Planning A Bali Holiday: A Paradise Dream Or Practical Nightmare?

My toxic trait is researching any topic I find interesting for hours, days, or even months until I basically have a PhD on the subject. This tendency of mine, which borders on compulsive obsession, was of course also true when we started planning our recent family holiday to the Indonesian island of Bali to celebrate my milestone 40th birthday. As you can imagine, I devoured every Bali travel blog; we watched YouTube videos until they came out of our ears (I've never watched so many snorkeling videos in my life, and I cannot even swim! Then, bingeing snorkeling videos for non-swimmers). I read reviews on everything from the best beaches to the most delicious local dishes to try, must-see attractions and experiences, and where to stay: villa or resort? More importantly, I couldn’t wait to laze about and be well-pampered on the island of the gods while having food and drinks served to me in coconuts as I reclined under the cool shade of our family cabana on Seminyak's double six beach. Aaah, bliss! But that dream didn't last very long.

I was tickled at the idea of immersing myself in the rich cultural tapestry of this beautiful nation. Unfortunately, thanks to Google, by the time I finished my PhD-worthy research, I had also learned about every horror story about the horrendous and presumably unavoidable Bali belly, which can strike unsuspecting tourists and ruin an entire vacay with no apparent cause. I was also shocked at the alarming rise of scooter fatalities being reported due to the poor road conditions and the absence of protective headgear plaguing the island. There was also the issue of alcohol-related accidents and sometimes deaths, as Bali is wildly popular for its party vibes. On my way down this rabbit hole, I was bombarded by websites cautioning that, despite its ingenuous name, Angel's Billabong on Nusa Penida will kill you if tempted enough. The unsuspecting rock pool will literally swallow you in and then spit you out like you're NOTHING. Finally, after yet another warning that everything on the Indonesian island, from the speedboats to the monkeys, is out to get us, I couldn't bear to read another hyperbolic article and decided it was time to check it out for ourselves.

Instead, what we found was a beautiful people going about their daily hustle, guided by the principle of good karma - that how we wish to be treated is how we should treat others. We discovered an idyllic paradise on the doorstep of countless majestic temples surrounded by breathtaking beaches littered with sun beds for taking in the sights, sounds, and tastes of Bali in complete comfort while dipping our toes in the sand. We were drawn to the characterful laneways through which we wandered for hours any time of the day and never got lost. Although we went during the shoulder season in March, we didn't want to lock in any definite plans before we left Australia because we wanted the flexibility to do activities and to go on tours when the weather conditions were most favorable for us. Our need for complete flexibility is also primarily why we decided to stay at a private villa instead of a resort, and thanks to our hosts at GoVillaBali, I didn't need a Doctorate to plan the perfect Bali holiday. They seamlessly removed all the guesswork and anxiety from planning our family holiday. Whatever we decided we wanted to do, no matter how late at night the idea may have come to us, whether it was a surprise birthday cake, a poolside breakfast, a Balinese massage, a professional photographer, or an island tour, our villa manager made sure it was prepared and ready for the very next day.

Not enough people are talking about the incomparable hospitality of the Balinese people and the warm acceptance we feel not only as visitors to their stunning country but also as participants in their pursuit of excellence. From the moment we stepped off the plane, I sensed an air of grace in their every movement that most of the West can only ever find with true and meaningful introspection and accountability. It is in their very orbit that I discovered that all my previous fears about visiting Bali have nothing to do with Bali, but everything to do with my taking responsibility for my own actions. When planning a holiday to any foreign country, our mind and body naturally ready themselves to go into ‘tourist mode,’ but it’s vital that we also switch on our logical brains, our empathetic brains, our creative brains, our curious brains, and our philosophical brains. Wash your hands when you go to the restrooms; be respectful to the people and their culture and, also, importantly, the natural environment around you; appreciate and acknowledge the often laborious crafts being shown to you; speak to your hosts, tour guides, and waiters about the country you come from and ask about theirs - you’ll find the exchange often sobering. When we travel, we become philosophers, anthropologists, and students of the world. As much as we want to just switch off and go into tourist mode, we need to stay switched on. 

By now, I'm sure you've guessed just how much I love Bali. The people here work so hard to make our stay pleasant; it’s hard not to fall in love with the island and its people. Perhaps it's not that they work so hard at it; maybe being world-class hosts just comes naturally to them? I believe it’s the latter, and it's this natural ability to make us feel so special that adds to the Bali charm and the reason so many return time after time. I got to enjoy my coconut drink on the beach, and the speedboats and billabong didn’t end up killing us, simply because we heeded the instructions from our guides. We also managed to evade the mischievous monkeys, the millions of scooters swooshing by at every corner, and only narrowly, the now infamous Bali belly. It turns out everything on the island is not out to get us. However, the day after our snorkeling trip to Nusa Penida, a stunning headline flashed across my phone screen: we had shared the same waters with a great white shark the day before—an incredibly rare occurrence for the warmer Indonesian ocean. A scary thought indeed, but undeniably a bucket list moment!

Helpful Info For Your Bali Family Trip: 

Travel Times: 11 March to 17 March 

Location: Seminyak Beach

Travel Weather: Shoulder Season. Still hot and humid, but it only rained for a total of 1 hour during our entire stay

Bali Seasons: Wet Season (November to March), Dry Season (April to October) 

Villa booked: GoVillaBali 

Villa manager: Mag took care of all our requests and requirements throughout our stay

Villa chef: Nona made our delicious breakfasts every morning before we headed out for the day. We are going to miss her pastries and smile 

Nusa Penida Snorkel and Island Tour Booked: Hosted by Dewa Indra on Airbnb

Snorkel locations: Nusa Penida Manta Bay, Gamat Bay, Crystal Bay, GT Point (The kids absolutely LOVED the thrill of the speedboat ride to the different snorkel locations around the island)

Island Tour Locations: Nusa Penida Kelingking Cliff, Angel Billabong, Broken Beach

Potato Head Beach Club: Bookings essential after 4:30 PM (great for families) 

Waterbom Bali: Go early. There are plenty of poolside loungers, but you also have the option to book a private cabana. Quite possibly the biggest and best waterpark in the Southern Hemisphere.

Om Swastiastu!