Bali Travel Guide

Bali was everything one imagines and hopes for in a tropical paradise. Matt and I have never felt more welcomed, taken care of, and at home than in the hotels we stayed in on this tiny little island. Trip Advisor was our main resource for what to do on our honeymoon and it didn’t lead us astray at all. I guess their reviewers should be besties with us! For those of you headed to Bali or thinking about planning a trip, here are the things we enjoyed most in a Bali travel guide.

First, we started off by the beach. I’m a true California girl and can never get enough of the salty ocean breeze. We stayed at The Legian Bali in Seminyak which was one of the most luxurious places we have ever been. From the spa to the stunning views, I can’t find a single thing to criticize. The staff was so attentive which was weird for us since we are so low maintenance and very helpful when it came to recommendations.

Things to do in and around Seminyak:

• Try one of the beach clubs. Cocoon and Potato Head are the most popular, offering a fun, more rambunctious day scene!
• Visit a water park. Matt is OBSESSED with water parks so we spent a day at Waterbom which was surprisingly clean and had every amenity you could want.
• Walk around town! It was so fun to stop in all the shops and visit a couple of the night markets in town.

Where to eat:

• Order the acai bowl at Sea Circus. SO yummy.
• Try any meal at Sisterfields – you can’t go wrong and the restaurant is adorable!
• For a quick afternoon snack, stop by Frozen Yogi for some froyo! There isn’t a separate link for the one in Seminyak but it’s right in the middle of town.
• The best meal we had was at Bambu! Matt ordered babi (suckling pig) and I had the vegetarian platter. We couldn’t be more opposite! The restaurant is on a pool of water and has a super romantic setting. I also had the best wine ever there although I can’t remember what it is now – a New Zealand white though! We were having too much fun!
• The Legian. We had quite a few meals here just because it was so easy and we loved watching the sun rise and set by the pool. Who wouldn’t? Their fresh squeeze juices for breakfast were so incredible!

The Legian treated us to a couples massage which was just what we needed. Matt had never been massaged by a professional before and he was loving every second of it! Especially since at home, it’s him usually massaging me :)

The view from our balcony!

We took walks along the beach which is SO stereotypical but I loved every second of it. If there is one time to be sappy, it’s on your honeymoon!

For the second leg of our stay, we traveled into the mountains for a different type of trip. We stayed at the Four Seasons Resort just outside of Ubud which offered stunning jungle views and was extremely secluded. We stayed in one of the riverfront villas which opened onto the Ayung River. The resort had it’s own rice paddies and yoga hut which Matt and I took an anti-gravity yoga class in. Matt totally fell asleep for the last 15 minutes of it! And can we talk about this breakfast spread? One of everything please.

We spent at least a few hours by the pool each day. The staff would bring us samples of new drink concoctions they created and frozen watermelon to cool us down! Can I go back now?

Exploring the rice paddies at the resort.

Matt was looking forward to visiting the Sacred Monkey Forest the most out of everything on our honeymoon. We spent a few hours watching the guards feed the monkeys and observing these animals in their natural habitat! He was SO amused. Be aware that if you go, don’t wear any jewelry or shiny clothing/accessories. The monkeys will climb on you to steal it and we witnessed this many times!

After the Monkey Forest, we traveled north of Ubud to visit the Tegalalang Rice Terrace. It was one of the most breathtaking sights I’ve seen. It was so green! If you have time, stop at one of the restaurants on the cliff overlooking the terrace for lunch .

There was so much culture everywhere that I kept stopping to take pictures of everything! These temples can be found on nearly every corner in Ubud. It was so special to learn about the traditions of the Balinese.

On the very last night of our stay, the hotel staff prepared this incredible 6 course meal for us on the lily pad situated on the roof of the resort. They decorated the entire deck with flowers and lit candles too. I think it took about 3 hours from start to finish and we enjoyed every second recapping our trip and planning our next one. I am certain it was the most romantic meal we’ve ever had!

One of my favorite temples was Tanah Lot. Make sure you go no matter way! It’s so stunning! At high tide it becomes an island! And if you do want to buy anything from the shops along the way, bring your bargaining skills!