• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Divergent Travelers

Divergent Travelers

Award-Winning Adventure Travel Blog

CLICK TO OPEN MENUMENU
  • TRAVEL TIPS
    • TRAVEL INSPIRATION
    • HOW TO PLAN A TRIP
    • HOW TO SAVE MONEY FOR TRAVEL
    • CHEAP PLACES TO TRAVEL
    • FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS
    • FIND CHEAP ACCOMMODATION
    • TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS
    • TRAVEL ITINERARIES
    • TRAVEL GEAR GUIDE
    • TRAVEL INSURANCE ADVICE
  • USA TRAVEL
    • USA TRAVEL GUIDE
    • USA NATIONAL PARKS
    • WEST COAST USA
      • ALASKA
      • CALIFORNIA
      • HAWAII
    • MOUNTAIN USA
      • COLORADO
      • MONTANA
      • WYOMING
    • MIDWEST USA
      • MINNESOTA
      • NORTH DAKOTA
      • WISCONSIN
    • NORTHEAST USA
      • NEW YORK
    • SOUTHWEST USA
      • ARIZONA
      • NEVADA
      • UTAH
    • SOUTHEAST USA
      • FLORIDA
      • NORTH CAROLINA
      • VIRGINIA
  • DESTINATIONS
    • WORLDWIDE
    • AFRICA
      • BOTSWANA
      • ETHIOPIA
      • KENYA
      • MALAWI
      • NAMIBIA
      • RWANDA
      • SOUTH AFRICA
      • TANZANIA
      • ZIMBABWE
    • ANTARCTICA
    • ASIA
      • CHINA
      • HONG KONG
      • INDIA
      • KYRGYZSTAN
      • MACAU
      • MALDIVES
      • RUSSIA
      • SOUTH KOREA
      • SRI LANKA
      • TIBET
      • TURKMENISTAN
      • UZBEKISTAN
    • SOUTHEAST ASIA
      • BORNEO
      • CAMBODIA
      • INDONESIA
      • MALAYSIA
      • MYANMAR
      • PHILIPPINES
      • SINGAPORE
      • THAILAND
      • VIETNAM
    • CARIBBEAN
    • CENTRAL AMERICA
    • EUROPE
      • NORDICS
        • DENMARK
        • FINLAND
        • ICELAND
        • NORWAY
        • SWEDEN
      • WESTERN EUROPE
        • BELGIUM
        • ENGLAND
        • FRANCE
        • IRELAND
        • LUXEMBOURG
        • NETHERLANDS
        • SCOTLAND
      • CENTRAL EUROPE
        • CZECH REPUBLIC
        • GERMANY
        • HUNGARY
        • POLAND
      • SOUTHERN EUROPE
        • ITALY
        • SPAIN
      • BALKANS
        • CROATIA
        • GREECE
        • MONTENEGRO
    • MIDDLE EAST
      • EGYPT
      • JORDAN
      • MOROCCO
      • TURKEY
    • NORTH AMERICA
      • CANADA
      • GREENLAND
      • MEXICO
      • UNITED STATES
    • OCEANIA
      • AUSTRALIA
      • EASTER ISLAND
      • FIJI
      • NEW ZEALAND
    • SOUTH AMERICA
      • ARGENTINA
      • BRAZIL
      • CHILE
      • COLOMBIA
      • ECUADOR
      • PERU
      • VENEZUELA
  • TRAVEL STYLES
    • ADVENTURE TRAVEL
    • CRUISING
    • CULTURAL
    • HIKING TRIPS
    • KAYAKING
    • POLAR EXPEDITIONS
    • ROAD TRIPS
    • TROPICAL DESTINATIONS
    • WILDLIFE EXPERIENCES
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
    • MASTER GOPRO PHOTOGRAPHY
    • BEST GOPRO ACCESSORIES
    • BEST CAMERA ACCESSORIES
    • BEST DRONES FOR TRAVEL
    • BEST TRAVEL TRIPOD
    • OUR PHOTO GEAR
  • ABOUT
    • MEET LINA & DAVID
    • WORK WITH US
    • CONTACT

5 Reasons Why Bali Is Not the Paradise You Think It Is

You are here: Home / Epic Travel Stories / 5 Reasons Why Bali Is Not the Paradise You Think It Is

By Lina Stock on July 12, 2014 โ€ข Last updated August 25, 2020 โ€ข 52 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our Disclosure here

For as long as I can remember, I have had visions about the paradise that can be defined as Bali. I had never been there, but in my mind when someone said โ€˜Baliโ€™ I immediately thought of paradise.

Ask anyone around you to come up with one word when they hear you say Bali. I will guarantee they will say something that revolves around tropical, paradise and beaches.

They may even mention Eat, Pray, Love, which seems to be a common correlation to the island.

So you can imagine my expectations about visiting Bali, as they all involved similar thoughts. I was in love with the prospect of visiting such a unique place and had visions of beaches and serene calm every time I thought of the island. Boy, was I mistaken.

Donโ€™t get me wrong, I still enjoyed our time in Bali and have been back 3 times. For everything I didnโ€™t like, there was something that I did.

The island just didnโ€™t live up to my expectations of what I thought a visit would be like. It was a sad reality but having been and gotten that out of the way, I now love Bali in a different way.

Crowded Beaches

Kuta Sunset Bali Beach

Arriving in Bali and visiting the beaches in Kuta left me sorely disappointed about the images I had harbored in my head about the magical island of Bali. The beaches were non-exciting, dull brown sand with wild surf crashing.

The beaches were so full of people; you could hardly reach the water. The constant stream of pushy people was enough to cause us to stand back and just gawk in amazement. As if that wasnโ€™t enough, add pushy locals chasing you while trying to sell you stuff.

Maybe I am just spoiled by having visited many islands in the Caribbean and taken trips to beautiful beaches in Thailand, but my expectations for what defines a nice beach are up there. And quite frankly, Bali just doesnโ€™t have it.

I could see it trying to show us subtle glimpses of the paradise it maybe once was, but it is too masked by obnoxious tourism to shine through to its roots.

You cannot go to a beach here and simply enjoy yourself without being half trampled by the passing crowd or constantly haggled by the touts.

Tourism Impact

Bali Tourisim Indonesia

It is really great when a country is given a boost by tourism, it helps the locals and the businesses, but in Bali, it has taken on a whole new meaning.

Walking down the streets in Kuta you are constantly accosted by locals trying to sell you stuff, trying to get you to eat at their restaurant, trying to sell you transport, trying to sell you Viagra (yes, Viagra), trying to push you into their shops, you catch my drift.

It is exhausting and at some point during your stay, it ruins part of your vacation/trip. We attempted to escape the madness of Kuta by heading inland to Ubud, which is a lovely little town in the rural center of the island.

Although we had a lovely stay here, unfortunately, the madness is seeping deeper through the island. We found ourselves constantly hassled in much the same way as we had been in Kuta. They arenโ€™t as aggressive here, but itโ€™s only a matter of time.

Pushy Locals

This is slightly the same as above but takes on a different meaning. When you do actually decide you want to do a little shopping and start wandering through the markets you naturally expect some haggling. This is all part of it.

You are told at every stall to come in, take a look, just looking, no problem. Followed by a cheap price, cheap price for you.

You finally spot something you like, so you wander in, maybe try it on, it doesnโ€™t fit or you donโ€™t like it, look at something else and ultimately donโ€™t see anything you have to have, thank them and leave.

No big deal, right? Wrong. This has led to many women throwing amazing tantrums about us leaving their shops without buying anything.

Screaming to other stall owners and shouting down the hallways, โ€˜Oh my God, these people do not buy anythingโ€™! Seriously? I didnโ€™t see anything I liked, why are you throwing a tantrum? This happened to us twice in 1 hour while shopping in a local market.

The sad part is although I didnโ€™t purchase anything at first, I just wanted to check out one other stall and then return to probably make a purchase. But after the display of a tantrum, sorry, I wonโ€™t be buying anything from you today.

Blatant Rip-Offs

Bali currency rip off Indonesia

On our first visit to SE Asia, we didnโ€™t have one occasion of someone trying to blunt face rip us off. Since we arrived in Bali, I canโ€™t even begin to count the number of times weโ€™ve caught blatant rip off attempts on us.

Besides the short change at the register, which happened in the first 24 hours we were here, I think my ultimate favorite is the โ€˜I donโ€™t have changeโ€™ excuse. It seems the more western the place, the more prevalent this is.

You just finished having a peaceful meal in a nice little place and ask for your bill. They bring the bill; you look it over and then pay.

Two minutes later, you are handed back your change and being told they donโ€™t have all your change. Sorry. It is usually the 1,000-9,000IDR over the round number.

Excuse me? This is a busy place and we BOTH know you can provide me with the correct change. They usually stand there waiting for you to say, no worries, keep it. I refuse to do this.

Although it isnโ€™t much to me, in terms of exchange, it is still my money and I am the one who gets to decide how it is spent, not some waitress trying to short change me.

This practice is too common and something we should all be mindful of when visiting a place like Bali, it isnโ€™t ok for them to short change us on their terms because they think we can afford it. For lack of a better word, that is extortion.

Traffic

Bali Traffic Indonesia

Getting around Bali can be a painful process because the streets are overloaded with scooters, cars, buses and trucks. Moving anywhere, even in the rural areas takes forever.

Nothing I say can really prepare you for this but you need to take traffic into account for every single transfer you make. A short trip to Ubud can take hours if traffic is not flowing.

The abundance of scooters just causes congestion that doesnโ€™t flow well on the streets. Just when things flow, hundreds of scooters edge in causing cars to stop while they zip in and out of traffic.

You canโ€™t count on being anywhere in a timely fashion, and although it is nobodyโ€™s fault, it makes moving around and exploring very slow. We found that staying in places and making short runs to see things was the best approach.

When we visited Ubud, our bus there took almost 3 hours because of traffic and on the way back to Kuta, took 2 hours. Both times we were told it was an hour to hour and a half bus ride.

Bali Conclusions

You may think that this article is about being negative, but it isnโ€™t.

I was just as shocked by all this as I am sure you are after reading this article. I wasnโ€™t prepared for how crazy it would be there, but I can now safely say that I have picked Bali up out of my โ€˜dream destinationโ€™ bucket and dropped it into the โ€˜Asia wanderingsโ€™ bucket.

Despite it all, there is still magic in Bali and I would still recommend you take a chance and seek them out.

Some great reading if you’re planning a trip to Bali: Avoid the Bali Crowds – Uncovering the Hidden Gems

Have you been to Bali?ย  What were your thoughts on your first visit?

More on Bali:

  • 21 Epic Things to Do in Bali
  • INAYA Putri Nusa Dua Review: The Other Side of Bali
  • Best Time to Visit Bali: Month by Month Breakdown
  • What to Wear in Bali: The Ultimate Bali Packing List
  • 15 Unmissable Things to Do in Ubud, Bali
  • Ubud Monkey Forest Survival Guide (Do Not Visit Without Reading!)
  • 15 Photos and Facts About Visiting Gili Trawangan
  • We Got PADI Open Water Certified in Gili T!

Did you like this story? Share it!

5 Reasons Why Bali Is Not the Paradise You Think It Is Pinterest Pin

Article by Lina Stock

Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents. Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA
128shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Trip Planning Resources

TRAVEL GEAR & PACKING
Check out our packing lists andย  travel gear guide to ensure you’re bringing the right items on your trip.

BOOK YOUR FLIGHT
Ready to fly? We use Skyscanner to compare prices and book flights. You should also check out our tips for finding cheap flights.

CAR RENTAL
We use Discover Cars to compare car prices, find deals and book rentals.

FIND ACCOMMODATION
Compare prices and book with our custom-built hotel search engine. You should also check out our tips for finding cheap accommodation.

TRY OUT AIRBNB
Get a discount with AirBNB and learn how to maximize your savings with up to $100 in discounts.

PROTECT YOUR TRIP
Donโ€™t forget your travel insurance! Protect your investment and yourself. Read Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

Divergent Travelers - Adventure Travel Blog

Disclosure: In accordance with FTC guidelines, we disclose that we may be compensated if consumers choose to utilize links located throughout the content on this site. Some posts might be sponsored to support this blog.
Divergent Travelers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bob says

    January 27, 2020 at 8:52 PM

    Only go because of the cheap airfares from Australia. Hate the place.

    Will need to look at Thailand.

    Reply
  2. Jordan says

    June 23, 2019 at 6:09 AM

    I’ve lived here for a year for work and am sorry to say that it doesn’t get better over time. I disliked Bali from the moment I stepped off the plane and got hounded by the taxi drivers at the airport. This is a thing all over Asia, but not nearly as bad as in Bali.

    I find Balinese men to be the worst. I’ve tried so hard to get along with them, but am constantly disappointed. It’s the worst combination of stupidity, shallowness and arrogance. I’ve met a couple of brilliant people here too, but the percentage of ‘not brilliant people’ is higher than anywhere else I’ve been in the world.

    The trick is to get away from Bali and explore other places in Indonesia. I’ve found the people in East Java, Nusa Penida and Lombok to be much more likeable and more genuine than the Balinese. Also the Papuans who work in Bali seem to be really nice people.

    Reply
  3. yannik says

    March 30, 2019 at 12:40 PM

    Hi,
    Hi,
    I am going to RAJA next year and deciding, if I should include Bali to trip, or not. trip Indonesian. I was reading your article. An now ..
    Just out of curiosity, and understand you better, I would like to know, which places is in your ‘dream destinationโ€™ bucket? And which island in the world is the most beautiful island you have ever visited?

    Best,
    Yannik

    Reply
    • Lina Stock says

      April 3, 2019 at 8:31 PM

      Raja Ampat is easily one of our favorites! We also love the Calamianes Islands in the Philippines, Fiji, Hawaii, Maldives, many other islands in the Caribbean, etc. Bali is great too, as long as you manage your expectations! Enjoy your trip, Indonesia is one of our favorite counties and we’ve written quite a lot about it on this site. Cheers!

      Reply
  4. Rookie says

    February 19, 2019 at 4:57 AM

    Bali is one of the worst places Iโ€™ve been. Would tell everyone to avoid it at all costs.

    Reply
  5. Maria says

    October 17, 2018 at 6:33 AM

    Hi Lina I just came by your article and I totally agree. If you want to get ripped off – go to Bali. I no longer have any wish to spend my money in a place where the rivers are filled with trash, hungry and dying dogs on every corner, dishonest people and an increasing crime rate. I find the beaches at nyang nyang the only somewhat untouched place left and the only place where I find some peace. A side from there, there is no longer any peaceful place in Bali, not even in the water. Luckily there are other beautiful places in the world.

    Reply
    • Din says

      December 22, 2018 at 8:26 PM

      There are a lot of hidden beautiful places in Bali, if you are going to Bali and wanted to search for the best beaches or place to stay, don’t take all the information from the internet because most of the places and beaches that written on the internet are already crowded by the tourist. Ask the local. The are a lot of beautiful place in bali such as Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, Gunung Payung beach, Kintamani area and others…

      Reply
  6. Chrstine Hughes says

    June 14, 2018 at 12:26 AM

    I couln’t agree more with your article. I came to Bali the first time in 1992 and even then it was crowded and too many vendors wanting to sell you too much junk. Since then, in the last 22 years I had to go to Bali about 4 times a year for business. And it has gotten to the point where I don’t even recognize things although I was just there 4 months ago. The building boom of hotels and glass “palaces” is unstoppable. Mostly black money parked in new construction of hotels which are never even open. Or they might now with millions of Chinese pouring in,
    The hassle on the beach and street is tiring, even for somebody like me whom many of them recognize. And the rip off is one of the worst in Asia. I have been cheated on my credit card in a 5 star hotel in Yogya and in several banks in Kuta. Weeks later somebody went shopping – apparently with my card, although that card was at home and with me. But I could trace where it happened, because I only used it there. And lets not talk about traffic. I go to Kediri district where were are very few tourists. But the traffic is not better. The local government seems to be unwilling or unable to deal with the problem and building Sunset Road hasn’t helped much at all. Bali is not a paradise. It is becoming a hell.

    Reply
  7. Natalia says

    May 2, 2018 at 9:37 AM

    So basically… because you suck at moving around itยดs a bad place… give me aa break. You didnยดt leave the “turist” area.

    Reply
    • Lina Stock says

      May 6, 2018 at 2:38 PM

      Natalia, have you read the entire article? Your comment leads me to believe you didn’t. The article is not about moving around or being/not being in ‘tourist’ areas. It is about the misconception that Bali is a total paradise. It’s the image that is conjured up abroad about it being a place of serene relaxation. As the post states, while you can find that in Bali still, the initial impression of the island leaves much to be desired. The reality is that people dream of places like Bali their whole lives while saving their money and planning what they think will be an authentic, beautiful vacation. Only to arrive in Kuta and have that image completely shattered. Can you still find beautiful areas in Bali? yes, of course, I’ve been to them. But that doesn’t change the first impression nor the disappointment of arriving in a place and being presented with something completely different than what you expected to find. Cheers!

      Reply
    • Jim says

      January 7, 2020 at 10:50 PM

      It’s also the non tourist places. You want to hike a UNESCO world heritage and the tourism mafia tries to force you to take a overpriced guide and wants an per person entrance although it’s completely free to hike. But if you denied and told them that it is a officially free site they get aggressive and pushed us around and threatened us. Just left and don’t gave any money to those mafia scammers. That’s what I see all-around Bali. Better go to other Indonesia Island, more natural, more culture, less pushy and scamy people. It’s really full of scam, they want prices that are more expensive than in 1st world countrys. Scam island full of rubbish. Have traveled all over Asia and Bali was worst place I have seen.

      Reply
  8. Hicham says

    April 15, 2018 at 8:10 PM

    Well, thank you for the tip.
    I cannot see homeless starving dogs withount been emotionally effected, it.s like the end of fun.
    Now, i am going to fly 5 hrs r/t from kuala or jakarta to be harrased to buy tshirt or get stuck 3 hrs or non stop solicitation to eat …
    It.s common sense, when something get over popular, than it loose that beauty , and i feel bali is no exception.
    And from youtube videos, ..so far i am not too excited about bali..

    Reply
  9. Kayla Decesare says

    January 19, 2018 at 3:10 AM

    We are here in Bali now and came down with food poisoning the 3rd day into our trip, we have been sick and feel the worst we have ever felt… not to mention seeing homeless dogs who are fending for their lives on the streets everywhere you go was enough to bring me to tears… the trash and pollution is a huge problem and the people harass you to buy things.. the Balinese people are exceptionally nice but other than that we are considering leaving our trip early… not the paradise we envisioned

    Reply
    • Lina Stock says

      January 19, 2018 at 9:39 AM

      Some perspective- it’s possible to get food poisoning anywhere, even at home! Your chances of getting it while traveling are a lot higher though because our immune systems are not used to the bacteria of those destinations. It’s really unfortunate that it happened to you, it can ruin any trip. Homeless dogs are a fairly common sight is most developing countries, it is sad and sometimes hard to see. Neither of these things are happening only in Bali. I agree with you though, the harassment that you get walking down the streets there is ridiculous and really ruins the experience. I recommend heading to some of the quieter areas of the island, away from the craziness of Kuta and Ubud. This will help salvage your vacation. ๐Ÿ™‚ I recommend checking out Nusa Penida too. Cheers!

      Reply
  10. Alexander says

    December 31, 2017 at 1:18 AM

    Fair points regarding Bali, currently here now and my travel partner is feeling a bit of culture shock with the points you mentioned. Hopefully she can just accept the island for a travel experience

    However regarding the change following transactions, there is no extortion in not providing change as you put it. While 9000 IDR may seem like a lot, in reality it is worthless. It is barely 80 cents Australian or 60 cents in USD. The vendors aren’t being rude by not offering you change, they probably don’t have it and you more than likely wouldn’t want it anyway. It’s not that different to putting a 50 cent piece if you are Australian or a dime into the tip jar at a restaurant to avoid carrying around “shrapnel”.

    Reply
    • Julia says

      February 1, 2020 at 4:47 AM

      Not everyone is from Australia and makes minimum wage of 40 dollars an hour. And the fact that balinese are scamming and you support it just rediculous. When I push for my change I always get it, so it is a scam. But when waiters are nice I do leave tips

      Reply
  11. Terry Poole says

    December 17, 2017 at 7:24 PM

    Hi Guys, My first and only time to Bali was in 1998, and I had money stolen from me by moneychangers. Here’s how the scam went: I changed ยฃ200 sterling in Travellers Cheques and after counting out a big wad of money, one of the guys distracted me by saying that my passport was out of date. When I was reaching over to correct him, one of his friends (2 of them) stole some notes from the wad of money on the table. When I reached my hotel I checked my money again and there was the equivalent of ยฃ16 missing. Also, when I bought a couple of T-shirts from a beach seller, I was instantly surrounded by 4 others hassling me to buy some from them as well. I ended up with about 12 T-shirts in total. On the plus side, I was able to get a reduced rate at The Kuta Natour Hotel when I booked it at the airport. I liked Lombok a lot. I loved Lombok’s Kuta Beach and I also visited Gili Trawangan, which was lovely.

    Reply
    • Lina Stock says

      December 18, 2017 at 10:07 AM

      That’s a bummer. Unfortunately it happens a lot. Indonesia is one of our favorite countries in the world though, so much on offer and so unique. Also, love Lombok. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    • Johnson says

      June 27, 2019 at 3:53 AM

      Terry, unfortunately they spotted you as an easy touch and then went on to prove it. Hopefully you’ve learned a lot in 21 intervening years.
      People are people everywhere and all it takes is the right conditions to get the worst out of us.

      Reply
  12. Paul says

    July 23, 2017 at 11:12 PM

    Totally agree. We just got home from a honeymoon in Bali. Won’t be going back anytime soon. Whilst we had a great time relaxing and being together, the best part of the trip was the first class flight to the island. I could not believe the amount of traffic on every road we went on. I had been told that the locals were so friendly. But all I found was fake nicety to try and sell you something. Choosing Bali was our fault though. We were going to go to southern Italy but changed our minds last minuet because of a drunken conversation with mates. Oops.

    Reply
  13. Diaz says

    July 17, 2017 at 8:40 PM

    Hi guys if you want a nice pristine beach. Visit the southern part of Bali, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan.. Those places still have virgin beach.

    Reply
    • Lina Stock says

      July 18, 2017 at 3:25 PM

      Hello! Yes, you can certainly still find nice beaches in Bali- unfortunately it’s not the first thing you see when you visit! Despite the initial shock of our visit, we actually enjoyed our time in Bali. Been back since and visited some of the other parts as well.

      Reply
  14. Hafizha Dea Iftina says

    October 19, 2016 at 1:02 PM

    Hi, guys. I agree with you Bali is not worth the visit right now. But you can try to visit Wakatobi Island. It’s still untouched. See for yourselves!

    Reply
  15. Melissa K says

    June 16, 2016 at 6:08 PM

    Finally an honest post about Bali. Our first trip very much left us wondering what all the fuss was about. The old timers will tell you Bali has been loved to death and every time we return we see further evidence of that. Why do we return? Because we’ve learned not to go during peak season and to head north away from the Kuta, Seminyak and the like. But mainly, we use Bali as a transit point. A couple of days either side of travels to other parts of Indonesia. That’s where you’ll find paradise again and again. I feel sad for all those people fixated on Bali never knowing the beautiful, fascinating, friendly and unspoilt places that lie a short flight or boat ride away. Bali is after all 1 of over 17,500 Islands in the Indonesian archipelago.

    Reply
    • Lina says

      June 29, 2016 at 5:58 AM

      We absolutely adore Indonesia and will be returning this year but agree with you on Bali. What you said about Bali being loved to death is a good summary. I should note that you can still have a beautiful experience on Bali if you’re willing to head to the North or inland away from Kuta, Seminyak and Ubud. If it’s all you have the time and energy for, there are ways to make your stay great still.

      Reply
  16. Domenick says

    May 11, 2016 at 9:50 PM

    This has not been my experience at all. The black sand beach I visited in northern Bali was desolate…almost to the point where I was uncomfortable because NO ONE was laying out or swimming, just a few fisherman. And it was one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve seen. I looked up this blog to see if Seminyak or Kuta were worth visiting, but I get the impression that I can leave Bali without going there.

    Reply
  17. Rachel says

    March 17, 2016 at 9:40 PM

    This is EXACTLY how we felt when we were in Bali! While we had some good experiences, we probably wouldn’t go back. We couldn’t walk down the street without being pushed to get a massage or taxis honking at us. The short change situation happened on a daily basis too.

    Reply
  18. casacaudill says

    February 2, 2016 at 3:03 PM

    I haven’t been to Bali but had it on my list of places to go for a very long time. Then a friend spent two weeks and came back having had a horrible experience. She showed me all of her pictures and on one of them, her husband documented the same thing you talk about with the shop owners throwing a tantrum and yelling at her when she decided not to buy a sarong because it was tattered and frayed. In my head, I pictured these beautiful pristine beaches but the reality of what those pictures showed was just too much. There are far too many places on earth with *actual* pristine beaches to waste a perfectly good trip.

    Reply
    • Lina says

      February 3, 2016 at 4:34 PM

      You really need to have a sense of humor in place when you get off the plane. Don’t get me wrong, Bali is still a great place to visit but it is not a beach destination. (In my opinion). Many spectacular beaches in Indonesia to visit though, we went to many. Bali is great for a cultural experience but you really have to get away from Kuta for that.

      Reply
  19. Claudia says

    November 1, 2015 at 12:03 PM

    I wish I had read this post sooner, and be prepared for what was awaiting me. Your post is not about being negative, it is about being honest about what you saw. I just got back from Bali and did not like it AT ALL. The beaches are horrible (I thought I could say that because I am from beautiful Sardinia, where sand is clean and golden and even on the most crowded day there still is a way to find a relaxing spot), and dirty. The traffic is insane. It is incredibly polluted. I felt like I never left a city and could never get to the beautiful rural areas that are publicized. In fact, I doubt they exist. All in all, it felt like a huge tourist trap. I won’t be going back, not in a loooong time!

    Reply
    • Sharon Zahra says

      January 10, 2016 at 11:09 AM

      I am from Malta & we have beaches like Sardinia. Except for the above issues that I agree on and I hate, I still think that the Mediterranean sea has the best beaches to offer.

      Some places to mention: Italy including Puglia, Sicily & Sardinia. Then there is Corsica, Greece, Albania & probably could add more ๐Ÿ™‚

      Myself been to the Caribbean & I I didn’t like the sea. It looks beautiful from away but when you get closer it is more milky color.

      The closest paradise I have seen was in Philippines and oh the Mergui islands in Burma ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  20. Ria says

    October 19, 2015 at 7:27 PM

    First time when I came to Bali, I thought I will never come back there ๐Ÿ˜€ For me it was so different face of the rest of Indonesia, I felt like not in Asia. Everything so similar to things that we have in touristic areas in Europe:) But, then started to think that everywhere you can find negative things, but who is perfect? ๐Ÿ˜€ Depends on what you concentrate:) If you have short vacations is it really matter to think about things that you don’t like? Just accept it how it is- it’s reality that we can’t change, we can change our point of view:)

    Reply
  21. Shikha (whywasteannualleave) says

    September 10, 2015 at 1:40 AM

    I had a complete opposite experience in that I went fully expecting I’d probably dislike it and fully open minded about what lots of people had said about it being touristy and crowded etc etc but I ended up absolutely surprised by what I found, with how immensely warm hearted and friendly the locals were to us, absolutely no one tried to rip us off or be pushy with us and contrary to all my expectations, I’m desperate to return!

    Reply
    • Lina says

      September 14, 2015 at 6:48 AM

      While we didn’t hate Bali, we just couldn’t turn a blind eye to some of the stuff there. I won’t disagree, there are some beautiful spots on that island and we will likely return someday I just think it is better to be reasonable about what you find in places instead of always painting a rosy picture. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  22. Pamela says

    August 27, 2015 at 12:08 AM

    I have the same sentiment about Bali, no doubt sunsets are beautiful. It’s not a place I am craving to go back to anytime soon.

    Reply
    • Lina Stock says

      August 27, 2015 at 10:30 AM

      Same here, we can do without Bali. Many other places in Indonesia with comparable (and better!) beauty without the seediness.

      Reply
  23. Lori says

    August 26, 2015 at 9:47 PM

    Interesting article, and I would have felt the same if I spent my time primarily in Kuta and Seminyak. They were my least favorite places and I’m thankful I spent just a few days in Seminyak at the end of my stay. Of course I don’t what the ‘real’ Bali is ? but what I found came close to any expectations I had – I explored Ubud, north to Lovina and east to Amed, and all the beautiful countryside around Ubud. I didn’t make it out to the west coast though it’s on my list for next time. My recommendation is to travel far away from Kuta, even though interestingly that’s where many locals seemed to think we wanted to be.

    Reply
    • Lina Stock says

      August 27, 2015 at 10:28 AM

      Hi Lori,

      Thank you for your comment. We didn’t spend all our time in Kuta and Seminyak but unfortunately that is the area that everyone sees when they first arrive in Bali. While I agree there are beautiful places to be found in Bali still (Ubud is getting way too touristy!) it has sadly been too commercialized. Of course, this is just our opinion. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  24. Ross Clarke says

    July 22, 2015 at 7:08 AM

    Thanks for this. Nice and honest. It makes me think of Zanzibar (which left me disappointed). Ironically Zanzibar is very similiar to Bali with regards to population makeup so I always wondered how they could be miles apart. But it seems they are not.

    We are there in September I think. No accomodation booked yet but I reckon it may be worth staying away from the hustle now.

    Reply
  25. Paula Through the Looking Glass says

    June 16, 2015 at 9:55 AM

    think I agree Lina, it’s definitely not the paradise I’ve seen elsewhere in Southeast Asia…have been on many a better beach, but I still think it’s worth a visit, and you can’t get to the beautiful Gili Islands without going through Bali so you might as well take a look and see what all the fuss is about.

    ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Lina says

      June 19, 2015 at 2:53 PM

      Ya, Bali is a place we would return to, but probably not spend much time. Better places in my opinion to spend the time. You actually can access the Gili Islands without going to Bali via Lombok. So you could not visit Bali at all if your goal was to just get to the Gili Islands. Several boats leave each day from Lombok to Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. Their pretty cheap too if you book through your guesthouse.

      Reply
  26. Ashlea Wheeler says

    March 30, 2015 at 5:32 PM

    Love this post!

    Reply
    • Lina says

      March 31, 2015 at 8:17 AM

      Yes, it is a love, hate relationship for us too. I think the point is just to make sure you don’t have too many expectations if you want to visit Bali!! There’s still lots of amazing things to see there though, so its worth a visit.

      Reply
  27. Olivia says

    July 25, 2014 at 5:00 AM

    We avoided Kuta Bali because we’d heard such bad things, we also visited Munduk which was very rural and quiet and ubud which i really enjoyed. The beach in Seminyak was disappointing but we weren’t expecting much. I would say go to the beaches in Kuta Lombok, we saw about 6 other people whilst on Selong Blaneak beach which was just paradise!

    Reply
    • Lina says

      July 26, 2014 at 12:16 PM

      Yea, if you want paradise you can also head to Gili’s!!! Which we did and we loved. You can dive, snorkel or just hang out on the beach. Amazing place to be in the World. Kuta is just madness, although I think every traveler should still experience it. It teaches us not to have such high expectations for things and to just take the experiences for what they are. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  28. Terry says

    July 14, 2014 at 4:00 PM

    I couldn’t agree with you more.
    The filth and the constant Bali Belly are my issues as well. The rice fields mountains are lovely but it’s hard to love Bali when you’ve been to Australian and Caribbean Islands and seen real paradise beaches. I still find myself here, I still don’t love it.

    Reply
    • Lina says

      July 14, 2014 at 5:30 PM

      Hi Terry, Thanks for stopping in with the comment! Yes, it is incredibly hectic. We traveled from one end of the island to the other and never really saw a decrease in the traffic craziness! Yes, there are still many lovely things in Bali to see and I still feel that people should still travel there, it’s just better to be in the know than to have high expectations and be let down upon arrival. Yea, we’ve seen some pretty amazing places on this planet, so Bali isn’t a place I’d go for beaches in the future, but again, it’s still worth a visit for the beautiful rice terraces and countryside. I’ve also heard the surfing is top notch and that there is some great dive sites off the coast of Bali.

      Reply
  29. Ryan Biddulph says

    July 13, 2014 at 12:04 PM

    Hi Lina,

    You’re going to all the wrong spots ๐Ÿ˜‰ Fair and honest breakdown of by the airport, and a few of the beaches. Unfortunately, many see Kuta, and Legian, and Seminyak, and think, “”Bali”. Kuta may as well be Patong in Phuket, or any other over-touristy beach.

    I do hear you though; we’ve heard the same thing from folks, and can see why. However, after spending 6 months in Bali, in places like Sanur, Lodtunduh, Kerouatan(both outside Ubud) and Jimbaran, I have to say Bali is the most pristine, quiet and peaceful place I’ve visited outside of here in Savusavu, Fiji, and Koh Lanta, Thailand.

    The airport and surrounding traffic is zooish, leading into Seminyak. As for the locals, the persistent ones are just part of Bali. But if you really open up, and speak to more and more folks, you’l find some of the kindest, warm-hearted people on earth.

    Next time, stay somewhere in the ricefields, outside of Ubud, and connect with some locals. After the temple ceremonies one Warung owner around the corner brought us plates and plates of sweets, fruits and otherwise amazing food, all without us asking for a thing. Big hearts, so kind, so helpful….and this is after she rented out a motorbike to us for $55 for the month lol! Peaceful, quiet, serene, pristine, with crazy amounts of wildlife, and many of the locals are not jaded by tourists, nor pushy as they are in tourist spots. Totally different island all together.

    Jimbaran is also peaceful and serene. Beach quiet earlier in the day, loads up a bit before evening. If you head to Amed and the north end you should be good to go too.

    Just stay away from Kuta, Seminyak and that area, if you want to see the real Bali. Someone gave me the same exact advice after my first month there, and on my 3 subsequent returns I did the rice field bit, as well as Jimbaran, and wow was it an amazing experience.

    Now if you want paradise, and pristine beaches, and genuinely, authentic, friendly folks, come here to Savusavu. No place like it on earth.

    Overall though I do hear ya, in that I can imagine if you have images of palms and white sands, and then you are rushed by transport drivers outside of the airport ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Thanks for the share Lina, signing off from Fiji ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Ryan

    Reply
    • Lina says

      July 14, 2014 at 5:28 PM

      Hi Ryan, Thank you for your detailed comment. I think our readers will find it useful if they want to see the real Bali. There are many things that we enjoyed about Bali, but it was really surprising to us just how crazy it is there. No matter how you swing it, Kuta is everyone’s first impression. It isn’t very common for people to get off the plane and head to the quieter places. We weren’t bothered by the touts, this isn’t the first time we have been to Asia, so we know that a no thank you goes a long way. There are just so many of them in Bali. We met several friendly locals when we ventured up North of Ubud. Would LOVE to come to Savusavu! It’s on the list. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    • wayfarer says

      March 3, 2016 at 1:49 PM

      Totally agree with Ryan. I visited Bali 25 years ago, spent one day in Kuta/Legian, and then immediately fled. But the rest of the island, and my experience there, was wonderful.

      So you simply can’t and shouldn’t rank the whole of Bali based on that unfortunate southern tip. Most people in the know, even decades ago, would tell you not to spend much time there.

      Reply
      • Lina Stock says

        March 4, 2016 at 7:32 PM

        Thanks for stopping by! We didn’t spend all our time in Kuta/Legian area. That is clearly stated in the post. We actually saw a lot of Bali and despite it not living up to our expectations, we wouldn’t hesitate to return. I think it is important to be honest with people about how things are perceived, even if it is not the popular thing to do. Bali may have been, at one point, a true paradise, but not today. Again, that said, we will visit again. This time we will be prepared. Cheers!

        Reply
    • Lily says

      November 10, 2019 at 9:26 PM

      I completely agree with this sentiment! I spent 2 weeks in Ubud and Amed and can truly say it is my favorite place Iโ€™ve traveled. Although I was taken aback at first and Bali was NOT what I was expecting, it turned out to be better! If you look past the crowds and touristy areas, you will find something truly special. Staying in family owned hostels, interacting with the communities, and learning about their cool culture made the trip unforgettable. I met some of the most genuine, kind hearted people that I still keep in contact with today. I would encourage everybody to take a trip to Bali if youโ€™re willing to get out of your comfort zone!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hello & Welcome to Divergent Travelers

Divergent Travelers - Adventure Travel Blog

We are David & Lina Stock, a married couple from NW Wisconsin who have been traveling together since 2001. Weโ€™ve visited nearly 100 countries on all 7 continents. You canย learnย more about us here.

Looking for something?

AirBNB coupon

Latest Posts

  • Hiking Angels Landing in Zion NP (A Survival Guide)
  • Best Time to Go to Zion National Park (A Guide to Zion Park Weather)
  • 2020 Travel Review: The Year of a Global Pandemic
  • Essential Grand Canyon North Rim Guide (Things to Do, Tips & Advice)
  • What to Do in Medora, ND (Top Sights, Eats & Advice)

Divergent Travelers

© 2021 Copyright ยท All Rights Reserved
Privacy Policy ยทย Disclosure ยทย Terms

BLOG /ย PRESS /ย  WORK WITH USย  /ย  CONTACT