Bali: More than just beaches

Bali, Indonesia has long been celebrated as one of Southeast Asia's most enchanting destinations, and after spending time exploring this island paradise, we can confirm that it offers incredible value for travelers. From ancient temples perched on dramatic cliffs to lush rice terraces and many beaches, Bali offers unforgettable experiences without breaking the bank.

Typical to Southeast Asia, Bali gets a lot of rain and traffic is pretty horrendous where it might take you a couple of hours to travel 15 miles. We recommend picking one or two destinations per day so that you don't exhaust yourself and to build in time for rest. A lot of social media focuses on Bali's beaches but there are plenty of cultural sites to visit. If you are coming for the beaches, know that most beaches are meant for surfing because of the waves, but there are a couple of beaches that are calmer and allow for relaxing and swimming (we heard Padawa Beach, Padang Padang Beach, and Dream Land Beach were great for this).

Here's a detailed breakdown of what we spent during our Bali adventure.

Getting Around: Grab is Your Best Friend

Transportation in Bali is remarkably affordable, especially when using the Grab ride share app (Southeast Asia's answer to Uber). The drivers were consistently friendly, cars were clean and air-conditioned, and the app made it easy to get around without haggling or worrying about being overcharged. Here are some examples of how much we paid to go these distances:  

• Airport to hotel in Kuta: IDR 130,300 (USD $7.82)
• Kuta Beach to Garuda Wisnu Kencana: IDR 123,600 (USD $7.41)
• Garuda Wisnu Kencana to Uluwatu Temple: IDR 113,300 (USD $6.80)

For under USD $25 total, we covered significant distances across the island.

Where We Stayed: Comfort and Value Combined

We chose The Bali Heritage Hotel, which was a great mid-range option with comfortable accommodations, a convenient location, and a daily breakfast that kept us fueled for sightseeing. We splurged for the biggest rooms they had, which was more expensive.

• Hotel: The Bali Heritage Hotel: IDR 2,600,000 (USD $156/night), including breakfast and taxes 
• Booking link: Book The Bali Heritage Hotel here
• Laundry: We were so excited to discover Bali Laundry. You fill out a form on their website with which day and time you want to have your laundry picked up. For 24-28 hour turnaround it's IDR 35,000, and for 7-8 hour turnaround it's IDR 50,000. They pick up your laundry at the front desk, then they message you on WhatsApp with the total weight and cost. You leave cash at the front desk and they drop it off when it's finished. We tried both their regular and express services and they were flawless both times.

Our Ubud Day: Monkeys, Rice Terraces & Markets

Ubud is Bali’s lush cultural heart, and it’s a fun day trip if you want a mix of nature, art, and iconic scenery. We hired a private driver for the day and it was definitely a good decision. Our driver Mulia spoke excellent English, had a comfortable car, and only charged $69 USD for two people for 10 hours of driving. If you want to book through the same company we used, here is the link.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

• Cost: IDR 100,000 per person (USD $6)

Hundreds of monkeys roam through jungle paths and ancient temple structures which make for great photos. It’s a beautiful walk. Just keep your sunglasses, water bottles, and anything shiny tucked away because these monkeys are skilled little pickpockets. We saw a monkey grab a hat right off a little girl's head and another monkey started nibbling the bottom of a woman's skirt!

Uma Ceking Rice Terrace

• Cost: IDR 50,000 per person (USD $3)

This was our classic Bali rice terrace moment: layered green fields, winding paths, and plenty of photo spots. If you want to do the Bali Swing, there are extra fees, but even just walking around the terraces is worth it. It's a smaller terrace compared to the more popular ones, but we picked Uma Ceking because of the convenience and to avoid the crowds at the other rice terrace fields.

Ubud Art Market

• Cost: Free to browse

The Ubud Art Market is packed with woven bags, wood carvings, paintings, and textiles. Bargaining is normal here, so start low and keep it friendly. It’s part of the experience. We actually enjoyed window shopping along the boutique shops down the streets leading out of the square.

Southern Bali: Temples, Epic Views & Giant Statues

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park (GWK)

• Cost: IDR 150,000 per person (USD $9)

GWK is home to the massive statue of Vishnu riding the mythical bird Garuda, one of the most dramatic cultural landmarks in Bali which you can see from many parts of the island given how large the structure is. It’s an easy stop if you’re exploring the Uluwatu area, and the grounds often have performances and exhibits.

Uluwatu Temple

• Entrance: IDR 50,000 per person (USD $3)

Uluwatu Temple is perched on dramatic cliffs above the Indian Ocean and is one of Bali’s most iconic sunset spots. The views are unreal. Just like Ubud’s monkey forest, there are monkeys here too, so keep anything loose secured. Many people also like to watch the Kecak fire dance here, but there were long lines for tickets and we already had a long day so chose to skip the dance and grab dinner instead. If you want to see the Kecak fire dance around sunset, it will cost an additional 150,000 IDR per person. Be sure to come early to get a good seat for the show where you face both the dancers and the sunset.

Beach Time: Seminyak Sunsets & Laid-Back Spots

Seminyak and Kuta Beaches

• Cost: Free

Almost all the beaches in Bali are better for surfing than swimming, but we enjoyed looking out over the waves in both Seminyak and Kuta. Seminyak beach is slightly cleaner than Kuta and we really enjoyed our afternoon at Ocean Grand Beach Club in Seminyak. 

Where We Ate: Meals & Beach Clubs Across Price Points

Ocean Grand Beach Club

• Cost: IDR 671,000 (USD $40.34)
• What we ordered: Large water, 2 beers, fish entree, pasta bolognese

Our priciest meal, but you’re paying for the beach club vibe and oceanfront lounging. Great option if you want one “treat day” without going full luxury pricing. The service here was incredible. As long as order a food or drink you get access to their pool and lounge chairs to hang out at for as long as you want. They even have free towels to use, and they're right on the beach.

Villa Capri

• Cost: IDR 471,900 (USD $28.28)
• What we ordered: Water + 2 entrees (steak pasta, sea bass)

A great “treat yourself” Italian meal at the Beachwalk Mall that still felt affordable. We had fresh seafood and satisfying pasta for under $30 total.

Taman Dedari (Statues + Lunch)

• Cost: IDR 307,000 (USD $18.45)
• What we ordered: 2 waters, Balinese duck, chicken nasi goreng

Come for the dramatic statues and lush setting, stay for a relaxing lunch stop. The Balinese duck was flavorful and the nasi goreng was classic comfort food. We did this during our day trip to Ubud.

Be Ja Na

• Cost: IDR 385,000 (USD $23)
• What we ordered: Duck bebek goreng, chicken satay, large Bintang

A satisfying Indonesian dinner of crispy duck, chicken satay, and a cold Bintang is a perfect combo after a day of sightseeing. This was our dinner stop after the Uluwatu Temple, located right outside the entrance to the temple grounds.

Lusi Beach Warung

• Cost: IDR 160,000 (USD $9.60)
• What we ordered: Beef rendang, chicken satay with rice

Dining right on the beach with plenty of covered seating. This was our lunch spot during our walk from Kuta to Seminyak. It was about halfway, the food was delicious, and the views were wonderful. This is a casual spot but had great ambiance.

Blue 9 Beach

• Cost: IDR 124,740 (USD $7.50)
• What we ordered: Small water + 2 small Bintang beers

This was the second stop on our walk to Seminyak. It was a good stop for a drink while enjoying more ocean views. They have great ambiance, music, and service.

Jackson Lilly

• Cost: IDR 535,535 (USD $32.10)
• What we ordered: Chicken nasi goreng, pork curry noodles, 2 lychee cocktails

We got caught in the rain while exploring shops in Seminyak, so we stopped here for dinner and were glad we did. The lychee cocktails were fun and refreshing, and the food was excellent. If you are looking for more of a high end Indonesian dining experience with a "fancy" ambiance, go here.

Pronto Pizza

• Cost: IDR 239,030 (USD $14.35)
• What we ordered: Pizza + 2 beers

Sometimes you just need pizza. This was an easy, budget-friendly meal when we wanted something familiar. And it was right next to our hotel, so it was perfect after a long day of walking.

Fresh Coconut

• Cost: IDR 35,000 (USD $2.10)

You'll find people selling fresh coconuts everywhere. They are incredibly delicious, refreshing, and cheap!

Final Thoughts

Bali offers incredible value for travelers, whether you’re keeping it budget-friendly most days or sprinkling in beach clubs and nicer dinners. Between inexpensive ride shares, low-cost attractions, and meals at every price point, it’s easy to build an unforgettable trip without spending a fortune.

Whether you’re watching the sunset at Uluwatu Temple, walking through rice terraces in Ubud, or grabbing a beachside meal with your toes in the sand, Bali makes paradise feel surprisingly accessible.

Planning your own Bali adventure? Don’t forget to grab our free packing list to make sure you don’t forget essentials like reef-safe sunscreen, temple-appropriate clothing, and comfortable walking shoes.

We also recommend downloading our free travel security checklist so you can feel confident and more secure navigating transportation, busy markets, and tourist areas while keeping your belongings safe throughout your trip.