I have been to Bali once and stayed 7 nights and couldn't wait until it was departure day. I honestly would rate it 2/10 at best and nothing appealing. The food is not special, the beaches are rubbish compared to Australia and it's a dirty place.
Now talking to people and hearing others rave nonstop about going to Bali how it's the best place …some even have been to Bali like 6-7 or even more times….what makes this place so amazing that people rave about it? Am I missing something?
Bali works for the instagrammers. Makes them feel like they have finally made it in the world, or at least for a week
Or never, most instragrammers fake into obscurity and no one gives 2fuks about them all they are doing is either a: draining their bank accounts b: draining the money they borrowed or c: stealing to support a dead dream
https://sproutsocial.com/insights/instagram-stats/ - scroll down to "22. Most Instagram influencers are nano influencers"
Taxi 👏 Driver 👏 Trivia 👏 Do 👏 You 👏 Know 👏 What 👏 Goon 👏 Is???
wasn't a fan - 3rd World Skoolies Caravan Park.
I used to go there to train 15 years ago. due to their liberal view on performance-enhancing pharmaceuticals
Here is my opinion from someone who had ZERO desire to Bali until a friend had a wedding there and I stayed 2 weeks after.
1 - It's a holiday/tourist spot
2 - It's the closest destination to Aussies that has nearly everything in one spot from site seeing, partying, different food, culture etc…..
3 - It's cheap
4 - Hospitality is beyond good, Indonesians are very kind and willing to help.
5 - Food is good
6 - Weather is good
I mean personally, from a guy who thought Bali was a cesspool of Aussies, which is 100% true, it's a good little getaway if you can bear the traffic and influencers
But there are many downsides too. But I would go again if friends wanted to.
I rate Bali 7/10
Why is there an account issue with your 4k PC build request yet this thread remains? I'm confused.
Might be linked to this brand new account being in the penalty box with no expiry date
Congratulations to rac00n on the speedrun
All that engagement, lost like tears in rain
Godspeed
i have travelled a lot - but I have never been but i would go to visit and probably will soon
the main reason people go it is 'cheap and close' to Australia (roughly a 6-hr flight)
If you're a drinker or smoker you from from paying $13 a pint and $50 a pack of smokes in Australia to $3 for a drink and $6 for a pack of cigarettes - im not much for either but if that is your goto then see why people would prefer it to the rip off that Australia has become for Drinkers/Smokers
You also add in the weather is hot during winter here ie so if you're from Victoria/Tasmainia heading to Bali in June make some sense i totally get it you can go for a School break and it would probably cost you the same as it costs to go to Gold Coast but you experince a completely different culture and can get a massage for sub $30
As for 'food' that is really personal preference regarding Asian i love Japanese/Vietnamese/Thai food but im not a fan of Korean (other then their BBQ) at all - i 'dont' love Indonesian food either but it isnt terrible
Once again due to it being cheaper you go out for dinner in Sydney or Melbourne you can drop +$200 on a family i dare say it would be half that in Bali (but i might be wrong)
I will say this to OP i do understand were you are 'coming from' i felt this away about parts of Thailand (not that i didnt like it but there were moments when i got a bit of a this is a 'old guy creepy sex tourist' place opposed to a legit place to see and relax) im not sure if Bali Indonesia is the same but i have heard they have similarities
Also bar Dalmatian Coast and the places around it you wont find better beaches then we have Australia id actually argue we have better beaches but zero culture around them to make them 'holiday locations' opposed to somewhere like Mykonos or Dubrovnik which have both nice beaches in the summer and fantastic night life/Food/culture/history. If you want nice beaches in Asia Philippines is by far the best best bet it however isnt 'super' cheap like Bali.
Like everything, there are cheap eats in Bali and Cheap eats in Oz - Hey join up to various Doordash/Uber Eats deals. Likewise dine at Fancy inner city restaurant and pay similar to 6 star hotel at Bali.
Travelling for cheap drinks sounds great but, from Nusa Dua to cheap night spots at Kuta involves much bumper to bumper traffic fumes.
However if you are with friends and like daredevil riding on scooters and loud nightclubs, Kuta would be cheaper than nightclubs in our major cities.
Personally don't like the thought of 10 hours of travel (Customs Flight times etc etc) plus airfares airport access fees. But others love the thrill of flying, late night raves and cheap digs which are only used in the day (why waste nights in your own hotel room).
My Bro lives in Bali, and its only family get togethers that makes the place of interest to me. Plus he knows the smaller spots to enjoy.
I like ravers being in love with Bali, that's their scene. That leaves other destinations for those of us who have different likes.
If you're a drinker or smoker you from from paying $13 a pint and $50 a pack of smokes in Australia to $3 for a drink and $6 for a pack of cigarettes -
I'm in bali right now and the booze aren't as cheap as they claim to be. $3 pints??? Where??
Normal bintang bottles are around 50k-60k which is around $6 AUD
Yes, there are cheap foods but its kinda limited to things like Nasi Goreng at $2.5 AUD and you get sick of it eating that more than 3 times a day.
I've been to Semiyak and now at Kuta, going to Dua Nusa today which I will be checking out the The Cafe at Mulia which is the Bali Equivalent of Epicurean
The Cafe at Mulia which is the Bali Equivalent of Epicurean
Please report back on the prices, menu and whether you enjoyed it or not.
Copy that, eta 3hrs
sofitel bali
Look fair enough if you're there you would know better then i, but im not talking resort proces $6 for a beer at a resort id say that is cheap af you tried buying anything from a hotel in Melbourne or Sydney…$6 doesnt buy you a bad cup of coffee in most 5 star resorts these days….
But you are probably right, not withstanding the fact rhe AUD is rubbish atm
@Trying2SaveABuck: The $4 - $6 beers I mentioned earlier are from local restaurant and bars. Resort prices are like $8
Cheapest beer I've seen so far are "happy hour buckets" where you get 5 bottles for $10
@whyisave: so the buffet dinner is around $65 - $68 AUD per person (forgot the exact price cos I was tipsy at the end) and we also got the unlimited drinks package which was $35 AUD on top
Not as good as epicurean, there are no Oysters and Alaskan king crab legs
@Homr: Thanks for the update :-)
AU$ 70+ is still on the pricey side, ie. the standard of living must have risen a lot for the locals, and their salaries does not compare to Aussies either.
I mean I have never been to the Epicurean, so I wouldn't know what to compare the Mulia Cafe to.
It is definitely not as openly seedy as Thailand is in places. Seeing old guys with walking sticks in one hand and teenage girls in the other is a memory that has stayed with me from Thailand. You don't see that in Bali, nor the obvious prostitution/bar girls that Thailand is known for.
[Deactivated] user. Well, that was quick! Bye bye Rac00n.
I wonder what someone needs to do to achieve that…
Fell on their sword most likely… (hit the deactivate button in their profile)
Have to agree - as for it being cheap and close, you could go to many pacific islands that are closer
Not many have mentioned you can't drink the water and chances of Bali belly are high - something you don't have to worry about with the pacific islands
Was a lot cheaper 20-30 years ago which made the experience more palatable.
Australians believe they have the best beaches in the world and get offended when told otherwise. The same goes for coffee. If this is the case, why would you go overseas for a beach? Just to be disappointed or to brag about how much better you think yours are? Similarly, they claim that coffee in other countries tastes like "dishwater."
Yes, beaches all over Indonesia are often littered with trash because essential services like waste management don't exist in most of the country.
Many countries throughout the world also have cheap alcohol.
I think Australians travel to these places for the third-world conveniences, the lack of laws and regulations, and the freedom to smoke outside or even inside at a café or shopping center. The ability to use services like Grab or Gojek to get anything delivered, and possibly the weather, are also appealing factors.
Personally i dont like Bali, the locals yes are so nice but the place is underwhelming. Plenty of better options in Indonesia if you ask me
Personally i dont like Bali, the locals yes are so nice but the place is underwhelming. Plenty of better options in Indonesia if you ask me
Agree.
Sulawesi and Jogyajakarta were more memorable for me.
Theyre called Bali Bogans for a reason.
Ive been once. Passing on a ship, I stopped in for a day to see what all the fuss was about.
Yeah. Nah.
Not for me.
Bali is a shit hole. Went once when I was young and I'll probably go once more just to show my future kid(s) how shit it is too. They also made it very clear during covid that they didn't want tourists, they reckon they're better off without our tourist money, so let's show them how much better off they'll actually be without us.
They put the health of their people ahead of profit, what animals
What's the point of tourism if it's going to kill your own people. At the end of the day tourism needs to be a net positive for the country and the locals, otherwise what's the point, why even do it.
They also made it very clear during covid that they didn't want tourists,
Given that you couldn't leave Australia then as a tourist, how is that relevant?
Who was OP?
The Troll Rac00n. he was just making troll threads like this, the tesla one, the inheritance one etc.
it was a nice build up I have to admit, we were all on the edge of our seats waiting for his next post
It is great the mods are on it without stifling too much free speech and putting a good balance on it until it just becomes too obvious.
free speech
This is not America and this is a privately own website. Nonsense comment mate
I am completely with you on this, found it completely unpleasant from the crowds, beaches, dirty etc etc. I do not enjoy Bali at all. However my wife loves it, think it is just all the cheap stuff their can make you feel rich. Wife keeps wanting to go back again and again, I do my best to find somewhere more relaxing and clean to kill the idea. Would rather pay more and enjoy it. But each to their own.
nice to see one more Troll account killed off.
What about Fiji?
There is not a lot to do in Fiji but maybe that's what some people want. I was bored silly there.
If you spend and stay at the beach resorts, I feel you get treated like royalty. The staff spoiling you and food is good too. I will never get such service in Australia. Have been only once but did really enjoy the 2 resorts I stayed at. The second even had a huge private pool in the villa, that would something I will not be able to afford at all here
Honestly, as long as it attracts all the undesirables it’s amazing. Would hate to see them flock to places like Japan instead.
I'd much prefer Vietnam/Thailand or Malaysia for a cheap SEA destination
lol, imagine deactivating your account because you didn’t like the responses?
My kids like Bali for the resorts. Food is great. Cheaper than holidaying in Australia. Wonderful local people. Didn’t really stay in the Bogan areas.
Have been and would go again in a few years.
I visited Australia and it was shit. Went to Logan, Newcastle and Frankston. Beaches were crap, poeple were all bogans, food was shit. Why do people rave about australia when my expeience was so bad?
Literally this post
Australia is a tourist spot you'd only visit once in a lifetime if you were to zoom out and think about it (unless you're seeking PR).
People do that all the time. They come, go to the Opera House, Bondi, walk around Sydney and think they've experienced Australia. Or worse, they get off in Cairns.
If the thread was about people's opinions of Sydney, Im positive a far few would say it was a hole best avoided too.
To each their own
Nailed it!
My wife is from Jakarta and while Bali is not our first choice, we frequent it as there's rarely direct flights between Perth and Jakarta.
Bali has some great restaurants but they can get really pricey, eating local food helps and there is so much choice!, and not just Nasi/Mei Goreng.
Lots of great Warung's around and our general rule with the Kaki Lima (Street food karts) is if its hot or cooked in front of you its fine, though we do risk it now and then for stuff Gorengan.
I feel if your just going to hang around the resorts, eat western food and stay in Kuta,Seminyak,Legian…. its a break, but would just get monotonous, this applies to any destination though.
I've been there a few times and quite like it. Yes, there are plenty of Aussies there, but Bali is hugely popular with people from Europe and other parts of the World. Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, KLM, SIA, Cathay, Korean Air among others all have direct flights there.
yeah seems like the op barely "travelled" as such. Have to try to make an effort to see each country imo. Someone at work was like food and accommodation was cheap. So their mates rented a mansion with a pool for $600/week. Guess you have to research what you like and be selective.
I'm always happy to travel overseas and I have been to many places. I have been to Bali many times and always enjoy it and make the most of it. Know what to expect. The hotels and restaurants can be nice - in between them not so. Do your research. No one wants to travel with a negative nancy either. Just have fun and enjoy life.
For me its a couple of reasons. Flights are cheap, accommodation is cheap, food is cheap and drinks are cheap.
First time i went i did the touristy/adventure type things and everytime since we have just booked a really nice resort and spent a week or so enjoying the weather by the pool for 8-10 hours (massages etc.) Followed by going to a nice restaurant for dinner then rinse and repeat.
Depends what you want in a holiday if you want fine dining and everything to be immaculate go somewhere like Dubai not a third world country.
Are you suprised that a third world country is dirty? Lol
Depend what you spent, I had great experience cost me $160 per night per person. Now is $220 . All inclusive (un limited alcohol and food)bar in swimming pool, a lot activity, beach live music dinner, restaurant open all day, buffet like wedding set up. Gain 5 kg weight within 11 days.
Bali is a perfect example of modern day colonialism. Majority are foreigners and the locals are workers.
Dupe post
Bali doesnt interest me though if i did go it would be off the beaten track and seeing the real Bali.
Most visiters to Bali love the cheap grog and sitting by the pool drinking and they never actually explore Bali and do exactly the same thing every time they visit.
Bali.
I like the food at $10+ for a main.
I like drinking Bintang in the humid weather.
I like seeing the sunset over water.
I like paying under $100/night for a 3.5-4 star hotel that includes a cooked breakfast.
I like walking in the mornings and in the evenings.
I like paying $10 for a reclining cinema ticket.
These are the things that I miss and why I go back.
This probably looks very boring to some people.
I do nearly the exact same thing everyone I go.
I don’t care.
I consider this living it large in Asia.
The bottom line is that a variety of holiday experiences can be had in Bali.
I like the food at $10+ for a main
That is quite expensive then.
I was there last, 10+ years ago, and only because I was flying out of DPS after Java trip.
dark meat is Labradoodle!!!!
It apparently tastes best if dog beaten to death or skinned alive!!!
Nearest overseas destination with the dollar exchange rate advantage to spend on holidays.
If you didn’t enjoy it it means you paid little money. Bali has some of the best hotels in the world you have to spend a couple hundred a night at least. 5 star cliff top resort in uluwatu and anybody will be in love with Bali. Kuta/seminyak was decent 20 years ago now I never go…
Does depend on what makes a good holiday for you - for many Bali ticks their boxes but personally I agree that it was underwhelming the only time I've been . That said there's nicer places away from the touro areas but if you go expecting it to be some tropical paradise you're going to be underwhelmed.
I grew up in an old European city with the usual concrete jungle everywhere.
Bali is great! Been there several times.
I don't drink or been to the beaches.
For us the temples, rice fields and the jungle are unique and amazing. Then you add the fact that we can have our own driver and guide for $50 a day..
This year we went to Egypt to see the pyramids. Never again call Bali a backward place.
can second that, all ive heard people talk about how good bali is because of the cheap alcohol thats why aussies love it those who love getting drunk on the cheap,
there is a place close to bali (diff country) that i gate keep, its cleaner, nicer, better food, better nicer city way more luxurious, and same expense if not cheaper in some areas.
that i gate keep
you control access to an entire area of another country?
yeh basically your not allowed in there :P
People love it only because it’s super cheap and you can get a hotel room with a private pool for maybe $150-200 a night and $15 massages or something (don’t quote me on prices as I’ve never been and will never go).
So you've never been, but know why people who have been like it 😅
Its cheap.
That's it.
There's something for everyone.
Kuta is built up and a bit bogan. Good for footy tours etc.
Nusa dua no traffic, big resorts, nice beach, great for families.
Seminyak. Touristy but less bogan than Kuta. Good restaurants and bars/clubs.
Canggu. Traffic is full on but loads of great eating and nightlife options. Home of the hipsters.
Sanur. Great beach, not as busy/touristy as some other areas. Again good eating and drinking options and also where to get the ferry to Nusa Lembongan which is well worth a visit.
Ubud. Rice terraces, chilled atmosphere and again loads of good eating options.
Plenty of other good spots such as Jimbaran and Uluwatu. If you want quieter head to the north of the island.
It's South East Asia, of course parts are a bit grimy, there's lots of traffic etc. it's all part of the vibe of the place. Been many times and am going again on Wednesday, love the place.
Above all, it is the local people that make it a fantastic place. They are awesome.
Nice summary.
I like Bali because it feels like a holiday. Nice hotels and villas to suit a range of budgets, reasonable priced drinks in the pool (I love a pool bar with some music). Enjoy reasonably priced food on the beach to beautiful sunsets (Seminyak)/Nusa Lembongan. Bucket loads of bars for some evening fun. Cheap and easily accessible transport, and loads of activities to do.
I like to move around and not stay in one place too long, so I usually leave the tail end of the holiday open and decide while we are there. But if you like a place, it is usually easy to stay there an extra few days.
Going for 10 days on Wednesday. First 6 nights are booked (Canggu and Sanur) with the remainder to be decided.
Stayed at the Bali Mandira Beach Resort, nice but nothing special.
Food (in general throughout Bali) was nice, but nothing special.
Had a pleasant stay but won't be in a hurry to go back. If the locals weren't so intent on selling me plastic pieces of shit sunglasses and the like everywhere I went all of the time I probably would have liked the place more but it got tiring, very tiring.
Did I mention the constant hassling to buy plastic pieces of shit sunglasses/trinkets got tiring?
For the street sellers, just a simple 'tidak terima kasih' (no, thank you) works wonders.
But having people ring my room trying to sell me a private tour and having to listen to a sales pitch from the wait staff at the hotel about what a wonderful private tour they could take me on during their day off wore thin pretty quick.
That's what happens when you walk around with your username printed on your forehead.
Most of regular visitors of Bali go there to have 'fun' and be 'naughty'. Although they won't openly admit it usually.
Id say Thailand is more built for that. Bali is pretty tame.
I've Never been and have had the desire to go, but it's pretty simple really if you didn't enjoy it don't go again. People are different and enjoy different things. Time is short if you didn't find any value in going there you don't need to search for one, or rationalise other peoples choices.
I hate DisneyLand but people spend 1000s and 1000s of dollars going there, which is ok good luck to them. I'll seek out experiences I'll enjoy.
This is more about knowing who you are and what to do with your time and money.
My wife and I just got back from the Grand Hyatt Bali (Nusa Dua) and we loved our stay (7 nights). IMO staff were amazing, beautiful resort, great value compared to Australia and very very relaxing.
I reckon your opinion on Bali would drastically differ depending on why you are going there and the money you are prepared to pay. Would some people find the Grand Hyatt boring? Absolutely. Staying there is like a gated garden of eden where everything is there for you.
For us we just wanted a relaxing overseas holiday away not too far from Australia. It was the first time away from our 3 year old and first holiday in years.
Being bored these days is a luxury for us and a younger self would pick somewhere more exotic and exciting.
Australian holidays have become way too expensive no matter where you go. So people prefer to go overseas. Bali is close, cheaper airfares and cheaper hotels.
Cheap out main area are nice.
Waterbom Bali :)
Don't go to Kuta.
Go somewhere else. Try Sanur or Nusa Dua. It's cleaner.
Agree, plus it's mostly the types of people that go there are the ones I try and avoid so will go anywhere else
Bali was amazing like 50 years ago when you could get lobsters for a dollar.
I cannot comprehend the mindset of someone who goes somewhere exclusively to drink alcohol. I guess my brain is as far away as possible from being an alcoholic because I truly just do not understand this.
I recently went to Thailand and it was ok. Australia still has the best beaches and we have NZ right near us which is small and filled with incredible sightseeing.
Been to Bali multiple times. First time without kids, next few times with kids, utilizing their excellent kids clubs, nannies and drivers. Even organised a private dinner for wife and myself on a jetty once, also inside a cave on the beach too. People are friendly enough (whether genuine, or because you're a tourist and they see you as a piggy bank is another discussion). Food is OK - if you get sick of Indonesian food there are enough options to keep you happy. Alcohol is cheap, so are massages, day spas and day activities to unwind, whether you want to go shopping, beach, mountains, diving etc. Boring people get bored.
Took me several trips to start enjoying it. Other SE Asian destinations I took to more quickly, but Bali took me a while to figure out how to make it work for me. Have had several great trips there now after a few where I also did not enjoy it like you OP.
The only reason I invested that time into getting to like it is how cheap and quick it is to get to from Darwin.
I was planning to share some thoughts on this, but since the OP's account is now deactivated, I'll hold off.
how much inheritance money is left?
Is it for westerners looking for cheap s e x
Also westerns want to be treated like royals
Why do u think rich white men keep looking for cheap labour in Asia, they all have low morals at the end..
in bali? you got the wrong country mate, thats thailand.. bali is in a muslim country and even though prostitution happens and practised its "technically" illegal, just not enforced
Aussies playing at Lords and Ladies. Simply feeding ego and alcoholism at affordable price.
For most Australians the closest cheap beach destination is a few suburbs away.