What I’d Do Differently: Bali Edition

Updated April 2026 | 4 min read

We went to Bali in April 2024 for eight days. We stayed at the Westin in the Benoa/Kuta Selatan area, did a three-day PADI course, hiked Mount Batur at 3:30am, did a full Ubud day tour, and spent two days at the beach recovering from all of it. Here’s what I’d change if I went back — and what I’d keep exactly the same.

I’d Base in a Different Area

The Westin Bali in Kuta Selatan was fine — good pool, accessible beach, solid spa. But Benoa is a bit of a no-man’s land between the chaos of Kuta and the better neighborhoods to the north and south. Seminyak is 30-40 minutes up the coast and has meaningfully better restaurants and beach clubs. Canggu is another 20 minutes beyond that. For day trips to Ubud, the distance from Benoa isn’t significantly better than being in Seminyak.

If I went back: base in Seminyak for a short trip, Canggu for a week-plus. The trade-off is price — the Westin Benoa is often better value on points than the boutique Seminyak properties — but I’d prioritize location over hotel brand next time.

I’d Go in July, Not April

April is the tail end of rainy season. It’s still beautiful, and we didn’t get rained out of anything significant, but the diving visibility at Padang Bai was reduced and the Mount Batur morning had clouds we had to wait out. July and August are Bali’s peak season for a reason — the weather is dryer, visibility is better, the island is fully operational. The trade-off is crowds and higher prices. October is the sweet spot: dry season still holding, crowds thinning, prices lower than peak. That’s when I’d go back.

I’d Book Restaurants Further in Advance

We got into Hamabe and Ikan with same-day or next-day bookings, which was fine. But Locavore — the restaurant that’s consistently rated one of the best in Southeast Asia — requires booking weeks out. We tried on arrival and it was full. If a specific restaurant is on your list in Bali, book it before you leave home. This applies to Locavore especially and to any dinner booking at Potato Head Beach Club or other beachfront properties.

I’d Skip the Elephant Experience

We did breakfast with orangutans and an elephant mud bath on the last day. The orangutan experience was genuinely good — they roam freely and the interaction felt natural. The elephant experience was more complicated. The specific operator we used wasn’t obviously problematic, but I came home and read more about elephant tourism in Bali and felt less comfortable with the decision than I had in the moment. The short version: I’d skip it next time and do a reputable wildlife sanctuary visit instead if I wanted to see large animals.

The 2025-2026 Updates: Things That Changed

Bali introduced a tourist levy of IDR 150,000 (approximately $10 USD) starting in 2024. Pay it online at the official Love Bali website before arrival — the app-based payment is faster than the airport queue. This is separate from the Indonesian visa-on-arrival fee.

The Instagram sites — Tegalalang Rice Terraces, Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida — are more managed than they were. Tegalalang now has a structured entry fee and path system. Kelingking requires a timed entry booking through the Nusa Penida website. Neither of these is a problem, they just require five minutes of planning you might not expect.

What I’d Keep Exactly the Same

The three-day PADI course and the USAT Liberty dive. The 3:30am Mount Batur hike. The Viator private Ubud day tour with the early morning start. Staying at Zahra Spa for a warmstone massage on arrival day after the long Singapore connection. All of these were the right calls and I’d do them in the same order.

Book Your Bali Activities

• Private Ubud Day Tour (the one we used)
• Mount Batur Sunrise Hike
• PADI Diving and USAT Liberty Wreck

Book on Klook:

• Ubud Rice Terrace Tour
• Mount Batur Sunrise Trek
• Nusa Penida Day Trip

Related Reading

• Bali: Full Trip Overview
• What I’d Do Differently: All 11 Destinations

Travel Tools We Actually Use

Bali Belly is real — every travel forum has horror stories. And scooter injuries are the number one insurance claim on the island. Plan accordingly.

• eSIM Data: Airalo eSIM for Indonesia — Coverage is solid in tourist areas. You need data for Grab (the Uber of Southeast Asia) and Google Maps on winding Ubud roads.
• Travel Insurance: — Make absolutely sure your policy covers scooter accidents. This is the most common claim in Bali. Also covers volcanic disruptions — Mt Lewotobi shut down flights in 2024-2025.
• Money: — Warungs, markets, temple donations, parking fees — all cash only. Wise gives the best rupiah rate.
• Filtered Water Bottle: Grayl GeoPress — Tap water is not safe. A filter bottle saves money and plastic versus buying bottles constantly.
• Reef-Safe Sunscreen: Mineral sunscreen — Required at many dive and snorkel sites. Regular sunscreen damages coral.

Book Tours and Activities

• Ubud Rice Terrace & Waterfall Tour
• Mount Batur Sunrise Hike
• Nusa Penida Day Trip

Gear That Made the Difference

• Anker Nano Power Bank – Phone dies fast when navigating all day.
• Airalo eSIM – Works across Asia without swapping SIMs.
• Osprey Farpoint 40 – The only bag you need for 2 weeks.
• Packing Cubes – Essential for humid climates where you change clothes twice a day.
• Quick-Dry Travel Towel – Hostels and beach stops covered.
• Reef-Safe Sunscreen – Required at many dive sites.
• Transport: Book trains, buses, and ferries on 12Go

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest mistake tourists make in Bali?

Staying only in Kuta or Seminyak. We based at the Westin in Benoa — fine hotel, but the area is a no-man’s-land between Kuta and better neighborhoods. The best parts of Bali are 1-3 hours from the tourist strip: rice terraces, Tulamben diving, the Batur volcano.

What is the best month to visit Bali?

May through September for dry weather. We went in April — tail end of rainy season — and dealt with reduced dive visibility and clouds on the Batur hike. October is the sweet spot: dry season holding, fewer crowds, lower prices.

How many days do you need in Bali?

Ten days minimum if you want diving, a volcano sunrise, and Ubud time. Our 8 days felt slightly rushed — we fit in PADI certification, Mount Batur, an Ubud day tour, and beach days, but had to skip Nusa Penida. Two weeks if you want to include everything.