One of the most magical destinations on the planet, Bali can be a dazzling and spiritual experience, but it has also become over touristed to the point that it’s easy to have a frustrating visit if you don’t do your research.
Many Australians and backpackers come to surf and party in the busy Kuta Beach area, and that can be fun if you enjoy crowds. There are many better places if you want a more relaxed visit so it’s worth staying elsewhere if you aren’t coming to party the whole time.
Bali is a gorgeous island with gentle locals and a great tourist infrastructure. It also has a pretty serious traffic problem, so it’s best to keep your travels to a minimum.
The hillside town of Ubud is the art capital of the island and it’s one of the better places to stay.
| Population | 50,000 |
| Area | 200,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+8 |
| Currency | Indonesian rupiah |
| Airports | Denpasar International Airport (DPS) |
Sitting around on the beach (while vendors constantly stream by) is the top attraction here and of course that’s free. You can rent a surfboard for a low price and even get proper lessons for less that you’d pay in most other surf spots.
Touring the rice terraces and famous temples is another highlight for most visitors.
Many people, especially those staying in the purpose-built Nusa Dua resort complex, just stay in the resort and enjoy the beaches and water sports on offer.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 12.00 - 60.00 |
| 15.00 - 56.00 |
| 18.00 - 98.00 |
| 32.00 - 101.00 |
| 119.00 - 238.00 |
Samsara Inn Doubles from US$53 | |
Easily one of the best-value cheaper Kuta hotels complete with a pool, the Samsara books up well in advance. | |
Best Western Kuta Beach Doubles from US$47 | |
This large and popular hotel is very close to the beach and rates include breakfast, but you must book early to get the best deals. |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 8.61 - 12.48 |
BIG Pineapple Backpackers Beds from US$11/night | |
Arguably Bali’s best hostel, the BIG Pineapple is actually near Sanur Beach, which is much mellower than Kuta Beach. |
Food and drinks are also very cheap by most standards, though not as cheap as in mainland Southeast Asia. Simple and delicious meals start around US$1 each, and for not much more than that you can get something really filling and sometimes even fancy. Beer is the cheapest drinking option, and it’s the most popular, but mixed drinks are found cheaply on specials at the popular bars as well.
| Budget breakfast | If your hotel or guesthouse doesn't include breakfast, you can find cheap eats nearby. | $1.90 - $3.67 |
| Budget lunch | Combinations of rice or noodles and chicken are classic and filling. | $2.67 - $4.34 |
| Budget dinner | Kuta and its area is filled with Western restaurants with good prices. Local joints are a bit cheaper. | $4.67 - $7.34 |
| Beer (.33l bottle) | Bintang is the ubiquitous local lager, served in ice-cold large and small bottles. Nightclubs will charge more. | $1.83 - $3.20 |
HIRING A DRIVER IN BALI
By far the best way to get around Bali is to hire a driver for anywhere from 4 hours to a week. They are incredibly cheap and also act as a trusted advisor to help you avoid problems and find the best things. Nearly all of them drive mini-vans or SUVs that can hold at least 5 passengers. In Kuta and Ubud you’ll be harassed on the street often by men offering transport, and most of them are honest, but it’s hard to tell in an instant.
Typical 2023 Bali driver prices:
8 hours: US$50
Extra time: US$5 per hour
That price is for a driver AND a van for up to 5 passengers, so it’s an amazing deal. The driver acts as sort of a guide as well, so it’s even more worth it than you can imagine. If you simply want transport from one place to another you can hire an Uber more cheaply. BUT Bali is an island where having a driver who is also a guide is incredibly valuable. You’ll save time and see much more with someone who is experienced in showing off the best sights.
RECOMMENDED DRIVER
On my most recent month in Bali I hired a driver named Kadek Archa for airport transfers and 5 day-trips at the recommendation of a friend. Most drivers in Bali seem to be honest, but I can personally recommend Kadek Archa (email: [email protected], WhatsApp: +62 812 365 2777). Tell him Roger recommended him and he will give you his best rates.
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 86 | 78 | 13.7 |
| February | 86 | 78 | 11.3 |
| March | 87 | 78 | 8.4 |
| April | 87 | 78 | 3.7 |
| May | 86 | 78 | 3.0 |
| June | 85 | 77 | 2.8 |
| July | 83 | 76 | 2.0 |
| August | 83 | 76 | 0.9 |
| September | 85 | 76 | 1.6 |
| October | 86 | 77 | 3.6 |
| November | 87 | 78 | 6.1 |
| December | 86 | 78 | 11.5 |
Being nearly on the equator, it’s no surprise that Kuta (and all of Bali) has similar temperatures the year round. As with other tropical places, it’s all about a rainy season and a dry season. The rainy season lasts from November through March, and during this time you can expect rain just about every day, and it tends to come down in buckets, or even sheets, when it does rain. You definitely have to find cover when it happens, but the good news is the rain rarely lasts more than 30 minutes or so at a time, so it’s a matter of dodging storms and otherwise doing what you want.
The dry season is from April through October, and you’ll obviously get far less rainfall during this period, but it will still be rather humid every day so packing for a steamy climate is advised no matter when you come.
| 21 Mar | 6:23am | 6:29pm |
| 21 Jun | 6:32am | 6:09pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:10am | 6:15pm |
| 21 Dec | 5:58am | 6:36pm |
Hotels start at amazingly low prices, though the bottom end means no air conditioning, cheap furniture, and a badly needed paint job. Still, if you are a minimalist then you will find loads of options here. Once you are looking for A/C instead of just a fan then the price starts going up, but you can still find great bargains as long as you aren’t coming during the December holidays.
Like so many tropical islands, Bali has its absolute peak season for hotels during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Bali hotels also have peak prices during August and into September, as so many Europeans are on holiday during that time.
The mid season for Bali hotels is from April through July, and the low season is from mid January through March, and from mid September through mid December.
Many of the cheaper hotels and guesthouses don’t change rates much throughout the year, but many of the 3-star and above places have huge price swings, so you might get a great deal if you come off season.
There are no hostels with dorms in Kuta, but with private and basic rooms in guesthouses being so easy to find, there is really no need for dorms.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 12.00 - 60.00 |
| 15.00 - 56.00 |
| 18.00 - 98.00 |
| 32.00 - 101.00 |
| 119.00 - 238.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 8.61 - 12.48 |
Nearly all visitors to Bali will fly into the Denpasar International Airport, which is fairly close to Kuta Beach.
Taxis from there are pretty affordable, but it can be even better to hire a private driver arranged in advance for a similar price and better service.
The Kuta Beach/Legion/Seminyak area is all walkable and traffic can be horrific so walking is often best.
As mentioned above, hiring a private driver is weirdly cheap and the best way to get around for most people.
You can rent a motor scooter for a reasonable price, but be aware that tourists crash on them daily and the traffic is even more dangerous and challenging after a couple of cheap drinks.
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to Kuta | 1.33 - 4.00 |
| Bemo (minivan) from airport to Kuta | 0.33 - 0.67 |
| 3km taxi ride in Kuta | 1.33 - 2.00 |