I’m headed to Bali in May with my daughter before she begins a college internship in Sydney, Australia and I’m beyond excited.  Bali has been number one on my bucket list for years for a variety of reasons;  it is a nature lover’s dream of mountains, jungles, and spectacular beaches,  a mecca for spa, yoga, surfing and meditation enthusiasts, and an island rich with culture.    Whether frolicking in the monkey forest in Ubud, trekking to the peak of Mt. Batur, exploring Uluwatu Temple, or simply watching the waves from your infinity pool with cocktail in hand, Bali is bliss.   It is also one of the most affordable bucket list trips imaginable with a mind-boggling array of hotels, resorts, and villas for every budget – plus the dollar is strong, so it’s a perfect time to experience The Island of the Gods.

While considering where to stay on the island, I decided to take the advice of most of the bloggers and YouTuber’s I researched who had been there and opted to split the trip into two locations; one inland in the mountains, and another by the beach.  That was the easy part.  Deciding on accommodations was frustrating, as there were so many gorgeous, affordable options I simply couldn’t make up my mind.   We are talking glamping tents that make the Ritz Carlton look shabby, private villas with cliffside infinity pools overlooking the ocean,  a safari lodge where you can feed zebras, rhinos, and elephants from the comfort of your balcony, luxury treehouses with room service, a bamboo house with a water wheel,  even a transparent bubble on the beach with a bedroom inside and staff to prepare a campfire and candlelight dinner..seriously???  I was blown away and I haven’t even gone yet!!

The prices were equally astounding.   One of the above was only $24 a night and all of them were under $200.   My kinda island!   I chose PinkCoco in Uluwatu based on reviews, location, and cool factor.  I’m still deciding between 3 properties in Ubud –  Komaneka at Rasa Sayang, Visesa Ubud, and Bije Suite Villa.  Agoda was a great resource for hotels and offers daily discounts on specific properties as well as additional discounts for creating an account.    I also loved the site TripCanvas and my blogger fave Jetset Christina for invaluable information on all things Bali.

More to come once the trip is fully booked.  Look for my next article on the ultimate Sarasota staycation next week 🙂