It’s a famous holiday spot for boozy Aussies, but if you steer clear of the surfers’ party paradise in Kuta and stick to the resort town of Seminyak, you’ll find that Bali is also the perfect place to unwind, pamper and luxuriate.
1. The locals
The Balinese are hands down some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. From Yude, who would erupt into giggles while teaching me how to make sambal (hot sauce), to our travelling buddy Rizal, who laughed at my pot of Long Island Iced Tea and bought me a shot of local arak to down instead, the people of Indonesia are warm, hospitable and hilarious.
But be warned – they’re no pushovers when it comes to prices! Get ready to steel yourself for some haggling, especially when negotiating taxi fares – and make sure you agree on a price before starting your trip.
2. Travel in style
If you’d rather avoid squabbling with cabbies, Bali does have Uber and a similar app, Grab, but there are some areas they can’t go due to hostile relationships with the local taxi companies. My advice? Opt for a private driver.
It sounds luxe, but for only $50 a day – or $25 for half a day – you’ll have a car at your beck and call. It’s a great idea if you’re travelling with kids or you want to cover a lot of ground, plus you can simply sit back and bask in the air con while your driver battles the traffic.
I did spy some adrenaline junkies on hired scooters weaving through the chaos, but if your plan is to unwind, maybe leave these treacherous roads to the professionals.
3. The luxe life
There are hotels in Seminyak, but you’re selling yourself short if you don’t experience the luxury of a Balinese villa. Elegant and lavish – without the hefty price tag –they offer nearly all the trimmings of a hotel plus one very important must for relaxation – privacy!
We found our villas through Airbnb, which gave us the added bonus of helpful hosts. They were more than happy to help us arrange drivers, childcare and share their insider tips about the local area, including where to go for a spot of pampering.
4. Spoiled rotten
Hit the streets and wander into one of the many massage parlours, or for an ultimate day-spa treatment, make your way to Prana Spa. They have everything from steam rooms and plunge pools to hour-long foot massages. We finished our own pamper day off with a manicure, which again was a case of throwing a stone to find a salon.
One tip – don’t get caught up trying to find the cheapest price. The first place we went to gave us a terrible colour selection and gloopy gel polish that wouldn’t dry. If you go a little upmarket, you’re still paying less than in New Zealand, so bite the bullet and treat yourself!
5. Fine dining and cocktails
Seminyak is a foodie’s heaven. The resort town is home to Will Meyrick, a local food celebrity who owns four of the trendiest restaurants in Bali. We popped along to Mama San, his hip, warehouse-style spot with a menu based on South-Asian street food. Every dish was incredible, but the standout was the crispy “confit” pork hock – all sorts of melt-in-your-mouth perfection.
On the drinks front, give the local wine a miss and dive into Bali’s pumping cocktail scene. We did just that at Potato Head, a sprawling restaurant and club that overlooks the beach. You can perch up at a bar in the middle of their infinity pool or, if you’ve overindulged at dinner, you can follow my lead, keep your clothes on and recline on the poolside couches instead.