On this 2018 trip to Bali, I only had 2 days of free time outside of wedding activities, but here's what we did! We had a driver both days (~$50 a day for a van), which took a lot of anxiety out of trying to get to each destination/trying to schedule excursions since the driver knew the area and we could make our way there on our own time. I was also traveling with family who speaks Indonesian, and that simplified a lot of food ordering + prevented tourist markup when we shopped for souvenirs.
Day 1 in Bali
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| Tanjung Benoa Beach |
After landing in Bali and dropping our bags at the hotel, we started the day at Tanjung Benoa Beach, which is near where we stayed in Nusa Dua. This was our first stop to kill time before hotel check-in. My brother and I wanted to go parasailing after seeing some up in the air, and a family member negotiated a price for us. This was the first (and so far, only time) I've been parasailing, and it was a fun experience! However, I don't recommend for those afraid of heights.
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| Hot dogs or legs? |
After some beach time, 3pm rolled around so we head back to the hotel for check-in. We got settled in our rooms and relaxed at the hotel pool for a bit before heading back out in the evening for a family dinner reservation.
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| Beach dining at Menega Cafe |
We had dinner at Menega Cafe, which looks unassuming from the front, but opens up to the most amazing beachfront dining and view. Our reservation was made in time for us to see the sunset, and I HIGHLY recommend planning for this. Menega Cafe features seafood, and offers coconut juice straight from the coconut (those were popular at our table).
After our dinner, we shopped at a mall area near the restaurant. There were great stores to get souvenirs, like hand-carved figurines and snacks. Once we picked up gifts for friends and family back home, we returned to the hotel for the evening.
Day 2 in Bali
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| A view from Tanah Lot |
After an early-morning yoga session at our hotel, we spent the day at Tanah Lot. There's a lot to see here, from the beach to temples, so we spent the better part of our day exploring. There was ample parking available when we arrived in the morning at around 9am.
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| Me, in front of a temple at Tanah Lot |
Everything is outdoors here, and there are nice walking paths to get from the beach area to the temples. Be sure to bring sun protection and water. There are people selling souvenirs along the way, and I picked up a nice hand-painted picture of some koi (P.S. haggling is not frowned upon). There are lots of vendors near the entrance to Tanah Lot, so we walked through to shop as we were on our way out.
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| Entrance to Tanah Lot |
We left Tanah Lot in the early afternoon to grab lunch and head back to the hotel for more pool time and get ready for a family tea ceremony. While I'm sad I didn't have more time, I'm glad I had the chance to see what I did! Since this was a family trip, I want to bring my husband back to see everything as well.
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