Bali is a paradise where travelers from Asia and Oceania gather. Close to Australia, it draws surfers and resort lovers from all over the world.
Partying with friends at a beach club. That was the dream I carried with me to Bali. But this time, for some reason, I was traveling with my mother. The nightlife I’d dreamed of was put on hold, but in its place I witnessed something unforgettable.
Bali, the Crossroads of Asia and Oceania
Bali draws a huge number of travelers from Asia and Oceania, partly thanks to its proximity to Australia.
Resort hotels, diving, surfing, and a vibrant club scene. Every way of traveling is here. The Kuta area in particular has a huge concentration of clubs and a thriving nightlife.
What’s interesting is that, unlike mainland Indonesia, Bali is predominantly Hindu. Perhaps that’s why the island feels relatively relaxed about alcohol. Within a country where Islam is the majority, Bali holds onto its own distinct “Balinese Hinduism,” deeply rooted in daily life.
What to Do Before You Leave (2026 Update)
Before getting carried away, Bali now requires a few things to be arranged before arrival. To avoid airport queues, it’s best to complete everything online in advance.
Things to prepare in advance
└ Bali Tourist Tax
About USD 10 per person
Pay by credit card in advance via the
official "Love Bali" app or site, get a QR code
└ Visa on Arrival (e-VOA)
About USD 35, 30-day stay (extendable once)
Getting it in advance lets you use
the airport e-gates
└ All Indonesia e-Arrival Card
Register online from 72 hours before arrivalThe rules are more developed than when I went, so check the latest information and prepare ahead.
Access: 2.5 Hours from Singapore
From Singapore
└ Direct flights from Changi Airport
└ About 2.5 hours
└ Popular as a weekend short trip
From other Asian cities
└ Direct flights or budget carriers
└ Around 7 hoursIf you’re touring Southeast Asia, it’s easy to slot in as a detour from Singapore.
The Beach Club Dream, Postponed
When you think of Bali, you think of beach clubs. To gather with friends, a whole group of us, and party to our hearts’ content. I’d held onto that dream for a long time.
But this time, for some reason, I was on a two-person trip with my mother.
I obviously couldn’t dance until dawn at a beach club with my mom, so the nightlife I’d dreamed of was postponed. That’s homework for next time.
Places like Potato Head Beach Club in Seminyak and FINNS Beach Club in Canggu are famous worldwide. Sipping drinks on a poolside daybed while a DJ plays and the sun sets is apparently the classic style. Someday I will let loose at one of those beach clubs with my friends.
Mom Floored the Jet Ski and Left Me Stunned
I gave up on the nightlife, but I could enjoy water sports with my mother.
We each rented a jet ski, and this is where the incident happened.
When I sped up, the jet ski bounced over the water and scared me, so I couldn’t really open the throttle. But when I glanced over, my mother was tearing across the water at incredible speed, bouncing wildly the whole way.
I was genuinely stunned. My normally gentle mother had transformed into a different person, racing across the sea. Seeing an unexpected side of a parent might just be one of the great joys of travel.
My Surfing Ended with Just Paddling
Bali is a world-famous surf destination. Since I was there, I rented a board and gave surfing a try.
I’ll be honest. I’ve tried surfing a few times before. But I have never once managed to stand up when a wave came.
This day was no different. I spent the whole time just paddling, bobbing around on top of the water. There was zero sign of me ever standing.
So in the end, I laid the surfboard down on the beach and settled for just looking the part of a surfer. I think I pulled it off reasonably well.
That said, as a world-class surf spot, Bali has plenty of beginner-friendly waves, and there were many people enjoying surfing. I think even beginners like me can have fun here. There are lots of surf schools too, so with proper lessons, you’d surely manage to stand up.
An Island with Completely Different Faces by Area
Bali shows a completely different character depending on the area. The key is choosing where to stay based on your purpose.
Main area characteristics
└ Kuta
Lively surfer town near the airport
└ Seminyak
Stylish cafes and upscale beach clubs
└ Ubud
Inland village of art and culture,
rice terraces and yoga
└ Canggu
The hottest surf-and-cafe town right now
└ Sanur
Calm east coast, family-friendly
└ Nusa Dua
Government-developed luxury resort area
Luxury Resorts at Surprisingly Good Prices
Bali has a wealth of luxury resort hotels. They’re concentrated mostly along the coast, but high-end villas are also scattered in quiet spots like Ubud where you can see rice terraces.
This time I stayed at a coastal resort hotel. What surprised me was how reasonable the prices were for a luxury resort. For the same quality, Bali is clearly cheaper than other resort destinations.
Accommodation guide (USD)
└ Budget: USD 10-30/night
└ Mid-range: USD 50-150/night
└ Luxury: from USD 250/nightThanks to that, I could indulge in a relaxed, luxurious resort experience. Bali is an excellent resort destination in terms of value for money too.
Diving with Manta Rays
I skipped it this time, but Bali is also famous for diving.
There are even spots where you can encounter manta rays. Nusa Penida (where you can meet mantas) and Tulamben in the east (with a famous shipwreck dive) are especially renowned. As a diving enthusiast, I really wanted to, but since this was a trip with my mother, I passed this time. That’s more homework for next time.
Plenty of Delicious Food
The food in Bali is wonderfully varied.
Recommended dishes
└ Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice)
└ Babi Guling (roast suckling pig,
a festive dish)
└ Sate (grilled skewers with peanut sauce)
└ Ubud and Canggu are packed with
world-class vegan cafesFrom the classic nasi goreng to fresh seafood, you can find anything. As a resort destination, there are also many restaurants serving international cuisine, so I never struggled to find something to eat.
Culture and Cautions Worth Knowing
Bali's unique culture
└ Canang
Small palm-leaf offerings placed on
roadsides and shopfronts; take care not
to step on them
└ Nyepi (Balinese New Year, around March)
Fire, electricity and going outside are
banned, even the airport closes
The whole island falls silent
Cautions
└ Use Grab or Gojek for safe transport
└ Many accidents happen renting bikes
without an international license; ride carefully
└ Tap water is not drinkable
└ Using your phone while walking in busy
areas makes you a target for bag snatchersBest Season
Dry season (April-October)
└ Best season
└ Low humidity, crisp air
└ Ideal for surfing and sightseeing
Rainy season (November-March)
└ Mostly short squalls
└ Fruit is delicious
└ Flights and hotels are cheaper
Final Thoughts
My trip to Bali, which turned into a two-person journey with my mother, may have postponed the beach club dream, but it became an unforgettable trip all the same.
My mother flooring the jet ski, settling for just looking like a surfer on the beach, the reasonably priced luxury resort. All of it is a good memory now.
Bali is a deep, versatile island where you can enjoy resorts, surfing, diving, and nightlife alike. Next time I’ll definitely party with friends at a beach club and swim with manta rays. This trip gave me those goals too.
Solo, with friends, or as a trip to treat a parent. The fact that it works in any style is, I think, the real charm of Bali.
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