Buzz
Even though traveling alone to a lover's destination, Thao Anh's 10-day Bali trip was incredibly meaningful and memorable.
Experiencing Solo Travel in Bali: 10 Days, Only 15 Million VND for the 20-Something Girl
When it comes to Bali, one immediately thinks of an Asian paradise, a famous romantic destination, especially suitable for couples, for important occasions like wedding photoshoots or honeymoons. Therefore, many people assume that traveling to Bali should be done together, as a couple.
But what if you want to travel to Bali alone? The answer is: it's perfectly fine, and even enjoyable as usual, as evidenced by the 10-day journey of the 20-something girl, Thao Anh. Being an experienced solo traveler (Thao Anh has traveled alone to South Korea and other places), she knows many budget travel tips, so her trip only cost a total of 15 million dong.
General Notes about the Trip:
– Traveling to Bali doesn't require a visa if you stay less than 30 days
– Because she traveled alone, Thao Anh always returned before 4 p.m. to ensure safety
– 1 IDR (the currency of Indonesia) = 1.68 VND
– It's advisable to exchange money at the airport for better rates
– It's recommended to buy a good quality 4G SIM card because the network in Bali is very poor. This is especially important when traveling alone, especially for women. Thao Anh bought a 15Gb SIM card for 300,000 IDR.
Overview of Thao Anh's Expenses:
– Round-trip flight ticket: 4.5 million VND, departing from Hanoi
– Accommodation: 3.5 million VND
+ 1 night near Sanur port (dorm room): 228,000 VND
+ 2 nights in Nusa Penida: 1.344 million VND
+ 6 nights in Ubud: 1.932 million VND
– Food and beverage expenses for 10 days: approximately 7 million VND
With her adventurous nature, Thao Anh's route is suitable for those who enjoy exploring and traveling by motorbike rather than indulging in leisurely vacations. Despite the many exciting experiences, her itinerary demands physical preparation.
Day 1: Hanoi - Bangkok - Sanur port
Thao Anh opted to stay overnight near Sanur port, buying tickets and preparing to depart for Nusa Penida early the next morning. The reason is that if she attempted to reach Nusa Penida, it would already be evening, limiting her activities. Additionally, hotels near the port are much cheaper.
Arriving in the afternoon, the day 1 itinerary was simply to rest, eat, and purchase ferry tickets. Thao Anh chose to stay at Eat Sleep Skate Bali hotel. The hotel is beautiful, very polite, quiet, and because it's a dorm, the price is only $10 per night.
A note is that Grab is prohibited at Bali airports, so if you want to use Grab, you have to walk outside. Otherwise, you have to take a taxi, which is expensive. In reality, Thao Anh was charged 470,000 IDR for over 20km to the hotel, while outside, a Grab ride was only 250,000 IDR, and even if you bargain, you can get down to 150,000 IDR.
Days 2 - 4: Sanur port - Nusa Penida
Fast boats to Nusa (travel time is 45 minutes) have three time slots: 8 AM, 11 AM, and 3 PM. Since tickets sold out early, Thao Anh took the 11 AM trip. She bought tickets from Crown Fast Cruises for 600,000 IDR roundtrip, with free shuttle service to and from the hotel on four shuttles at both ends. The boat departed on time and reached the destination in just 45 minutes, very fast and shocking, so if you're prone to seasickness, be prepared in advance.
As Sakti area is far from the port and tourist attractions about 20-30km, Thao Anh rented a motorbike right from the port for 250,000 IDR for 3 days, already filled with gas upon receiving the bike. During her 2 days in Nusa, Thao Anh stayed at 2 different villas: Miko Bali Bungalow and The Tanliung Collage, both offering independent villa-style accommodations, quite comfortable. The price was 800,000 IDR for 2 nights.
– Kelingking beach:
– Peguyangan Waterfall: The scenery is quite beautiful and hidden from the sun, so it's very cool. To get here, remember to wear sports shoes because there's a lot of climbing (about 30 minutes). And because it's a temple, you should dress modestly or bring a long scarf to wrap around before entering. Right outside this tourist spot, you can also rent sarongs for 10,000 IDR. Entrance fee is 5,000 IDR.
– Peguyangan Waterfall: The scenery is quite beautiful and hidden from the sun, so it's very cool. To get here, remember to wear sports shoes because there's a lot of climbing (about 30 minutes). And because it's a temple, you should dress modestly or bring a long scarf to wrap around before entering. Right outside this tourist spot, you can also rent sarongs for 10,000 IDR. Entrance fee is 5,000 IDR.
– Atuh beach: This tourist spot boasts majestic mountains and sea, but the waves are quite big. To reach Atuh, there are 3 routes but Thao Anh recommends choosing the coastal route for its beauty and the opportunity to enjoy the cityscape. Entrance fee is 15,000 IDR.
– Crystal Bay: The beach at Crystal Bay is quite beautiful and additionally, it boasts an incredibly diverse ecosystem.
On the afternoon of day 4, Thao Anh returned to Bali to go to Ubud.
Experience in Nusa Penida
1. The roads are extremely rough, with many potholes, speed bumps, and more. When renting a motorbike, it's important to thoroughly check the gas, brakes, tires, and headlights to avoid any unwanted situations.
2. Avoid refueling by the roadside and opt for gas stations instead to prevent the possibility of diluted fuel.
3. Avoid staying out late as there are no streetlights here, with the entire roadside surrounded by forests and mountains.
4. The most livable area in Nusa is Buyuk. This is the central area, bustling with many eateries, lively markets, and stunning coastal views.
5. Make sure to greet and get acquainted with the local people, such as hotel staff, for example. The locals here are incredibly kind and hospitable. Moreover, the island is small, so most people know each other, which helps increase personal safety and minimize risks during the trip.
5. Losing 4G. Despite purchasing the best quality 4G SIM card, the signal is still lost on the island, and Thao Anh had to rely on Wi-Fi for internet access. As for navigation, she planned her route using Google Maps at home, so even without a signal, Google Maps could still pinpoint her location.
Days 5-10: Ubud
In Ubud, Thao Anh found accommodation at Bali Ubud Angel, located right in the center of Ubud. The room was beautiful, fully equipped, priced at $82 for 6 nights (equivalent to 1,932,000 VND). They also offered motorcycle rentals here at 50,000 IDR per day.
Thao Anh's travel itinerary in Ubud mainly focused on Friday and Saturday, while on the first day and the last 3 days in Ubud, she spent time relaxing and exploring around Ubud.
Exploring the Extreme South: Tanah Lot – Kuta Beach – Uluwatu Temple: Thao Anh spent a day on this route, setting off at 6 a.m. for comfortable travel. According to her, this is a beautiful and easy route, mostly consisting of straight roads.
Tanah Lot: This is a famous sea temple in Bali, located about an hour's drive from Ubud. The entrance fee is 60,000 IDR, but it's worth visiting because it's a temple complex by the sea. According to Thao Anh, spending an hour here is just right.
Kuta Beach: Since this beach is right on the route, Thao Anh made a stop here. The parking fee to enter the beach is 20,000 IDR, but according to her, this beach is quite ordinary. However, the city itself is bustling, with many shopping outlets.
Uluwatu: It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to drive from Kuta to Uluwatu. Uluwatu is considered the southernmost point of Bali and is the most worthwhile destination. Here, Thao Anh visited Uluwatu Temple and Uluwatu Beach. Uluwatu Beach is beautiful, with clear blue water, secluded, and quite romantic.
Uluwatu Temple is also a beautiful and famous sea temple in Bali, with an entrance fee of 30,000 IDR. As a tourist area, there are plenty of restaurants, souvenir shops, and even a monkey forest here. The monkeys here are quite mischievous, so remember to keep your belongings safe to avoid... theft.
Daily Expenses:
– Thao Anh's average meal costs around 60 to 90 thousand IDR per meal – equivalent to 100 to 150 thousand VND
– Average fuel cost ranges from 10 to 30 thousand IDR per refill.
Trekking along the route featuring Bali's top 3 most beautiful waterfalls: Nung Nung – Sekumpal – ALing ALing: This is a beautiful route, definitely worth exploring if you're in Bali. Most of the path follows the main road, flat and surrounded by local houses. Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to see terraced rice fields, valleys, lakes, monkey forests, and more.
– Nung Nung Waterfall: The entrance fee is 10 thousand IDR and 2 thousand IDR for parking. It's about a 15-minute walk from the entrance to the waterfall. Nestled between cliffs, the area is cool and very pleasant.
– Sekumpal Waterfall: Thao Anh chose a route passing through two lakes, Danau Beratan and Danau Buyan, making the journey to Sekumpal waterfall very scenic. Although the road on the mountain is winding, the view from above overlooking the lake is stunning. Along the way, there are also some strawberry farms. The entrance fee here is 10 thousand IDR.
The waterfalls here are majestic because there are a total of 7 different waterfalls concentrated in one spot, truly deserving the title of Bali's most beautiful waterfalls. Remember to bring flip-flops and swimwear to cross the streams.
– Aling Aling Waterfall: This area brings together many recreational activities in Bali with an entertainment complex offering rope swings and canoeing. Admission to Aling Aling is 10 thousand IDR. If you want to participate in other activities such as swimming, waterfall sliding, etc., you need to purchase tickets ranging from 125 to 375 thousand IDR per person, depending on the activity level. The atmosphere here is cool due to the lush vegetation.
During her time in Ubud, Thao Anh spent 4 days just exploring the culture, cuisine, relaxing with food, sleep, and coffee. During this period, Thao Anh only visited the Royal Palace and Ubud Market because she had already visited many temples. However, if you want to explore further, Ubud has some other tourist attractions to visit such as the Ubud Monkey Forest; Tegallalang Rice Terraces; Ubud Art Market; Puri Saren Royal Palace; Agung Rai Art Museum, and Tirta Empul Temple.
Ubud Restaurant Addresses:
1. KAFE on JI. Hanoman Street. This Western-style eatery is quite similar to Xofa in Hanoi, with prices ranging from 40-100 thousand IDR per person.
2. Tropical on Monkey Forest Road. Quite busy, with lively atmosphere and great location. Primarily serves European cuisine. Prices range from 45 – 150 thousand IDR per person.
3. The Paon Ubud on Jl. Raya Ubud Street. A cozy and charming family-style restaurant. Features live music served tableside. Offers mainly Indonesian dishes with illustrated menus for easy selection. Prices range from 50-100 thousand IDR per person.
4. Moksa Plant-based Restaurant & Permaculture Garden. Ranked in the top 10 on TripAdvisor. Prices range from 60 – 200 thousand IDR per person.
5. Bamboo bar & restaurant on JI. Dewisita Street. Primarily serves Western cuisine, resembling a cozy pub for beer drinking, with a charming street view. Prices range from 40 – 80 thousand IDR per person.
6. Laughing Buddha Bar Bali and CP Lounge on Jl. Monkey Forest Street. These are 2 lounge bars with great music, featuring live music until 2 a.m. People gather here to enjoy beer and socialize. The price for a beer is 45 to 70 thousand IDR.
After her 10-day solo trip to Bali, the only regret Thao Anh had was not booking a longer stay in Bali because she initially feared being lonely and unsafe while traveling alone. Revealing the secret to capturing beautiful photos, Thao Anh shared that she asked local people to take photos for her and was even a bit cheeky, retaking photos if they didn't turn out well. For young travelers like her, Bali is truly a must-visit destination in life and worth returning to because there is so much beauty, reasonable prices, and friendly people.
According to Afamily
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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour
MytourJuly 4, 2018
