Wondering where to go in Bali for a unique experience? You’ll love this glamping experience in Ubud!

Upon checking in at Sandat Glamping, you’re given a welcome drink and left to explore while they get your room key. The main dining area is amazing. It’s all bamboo and the furniture and design are very cool.

It’s all jungle vibes!

The room right above is the yoga shala. It’s really nice. Unfortunately, I only had one morning here and I had other plans (exploring with Duara Travels, which I’ll write about later on). The following am I left, so I missed yoga here. But man, what a kickass place to do it.

The Rooms at Sandat Glamping

Just wait for these rooms…

How amazing are these tents!

I love the circular bed. We stayed in a suite tent and it had a pool outside of it. The rooms are spacious, not just for tents. They are bigger than some boutique hotels I’ve stayed in.

While it’s glamping, it’s definitely more like a hotel than a tent. It has A/C, hot water, a mini fridge, and WiFi.

This awesome guy is showing us a tool that hangs by the door. It makes a strange sound that lets them know we need something. Each tent has a different tool with a different sound.

They don’t come down to the tents without ringing a bell at the top of the path also! I guess this would be because people are skinny dipping! You can definitely hear your neighbors here, and I think our neighbors were on their honeymoon if you know what I mean.

The pool was insane. I really wish I had one more day to spend here so I could just chill at the room. I got to stay in such cool places in Bali, but for the exception of Villa Sungai, I really didn’t get enough time in the rooms.

The water was cold but that’s because the pool is often in the shade.

Food & Spa at Sandat Glamping

Breakfast is a buffet down in the main bamboo room. You can also order more, off the menu. I had yogurt and muesli with some amazing dried fruit they make. I also had the strongest coffee. it was so good, I had two cups.

I also had a massage here. I have to say, it wasn’t the best one I’ve had. The girl was really nice, though. They set it all up in the room and although it wasn’t a deep tissue massage like most Balinese ones I had, it was still very relaxing. The cinnamon burning below the bed was really nice.

Click here to book Sandat Glamping.

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If you’re on Instagram, no doubt you see girls staying at private pool villas every 10 photos on your feed! It seems like most “digital nomads” live in Bali, and bounce from villa to villa. I was there for three weeks and really wanted to see what it was like to spend two days in pure luxury with my own pool. 

I stayed for two nights at Villa Sungai, which is inland about 40 minutes from Seminyak (driving through Canggu). You can easily go from the villa into Canggu, but it rained while we were there and I was so happy to read and play scrabble. I’d had a lot of beach time already! 

All meals are served at the villa and there is a menu with Indonesian and Western food. The owner is Australian and the design was done by her. It’s pretty impeccable. 

The rooms (3) at Villa Sungai

That’s 3 types of robes… you know, so that if you want a big fluffy one it’s there, but if you want a terry cloth one that’s there too. But then maybe you want a really light one for by the pool so they added it as well! 

The bathroom is huge and outside are two showers and a bathtub. 

They even fill the tub up with flowers. We drank about a bottle of wine and a couple cocktails each day, so it’s not like we did nothing (lol) but we mostly just drank, read, and played in the pool. 

The Villa Pool & Food

The whole villa has three rooms and they look about the same although one is larger than the other two. The decoration is simple and makes it easy to relax. They have TV with a lot of movies as well as music and speakers set up. 

In the main living room there are also speakers set up and an iPod to play with. I plugged my own phone in and used my own music. There is also a game room full of board games and books.

It was a great location, and Tia was traveling with me so we did a little photo shoot for her new summer line. Here’s a shot from that! The shoes are from a shop in Bali. I bought them in black and also got my mom a pair in black. 

This is another one of Tia’s creations from the photoshoot! I don’t think it’s for sale yet, but I’m definitely going to be buying this one.

Rainy days, tea and a book… perfect afternoon. I didn’t let myself get my computer out (much) even though the WiFi was great. We ended up watching Lion which was so good and I don’t think anyone can watch this without crying. 

In the evenings, they brought us snacks before dinner which they paired with cocktails. The spring rolls, tzatziki dip, and corn fritters were beyond tasty. 

For dinner, we ate Indonesian meals since we had been eating mostly Western food during our trip. The portions were huge and we never finished anything which I felt guilty about, although we tried.

Breakfast was the BEST. This creation is something I haven’t heard of but I don’t think it’s Indonesian. Maybe it’s Australian? Buttermilk pancakes with creamed corn and bacon… yeah, really! So good.

This biscuit may look ordinary, but it’s a homemade cheese biscuit that is crazy tasty!

Village Tour

We took bicycles to go out on the paddy fields and toured around the neighboorhood a bit. You can have the maganer, Made, take you on a full tour but it was REALLY hot. 

Again, we did some shots for Tia’s collection which I’m sharing. I’m telling you being a travel blogger traveling with a fashion designer/photographer is a serious win-win haha! It makes my life a lot easier. 

Click here to book Villa Sungai.

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Oh, Bali, you are so beautiful! I spent a wonderful three weeks here. While I can’t give you an expert, local guide to Bali, I can give you a little, first-timer’s one just like I would a friend!

There will be places I miss since I’m only sharing about places I actually went to or stayed at. But before I went to Bali, I did SO much research online and had these places all listed out to try, so I’m just saving you a little research.

This will be a long post because I’m actually only writing ONE blog post about Bali. Normally, I write SO many like where to shop, what to eat, how to dress, adventures to try – but I’ll be honest, my fingers hurt, and I have too many trips planned to do it all. Plus there are a million blog articles like this already since so many bloggers live here!

Instead, I’m going to put all the information I know into this ONE post for you. I hope this little Bali travel guide helps you plan for your trip.

see kaftan here

My Little Guide to Bali

bikini from mary grace swim

Where to Go in Bali

Rapture Surf Camp

This has to be the first thing I mention because it’s the most memorable thing I did and the only reason I would really go back to Bali, to be honest.

I loved Bali but feel like three weeks there was enough, and there are more places to see in the world before I would go back… unless it was to go back to the surf camp.

I just LOVED learning how to surf. I had surfed before in Hawaii, India, and Sri Lanka but never improved. This 10-day camp was just amazing and I wrote an entire article about the camp & surf spots we hit up, linked below.

What To Expect at Rapture Surf Camp, Bali

• If you decide to surf alone as a beginner and not join a camp, definitely at least take lessons because 1. you won’t know where to go that is safe and 2. it’s really crowded and you could get hurt being in someone’s way. I liked Geger and Balagan the best, but wouldn’t go to either alone.

What Bikini to Wear Surfing

I wore L*Space, and it’s one of my favorite bikini brands because the bottoms stay on! You can get them pretty much anywhere: Amazon, Everything but Water, Shopbop, Zappos, Nordstrom, Backcountry, Revolve, Bloomingdales, Free People, Saks Fifth, and more.

Uluwatu Area

the romper is old from ASOS

Uluwatu Beaches

I only went to Uluwatu Beach a couple times while staying down in Bali Cliff. It’s more advanced waves here so I never came to surf, but I did come for lunch. You have to access through a cliff opening so no casual swimming here.

Padang Padang Beach is around here which is really nice. You can also go to Dreamland Beach (New Kuta) which was okay, but the surf here was tiny and when the tide comes in it’s a dangerous shore break hard to swim in. You’ll also find Bingin Beach around here.

I like that you have to pay a little money to access some beaches so that they can pay people to keep them clean and have lifeguards available.

Where to Eat in Uluwatu

Uluwatu Beach might not be good for swimming but the bars there are good for watching surfers and having a bite to eat.

• Single Fin is really popular for both lunch and watching surfers as well as a party place at night.
• Edge Bar had a good view, but it looked pretty meh so didn’t order food there.
• You can also check out Finns Beach Club at the bottom of Samara Resort.

Sightseeing in Uluwatu

Uluwatu Temple was a bit of a letdown. It’s cheap enough at just 30k per adult and 20k per child, but even if it were free, I still wished we’d skipped it. It is listed as a top attraction in Uluwatu and even in all of Bali but I didn’t realize you couldn’t go inside the temple.

It’s a Hindu temple and in India, you can go inside them, but not here. So, it was kind of odd because it was very crowded and a long walk to get to then you can’t see anything. You can go for a hike around the edge since this temple is on a cliff and offers good views. We met a sweet dog here, which was the highlight of our afternoon ha!

Canggu

see bottoms here

Canggu is above Seminyak and after Ben left, my friend, Tia, came to meet me here. Canggu was described to me as a place where rich people pretend to be barefoot hippies.

I did find it to be a little true with a lot of hipsters and travel bloggers and Instagrammers (not unlike myself to be fair! hehe), but it’s definitely one of these “digital nomad hubs” with fancy expensive stores mixed with a hippy vibe.

Yoga and surfing are the things to do here. Many of the cafes are breakfast and brunch only and smoothie bowls are literally everywhere. The yoga class I did at Desa Seni was THE BEST, and I don’t even usually like yoga. There are loads of famous yoga places here though, like the Practice.

Where to Eat in Canggu

• Sprout – the BEST food I had here, and the best smoothie bowl

• Old Man’s – party place, beach shack food
• Localita – Mexican, sister restaurant of Lacalaca, so so tasty
• Milk & Madu – healthy brunch food but some other good stuff like the chicken sandwich below

• Deus Ex Machina – burgers

Shopping in Canggu

The shopping here is really nice and quite similar to Seminyak, although smaller. There are really two main streets that you’ll want to shop on and once you’ve done those streets you’ve pretty much covered it all.

Where to Stay in Canggu: I stayed at Desa Seni, which is an eco-friendly luxury village… sounds fun right? It’s cool, here’s a review.

Seminyak

Seminyak has a bad reputation because the beach isn’t that clean, but in terms of shopping and eating, you don’t want to skip it!

It was so much that you should at least come for the day to shop and eat, although I would suggest staying about 3-4 days if you have enough time.

Where to Eat in Seminyak: Food That is Super Effing Good!

• Lacalaca – BEST Mexican, kind of Tex-Mex just PLEASE have a jalapeno margarita here. You will not regret it.

see kaftan with same print here

• Boss Man Burger – really tasty, such good little jalapeno poppers too

• Brazilian Aussie BBQ – one of those pay to eat as much meat as you want places

• Barbacoa – chicken tacos, jalapeno croquet, ham and cheese, BBQ ribs, Toblerone ice cream (made at the table from scratch with dry ice)… DAMN good but so expensive

• Smokehouse BBQ – small portions but good ribs and pulled pork, mac n cheese, root beer floats, milkshakes, etc – really is Texas style and totally worth going.

• Macheese Cafe – blow your mind good, it’s all these types of mac n cheese. I got nachos mac n cheese!

• Motel Mexicola – traditional Mexican, really tasty, huge place, good for drinking and turns into a party.
• Sea Circus – really nice food but the tacos were why I went. They have Mister Zimi clothing inside this restaurant as well and a cute shop next door. It’s just near the Alila Hotel where I stayed.

Shopping in Seminyak

There is a lot of shopping here. I liked From for jewelry & basics. I got a really nice cotton dress here.

Wanderlust has nice shoes and bikinis. I love Faithfull the Brand. Somewhere has really cheap clothes, but they are cute. I got a little romper and a tee shirt. You can also find Auguste the Label which has really cute floral dresses.

On the other side of town, there are the roads that have local kind of cheaper stuff like batik sarongs, tourist things, little tassel keychains, jewelry, and dreamcatchers. Here you can negotiate. It’s not a big town so you’ll find all this stuff just walking around.

Original Surf Outlet (OSO) and BSO next door are outlet stores that have all the big surf brands. It was NOT cheaper at the outlets and I don’t recommend going! You will find so many cute stores here that are “Instagram famous” but you might be surprised that the quality isn’t what you thought.

Where to stay in Seminyak: I stayed at the Alila Seminyak. I love Alila properties and have stayed at the one in Goa three times. This was just as good, here’s my review.

Ubud

Ubud was… okay. I have to say, I didn’t get the draw. It is very healthy, mostly health/vegan shops, very yoga oriented. This is cool, but are people really this healthy? If so, I missed the memo! For me, it was too hippie… yes, too hippie! I also have seen rice terraces before, so maybe that was part of why I thought it was just okay.

Shopping in Ubud

I was not that impressed with the shopping, either. I found that the famous Ubud market was a lot of knick-knacks that I felt were just junk. I know people love this market, but I didn’t find any treasures.

The shops were okay in Ubud, but it was my least favorite place to shop in Bali. Having said that, Etnika is here. Etnika is a brand that I have a leather bag of (the black one with all the fringe) and I love this bag. I ended up buying a larger tan tote. Obsessed!

similar style here

Where to Eat in Ubud

• Alchemy – Vegan (Tia is veggie, so we ate some healthy stuff for her benefit)
• Sayuri – Vegan
• Casa Taco – SO EFFING good for Tex-Mex lol, had it twice!

Cantika was the most amazing massage – wow, seriously so so good and very cheap. Bali Reflexology was terrific and the best reflexology I’ve ever had.

Sightseeing in Ubud

The best thing about Ubud was joining up with Duara Travels to go to Sebatu and see how the locals are living. Duara is a company that lets you have local experiences. They have a minimum two-night stay so that you can really get in-depth into local life.

You can choose to do whatever you fancy while you stay there like seeing how local handicrafts are made, having breakfast with a local family, or just go to the temple with a local family. It was really nice and I enjoyed the scenery and temple I saw as well.

*While driving up to Sebatu we passed a lot of local handicraft shops so this would be a good place to look for homewares and ship some things back home.

Where to stay in Ubud: I stayed at Sandat Glamping. It’s ultra luxe and a little pricey. Here’s my review.

So, this is my guide to Bali: here’s what else you need to know.

Bali Nightlife

As you can see, I didn’t party here but there are a lot of cool places to party. Some popular places are beach clubs like Potato Head and KuDeTa. For nightlife, you can look at blogs like welikebali and balibible for more tips!

FYI: drugs are HIGHLY illegal here and they do have the death penalty.

Bali’s Pool Villas

I took the time to go inland a little bit from Seminyak and stay at a private “pool villa” that Bali is famous for. If you have a large group this is ideal because you can split it so that it’s not more than a hotel but is a really unique experience. I stayed at Villa Sungai; you can see my review here.

Adventure in Bali

Overall, I really liked Bali, but it was the surf that made me enjoy it the most. You can do adventures like white water rafting, diving out by the other islands, 4wd, and such but I didn’t not as it was rainy season and there was a mudslide before I went. I heard rumors that the rafting and 4wd weren’t safe.

Budget in Bali

I really enjoyed eating SO much healthy food but be warned that it is not as cheap as you might be picturing Bali as unlike you eat local style food.

International food can be really pricey. Yoga here is also expensive at about 10-15 per class for the very good classes. You should see if your hotel offers free yoga as another alternative. Hotels and even hostels are a little bit expensive here especially compared to India and more than SE Asia.

Although, of course, everything is still much cheaper than the USA and UK.

Getting Around Bali

There is Uber here but you cannot use it everywhere as there is a little issue with local drivers fighting with Uber drivers. Uber is “banned” in Canggu and Ubud. You can use it in Seminyak to get to Canggu and Ubud, though.

You can request Uber pickups to places who allow it, and go to places that don’t have Uber – you just can’t request Uber to pick you up in a place that doesn’t allow Uber. You’ll see “Uber drop off only” signs.

You can take the Bali cabs and they will use the meter. This is easy and not much more than Uber.

Hotel taxis are WAY WAY more expensive so avoid this.

Getting around Ubud was a hassle. If you can ride a scooter, this is your best bet not just to save money but get somewhere fast. In Ubud places are so close that cabs will refuse to drive you, leaving you to walk really far.

What to Wear in Bali

I mostly wore my friend’s brand, also named TIA. You may recognize her name as I wore a lot of her clothes while I was in Morocco (you can see my whole packing post on Morocco here). She has an awesome shop on Etsy if you want to see her whole collection.

I really love her brand and not just because she’s my friend! Everything is made from natural silk and cotton, so it’s perfect for hotter weather.

Check it out here or you can shop some of the pieces below:

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Wondering where to stay in Bali? Check out the beautiful and luxurious Alila Seminyak!

I have stayed at the Alila Diwa in Goa three times and love it more everytime. Four years ago, it was the first “fancy” hotel I stayed at, in a Club room. Ever since I have always remembered how spoiled I felt there by their stellar service (massages at check-in!).

While the Alila Seminyak did not have shoulder massages during check-in, the rest was spot on! I thoroughly enjoyed staying here. When I travel long term in a country, I try to mix up with eco-friendly properties, boutique villas, young hostel type vibe like the surf camp, and a little bit of a 5-star getaway. I chose to do the 5 star bit in Seminyak because it’s more city vibes and that is when I prefer a 5 star.

The location of Alila Seminyak is ideal. It’s walking distance to a lot of cute shops and my new favorite taco place, Sea Circus. But the offer a free shuttle to Seminyak Square if you want to go further into town and be dropped off. This was a nice touch!

The rooms at the Alila Seminyak

They were in one word: HUGE.

I love a spacious room! Our room was an ocean facing room with a living room and bathroom that had a bathtub. Honestly, when it comes to 5 star hotels, there has never been a chain that does better than Alila on my travels.

The view from the room is above. Not bad! There are three pools on the property, and one is just there.

We had breakfast in bed one morning just so we could open the balcony and enjoy the sea breeze and coffee from bed. Basically, the best way to spend a morning.

The rest of the hotel: food, spa, and pool

During our time there, we did a “couples” massage ha ha, me and Tia. It was really nice. They have you choose the scent of oil you prefer. They did have almond oil which is good because Tia is allergic to coconut!

The massage was great, although it was a 60 minute massage and although we started late due to delays, we finished early, meaning it was really a 45 minute massage. I think they were running behind on appointments.

Breakfast is just about the grandest affair ever! There are HUGE buffets set up with everything you can imagine. But, beyond that, you can order anything you want from the menu. I had the bacon quiche plus some fruit, yogurt, and museli. 

The restaurant you have breakfast at, is at the edge of the hotel overlooking the sea.

One night there, we enjoyed the BBQ at the pool. I had the ribs and Tia had fish. It was really tasty, but the portions were too small. We ended up ordered a second main dish for each of us, plus we had sides of salad and potato with it. The ribs were just two small ribs. The price wasn’t high, so maybe it was more of a sunset snack.

There is a temple onsight at the Alila. Although you should probably leave the hotel and explore temples around the island, it’s pretty cool that there is one on the property. When you’re at this hotel you won’t forget you are in Bali. It doesn’t have that “I could be anywhere” vibe.

And yes, I have a black eye in every photo in Bali. I got hit with my own surf board, woops! But, it was worth it to surf all week and get a little bit better.

At the pool, you are treated like a queen. They bring you a big fluffy towel and a caddy that has sunscreen, face moisturizing spray, after sun cream, ice cold towels, and unlimited bottled water.

You can book it by clicking here.

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Everyone talks about Bali like it’s a life-changing place, I guess thanks to Eat, Pray, Love, so people come here with huge hopes of having a similar experience. People also have to decide where to stay — Canggu, Seminyak, Ubud, Kuta…

If you’re looking for that and wondering where to stay in Canggu, I recommend you come and stay at Desa Seni, the most famous spot for yoga.

Bali Travel Guide: Where to Stay

• Glamping in Ubud
• Stay in a Private Pool Villa
• Bali Hotel Review: Alila Seminyak

Where to stay in Canggu: Desa Seni

The property itself is not on the main two walking roads of Canggu so you will want to get a scooter or be okay using Bluebird cabs. Both Canggu and Ubud do not have Uber, while the rest of the island does.

It’s quite famous for both its health food and the yoga, so you’ll see people coming and going who are not staying at the property.

The staff is one of a kind! They are so kind and great you with your names (how do they remember!?). They do a room cleaning in the am and a turndown service in the evening (which is pretty handy because of the mosquito net).

When you’re by the pool, they bring you a towel and cold water. They are really on top of things.

Yoga at Desa Seni

I am not such a yogi, but it’s Bali! You have to do yoga. The classes offered at Desa Seni are actually really famous all over Bali and people know the yoga teachers by name around the island. You have to sign up and there are only so many spaces. If you stay on the property, that puts you at a great advantage.

The Rooms at Desa Seni

Desa means village, so each room is named to be a part of the village. The whole idea is really clever. The rooms are wooden, like cabins, but decorated wonderfully. It’s an eco-luxury vibe for sure.

This is one of the village houses.

It has A/C but no fan. We did request a fan, and they brought us one – mainly because it took some time for the room to cool down. The mosquito net is necessary. We did try to go without tucking it in but got bites pretty quickly.

They gifted these traditional sarongs which is such a nice touch!

The decoration here comes from all over Indonesia, but everything is authentic and most is antique. You can tell it took a lot of time to put this all together.

The Food at Desa Seni

The food is very healthy, just FYI. I think trying this type of food is really hand in hand with doing yoga and getting into the vibes of Bali. My favorite meal by far is the fish tacos! You must order these.

The breakfasts were pretty extravagant as well with the inclusion being that you get the basic breakfast (coffee/tea, juice, bread, fruit platter) and you can choose an a la carte item as well.

For dinner we went with grilled fish, but at lunch it was all about the tacos, salad, and polenta fries. We might be little, but we eat a lot and there was no shortage of food here.

You can also have breakfast in the room at no extra charge. I don’t highly recommend doing this and getting crumbs as little critters might come to the room! But they do come collect the dishes after you are done. It was nice the morning I stayed in to work.

The Spa at Desa Seni

At the spa, I tried the Signature massage. They let you choose the oil fragrance and you go into a very cute little room inside the spa building. I had a perfect massage; no complaints here. The rain shower to top it off was great.

Tia did an hour of chakra healing. She came out feeling very refreshed. This is done with clothes on and there is talking: you explain what’s ailing you and they show you how chakras can help heal you. Since you can get massages everywhere in Bali, I recommend trying something like this at Desa Seni!

How I Dressed in Canggu

I wore all my favorite FARA pieces. They are a brand from Goa that I wear a lot on my travels from Istanbul and Jordan to Florida!

I buy in person here in Goa, but they are on Etsy. I’ll link to the colors I wore, but under different listing on their shop you’ll find all the colors and other products.

• Yellow culotte trousers
• Low back purple jumpsuit
• Fringe mini dress
• Lana dress open back

Overall, the property is STUNNING. The staff is incredible. The yoga is the best on the island according to many yogis. The food is great, but a little healthy for me. The amenities were over the top, and the location was great if you have a scooter (or don’t mind taking a taxi somewhere). If I go back to Canggu, I’ll stay again here rather than look for another option. You can book directly on their site.

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I know you saw that movie and also wanted to be Kate Bosworth. I’ve been trying to learn to surf since my first lesson in Maui, Hawaii, to lessons in Varkala, India, and even in Sri Lanka but with my lessons so spaced out over months and the waves in Goa being so small, I just wasn’t getting any better.

Before coming to Rapture Surf Camp in Bali, I could catch most waves with an instructor yelling at me when to stand up and could turn on them about half the time. On big waves, I needed to be pushed by an instructor or I wasn’t going to paddle into them fast enough. I was also only using a huge soft board.

My goal by spending 10 days at Rapture Camp was to be able to judge a wave to know if I could handle the size, know which way to turn into it, paddle out on my own, and turn on all the waves I caught… while upgrading to a hardboard. I had ten days, so felt it was a fair enough goal.

Guide to Bali: Where Else to Visit

• Staying at a Private Pool Villa in Bali
• Where to Stay in Canggu
• Glamping in Ubud

Trying out a hard board for the first time at the camp

One instructor, Dickey, surfing with a local guys’ dog. Photo credit to Ben who was in the water with a GoPro!

The large foam boards beginners start with

My favorite surf spot, Geger

the pool at Cliff

Here’s my Rapture Surf Camp Bali Cliff Review

There are two locations of Rapture camps in Bali: Cliff and Padang. I stayed at the Cliff one which was less backpacker vibes and more boutique chilled out vibes. The Padang location is generally always full so you have to book ahead of time.

Uluwatu is a populated party area which Padang is very near to and Cliff is more secluded so you will want to make your choice based on the vibe you want. I’m all about going to bed early and quiet nights, plus I really didn’t want to drink when I was so focused on getting better at surfing and waking up for the early morning surf sessions.

I took 300 photos and edited about 100 of those, so forgive me for the photo overload, but the beaches here are just so blue and beautiful. The camp itself was also very photogenic.

I’m going to break this post down first by telling you about the actual surfing and surf locations then I’ll tell about the camp rooms and living spaces, yoga & massage, food & drink, and how the payments are made.

The actual surf lessons and locations: how it all works

The night before, staff put up the surf times for the following morning. You’re expected to be ready to go 15 minutes before leaving. Getting ready means getting your surfboard out and remembering what number board you pick up, as well as grabbing your rash guard.

You find out the destination in the morning and go as a group to the surf spot. It depends on various factors like the wind (are the waves too small), the tide (is it too shallow or deep?), avoiding crowds, and if the waves are too big for us. Groups are split into beginner and intermediate. Even people who have surfed a lot and are decent should go with a beginner! The intermediate is really intense from what I hear.

You do carry your board yourself. But truthfully, if you are not strong enough to carry the board you’re going to struggle to paddle!

The spot above is Balagan which is where we went quite often. It was great in the morning. You do two sessions. Each one is 1.5 hours but usually more like 2 hours. You can take a lunch break between or if it’s going to be high tide too soon then they say just take a quick 15 minutes break. Of course, you don’t have to do the second sessions. If you are tired you can just chill and watch which I did several times.

The second session in particular at Balagan was a little rough getting in and out as when the tide came in it was a shore break and I’m a moron who can’t seem to get out past that without injuring myself! I had the (thankfully soft) board hit me in the knee and knock me over when a wave hit me trying to get in. After that, I didn’t do the second session here because I was nervous of that.

You can see above someone had just pushed me into that wave. When you first start and have a lesson, you’ll be on this huge soft board which is easier to balance on. Someone will push you into the wave. It’s so easy to stand on this type of board so after a day, I really wanted to push myself to try the hard board.

I actually stood on my first try with it! One thing I learned is if you start out the day with confidence doing well, you’ll do well but if you start out with a bad wave you’ll be discouraged and not do as well.

That doesn’t mean I didn’t wipe out. I did! I even gave myself a black eye once on a wave that was too big (my last day when I went without lessons, silly me).

Ben was like this the whole time which was SUPER frustrating lol, just kidding he did awesome and surfing just comes naturally to him.

Some places we went had a really big paddle-out so you have to be well rested so you can get out to the waves. Other places, the waves were nearly crashing on shore. See how above it looks flat, it really isn’t. The waves look tiny from here, but when you’re out there, they are pretty big.

This location above, Geger, was my favorite. To the right it was more beginner waves but they went left and right which was great practice. On the left it was bigger more intense waves. I tried them once, hence the black eye.

You do need to be careful with your board carrying it in and out, as well as in the water, because they check for board damage after every session. I got dinged once, and it was about 100,000 Rupiah which is $8 so it’s not a biggie, but good to know if you’re on a budget.

On day three, I tried to go without a lesson and catch waves on my own. I stayed on the small waves, and was paddling in myself and turning on them with the hardboard which was basically my goal.

I should have just kept with that, but I really wanted to be able to do bigger waves. I thought if I was on bigger ones, they go for longer, and I’d get better at turning and being stable on the board while riding the wave. Well, I definitely am not ready for big waves lol but it sure was fun to try!

When I got the black eye, I had paddled in before everyone else and kind of popped up shocked that the board had hit my cheek bone so hard. I thought for sure it was busted open and cried out of shock, although it wasn’t painful. One woman in the group came over and said it was swollen up already and maybe I should take a break. But, my adrenaline was up and that was my FIRST wave of the day so I stayed in and actually had my best day ever! It was great. After I got out, my cheek and eye had turned blue and I ended up with a shiner for the next 2.5 weeks I was in Bali.

One woman in the group came over and said it was swollen up already and maybe I should take a break. But, my adrenaline was up and that was my FIRST wave of the day so I stayed in and actually had my best day ever! It was great. After I got out, my cheek and eye had turned blue and I ended up with a shiner for the next 2.5 weeks I was in Bali. The surf instructors also offered to take me back in to shore at the time, but I just didn’t want to and actually felt fine.

People get hurt surfing, it’s just a fact and if you go for 10 days, you probably will have some small injury, even if it’s just getting cut by the reef. You have to be a little bit up for that before going because the waves are not something instructors can control; it’s all up to you!

Above is a shack we would chill at between sessions at one of the destinations.

Types of rooms at Bali Cliff: something for every budget from dorms to bungalows

The actual surf camp has a lot of different rooms from different sized private rooms to dorms. You can see the options and prices here. I can’t do dorms anymore. I really need my own space so we stayed in the Longboarders Suite. It was massive and had perfect natural light.

If I stayed again, I would go for the same type of room. You have all the suites which is $88 per night then you have the dorm which is $45 per night. This rate includes WiFi, breakfast, and dinner PLUS being taken and “guided” at the surf spots. It does not include if you want an actual lesson or board rental. You can book surf lessons online with your room booking and get a bulk discount.

Everything Else You Need To Know about Rapture Camp Bali Cliff

So, since I was talking about the price, I’ll start there.

The rooms and lessons are booked online and you can add then booking yoga as well.

At the camp, yoga and massage are both $10. If you book too many lessons and you end up not needing them, they are flexible and let you swap that for a yoga class or massage which is pretty cool.

Breakfast and dinner are included in your rate. At breakfast you order, but at dinner, it’s a set menu. If you have a dietary preference you can let the chef know. If you won’t be there for dinner you should also let them know.

All drinks, scooter rental, laundry, lunch, board damage, massage, and yoga classes get added to your bill. At check out they only accept cash (pretty normal in Bali, and actually most of Asia). You should ask to see the total the day before so that you can hit up the ATM. This seems to be the only significant complaint on their TripAdvisor page, but as someone who travels and lives in India where things are mostly cash-only, I don’t see the problem with this.

You can also keep track of what you’ve eaten/drank if you are worried and make sure it matches. Mine came out dead-on.

You should bring your own beach/pool towels, sunscreen, and if you want a rash guard if you have one. You cannot take room towels to the pool and beach. Their rash guards were fine enough and are washed every day so I just used that.

Plus, if I rocked up with a cool trendy rash guard, people would expect me to be good. So, when I ask the instructor to push me into the wave, I’d feel like a bit of a loser. Let’s wait until I’m a little better before I start acting that cool.

The shared space was the room above with games, the kitchen/dining room, and a huge hang out space behind the pool. There is also a big deck to watch the sunset.

You can see the menu above for breakfast and lunch. It’s very similar menus to what you see at beach shacks but the food was better. I suggest the chicken burger and the tuna salad. When we got back from surfing, usually we had already eaten lunch at the beach but too many calories were burned (that’s my excuse and I’m sticking with it) so a sandwich was pretty necessary.

Meals are included Monday-Friday but on Saturday and Sunday it’s BBQ and pizza night, respectively. Both of these are the best meals they do, but they are not free. You have to pay.

We did eat out sometimes but did that on the weeknights. The Western food was good (lasagna, spaghetti bolognese) but I’m not so into Indonesian food. I know that is terrible as a traveler, but I think India has ruined me with its spice and I find other Asian food so bland. It wasn’t just here but everywhere I ate Indonesian food, I had to put hot sauce on everything. Since we came from India, we wanted steak, BBQ, Mexican food, etc so would go into town some nights and forego our free dinner. Below is the lasagana, and I ate two pieces it was so good.

We were the only weirdos who gave up a free meal to go out to eat. Everyone else loved Indonesian food. They also give you seconds if you are still hungry. The pizza night was definitely my favorite. The BBQ tasted better than it looks, I tried to edit this pic but it was so dark when I took it. It was delish!

The bottom line with the food is that nowhere these days includes dinner in the plan and since Bali Cliff is pretty secluded, this is ideal. The food in Bali actually isn’t that cheap unless you eat local, so if you’re on a budget, you’re going to get fed better at the camp than if you go out to eat.

I did not do yoga as I had hurt my knee and I’m lazy. That’s the truth. It was usually at 4 pm and after surfing all morning, I don’t know how these people had the energy! Props to them. I was already showered, watching a movie on my computer.

I pretty much had a sunburn (no matter how much zinc I put on my nose) and a black eye the whole time there. I was also bloated the whole time because I just kept eating everything that wasn’t Indian food (I get too excited for Western food when I leave India!)…. so I was not looking very Blue Crush.

I loved that there were dogs on the property. It just makes any hotel feel more like home. When you first get to the surf camp it seems really big, but by the end you feel very comfortable here.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time here.

If you really want to learn to surf, I highly recommend staying here for at LEAST 5 days before you see the rest of Bali. I was so stoked after my stay here, I was all I’m going to buy a surf board and surf all the time! Well, guess what I was in Bali 2.5 weeks after I left here and I didn’t surf once.

Because you’re at this camp, you get up with the group and go surfing at 7 am. When you’re alone, you aren’t going to feel inclined to do that. They also tell you where to surf and take you there. Alone, that’s a headache and I tried using websites to see where the waves were good, but that’s basically rocket science to me.

I feel so alive when I’m in the water trying to surf and it reminds me of being a little kid learning to ski and snowboard. I used to dream about it. Now, I was dreaming about surfing, setting goals for each day there.

I am happy to say I reached all my goals and looking back, it was an unbeatable experience. The instructors were very helpful with technique and also explaining the basic rules of surfing so you don’t piss people off in the water. I don’t feel comfortable enough yet to see waves, decide if they are too big, and go out in the sea alone. So, I guess that means I have to go to another surf camp! Good things Rapture has locations in Nicaragua and Portugal, too.

Pin it for later:

I was compensated for my time in reviewing this surf camp.

The post When I Spent 10 Days Pretending To Be All ‘Blue Crush’ At Rapture Surf Camp in Bali first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

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This post is from another travel blogger who had a destination wedding in Bali then started a 6 month backpacking trip with her new husband, choosing to honeymoon in the Maldives. I know a lot of people would love to do something like this so I asked her to share a little bit about how she chose to do this, what she packed, and where she stayed. So, here’s Kim to share her story on how to honeymoon while backpacking.

Let’s start with a quick introduction of how we got to where we are today. This crazy adventure started back in 2008. I, Kim from Tennessee, went to Australia, for a 3-month working holiday. Soon afterwards, I met Rob. Fast and furious style, we fell in love and decided to tie the knot that year.

Residing in Australia until 2015, we decided 2016 was our year. We’d explore the world before moving back to the States to be closer to my family. We had 12-months up our sleeves and decided to extensively travel Asia. Not only is the region more budget friendly, but we also felt it’s a great area to travel whilst we’re still relatively young. We find it takes a bit more patience and some compromises. We’d start in Hawaii (a bit out of the way, but we had to get Rob’s visa for the USA sorted). From there, the plan was to head to the Philippines and continue through Southeast Asia for 6-months. Then, we’d head west to India and Nepal, before making a loop back through Malaysia and Indonesia. And finally a brief stint back to Australia. Woo hoo! Exciting times ahead!

How to honeymoon while backpacking

Knowing we’d be visiting Sri Lanka and India, Rob and I were debating on whether to visit the Maldives. Of course, it’s beautiful, but it was quite a bit more expensive than the rest of the places we were budgeting for. But then, we had a lightbulb moment. Aha! We’d not only visit the Maldives, but we’d go there for our honeymoon! And since it would be half way through our trip, what better time to celebrate.

Sure, maybe it sounds cliche, but how can you go wrong with a honeymoon in the Maldives? After living out of a backpack for the last 6-months, it was time for a bit of luxury. I mean, check out my original packing list

I AM NOT THE SAME HAVING SEEN THE MOON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. -MARY ANNE RADMACHER

We looked at visiting a local island; after all, we love travelling like a local. The accommodation looked brilliant and the reviews were fantastic. And this is exactly how we would have travelled had it not been our delayed honeymoon.

Long story short, we never had a proper getaway after our wedding. Rob was working on a big project and was unable to have any time off. Don’t get me wrong; we had a beautiful, intimate wedding in Bali, Indonesia. Lucky for us, Rob was working there at the time, so it just made sense. With only 4-guests (Rob’s family), there was absolutely no stress. We were just able to make a lifetime commitment to each other in a wonderful, relaxed environment! As for my family, they definitely would have made the trip from the States if I wanted them to. But as I’m so practical, I told them not to worry, and we’d come to visit in a few months and have a wedding party Stateside. That was also the first time they met my new husband, but hey, that’s a different story…

The next day after the wedding we were off to Jakarta. And for anyone that’s been, you know it’s not exactly the type of place for a honeymoon. In fact, much to our surprise, our room had two single beds nailed down to the floor on opposite sides of the room. Sweet!

In reality, I’m super practical so I was never fussed about a honeymoon. Though my dad gave Rob advice that I’d say that now, but in 20 years, I’d be complaining. So we thought it best to rectify the situation.

And of course, there was no better time than now! Like anyone, I wanted our honeymoon to be special. Though after wearing the same underwear for 6-months, it was time to treat myself to a few new things. I had to keep in mind I’d be carrying them in my backpack for the following 4-months post our honeymoon. So, I had to ensure they were both light and small enough to fit in my bag too.

Packing for a honeymoon while backpacking

So, here’s what I ended up splurging on:

• Bikini Top– ($29) I†started our trip with two. One was reversible so it was a two-for-one deal, except the base colour was white (oops, silly me). So, after 6-months with it, it was time for a new top. In Sri Lanka at the time, I waited until we hit the southern beaches to find something spectacular. Much to my surprise, the beaches weren’t like back home, and I couldn’t find swim options with ease. So, when we got back to Colombo, it was on. I went to two malls and was lucky enough to find one shop with swimsuits. And even luckier to find an Aussie Swim Store. And they even sold separates, which was great as my black bottoms would match back to everything. I tried on every single top in the shop (no exaggeration). And I finally decided I needed some sparkly leopard print in my life.And as tacky as that sounds, it really does look amazing on if I say so myself, haha.

• Dress– ($22.50) Score! I picked up this one on sale at Urban Revivo in China. At the time I bought it we hadn’t yet decided if we were going to go the guesthouse or the resort route. So I bought something versatile that could be worn in either a conservative or modern setting. And we all know, black is a girl’s best friend. This dress is no exception, with the off the shoulder cut with embroidery detail, flows sleeves, and baby doll fit. The photo just does not do it justice!

honeymoon LBD

• Eyeliner– ($9) I only packed minimal makeup for my year long trip. I can’t leave the house without mascara. And between my[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
  [easyazon_link identifier=”B00GLO6OYA” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]NARS Multiple[/easyazon_link] and lipgloss, I’m pretty much set for any occasion. But, for my honeymoon I wanted to add a different dimension, and I knew the eyes were the way to go. I opted for a green gel colour, and it was great to see my eyes pop again!

• Hat– ($4) There was no way I was wearing my dorky purple Kathmandu safari hat on my honeymoon. And my knockoff Adidas visor wasn’t going to make the cut either. So, I had to invest. In the fort area of Galle, Sri Lanka, I found the perfect straw hat at a rock bottom price, so I was set!

• Necklace– ($8.50) For those of you that don’t know me, I’m a dog lover through and through. Whilst travelling these 12-months, our two dogs are waiting for us to return home to Australia. Then, we’ll make the big move to the States. In Sri Lanka, they have a shop called Embark. The store’s mission is to save Sri Lanka’s street dogs. I was in love! So I bought a necklace to accessorise and saved a dog at the same time! OMG – it was the best!

• Sandals– ($1.50) For a girl that went from over 100 pairs of shoes (not joking) down to three, a new pair of shoes was a must. Luckily I found a great pair of jelly type sandals with a bit of bling on clearance. Gosh, I love a good bargain!

• Sarong– ($3.50) When the lady at Unawatuna Beach approached me, I was sold! The hard part was just in deciding which one. I finally decided the blue would match the colour of the crystal blue waters in the Maldives, and was stoked with my decision.

• Shellac Pedicure– ($10.50) You can only imagine how bad my feet needed this after 6-months on the road. Hiking, camping, beaching enough said! This was one of the best splurges on my list. My only regret is not doing it sooner ;)

• Sunglasses– ($1.50) There is a wonderful store in China called MiniSo. This shop is like a trendy accessories dollar store. Seriously, everything is on point (from creative home necessities to cute Panda eye masks) but costs you hardly anything. I fell in love with my $1.50 sunglasses and have never looked back.

GRAND TOTAL = $90

Oh, in case you’re wondering, I did look for some nice panties or lingerie. But, I didn’t like what I found or it was very expensive, so I skipped it. After all, Rob wouldn’t be seeing it on me for long anyways *bow-chica-wow-wow* Haha, sorry – I know, I know, TMI!

Where to stay in Maldives for a honeymoon

When we landed in the Maldives, I felt like a “Bond girl” as we walked from the runway to speedboat. And the next 7-nights at Eriyadu were pure heaven. Well, there were a few hiccups.

It rained most the time and Rob lost his wedding ring (for real – how’s the irony!) But hey, those imperfections are what makes it perfect, right.

And I’m sure it would have been just as wonderful without my new gifts to myself. But it was nice to go shopping and get pampered, so what better excuse to do it than for my long awaited honeymoon!

For anyone on the road, looking to celebrate that special commitment you’ve made to your partner – CONGRATS! The Maldives really is a wonderful place to do it! Eriyadu was perfect, as it was reasonably priced ($2,300 for 7-nights plus the speed-boat transfers for $330) and absolutely beautiful! So, for less than $350/night we had a deluxe room with breakfast, lunch and dinner, all-inclusive drinks & snorkelling gear.

Rob also spoiled me with the most expensive massage I’ve ever had ($120 of pure bliss) and we went diving with sharks ($350). The entire experience was unforgettable!

Do you have a backpacker honeymoon story to tell? I’d love to hear it!

Kim is a freelance writer and the Co-Founder of Simply Travelled. Simply Travelled is a travel blog that encourages people to take a LEAP! An adult gap year, career break, sabbatical – call it what you will. Despite her klutzy nature, she believes life is all about balance. Being the recipient of so much generosity to date, Kim wants to pay it forward, by offering her top travel tips and advice to everyone interested keen on travelling. You can connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

The post Maldives: How to Honeymoon While Backpacking Asia first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Maldives: How to Honeymoon While Backpacking Asia appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Bali

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Bali.

Hi! I’m Claire, author of BackpackingBella.com, where I share my stories and tips for enjoying beautiful travel on a budget. But I didn’t always do this. For over a decade I worked in the media and was lucky enough to visit top restaurants and 5-star hotels. When I left to go backpacking around the world, I naturally expected things to be much less glamorous. Then I discovered Bali, where you can enjoy a stay in beautiful surroundings and feel like a VIP, on a tiny budget. Perfect!

What makes Bali a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Bali has everything. From blissful beaches to lush green rice fields as far as the eye can see; top class spas and cocktail bars; laid back seaside villages, ornate temples and peaceful mountain hideaways. It’s all about relaxing and soaking up the beauty of the place – the island’s nature and the people’s culture. This alone feels like such a privileged experience and it’s totally free.

What 5 star hotel is the best in Bali?

If you’re after something swanky, most of Bali’s 5 star hotels in Bali are located on Seminyak’s high end beach front or among the lush greenery of Sayan, near Ubud. While my travelling budget doesn’t stretch to 5 star, I’ve always liked the cool and contemporary W hotels. The W Retreat & Spa in Seminyak does the best Sunday brunch around and its chic bars host some of the area’s most happening nights thanks to its international resident DJs.

What about boutique hotels, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

So many to choose from… Bali is spoiled for choice with boutique hotels and guest houses, where you can unwind and feel inspired. You don’t have to spend a fortune to find fabulous places. In Seminyak, try the Bali V hotel with its chic white rooms and swimming pool. For a getaway, the Aditya Guest House in the mountain village of Munduk has stunning views and four poster beds. There’s even a boutique hostel for backpackers: the Jolie Hostel in Jimbaran, which has a pool and a great atmosphere.

Are there any fun activities for the adventurous traveler?

Plenty. On this island you can be as laid back or as active as you choose. Bali boasts some of Asia’s best scuba diving and snorkelling spots. Or catch a boat to the islands of Nusa Lembongan, the Gilis and Lombok, which are worth exploring and also offer great diving. Yoga is huge, especially in Ubud, with centres including the fabulous Yoga Barn. For the truly adventurous, I recommend the Munduk Wilderness Adventure for a fantastically fun day of buggy driving and bike riding through the hills.

Where are the best hang outs during the day?

There are some great cafés in Bali. Kafé and Atmans in Ubud are two of my favourites for laptops and lattes, while the Deki warung in Balian is a great place to watch surfers and kite surfers tackling the waves – the beach itself is also divine for a daytime walk.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Bali and what are their best dishes?

I’d head straight to the glamorous Merah Putih in Seminyak. The innovative fusion food here tastes heavenly, especially the Sumatran roasted duck curry and the Balinese suckling pig. Just this week, the restaurant and its chef were nominated for four awards.

Let’s talk desserts – what place makes the best?

I’m not really a dessert person, but Bali has the best ever chocolate and banana pancakes I’ve ever tasted. Yum!

Tell us all the hot shopping spots; who’s carrying the trendy local designers?

Seminyak has all the high end labels you could need, alongside local, Australian and European designers. In Ubud you’ll find a host of smaller boutiques, independent art galleries and stores selling handcrafted wooden furniture and stunning home furnishings. You will want to have the whole lot shipped back home.

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in Bali?

There is a proud tradition of Balinese massage and many first class spas here. Indulge at the SPA at The Samaya in Seminyak or visit Ubud’s small but beautifully formed Wellness in Ubud. If you want to learn it for yourself, take a course at the Bali BISA Spa School in Sanur.

Time for a great sunset view… where would you go?

Munduk has wonderful multi-coloured sunsets, while the chilled out beach villages of Amed also enjoy beautiful skies, against a mountain backdrop.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

Potato Head is a legendary beach club in Seminyak where you can sip artfully created cocktails while checking out the beautiful people. Their Bloody Mary is accompanied by sushi condiments and tastes bloody amazing.

If you end the night at a fancy club, which one do you head towards?

Instead of going clubbing, I would make a date for an all-night beach party on the nearby island of Gili Trawangan, where you can dance on the sand to awesome DJ tunes, while fire dancers perform in front of you, until the morning sun comes up.

The post A Luxury Guide to Bali first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post A Luxury Guide to Bali appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

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