Bali Travel Experience & Recommendations
The following content is adapted from a travelogue shared by fellow traveler Chingju Wang:
Travel Dates: February 6-9, 2025
This was my first time visiting Bali, and although it was only a short four-day trip, it was filled with surprises and touching moments. I’m especially grateful for the valuable advice provided by many experienced travelers when I asked questions online last September, which made planning this trip much smoother. To give back to the community, I’d like to share my detailed travel experience and recommendations, hoping to provide some useful insights for those planning a trip to Bali in the future.
1. Mara River Safari Lodge: A Unique Experience of Sleeping with Animals
During this trip, my 7-year-old child’s favorite part was Mara River Safari Lodge. This is a resort located within a zoo, offering not only convenience but also close encounters with various animals. Every morning, we enjoyed breakfast while watching lions through the glass windows—a truly special experience. The lions seemed accustomed to the attention from visitors, often posing in various positions as if they were “striking a pose” for us. My child was completely captivated and thrilled.
Additionally, taking the safari tour was incredibly convenient, allowing us to easily observe a variety of animals. The kids couldn’t stop exclaiming with excitement on the ride, fully immersed in this vibrant environment. If you’re traveling with children, this is definitely a must-visit destination.
Quick Reference: Bali Safari & Marine Park Complete Guide: Overnight Experience, Family Fun & Itinerary Planning
🦒Stay at Mara River Safari Lodge🐒
🦒Bali Safari & Marine Park Discounted Tickets
2. Ulun Danu Beratan Temple: A Serene Spiritual Haven
For seniors aged 70, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is the most relaxing place. The environment here is incredibly tranquil, surrounded by mountains with a lake as calm as a mirror. The gentle breeze brings a sense of peace and contentment. We strolled leisurely, sipping coffee, and soaking in the serenity of nature. The misty mountain scenery feels like stepping into a fairyland, and the elders particularly loved this escape from the hustle and bustle, finding it a perfect place to unwind completely.
🛕🐒🌿 Explore Ubud in a day, discover Instagram-worthy spots, marvel at nature’s wonders, savor local cuisine, and enjoy civet coffee ☕📸—a perfect blend of culture and nature ▶Klook 50+ Tours
3. Tanah Lot: Majestic Sea Erosion Wonders
Tanah Lot is one of Bali’s iconic landmarks, featuring stunning sea arches and platforms that perfectly match our imagination of Bali. Although the seaside sun can be intense, watching the waves crash against the rocks is truly awe-inspiring. We recommend bringing a hat or umbrella and visiting in the evening to avoid the heat and enjoy the beautiful sunset.
Quick Reference: Must-Visit Spots in Bali: Detailed Guide to Tanah Lot Temple, Tides, and Nearby Attractions
🛕🌊🌅 Tanah Lot Temple, Bali’s must-visit sunset sanctuary, offering breathtaking sea views and a religious atmosphere ▶Klook Discount
4. Rice Terrace Swing: Fun for All Ages
Bali’s rice terraces are famous, and we chose a spot with swings that’s perfect for photos and fun for both kids and elders. The children ran up and down the terraces, completely energized, while the elders sat back, enjoying the lush green views and the gentle breeze. The atmosphere here is very relaxed, making it ideal for a family outing.
Quick Reference: Ubud Swing: Bali’s 8 Most Beautiful Swing Photo Spots｜Ubud Swing/Dress Rental Guide
🛕🐒🌿 Explore Ubud in a day, discover Instagram-worthy spots, marvel at nature’s wonders, savor local cuisine, and enjoy civet coffee ☕📸—a perfect blend of culture and nature ▶Klook 50+ Tours
5. Tirta Empul Temple: A Double Surprise of Purification Rituals and Presidential Palace
Tirta Empul is a place filled with religious atmosphere, where we witnessed many locals performing bathing rituals, creating a solemn and novel scene. However, personally, I was more intrigued by the presidential palace on the hill. This building is steeped in history, and the surrounding environment is exceptionally beautiful, making it worth spending some time to appreciate it thoroughly.
Quick Reference: 【2026】Complete Guide to Tirta Empul: Bali’s Most Sacred Purification Temple Experience
🔱💦 Tirta Empul Temple in Ubud is Bali’s famous holy water temple, renowned for its purification rituals 🙏 and sacred springs 💧, believed to bring blessings and good luck ✨ to devotees and visitors alike! ▶Klook Special Offers
6. Cliff Highway: Majestic Views and Travel Tips
The scenery along the Cliff Highway is breathtaking, but due to a recent landslide, although repairs are well done, it’s still recommended to take a shuttle bus. Additionally, the sunlight here is very intense, so remember to bring a hat or sun protection gear to avoid sunburn.
Quick Reference: Bali Batu Barak/Tanah Barak: A Stunning Journey Along the Blue Highway/Cliff Road
🏖️🪨🌊 Explore the beauty of the Blue Road cliffs, where every shot is Instagram-worthy! ▶Klook Deal
🛕🌊🌅 Uluwatu Temple, a magnificent cliff-top attraction where you can also enjoy traditional fire dance performances ▶Klook Deal
7. Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park: Grand Yet Sparse
The Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park covers a vast area, with the most striking feature being the colossal Garuda statue, whose height and scale are truly awe-inspiring. The statue is visible from the airport, highlighting its grandeur. However, the park’s facilities seem somewhat incomplete, giving it a sparse feel. It’s advisable to make a brief stop here to admire the statue before moving on to other attractions.
Quick Reference: Complete Guide to Garuda Wisnu Kencana GWK Cultural Park in Bali
🦅☀️🌴GWK Cultural Park, the massive Vishnu statue and Garuda are breathtaking 😍, and you can also enjoy traditional performances, a perfect blend of culture and nature ▶Klook Booking Link
8. Private Driver: The Unsung Hero of the Trip
A significant part of the success of this trip is owed to our private driver Xiao Wu and his wife Betty Pingky. With five people in our group and a lot of luggage, Xiao Wu arranged a large vehicle to ensure our comfort during the journey. His driving skills were very steady, with no sudden brakes or jerks, allowing the child with a cold and the elderly to rest well in the car.
Moreover, Xiao Wu was very familiar with Bali’s road conditions, perfectly avoiding traffic jams and congested routes, making our itinerary smoother. Whether it was the elderly needing a restroom break or the child constantly asking ‘Are we there yet?’, he always managed to arrive at the destination at the right time, keeping the family atmosphere harmonious. His Chinese was very fluent, with standard tones, making it easy to chat with both the elderly and the child, adding warmth to the entire journey.
It’s worth mentioning that Betty Pingky was extremely attentive in helping us confirm our hotel accommodation packages before departure and adjusted our itinerary based on our needs. Even during the trip, when we casually mentioned a certain attraction, Xiao Wu would go out of his way to take us there. This thoughtful service truly touched us.
9. Why Didn’t We Get Stuck in Traffic?
During this trip, we hardly encountered any traffic jams, which pleasantly surprised me. Upon reflection, there might be a few reasons for this:
- Clever Timing: We visited Tanah Lot and Ulun Danu Beratan Temple during off-peak hours, choosing to go around lunchtime when the roads were less crowded.
- Driver’s Expert Route Selection: Xiao Wu was very familiar with Bali’s road conditions. When heading to Tirta Empul Temple and Jimbaran, he took some back roads, avoiding the congestion on main thoroughfares.
- Personal Tolerance for Traffic: Having lived in Jakarta for a long time, I’m used to endless traffic jams. In comparison, Bali’s traffic felt like heaven.
These factors combined made our journey much smoother and greatly enhanced my impression of Bali.
10. Why There Are Few Photos: Busy Taking Care of the Young and Old
There were far fewer photos from this trip than expected, mainly because after getting out of the car, I was almost always busy taking care of my 7-year-old child and 70-year-old elders. The child was lively and always needed supervision, while the elders required timely rest and assistance. Although we missed out on some great photos, ensuring that the whole family had a fun and safe trip was more important to me. After all, the essence of travel is about creating memories, not just checking in.
11. A Small Regret About the Villa Pool
Illustration
The villa we stayed in was beautifully situated, but the only regret was that the pool was 1.5 meters deep, which was too deep for the child to enjoy playing in the water. This also meant that the adults couldn’t fully relax, as they had to constantly watch out for the child’s safety. For future villa selections, it’s essential to confirm the pool depth, especially for families with children. Opting for shallow areas or children’s pools would be more suitable.
Editor’s Note: Many villas in Bali have particularly deep pools. If you encounter a similar situation, Bali Luxury Pool Float/Rental Service can easily solve this problem!
Summary and Rating
Our family was extremely satisfied with this trip to Bali, especially with the professional service of our private driver and the island’s natural beauty, which left a deep impression on us. We initially thought Bali’s traffic would be as congested as Jakarta’s, but we hardly encountered any traffic jams, which greatly enhanced our travel experience. If the full score is 100, I would rate this trip 95/100, with the only deduction being the depth issue of the Villa pool.
Although this trip was busy—so much so that we didn’t even have time for a massage (I made up for it right after returning to Jakarta)—at least the whole family found Bali enjoyable. Both the kids and the elders had a great time, making all the effort worthwhile. The essence of travel isn’t about perfection but about the companionship and memories created with family.
Recommendations and Tips
- Private Driver: Highly recommend Betty Pingky and her husband Mr. Wu. Their attentive service and fluent Chinese make them perfect for family trips.
- Itinerary Planning: Suggest tailoring the itinerary based on family members’ ages and interests. For example, families with children can include more activities like zoo visits or rice terrace tours, while elders might prefer serene spots like the Water Temple.
- Accommodation Choice: When selecting a Villa, always confirm the pool depth, especially for families with young children.
- Transportation Arrangements: Avoid peak hours and choose drivers familiar with local routes to significantly improve the travel experience.
This trip to Bali has left our family with wonderful memories, and we look forward to visiting this enchanting island again in the future!
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