7 Reasons To Visit Bali

Bali was never big on my radar. For years, my dream vacation has been to visit Bora Bora, but whilst I await my Prince Charming to join me, I ran across photos of Bali. I instantly fell in love with the infinity pools, and rice paddy views. As a lover of all things pool, and anything instagrammable, I began doing my research. Fast forward to a few months later, and I was hosting my first She Flies Solo Retreat in Bali.

I had the pleasure of taking 6 gorgeous women to a far away place that I’d never been on a hope and a prayer that it was everything I imagined it would be.

Bali did NOT disappoint. As I was trying to pull together my top moments in Bali, I had a hard time narrowing it down. For the sake of time and attention span, I’ll list my top 7 reasons that *I* would add Bali to my bucket list immediately.

 

1. The People: I knew when our driver greeted us with a smile and a warm Balinese welcome, it was going to be a great trip. After waiting over an hour for us to get through customs, one would think he’d be frustrated. However, he quickly showed us to our car, offered to swing us by the “market” (which was really just a convenience store), and whisked us away on the long and often terrifying trek to our villa (SN: The driving is one thing I did NOT love about Bali.) Upon arrival to our villa we were greeted by Arta of Villa Kembang who showed us the utmost level of hospitality for the duration of our trip. From our tour guide Made to our personal chefs, to everyone else I encountered in Bali, the Balinese gave “Southern Hospitality” a run for it’s money. If you’re looking to be treated like long-lost family, Bali is your place!

2. The Food: Peanut Sauce. Satay. Peanut Sauce. and Satay. That’s all I need in my life! I will admit that after tasting the delicious peanut sauce whipped up at our villa, I didn’t try much else. However, my fellow travelistas can vouch for the fact that the food was delicious everywhere! On our trip to the volcano (see “The Views” below), we were greeting with a phenomenal buffet consisting of many Balinese favorites, sprinkled with a few options for the more selective eater (ie. french fries and chicken wings). There was no trouble finding great food in Bali!

3. The Views: Let’s see, do you prefer infinity pools overlooking the rice paddies, pools overlooking the city of Seminyak, maybe crystal clear beach views? Not into water? How about lunch overlooking volcanos, or beautiful green fields for miles. Bali was at no shortage for jaw-dropping views.

4. The Bali Swing: I’ll preface this by saying “go in the morning.” Outside of the fact that the sun really wasn’t on our side by the time we got there, the Bali Swing is a must! It is comprised of multiple swings, nests, rocks, and other unique areas to channel your inner child and swing through nature while being photographed.

5. Monkey Forest: Picture monkeys… everywhere. Big monkeys, little monkeys, mama monkeys, hungry monkeys. That pretty much sums up the monkey forest. Feed them and they will come. Watch your personal belongings, and take the trek through the forest to encounter these human-like creatures in their element.

6. Villa Kembang: This probably should have been number 1. Our 7-Bedroom Villa was unbelievable. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime (maybe 3 or 4 times) place to experience with a great group of people. Each room in the villa was decorated beautifully and had a feel of it’s own. The villa boasted a large infinity pool overlooking the rice paddies, as well as a small private pool in one of the rooms. The staff was no less than amazing, and I really would have been fine with spending my whole time in Bali laid out by the pool eating Mixed Satay with extra peanut sauce. Contact Red Lotus on your next trip to Bali, and tell them Karissa sent you.

7. Diversity in Options: I’ve never been to a place where you can go from Jungle Life to South Beach Vibe in a matter of an hour. Bali IS NOT A CITY. Bali is an island comprised of multiple cities. All of which offer a diverse and totally unique vibe of their own. We spent the majority of our time in Ubud, and finished up with an evening in Seminyak. You’d think you were in a totally different country each time. I can’t wait to return to explore more of the diverse options in Bali. If you’d like to go with me, be sure you are signed up for our newsletter to be the first to know when details are released.

What is the most beautiful place you have been?