Like I wrote in Bali: Sneak Peek, I was lucky enough to visit twice this year. Mr. FGK & I made memories & had adventures we will never forget on those trips. We might be a little biased towards Bali in comparison with other paradise vacation spots for three very good reasons:

1. It’s paradise that we can afford. We were able to wine & dine like kings, travel, have adventures & even rent our own private houses with private pools all well within our means.

2. It’s where we honeymooned. I can’t think of a more romantic spot for the two of us. We like a mixture of nitty-gritty with a little posh chicness. Bali was just our style.

3. It offered us exactly what we needed in a vacation at exactly the right time. We needed to escape the gray concrete & hustle & bustle of Korea in exchange for warm sunshine & relaxed vibes. Bali was the answer we were looking for.

Despite my bias towards Bali, I want to convey an honest message to travelers about it. It’s not for everyone. I’ve had friends go & complain that it wasn’t what they were looking for. So here is my advice for making the most of your trip there:

1. Rent a scooter. Traffic in Bali is endless & you do need to use some transportation to get around. You can hire a driver, especially when you’re carrying luggage to and from places. However, the easiest & most affordable way to get around is on a scooter. It costs between $4-5 a day for rental & about $3 to fill the tank. We rented a scooter on both trips & drove all over the islands (Bali, Lembongan & Ceningan) on it.

Also, there are definitely times of the day when the traffic should be avoided. If I remember correctly, we didn’t drive anywhere between 3-6 p.m. That was pool & shower time back at our villa. But one thing I noticed & was completely charmed by, was despite the heavy flow of traffic, no one ever seemed angry or aggressive. People were able to go with the flow & showed no signs of irritation about it.

2. Choose an adventure or choose to vacation. There is so much to do in Bali! It all depends on what you want to get out of your trip. Do you want a relaxing beach vacation that just involves quality time with the beach & good food? Do you want to hone your yoga skills in some peaceful rice fields surrounding Ubud? Do you want to try surfing on some of those Endless Summer waves by Uluwatu? Or maybe you want to go diving with a shipwreck, wake up to see dolphins swimming with the sunrise & spend time with local people in a local village. You can do any of these things & more, but it’s best to manage your time wisely so you get the most out of it. Choose a destination purpose or plan for one or two adventures. Set aside the rest for another trip.

Both times Mr. FGK & I went to Bali we made very few plans in advance. Once we were there, away from the snowy winter in Korea, surrounded by flowers & the warmth of the sun, we didn’t want to do anything. So even the few plans we made were tiring for us. Our minds were set on the beach & lounging all day. And while there, we were perfectly content to do nothing. We still haven’t worked up the energy to surf or even do yoga in Bali. We’re saving it for another trip. So plan accordingly. What do you want to gain from this trip? We simply wanted good food & relaxation with some of the most beautiful views on earth. So we planned just for that.

If we are lucky enough to go in the future, we’ve said we would dedicate the trip to some cool purpose. It’s very affordable to get a diving certification while there. Also there are dozens upon dozens of surfing schools for beginners. I have big aspirations for my yoga skills and Bali offers lots of yoga retreats. Any one of these would require dedication and most of the trip. So like I said, plan for what you want to gain or just plan to relax. Either way, you’ll be in paradise.

Tomorrow I will share a post with my recommendations based upon my experiences. Check back for more Bali love & pictures.

*Side note: most of the pictures were actually taken in Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Ceningan*