Bali, a magical land of culture and tradition. Luxury beach clubs, fine dining and world class service. That we all know. But you can have an extraordinary experience here by meeting the locals, eating the street food and staying in some more budget friendly spots. Leave your diamond watch at home and follow these tips on how to travel in Bali on a budget.
Affordable Luxury
First things first, a place to sleep, relax and have some quiet time. Ubud can get a little crazy but all in all it’s a fairly tranquil place. Life goes slower here, so having your own private villa to call home is key. If you want to sleep in, do yoga or have a party then an affordable villa in Ubud is right for you.
Eat Like A Local
Most locals cook at home, but unless you’re an Indonesian chef it’s best to go to the local warung where you can find really great food for just a few Euros. Skip the westernised cafes where you can pay twenty Euros for avocado toast and pretend like you’re a digital nomad. A better alternative for the pocket book and the local community is a huge plate of nasi goreng (fried rice) or mie goreng (stir fried noodles) and a fresh dragon fruit juice all for the price of a cup of coffee back home. There are so many great options the tour guides don’t tell you about like Bebek betutu (slow cooked duck) or Ikan bakar (grilled fish), just don’t forget the sambal!
Visit Other Parts Of The Island
Bali is actually a gigantic island! Everyone and their mother on Instagram goes to Kuta or Seminyak for the resorts and bougie restaurants, but you don’t need all that. There are so many places on the island of Bali to explore, eat, stay and enjoy. Escape the crowds and foreign luxury shops and visit Amed or Munduk.
Honestly there isn’t a spot that is uncharted, given Bali’s decades old tourism industry but there are a few places where you will find less tourists and lower prices to help your budget. Visiting destinations that most visitors don’t see gives you a more unique side of Bali and helps support local businesses and craftspeople too!