Indonesia Trip Planner
Bali, simplified.
Where to stay, how far everything really is from the airport, how to get around, and when to go. Tap the map, flip the months, and plan it your way. Built from my own trip.
- IDRIndonesian rupiah
- Grab & GojekNo Uber here
- Apr – OctDry season
- 60–90 minAirport to Ubud
- 30 daysVisa on arrival
The map
How far is everything from the airport?
Bali looks small, but traffic makes it feel big. Tap an area to see the drive from Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) and who it suits.
Where to sleep
Resort or Airbnb villa?
Both are great in Bali. It comes down to how you like to travel. Tap what matters to you.
Resort
- Pools, spa, gym and yoga on site
- Restaurants, bars and room service
- Staff can book drivers, tours and transfers
- Easier to find beachfront value
- Less privacy, and shared pools
- You run on their schedule (breakfast times, sunbeds)
Best for couples, first-timers and anyone who wants it all handled.
Airbnb or private villa
- Your own pool and garden, all to yourselves
- Kitchen for cooking and dietary needs
- Space for groups and families, often cheaper per person
- Some come with staff or a private chef
- Often tucked away, so harder to reach shops and restaurants
- Open-air designs can be tricky in the wet season
Best for groups, families, longer stays and privacy lovers.
Which one suits you?
Tap a few to see your match.
Where I stayed
The Alena Resort, Ubud
A quiet Balinese-style resort in Silungan village, about 25 minutes from central Ubud, among rice fields and jungle.
| Room | Luxury Suite |
| Nights | 3 |
| Total paid | IDR 7,326,000 (≈ $471) |
| Per night | ≈ $157 |
Getting around
Your ride, sorted.
Uber left Southeast Asia in 2018 and sold its business there to Grab. So if you remember "Uber" from a past trip, it was almost certainly Grab. Download Grab and Gojek before you land.
Where are you going?
Grab & Gojek
Ride-hailing apps for cars and motorbike rides, plus food delivery. Local taxi groups block app pickups in parts of Ubud, Canggu and Uluwatu, so walk a little way from any "no online taxi" signs.
Bluebird taxi
The trusted taxi company. Check for the blue car, bird logo and driver ID, because look-alikes exist. Book through the Bluebird app.
Private driver or guide
A car with AC and a guide who knows the temples and timing. Priced per car, so share it with friends.
Airport transfer
Book before you fly so a driver is waiting with your name. Ubud runs a little more (around $43).
Pre-book a transfer. Grab pickups at the airport cost more, and you'll be tired.
Timing
When should you go?
Tap a month. The sweet spots are May, June and September: dry, sunny and calmer than peak summer.
Best value: peak-season weather with fewer crowds.
Plan around Nyepi, the Day of Silence. For 24 hours the whole island switches off: the airport closes, no one goes out, and hotels ask guests to stay in with lights low. The night before, giant ogoh-ogoh monster floats parade through the streets.
My trip · December
What I actually did
I went in December: rainy and busy, but everything was green and lush. Here are the moments I'd do again.
Monsoon
Party dining inside the FINNS Beach Club complex in Berawa: over 10 cuisines, DJs, singers and performers. Walk-in only (groups of 10+ can book), open till midnight.
Koral
Bali's first aquarium restaurant, at The Apurva Kempinski. Book ahead: IDR 500,000 deposit per person, smart casual, and dinner is adults only.
Don't miss this
The big ones I didn't get to
Tap any of them to see it on the map.
Activities on the map
Before you land
Your pre-flight checklist
Tick things off as you go. Your ticks stay on this device.
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