How To Sell Bali

The lush interiors of the island boast volcanoes and mountains in the north through the calm and peaceful rice paddies around Ubud all fringed with some beautiful beaches and warm, still seas. The popular beaches along the southern tip of the island all have their own charm and there is a perfect resort for everyone. From laid-back, tropical ambience , trendy beach bars and busy nightlife – Bali has it all.

Best for couples

Bali is a spa hotspot, and in between all those beach trips and tours, you can replenish yourself in the wonderfully sumptuous hotel spas. Treatments include relaxing massages, rejuvenating facials, invigorating body scrubs and stimulating wraps. Try a Balinese Boreh (a ground spice exfoliation), a Bali coffee scrub, a traditional Balinese massage using local herbs, and a relaxing flower-filled bath.

Weddings/Honeymoons

The spiritual atmosphere of mist-shrouded temples, the tropical flowers that grow everywhere, the white sand beaches and calmly lapping waves... Bali was made for romance, so where better to spend your honeymoon? Have Balinese musicians serenade you after the ceremony, enjoy special candlelit dinners on the beach, and spend a couple of hours with a spa treatment specially designed for two.

1. Embark on a Chocolate Tour - Exchanging chocolate is a traditional way to express love, Make chocolate together - Pod Chocolate Factory.
2. Set baby turtles free together - recommended places to do so is Pulau Serangan, where the turtle conservation is managed by the Turtle Education and Conservation Centre.
3. Snap couple photos in Balinese royal wedding costumes - Everything from the make-up, choosing costumes, to photo-taking session is guided by professional staff and photographers.
4. Stay in the middle of lush rice paddies in Dusun Tabola - One of the villas you can rent is the Subak Tabola villa, nestled on the hillside of Mount Agung and in the middle of the rice terrace fields.
5. Romantic elephant riding at the Elephant Safari Park - you can enjoy riding on an elephant as it lumbers through the magnificent botanical garden and Elephant Safari Park of Taro.

Best for families

In Bali, idyllic palm-fringed beaches are the norm. The clear, warm water is great for swimming and snorkelling. Take a day trip to the island of Nusa Penida, where the startlingly clear waters allow you to snorkel or dive, seeing colourful coral and marine life such as giant clams. Water sports are popular, including surfing, particularly on the south and west coasts of the island, at Uluwatu and Padang Padang.

1. At the Bali Safari and Marine Park near Sanur, the safari tram gets you and the kids up close and personal with hundreds of animals. Don’t forget to check out the Funzone and Water Park.
2. Bali Bird Park (Taman Burung), 12km from Denpasar, features walk-through aviaries with over 1000 birds, some of which will alight on your arms and shoulders.
3. Next door is Bali Reptile Park, where kids can pick up scaly reptiles.
4. More appealing to some might be the Bali Butterfly Park in Wanasari. Butterflies are collected from all over Indonesia and released here every day.
5. Feed and watch elephants perform at the Elephant Safari Park at Taro, or enjoy the bird’s eye view as you ride them through the jungle.
6. Mischievous wild monkeys inhabit the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, but be careful: these cheeky animals are avid collectors of sunglasses and cameras.
7. For active kids, the Treetop Adventure Park in Bedugul offers five adventure circuits including flying foxes and suspended bridges, spider nets and a Tarzan jump.
8. An Island Explorer Cruise can take the family to Lembongan Island off the southern coast for snorkelling, island tours, fishing or lazing in the sun.
9. On Sundays, Seminyak restaurant Ku De Ta hosts ‘Family Dayze’ with a tempting children’s menu, kids barbecue and a choice of arts and crafts in the activities tent.
10. Waterbom Bali in Tuban offers 15 water slides and a child-friendly spa where the kids can splash about all day.

Things to see and do in Bali:

1. Eating out

You'll find restaurants serving all kinds of international cuisine in Bali, including Thai, Indonesian and East Javanese. The seafood is particularly good: lobster here is so inexpensive, you could probably afford to eat it every day if you wished! A Balinese favourite is suckling pig, and Bali's curries use exotic ingredients such as banana flowers and palm hearts. Glass noodles with vegetables is a tasty classic.

2. Something different

A famously friendly country, Bali has been a Hindu island since the 14th Century and has some beautiful shrines and temples to visit, including Besakih, the country's biggest temple. In Ubud you can watch a traditional Barong dance performance, which narrates a fight between good and evil, and you'll find exquisite gold and silver jewellery in Celuk. Balinese batiks make beautiful souvenirs to take home.

3. Weather / Best time to go

Bali is a fantastic year round destination but the busy seasons are the summer months and Christmas holidays. The temperature is consistent year round but slightly higher during the dry season which is April to September, January to March is the rainy season but in true tropical style this is usually a few showers here and there. As with everywhere this is the norm but not the rule.

4. Sightseeing ideas

Much of Bali is so beautiful, it looks like a film set. Inland are verdant rice terraces, hidden volcanoes and forested hills. In the tropical forests, wild deer roam among wild orchids and tall pine trees, and there are huge, mysterious caves to visit. Endless sandy beaches line many of the island's shores, including the famous white sands of Kuta and the peaceful lagoon beach at exclusive Nusa Dua.

5. Shopping

Bali is a treasure trove of interesting souvenirs, beautiful gifts and terrific bargains. Open-air markets, open day and night, offer the best opportunities to shop for crafts and antiques, clothing and home wares at amazingly low prices.

Some of the biggest and best markets can be found in Denpasar and Sanur, but shops and stalls can be found all over the island, especially near the main tourist hangouts. Unique souvenirs include handcrafted items like woodcarvings, stone carvings and iron and bronze works and Indonesian batik. You can get great bargains on fabrics, furniture, clothing and jewellery. Supermarkets, speciality stores and shopping centres are usually open 7 days a week between 9am and 9pm, with shorter hours on Sundays.

6. Nusa Dua

One of Bali’s famous resorts. The beaches are beautiful with white sand in a calm bay so perfect for swimming in the sea and for families. The hotels are generally international brands with a great choice of facilities, immaculate gardens and relaxed ambiance. This is a great resort for those looking for luxury or for families.

7. Sanur

A well established resort that has been a favourite of European visitors for many years. Lovely beach and a calm sea with a beach front walk and selection of Balinese style hotels close to local restaurants. Those looking for smaller hotels in a nice and relatively quiet local area would enjoy Sanur.

8. Kuta to Seminyak

This is a long stretch of coast on the west coast with beautiful sunsets. The beaches along this coast are excellent for walking and sunbathing also swimming at some times of the year but this coast is less calm and tranquil that the others. This is a coast renowned for its amazing nightlife and as you begin in Kuta all the way through to Seminyak the bars, restaurants, local and shopping seem to go on forever. Seminyak is the place to be seen with hip hotels and funky bars including Ku De Ta and Potato Head among others. This is great for honeymooners and couples who would like to relax all day and can then party all night.

9. Ubud

The cultural centre of Bali and just an hour or two from the beach resorts. We definitely recommend this twin centre to everyone, the hotels are amongst the rice paddies and unbelievably relaxing. Take a few nights out and chill out in a pool villa somewhere amongst the palm trees, rice paddies and cheeky monkeys.

10. Tanjung Benoa

A beautiful stretch of beach in a quiet part of the island with calm seas. The hotels are well established and a great choice for those looking for an all inclusive hotel option.

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