Is Bali Worth Visiting and Is It Overrated? My Honest Review

Thinking about visiting the Instagram hotspot? This post will take you through my take on whether Bali is worth visiting. Learn the pros, cons, and whether this destination is overrated.

As with pretty much every other traveler, Bali had been on my radar for quite some time. It was a destination that constantly popped up on my Instagram and Pinterest feed.

I had mixed feelings about whether visiting Bali would be worth it or not. Especially considering how far away it is (for Americans).

In the end, Jake and I decided to go for it. Our thinking? Better to visit now before it becomes even more inundated with digital nomads, Instagram tourists, and essentially loses its original identity.

At first, I was super excited. I found a great deal flying Qatar Airways business class (QSuites) using points, and the hotel scene was a 10/10.

I started to second-guess our decision to visit Bali once I got into the finer details of trip planning (excursions, activities, etc.).

While the majority of travel bloggers and influencers gush about this destination, there is another side to the coin: the unedited, unphotoshopped reality.

I would be remiss as a travel blogger not to call out the reality of the situation. To give a picture of what a trip to Bali looks like for the average tourist looking to see new sights, experience a different culture, enjoy nature, etc. Simply put, a traveler who is looking for the experience, not the Instagram photoshoot. 

Just like any place in the world, there are pros and cons. I'll take you through the highs, the lows, who should visit this island, and who should not.

If you're seeking a real-world take on whether Bali is worth visiting, a take that's outside of the typical 20-something influencer, continue reading below.

*It wasn't until the end of our trip that I thought about doing a post like this. I.e., I was only snapping pictures of the most photogenic spots/angles/opportunities. Keep that in mind as you read through this post and see the photos. For the most part, the pictures portray the best (most glamorous) version of Bali.

Is Bali worth visiting - the short and sweet answer

Yes or no, is Bali worth visiting?

No.

For most travelers.

My answer is a hard no for Americans. Really, anyone who lives in the Western Hemisphere. Bali just isn't worth the travel time. There are destinations closer to home that beat Bali. For example, when Jake and I arrived in Nusa Dua (the relaxed beach resort area of Bali), we both said we should have just gone to Costa Rica.

If you live in Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, China, India, etc., then it's possibly worth it.

Backpackers, those looking for a cheap getaway (mind you, it's not as cheap as it used to be), 20-something Instagrammers, and serious Yogis will probably enjoy Bali.

Outside of that, I think there are better places to spend your time, money, and vacation days.

That's my short answer to "is Bali worth visiting". Let's get into the details, starting with the positives and working our way to the negatives/disappointments.

Is Bali expensive? NO! It's very cheap...but not as cheap as it used to be

The low cost of living and overall affordability of Bali are why digital nomads flock to this trendy destination. Compared to the United States, Australia, and most places in Europe, Bali is a steal.

5-star hotels can be found for $250 to $500 a night (more on hotels below).

Restaurants and Coffee Shops

Dining at the top coffee shops and restaurants was a fraction of what you would pay in the United States.

Some examples of prices you would find in Seminyak and Canggu:

• acai bowl: $7
• eggs benendict: $8
• avocado toast: $6
• flat white: $2.30
• grilled fish of the day: $16
• waygu brisket: $13
• crispy half duck: $16
• large portion of Balinese rice: $4

Your final bill will add 10% for tax and 6% to 10% for service.

Keep in mind, we were in popular tourist areas and opted for top-rated restaurants. We could have easily found significantly cheaper spots.

On the flip side, we could have also visited more expensive venues. As Bali's tourism grows, so has the fine dining scene. You'll now find multi-course, fine dining establishments charging prices more in line with Europe than SE Asia. 

Mauri Restaurant is one of them. It was our least favorite experience and we left disappointed. Our bill was $170 for 2 basic tasting menus, 1 glass of wine, 1 cocktail, and 1 bottle of water. The food didn't blow us away and Jake was still hungry after.

Needless to say, you can go as cheap or as expensive as you want.

In general, we paid about $30 to $60 for dinners (no alcohol) and $15 to $30 for brunch/coffee at the most popular spots. Our favorite restaurants in this price range were:

• Sisterfields - awesome breakfast spot with great coffee.
• Coffee Cartel Seminyak - chill coffee shop with excellent banana bread, matcha, and cold brew.
• Potato Head Beach Club - oceanfront cocktails with a chill/boho vibe.
• Kaum at Potato Head - LOVED the food here. The half duck, barramundi, and Balinese rice were delicious. To give an idea of price, that meal was $35 (keeping in mind this is one of the nicer/more expensive restaurants in Seminyak).
• Kajin - excellent sushi!

Spa Treatments

Spa treatments are extremely cheap in Bali. We had a free day in Seminyak, so we booked 3.5 hours of treatments: a full body scrub, deep tissue massage, and facial. The bill was $100 each with tip.

We ended up booking another 90-minute deep tissue massage for $35 before we left for Ubud.

I recommend both Koya Spa Seminyak and RE Massage Studio.

Taxis and transportation

Grab and Gojek are the main taxi apps. These work just like Uber. A one-hour car ride will cost around $20. You can pay a bit more and have a "luxury" ride, which essentially is a larger, newer SUV.

If you're feeling adventurous, you could book a scooter for an even cheaper ride. Take a seat behind the driver and you'll bypass all the car traffic since you can weave your way around it.

Hotels in Bali

5-Star Hotels for the Price of a 3-Star

Excluding highly publicized, ultra-luxury hotels like the Four Seasons Resort Bali At Sayan, Ritz Mandapa, Bvlgari Resort Bali, Capella Ubud, etc., 5-star hotels are extremely affordable in Bali.

You can easily find a 5-star hotel in tourist hotspots like Seminyak, Ubud, and Nusa Dua for under $500 a night. Many of these hotels feature private suites, plunge pools, free breakfast, and more.

We stayed at:

• W Bali (Seminyak) - $375/night. While I don't like the W brand in the USA, I love it abroad. The resort was right on the ocean, spacious, had a good gym and huge breakfast (varied quality), and was within walking distance of Seminyak town.
• Cicada Marriott Autograph Collection (Ubud North) - $230/night. Secluded hotel with stunning views (high elevation/jungle views). Breakfast was great and the location was ideal for visiting waterfalls and rice fields. They are currently building a gym and spa facility.
• Kappa Senses Ubud (Ubud Central) - $300/night. Central Ubud was the best part of our trip. Kappa Senses is 5 miles from the very center of Ubud (15 - 30 minutes driving). The hotel is set in the rice fields, the service was fantastic, and the breakfast was the best of our trip. The gym was mediocre, but that didn't matter since we were busy sightseeing around Ubud.
• The Apurva Kempinski Bali (Nusa Dua) - $360/night. One of the nicest hotels we have stayed at. Absolutely palatial. Gym and spa were 11/10. Breakfast was a little hectic and crowded since it's a large resort, but the food selection was varied and quality. The beach was nice, but only because the hotel staff were constantly collecting trash from the ocean (more on that below).

Given that these are the rates for 5-star hotels, you can imagine what 4 and 3-star hotels go for. It wouldn't be hard to spend under $100 a night for accommodations.

Is Bali safe? Yes! 

Bali felt extremely safe. We never felt uneasy at any point during our trip.  

While we didn't do this, I would have felt 100% comfortable renting a car and driving around the island ourselves. Though, being brave enough to tackle the unorganized traffic and roads is another matter.

While we never experienced anything negative, we were told Bali has seen an increase in petty crime from foreigners, which isn't surprising considering it's a popular tourist destination drawing international crowds.

The Balinese people are wonderful, as is the culture

One thing I really enjoyed about Bali was the people. They are beyond kind, joyful, and respectful.

The culture is also unique as it's rooted in Balinese Hinduism. In fact, 85% of the local population adheres to a mixture of Hinduism, Buddhism, and local spiritual traditions. Bali doesn't have over 20,000 temples for no reason!

Many travelers will partake in spiritual rituals and offerings to the gods. While I'm sure this is very interesting, Jake and I did not do this.

Now for the negatives

Ok, I've taken you through the positives. Now for the less pleasant part: the negatives and why I think Bali is overrated for most travelers.

The sights in Bali are underwhelming

If the sights in Bali were mindblowing, I would argue it's worth the long flight for travelers coming from the Americas and Europe to visit. But that's just not the case.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I was really excited about our trip after booking our flights and awesome hotels. It was when I started researching our tours and activities that I became concerned this wasn't going to be our favorite trip.

After looking at Bali's top sights on Google Maps and TripAdvisor, my instincts told me nothing was going to "wow" us. I was right. 

On our first day trip, we visited some of the top sights: Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, Jatiluwih Green Land (rice fields), Luhur Batukaru Temple, and Tanah Lot Temple.

Because traffic is horrendous in Bali, it took 8 hours to see these sights, even though they were relatively close to each other. It's not like we were traveling all over the island.

30 minutes was more than enough time to see each of the temples. You essentially just wander around the outside of the buildings. You walk up, take a few pictures, walk around a bit, and that's that. It was the same for every temple.

The Jatiluwih rice field was pretty, but again, nothing exceptional.

Mind you, these were some of the TOP sights in Bali. Nothing "wowed" us.

Other popular tours and sights include Mount Batur, various waterfalls, and numerous temples. If traffic weren't so terrible, requiring wasted time in the car, maybe it would be worth it. And that's a big maybe. 

We hit all the top spots in Ubud: Monkey Forest, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Ubud Traditional Art Market, Ubud Palace, Ubud Dalem Temple, etc. At least these sights were within walking distance or a short drive, but still, nothing amazing.

I've spoken with many people after returning from Bali, and every single person agreed. Bali's sights are underwhelming.

Neither Jake nor I felt wowed by any temple or tourist sight. The temples felt downtrodden and a little worse for wear. Nothing like what we experienced in Japan (grandious, clean, well-kept).

Traffic in Bali is horrendous

While the island of Bali is not large, it can take hours to travel around the island. Traffic and lack of infrastructure is a problem. I don't see how it will get fixed any time soon, if ever.

This really plays into the overall experience and what you can realistically fit into your itinerary.

Many travelers arrive thinking they can see all the top sights and travel around the island. Then, after one tour, with hours sitting in traffic, to see only 3 or 4 sights, you start striking tours and sights off your list because you don't want to spend your vacation stuck in a car.

I will also mention that renting a car is not for the faint of heart. Outside of the cities, you'll be fine. But in the cities, it's chaotic. Cars, scooters, and bikes, seem to make up their own rules as they go along. A narrow road is supposed to, somehow, fit two-way traffic with scooters and bikes weaving between cars.

The cities feel hectic, crowded, and dirty

Wandering around the city centers (Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud, etc.) is not an enjoyable experience. Powerlines are everywhere, sidewalks are in poor condition (if there are any), and traffic is wild with scooters wizzing past you (keep your head on a swivel!).

Let's just say it's nothing like wandering the streets of Italy or Spain.

It's also not particularly clean. The cities weren't littered with trash per se, but the streets generally felt grimy.

Bali beaches: are they clean, dirty, can you swim in them?

Think you'll be frolicking in the ocean? Think again.

Even though two of our hotels were oceanfront, we didn't swim once.

In Seminyak (the west side of the island), the currents are notoriously strong, and there are warnings everywhere not to go swimming. Sunset was the only time we saw a few locals get in the water (that was the calmest time of day). Otherwise, anyone taking a swim would have been absolutely pummeled by the waves.

Canggu and Ulawatu are popular with intermediate to advanced surfers. If you're a strong surfer, you'll probably enjoy the ocean. For the rest of us, not so much.

The problem with the east side of the ocean (Nusa Dua) was the trash in the water. Our hotel, The Apurva Kempinski Bali, had staff constantly cleaning trash from the beach. Leave your hotel and you'll be greeted with a beach filled with trash.

I walked up to the water many times to see if it was ever clean enough to swim in. Nope. Unless you're comfortable swimming with plastic forks, sandals, t-shirts, bottles, plastic wrappers, food containers, etc., you'll be skipping time in the ocean.

The same goes for snorkel excursions. I read that the snorkeling is supposed to be great in Bali. But again, upon deeper investigation and reading reviews, I learned that many people complained that it was gross getting into and out of the water with trash floating around the snorkel sites.

Bali has capitalized on getting that "Instagram shot", which cheapens the views and experience

Instagram has ruined some of the best sights in Bali, which is Bali's own fault for capitalizing on it.

For example, Tegallalang Rice Terrace was beautiful. What wasn't beautiful were the cheesy Instagram setups all over the place (which you had to pay for, of course). A fake bird nest there, a few Bali swings here, a bamboo circle bench there. It was comical.

The ultimate Instagram scam? Penataran Agung Lempuyang Temple. This is THE Instagram shot. I'm sure you've seen it. You stand in the middle of the "heaven gate" with an utterly still pool of water below, creating a picture-perfect reflection of you and the gate.

Guess what, there's no water. It's a big slab of cement. A camera trick with a mirror is how they create the water reflection.

You arrive, get in line, and are handed your ticket with a number. Then you wait. Sometimes for a few hours. When your number is up, you go to the gate and strike a few poses while the photographer snaps your picture using the mirror to create the water effect.

I can't stress how many people I spoke to that fell for this and were utterly disappointed by the amount of time they wasted and how it felt like a complete scam.

Bali belly is real

With all the places we travel to, we have never gotten food poisoning or digestive issues while abroad. That includes Mexico, Costa Rica, South Africa, Morocco, etc. We both got Bali belly on this trip. Keep in mind, we were staying at 5-star hotels and eating at the top-rated restaurants.

It wasn't the end of the world, but we each had 2 days where we were constantly nauseous, had zero appetite, and felt weak and tired.

Things that would have improved our experience

The only people I've spoken to who had a nice experience ALL stayed at one of the following hotels:

• Four Seasons Resort Bali At Sayan
• Ritz Mandapa
• Bvlgari Resort Bali
• Capella Ubud

I refused to pay $1,000+ a night in Bali. My thinking? We're traveling halfway across the world to take advantage of Bali's affordability. It seemed ridiculous to spend that much when I could book other 5-star hotels for $250 - $500 a night.

If I could go back, I still wouldn't have booked those hotels...BUT...if that was our travel style and budget, it undoubtedly would have improved our experience.

Mind you, most people who stay at these hotels spend the majority of their time at the property. Understandably so.

If you're OK with staying on property and going to Bali specifically to experience those resorts, then you might have a better experience.

We also did not visit the islands around Bali.

I've heard fantastic things about NIHI Sumba on Sumba Island. The issue is that we had already spent a considerable amount of time traveling to get to Bali. The last thing we wanted was to book another flight to reach a neighboring island, and then fly back to Bali before flying home.

While a place like NIHI Sumba looks magical and idyllic, my thinking goes back to: if you're coming from the Western Hemisphere, there are places just as special that are closer to home or easier to get to.

In summary 

There you have it, that's my honest take on Bali. I hate to be negative, but I strongly believe travelers need to be aware of the reality of the situation.

It's not worth the travel time if you're coming from the Americas or even Europe. If you live in Southeast Asia, China, Japan, India, Australia, etc, then MAYBE it's worth it. Even if I lived closer, I still wouldn't return and wouldn't entirely feel the need to ever go.

Now, if you're a young digital nomad looking for a cheap destination, surfer, or backpacker, then you might enjoy it.

I also noticed a lot of families from India. Hotel staff confirmed that a lot of families from India and Asia will come to Bali to take advantage of the resorts. They pretty much stay at the resort and aren't doing much sightseeing.

After speaking with many people who have been to Bali recently, or know someone who has visited, I've learned I am not alone in these thoughts. Not one person has disagreed with any of the above.

Will I go back? No.

Do I wish I had chosen another destination instead? Yes.

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Is Bali Worth Visiting and Is It Overrated? My Honest Review

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