Honeymoon in Bali: which areas and which hotels

For many newly married couples, Bali is the dream honeymoon. The hard part is choosing the right area and the right hotel: the island is bigger than it looks on a map, and each part of it has its own atmosphere. Here is how to plan a stay for two, area by area, with a few hotels worth a look.

How many nights, how many stops?

Bali is a long way from North Africa and Europe, so it is not a four-day trip. For a honeymoon, around ten nights on the island let you enjoy it without rushing. The easiest plan is two bases, three at most: traffic is often heavy in the south, and every change of hotel costs half a day. The most common split is a few nights in Ubud, inland, then a beach hotel in the south, with an optional extension to a small island.

Ubud: rice terraces, jungle and quiet

In the centre of the island, Ubud is surrounded by rice fields and forest. There is no beach, but this is where you find the most nature-focused hotels: rooms and villas facing the jungle or the paddies, spas and quiet breakfasts. It makes an ideal first stop to recover from the long journey before heading to the coast.

A few hotels worth a look:

• Alila Ubud, on the edge of the Ayung River valley, outside central Ubud;
• Alaya Resort Ubud, in Ubud itself, if you want to go out easily;
• Abisena Wellness & Resort Ubud, in Keliki, north of Ubud, among the rice fields, for those who want seclusion.

Uluwatu: cliffs and ocean

At the southern tip of the island, on the Bukit peninsula, Uluwatu is a land of cliffs above the ocean, small coves and surf breaks, with a temple perched on a clifftop. Many couples look here for a villa with a private pool and a sea view. Worth a look: Radisson Blu Resort & Villas, Bali Uluwatu, in Pecatu, which offers both rooms and villas.

Jimbaran: dinner with your feet in the sand

Set around a bay south of the airport, Jimbaran is known for grilled fish and seafood served on the beach. It is a good balance between calm and easy airport access, handy for the last nights of the trip. Worth a look: AYANA Segara Bali, in Jimbaran.

Nusa Dua: full comfort

Nusa Dua is an area of large international beachfront hotels where the sea is usually calm. It suits couples who want everything on site — beach, pools, restaurants and spa — without getting back in a car.

Sanur or Seminyak: two opposite moods

On the east coast, Sanur is quiet, with beaches sheltered by the reef. It is also where most boats leave for Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. Worth a look: Andaz Bali, on the beach in Sanur.

On the south-west coast, Seminyak is livelier, with beach clubs, boutiques and restaurants — a choice for couples who like evenings out. Worth a look: Alila Seminyak, in the Petitenget area.

An island extension

• Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida: reached by boat from Sanur. Stay at least one night rather than doing a day trip.
• The Gili Islands, off Lombok: no motor vehicles, you get around on foot, by bike or by horse cart. Gili Meno is the quietest, Gili Trawangan the largest and liveliest. On Trawangan, have a look at Aston Sunset Beach Resort, for example.
• Lombok, Bali's large neighbour, where most people are Muslim: an option to end the trip in a more familiar setting.

For more on each area, read our guide on where to go in Bali.

When to go

The dry season runs roughly from May to October, the rainy season from November to March. A summer wedding fits well: July and August are right in the dry season. If you travel then, book your hotels early, especially villas.

Villa or hotel: questions to ask

Before booking, ask:

• a villa with a private pool, or a room? A villa gives more privacy but is often further from restaurants;
• is breakfast included?
• does the restaurant serve halal food? Bali is mostly Hindu, so it is worth asking anywhere on the island;
• can the hotel arrange your airport transfer?
• what is the cancellation policy?

Mention that you are on your honeymoon too: some hotels offer honeymoon packages or small touches for newlyweds, so ask when you book.

Before you go

In principle, Algerian passports are not among the nationalities eligible for a visa on arrival in Indonesia: the visa is obtained before departure. Other passports have other rules. Check the current requirements with the consulate or the official website before you travel, and wait until you have your visa before paying anything non-refundable. Nreservi does not sell any visa service. Visa, Bali's tourist levy and halal food are covered in our article on travelling to Bali from Algeria.

Still hesitating with another Asian destination? Read our comparison Bali or Malaysia.

Book your hotel

On Nreservi, you book your hotels in Bali and the nearby islands online. Living abroad? You can pay online by bank card, and your voucher is sent to you after payment. From Algeria, you pay in dinars without a bank card: BaridiMob, bank transfer or cash at our Telemly agency. A question about a hotel? Ask NIA, our travel assistant.

See our hotels in Bali

Nreservi, online travel agency — 1st floor, 116 boulevard Colonel Krim Belkacem (Telemly), Algiers Centre — +213 540 28 40 40.