BALI TRAVEL GUIDE

  Bali is somewhere that you see plastered all over your instagram feed, but it’s really is one of those places that lives up to it’s hype. Yes it really is instagram heaven, but this region has so much more to offer than that! From the stunning natural beauty, to the delicious food and the incredible people, Bali is somewhere I could not recommend enough. I spent two weeks there with my friend Eamonn and we already planning another trip back, haha! Not only is Bali incredible value for money, but the area itself is quite small so it’s relatively easy to travel around the different regions. If you follow me over on my instagram you’ll no doubt have seen some of the photos and posts I shared while away, and I got so many requests to do a full travel guide with a breakdown of our trip. So here goes, I hope you find it helpful!

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HOW WE GOT THERE:

For this trip we flew with Cathay Pacific, we flew from Dublin direct to Hong Kong (11hrs) and then from Hong Kong to Denpansar (4.5 hrs) airport in Bali. Our flights worked out very reasonable at just over €700, and and we were kindly upgraded to the Cathay Pacific Premium Economy on both the longer legs of each trip – it was honestly such a treat from start to finish and I loved every minute of our Premium Economy experience. Some features of our Premium Economy class include a larger seat which was super comfortable and included blankets and pillows for a cosy sleep, and in-flight amenity kit with eye-masks, ear, plugs and a dental kit, free WIFI on board along with a huge movie and TV selection, as well as complimentary food and beverages – and the food was amazing!

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WHERE WE STAYED:

Ubud: Eden Estate Ubud – gorgeous villas in the heart of Ubud

Canggu: Bloomfield Bali Resort -beautiful resort accommodation in Canggu which was really close to Seminyak – book here

Gili Air: Camilla Resort was the perfect accommodation for our tome of the Gili Islands, we had a gorgeous beach bungalow with its own outdoor jacuzzi – book here

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WHAT WE DID:

There are so many incredible things to do and see in Bali, and we certainly didn’t get around to everything (a great excuse to go back soon hehe) but some of our highlights we’re the stunning Rice Terraces in Ubud (I recommend going early to beat the crowds and heat) the Sacred Monkey Forest, and we also did a trip to North Bali for the day which has the most stunning views and Bali swings  as well as the beautiful Handara Bali Gate.

We also booked in a tour planning session with the lovely Steph from StephMyLife, an Irish travel blogger who lives in Bali. She helped us organise a day trip that was tailored to what we wanted, and it’s such an affordable service! I definitely recommend checking her out if you’re planning your own trip.

In terms of nightlife, Bali isn’t exactly a hotspot for partying, but I would totally recommend Motel Mexicola in Seminyak for dancing (plus they have the best margaritas in Bali!) and if you’re into something different, the drag bar Mixwells (also in Seminyak) is so much fun – they really put on a fantastic show and there is no entry fee!

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HOW WE GOT AROUND:

We booked in with a lovely driver and guide called Maddy who was very highly recommended, and Maddy ended up being our driver for the whole trip! He works all around Bali and has the most comfortable, air conditioned van which was perfect for sheltering from the crazy heat and humidity. We booked in for a few different day trips with Maddy during our stay, each of which was super affordable. Maddy couldn’t have done more for us, he was so patient and kind, and he even helped us get set up with our local sim cards for internet, as well as driving us around to the best spots to change money safely.  Bali is a very safe place overall, but I do think it really helps to have a guide with you who speaks the language, it can stop you from getting overcharged which can sometimes happen with tourists. I honestly couldn’t recommend Maddy enough so if you are looking for a driver or guide for your time in Bali look no further! You can reach him on his instagram here. Apart from Maddy, we also used the handy Bluebird Taxis app for short taxis around Bali where a driver/guide was not necessary.

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WHERE WE ATE:

Bali is absolute FOOD HEAVEN, I honestly don’t think I’ve ever eaten so well! Everything is super affordable and lots of places are very health-focused but still delicious, so its a dream come true for any foodie. Here is a breakdown of some of our favourite spots we ate in:

The Savage Kitchen ,  Tropicola Beach Club (great for dancing and drinks too) , Two Trees Eatery,  Da Maria , Sea Circus , SomChai , Strawberry Fields  , Full Circle,

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WHAT I WORE:

I was lucky enough to be visiting with my good friend Eamonn McGill who is an incredible designer, and we shot some pieces from his new Summer 2019 collection there, so I was spoiled for outfits to wear! I also packed lots of Primark swimwear, and some outfits from Nasty Gal and Revolve. Shop some of my holiday favourites below:

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BEAUTY BREAKDOWN:

When it comes to beauty, I kept it really simple in terms of makeup while away, as the humidity and heat will melt away anything too heavy during the daytime. I made sure my lashes and brows were in check thanks to treatments at Preen Hair and Beauty, my go-to salon in Dublin, and I also popped into the Beacon Face and Dermatology clinic in Sandyford for their signature Hydrafacial as well as trying out a new treatment, the famous EM Sculpt treatment which is a course of non-invasive treatments to tone and tighten the stomach area, and I really noticed the results. It’s the only machine of it’s kind in Ireland so I was delighted to get the opportunity to try it out before my trip. I always try to keep a healthy diet and active lifestyle but I figured that it would be the perfect time to try out something like this and it really helped me feel more comfortable in all the swimwear haha 🙂 I also used my favourite Dripping Gold tan in the Ultra Dark mouse to keep my tan throughout the trip, I never sunbathe so a good tan is a holiday essential for me!

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Hope you guys enjoyed this breakdown of our trip, and if there’s anything else you want to know just leave a comment below or send me a message over on my instagram page.