It has been almost seven years since we eloped to Bali and were married in Ubud so this trip was very nostalgic for us. We love Bali so much for many reasons; the people are kind and gracious, the food is amazing, it is easy to eat plantbased and everything is tropical and beautiful. If only it wasn’t so far. Our trips are centered around surfing and we don’t really go out partying, so we like to enjoy places more like a local and skip the tourist attractions, but I will still mention spots worth checking out for you.
Uluwatu // I really enjoy Uluwatu more than Canggu, which we stayed in last time we visited Bali and I have heard has become very hipster and crowded. Uluwatu is more relaxed, filled with yoga, healthy food and the surf break is in an amazing cliff location; they also have a party scene if that is your vibe. Walking down to the waves you wind down steep stairs through local shops with monkeys perched above looking to see if you have food to steal it from you – it is very surreal since we don’t have monkeys in the US, but the bottom of the cliffs are unlike anything you’ve seen so it’s worth the walk.
In Uluwatu we stayed at the Asa Mai which we were obsessed with and wished was our house. It is a wellness retreat and offers a sauna, cold plunge pool, spa and gym, yoga and breathwork classes, and more. Their food was better than any of the restaurants we tried nearby so we ended up just eating there most days. I got their tofu scramble three days in a row I loved it so much and breakfast is included in the stay. Sites to see: Tanah Lot, Jimbaran Bay and Ulu Cliffhouse for pizza & drinks.
Nusa Lembongan // We had a driver take us an hour from Uluwatu, then we took an hour ferry ride over to the island (Rocky’s Fast Ferries) and absolutely loved the island. This may have been one of our favorite spots, very chill and beachy with three waves to surf that you can see from your stay. The beach area has a little restaurant, you can rent paddle boards and snorkel gear and explore on your own which we did. There is also this luxurious spa overlooking the water where I got a pedicure called Spring – highly recommend. We stayed at Batu Karang, but it was a little too family friendly for us and we would recommend renting a villa or Airbnb if possible. Sites to see: Devils Tear, snorkeling & paddle boarding.
Keramas // On the east coast of Bali is one of our favorite places Komune Hotel where we spent our honeymoon, perched above a famous wave (Keramas). With multiple restaurants, an adults-only pool, a health hub with a gym, yoga chalet and tons of healthy food with vegan options, a relaxing spa and top-notch service we would stay here every single time we go to Bali. We got the floating breakfast in our pool one morning and it was something I have always wanted, you can request all vegan if you like and it was a dream.
Did I mention it is affordable? Everything in Bali is much less than what we typically pay in the states – from the salon services, to the food and stays, the costs are almost a fourth of ours.
Ubud // Ubud holds a special place in our hearts and even driving through the rice fields makes you feel calm and at peace. We hired a driver from Komune who took us to a coffee tasting place and then drove us through the town to take photos, while answering all of our questions and acting as a tour guide of sorts. Sites to see: Tegenungan waterfall and the Monkey Temple (if you aren’t scared of monkeys), I also heard there is an elephant sanctuary I’d like to visit next time.
The Flight. We flew Emirates from Miami > Dubai > Denpasar. We prefer Korean Air over Emirates for their level of service and professionalism. The nice thing about Emirates is you can choose your meal preference beforehand, so I went into my email confirmation to “manage my flight” and chose “vegan” as my meal option for all legs of the flight. Their vegan meals were pretty fresh (lots of fresh fruit, greens and meals around chickpeas or rice noodles), so it was easy to eat plantbased, not perfect but I would only eat the fresh food on the tray and skip the processed foods like: bread, crackers, vegan butter or anything looking suspect. We also had our own snacks on the way there so I brought: almonds, seaweed snacks, GoMacro bars and peanut butter pretzels.
Packing Tips. We were traveling for two weeks and I can shockingly fit everything in one carry on and a backpack. It is easy to pack light for tropical locations because you are in a bikini every day, wear light clothing and do not need fancy outfits. I packed one pair of heels I never wore and some outfits that were too dressy to pull out so I could have packed even less. I always pack: bikinis, wrap skirts, lots of lightweight dresses, sarongs, a few workout outfits, sleepwear, a hat, nipple covers, underwear and loungewear for the plane, as well as my makeup and toiletry bag. In the backpack I bring: the laptop, a journal and book, noise cancelling headphones (super important on the flight), healthy snacks, Athletic Greens and olive leaf extract pills, our passports and any paperwork, as well as our chargers.
What I Wore:
Mambo Dress | Indah Bikini | Poster Girl Orange Dress | Same Swim Top, Bottom | Superdown Skirt