Bali Makes Me Joli

Literally Everyone Is Going To Bali 🍍

If I'm being honest, the thought of committing to a 34 hour trek to fly from Chicago to Bali, Indonesia wasn't something I was super psyched about. I mean, yes, it looks beautiful in photos but I've been to a lot of beautiful places that are MUCH closer. However, when my well-traveled friend invited me to join her on a trip to Bali this last October I decided the long journey would be worth it. 

Bali is definitely THE place to visit right now. If you've been on Instagram, Pinterest, or any social media then you know anyone who is anyone is vacationing to this tropical spot. & now that I've been to this amazing destination I totally understand the hype! It's serene, peaceful, and (a HUGE bonus!) super affordable. If you're considering a trip to Bali then I hope my vacation guide can be useful to you during the planning process. 

We booked our Bali trip through Groupon. This was my first time to book a Groupon trip and I was a bit nervous about doing it. $899 roundtrip airfare from LA to Bali + 6 hotel nights + transportation? Seemed a bit too good to be true. Or so I thought. Thankfully Groupon proved me wrong! Not only were our hotel rooms AMAZING but it was so nice having transportation and planned out itinerary for a few of the days. It's important to note that the reason many of the Groupon trips are so affordable is because your tour guide tries to sell you additional products + excursions throughout your trip. This didn't bother us very much but I could see how some people might not enjoy being bombarded with offers & products on their vacation. We did have to sit through a handful of rather boring shop owners at stops along the way on our daily trips (coffee, jewelry, etc). However, for $899 I still thought it was a steal of a deal! 

It's Cheap AF

Everything is SO cheap in Bali - it's crazy! The food, drinks, clothes, souvenirs, even excursions- you're bali'n in Bali. One night our group went out to a swanky restaurant that in the states would have been $$$$. Up to that point everything we had consumed was pretty cheap but this was the first "fancy" restaurant we had gone to. TBH I was a bit worried about the bill as we tallied up drink after drink followed by a 5 star cuisine. When we finally got the bill, I was SHOCKED to find that the total came out to about $12 USD a person. TWELVE DOLLARS! For 6+ drinks each, fish, shrimp, gourmet main dishes, and appetizers... If you're on a budget but wanting to see your money go far (and still feel like you're in a relatively safe spot!), Bali is a great vacation destination. I can't think of a more rewarding feeling then knowing you can take a lavish vacation somewhere gorgeous and not have to spend an arm and a leg to experience the finer things in life.

You HAVE To Ride The Elephants

While you can go to plenty of beautiful lush, tropical places around the world, you can't ride an elephant in all of them! I highly recommend riding and feeding the elephants at Mason Elephant Park & Lodge. This park offers elephant rides, spots where you can feed the elephants, shops, a restaurant, and even a hotel- in case you want to sleep with the elephants too! It's a beautiful property and the elephants are taken well care of, which was something that was important to me and my friend before we booked our excursion. Our elephant ride lasted about 30 minutes and included pictures of us on our elephant- he happened to be the biggest elephant at the park and had these huge tusks! 10/10 would recommend this spot!

The Resorts Are Breathtaking

Seriously, the resorts are GORGEOUS. No matter what part of Bali you decide to stay in, you won't be disappointed. We hotel hopped in Seminyak and Ubud- both of which I highly recommend when researching hotels. No matter where you stay, your options for amazing resorts and hotels will be ample. Our hotel in Ubud had an amazing pool and we got lucky to book a first floor balcony room so we were able to walk right out into it every day. Talk about a dreamy spot to relax! In Seminyak, our hotel was a bit more modern but we loved the pool, lounging areas, and being close to the beach. I love AirBNB but I'm also the type to enjoy the amenities hotels have to offer. I personally think Bali might be one of those places where booking at a hotel is the way to go. I think it's important to remember that it's still not safe to drink the water and to be cautious when consuming local food. The hotels are usually good at providing meals that will not make tourists ill & having resources available if you do come down with something. 

Get Back To Nature

Raise your hand if you're ALWAYS behind a screen of some sort and the last time you were surrounded by nature was when you blacked out at brunch and woke up on the patch of grass outside your apartment door 🙋🏼The best part about vacations (in my opinion) is being able to explore and get back to nature. Bali is the PERFECT places to adventure and get lost in the beauty in this world. There's beaches, forests, volcanoes - everything and anything you would want to experience on a tropical getaway. 

My Fav Places & Spaces....

- Sacred Monkey Forest
- Mount Batur
- Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
- GitGit Waterfall
- Kuta Beach
- Lake Bratan
- Pura Luhur Batukaru
​- Tanah Lot
- Miura Pinxtos Bar & Grill
​- Mason Elephant Park
- Ku De Ta Club + Bar
- Anumana Ubud Hotel

You definitely have to go to Bali!

Despite the long journey, I totally recommend a trip to Bali! I think it's a must add destination to any travel bucket list. Using Groupon or similar websites is a great way to find a good deal on this amazing destination. The food is great (TONS of vegan + vegetarian options I might add). The scenery is beautiful. It's warm, affordable, & a relatively safe spot for tourists. What's not to love?!