I’ve never been so conflicted about a place I’ve visited. After training in Muay Thai for two months in Thailand in the northern city of Chiang Mai, I thought I’d take some time to hang out near a beach. Some rest and relaxation, I thought. So, with doing very little research besides watching a few YouTube videos, I booked a flight to Bali and booked a month’s stay at a villa in Canggu. During my time here, I have used the weekends to explore other parts of the island to really get a good feel for the place.
(Breakfast at a cafe overlooking rice terraces in Bali. I found my time outside of major tourist areas like Kuta and Canggu to be the most pleasant. Photo by author).
Here are my observations, good and bad:
Good:
- Bali has lots of natural beauty. To me, the most interesting parts of Bali have actually been away from the beaches. Heading out to the countryside is relaxing and peaceful.
- There are absolutely phenomenal restaurants in Bali. No matter your taste in food or even dietary restrictions, Bali has something for you. I think I have had only one or two bad meals so far and I’ve been here for nearly a month. This goes for everything from basic Indonesian eateries to world-class restaurants.
(Private villa with pool. $90 USD a night, included breakfast every morning. Photo by author).
- Bali is a very economical vacation for western tourists with a strong currency, but it’s also a good value for any tourist. The relative level of luxury in comparison to cost is very high. I really can’t think of many places I’ve been where I could rent a private villa with a pool starting at around $40-$50 a night. Sure, things might be a bit cheaper in Vietnam, but the quality just isn't as high there in relation to price.
- Customer service is delivered with a smile everywhere. While I’m not one of those people that thinks everyone needs to be friendly in customer service, I do appreciate it when it happens.
- Bali is surprisingly exotic. I have been to quite a few places that are popular with tourists, most of them feel very “American-ized” for lack of a better word. I remarked in a different answer that even Vietnam felt all too familiar to me as an American. While there’s a Starbucks and a few chain restaurants here and there in Bali, this is absent from most of the island. Once outside the major population centers, Bali very much feels like a place from a different time. This was refreshing and fascinating to me.
(Bali sunsets are spectacular. Photo by author).
- There are many beaches. While none of the beaches I have visited were particularly impressive, they exist. If you enjoy surfing or sunbathing on a beach, you can definitely do that here.
- Bali is a great place to visit if you are into sports and fitness. You can find a variety of gyms at different price points with many different amenities.
Bad:
- Over-tourism. Bali is quite small, but receives over 15 million tourists each year. I was shocked to learn from locals that my visit was during the low season for tourism. I can’t imagine parts of the island being more crowded than they are now.
- Traffic. This goes hand-in-hand with the above point. Going in and out of highly populated areas like Canggu and Kuta is hell on earth. What would normally be a short trip, can turn into an hour or more. Trips across the island can be painfully slow. Clearly, Bali’s infrastructure was never meant to handle the number of visitors it receives.
- Pollution. Trash often washes up on beaches here, and other trash is left by tourists and locals. While the beaches are usually okay, I would still say that Bali has some of the dirtiest beaches I have ever visited. Air pollution is also a concern due to the high number of vehicles and because trash is sometimes burned on the island. Lastly, noise pollution is a concern in the populated areas of Bali. There will be some motorbike traffic at all times of the day and night. This can be very unpleasant.
(while the beaches are still pleasant, trash often washes ashore including broken glass. It’s best to watch your step on Bali’s beaches. Photo by author).
- Revelers. While you can escape this in some parts of Bali, in others it’s impossible to avoid drunk and ill-behaved holiday-makers. I also noticed that many of the young people make a lot of noise in restaurants and cafes. Every time I go for a coffee, I can be sure someone will be watching videos or playing music on their phone without headphones. Restaurant staff don’t seem to ever intervene.
- Cigarette smoking is still quite popular in Indonesia. If you go to a restaurant by the sea to watch the sunset, you can be sure you’ll have to deal with someone smoking nearby. I hate this.
(Walking in Bali can be quite hazardous, which leads most people to rent a scooter. However, driving a scooter is not for amateurs. Luckily, hiring a driver is rather inexpensive, but…then there’s traffic to contend with. Photo by author).
- Bali, for the most part, is not walkable. Even in places where there is a sidewalk/pavement, it can be difficult to get around on foot due to a myriad of obstacles and the onslaught of traffic.
Okay, so that’s my review of Bali. My final verdict is this: I would visit Bali again if I were in Asia and in the general neighborhood. However, I would only go for a tranquil vacation outside the populated areas. I wouldn’t make a trip from the western hemisphere specifically to go to Bali. The juice wouldn’t be worth the squeeze.
(Yours truly during a day of exploring the countryside on ATVs in Bali. Photo from author).
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