAFES and PLACES

While Kuta and Legian area full of international tourist, aside from beach and nightclubs, the shops there mainly sells local goods and traditional crafts. On recent years, a quick development are happening in new area such as Seminyak and Canggu area. This area is developed to a "Western Town" A place full of western food and western tourist in tropical island. Some foreigners, cooperate with locals also set up shops here. This phenomenon makes visiting this area a unique experience. Not to mention that most of these places are instagrammable.

Sun of Panama

Offering a white-blue colour-themed, this is one of the instagrammable place in Canggu. They also provide the pool for us to chill by the pool or for kids playing around the pool. Words of warning: they do not allowed DSLR Camera to take picture here. However, small mirrorless camera is still allowed at the time of our visit.

Sea Vu Play

With sea and carnival themed, Sea Vu are one of must visit places for instagrammed. However, due to very hot weather in this area, Sea Vu is crowded at night.

Cabina Bali

Located at Canggu, this cafe has a small pool you can use to swim or just to chill out. This pool facility is mostly use by western foreigners. You may want to try their breakfast in the pool package. It is a breakfast served on the tray floating on pool. Another unique thing to try is "Tolak Angin" Ice Cream. Also you have to pay minimum 100K/ person to enter this place.

Folie Kitchen

Folie is located two minutes drive from Cabina. It famous of its bakery and cake as well as breakfast menus. Folie also have a private lodging which have beautiful landscape.

Mad Pops

Mad Pops are known for their vegetarian campaign. All of their products are vegetarian friendly. They started their business by selling popsicles and then start selling gelato and coffees too. Mad Pops are known by "Ice Ice Baby" Neon Sign in Instagram which is one of main reasons people come to this place. However do not be deceived by pictures. This place is very tiny and very hard to find parking spot here. They also have a branch in Canggu area but they are not selling popsicles there. However this is one of must visit place in Bali, especially if you like ice.

La Brisa

A rising star place in Canggu, La Brisa is a popular place to watch sun set. This place have many photo spots and when we visited this place, they are expanding the place (maybe finished later in 2018). To enter this place you must purchase a voucher valued IDR 100,000 per person which can be use to buy foods and drinks inside.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER VACATION ALL