When looking for a vacation destination, you might be interested in culture, art, nature, or a spiritual experience. Bali, Indonesia happens to offer all of these things and at a discounted price compared to many European destinations. However, a lot of people come across an issue when it comes to the price of these vacations.
How much does it cost to vacation in Bali? Traveling to Bali cost nearly one third of what it costs to go to Paris, with the airfare nearing half the price of what it cost to fly to France.
As a very general reference, you can expect to spend a total of about $980 on your entire trip to Bali if you are careful with sticking to a budget. However, the average cost of this kind of vacation lies somewhere around the range of $1,800.
Bali is full of beaches, ancient temples, and bursting with Indonesia’s rich culture. Whether you want to lay in the sun with the newest Vogue or explore, there’s something here for everyone.
This article goes in depth about how much time you’ll need to see everything in Bali, how to save money, some of the best free activities, and how to find cheap airfare. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Bali travel and what you can expect to spend throughout the duration of your trip.
How Much Does It Cost to Vacation in Bali?
Vacationing in Beautiful Bali can be very inexpensive, with cheap hotels and food, the most expensive thing is the plane ticket over.
You can expect to spend around $15 per day on food. Local meals typically cost $2 per meal, there are also slightly more expensive western options. Many hotels also include breakfast in their fares, so you’ll usually only buy two meals every day.
Hotels can either be extremely cheap or pretty pricey, depending on what you’re looking for, prices range from $3 to $611.
Average Hotel Costs in Bali:
- Hostel – $10
- Homestays – $35
- Midrange hotel – $100
- Luxury Hotel- $300
- Airbnb- $80
Considering your accommodation options in Bali? Discover why staying in hostels is the most budget-friendly choice, allowing you to stretch your travel funds while experiencing the vibrant culture of the island.
Bali’s hostels are definitely the cheapest choice. Dorm rooms will have the lowest cost, but you can get some nice private rooms as well. Kayak had the cheapest dorm style hostel, costing only $3 per night.
Balinese homestays are basically like staying in a bed and breakfast. Travelers will remain in a local family’s property in a private room with breakfast included. These properties are usually basic but clean, comfortable, and homey. They’re an excellent choice for a couple on a budget!
Bali has plenty of beautiful midrange hotels with functional amenities and in great locations. If you have ever wanted to really splurge on a luxury hotel, then Bali is the place to do it. From elegant villas to resorts, most luxury hotels are Instagram ready and unique to the area.
Renting an apartment via Airbnb has become a popular choice for many travelers. Most offer clean and safe places to stay at reasonable prices. Just make sure to read the reviews ahead of time. As with hotels and hostels, make sure to choose a central area.
Transportation is the one pricey thing in Bali, with no public transport, it can be challenging to get around. You will need to hire private drivers in order to see everything Bali has to offer. Individual drivers will typically cost $50 per day.
If you want to travel to Bali comfortably, then you can expect to spend around $1800, if you decide to go on the cheaper side of things you can expect to pay about $980. As far as an international vacation goes, you can’t beat those prices.
How Much Time Do I Need in Bali?
Bali is actually a lot bigger than you’d probably expect, it’s 5800 square kilometers in size and takes approximately 6 hours to drive from end to end.
You would need at least a week to see everything Bali has to offer, perhaps even longer if you’re going to see one of their legendary festivals. Between 1-2 weeks is an ideal time to stay in Bali, it is just enough time to explore the area, but not so long you’re breaking the bank.
Activities to do in Bali:
- Go to a spa
- Take a yoga class
- Take a cooking class
- Visit Dandelion
- Treetop Adventure Park
- Get a tattoo
With so many luxury villas, it should come to no surprise that Bali has plenty of spas. The Spa at AYANA Resort in Jimbaran offers a complete spa experience.
However, it’s this ultra-luxurious treatment at its signature spa spot, since it is set on a rock above crashing waves. To nudge the splurge level up a notch, check out the truly extravagant 2.5-hour Diamond Miracle option, it includes diamond dust for facials and a feast of strawberries and chilled champagne thrown in for good measure.
A therapeutic foot soak begins the experience, followed by a coralline algae body scrub and a sensual ocean splash rose bath.
Bali is a very spiritual place, which makes it a great place to take a yoga class. You can find courses everywhere from by the ocean to in the jungle.
There is plenty of unique experience to be found in Bali’s vast yoga community. Radiantly Alive is a studio located in Ubud, with the mission of creating an inspiring community that supports vibrant living.
They have three studios with a variety of different practices and workshops, including Sky Yoga Flow, where people can experience yoga poses while suspended on straps hanging from the roof.
If you enjoy food, then you should consider taking a local cooking class. Indonesia is known for its rich flavorful food. Many courses are offered where you can learn how to cook using the traditional styles and flavors of Indonesia.
Dandelion is a restaurant in Canggu that provides typical Indonesian cuisine. One of the restaurants you have to try if you want to discover the Indonesian food style. You can also cuddle the cutest rabbits in the restaurant’s garden!
Located next to Indonesia’s most significant botanical garden, the Treetop Adventure Park brings you atop of beautiful trees with breathtaking views.
If you’re into ink, then consider getting a new tattoo when you visit. Bali is filled with art, if you visit Babayaga Tattoo studio in Canggu, you could get inked by some of the best tattoo designers on the island.
With most of the island being practicing Hindus, the island is full of religious places and practices. Just make sure to research some of the traditions of Bali before visiting. Some temples have a dress code, and any visitors that ignore it are at risk of greatly offending the locals.
How To Save Money on a Trip to Bali
With how many free activities are offered in Bali, it can be an extremely cheap travel destination. Embracing the culture is a crucial way to save money in another country. Being aware and cautious is also essential in order to avoid being scammed.
Tricks to save money in Bali:
- Eat like a local
- Book everything in advance
- Bluebird Taxi or Uber
- Rent a scooter
- Pay with cash
As Bali grows as a tourist destination, more Western restaurants pop up, and they’re charging Western prices. Instead of paying for the burger and fries you can get at home, visit warungs, which make traditional Balinese food. Morning and night markets can also be an excellent source to find local Indonesian cuisine, for Indonesian prices.
When planning your trip, booking in advance can save some extra money when it comes to daily activities. From cooking classes to guided tours, booking deals online when you spot them is more comfortable than trying to haggle prices in person.
There is no public transport, so in order to get to all those exotic temples and nature getaways, you’re going to have to rely on the hired driver to get there. Many taxi services in Bali are overpriced, Bluebird taxi is regarded as one of the most honest services and even have an app so you can hail a cab online.
With Bluebirds honest reputation many lookalikes have popped up so make sure before you get in that it’s actually a Bluebird taxi and not a Bluebirb cab or something else equally misleading. If you still feel uncomfortable using the service, Uber is also in Bali!
Renting a scooter can be a cheap form of transportation instead of using taxies or an Uber. There are additional risks associated with using a scooter, it is recommended you have traveler’s insurance before hopping on the driver’s seat.
Another way to avoid extra charges in Bali is to use cash. Many places in Indonesia won’t accept credit or debit cards, and if they do, there are often steep surcharges. Just be careful exchanging U.S. currency for Indonesian currency.
Only exchange currency at a reputable bank, some locals will rip you off if you try to exchange money at a local street stall.
The Best Free Activities in Bali
Activities can quickly eat up a vacation fund, which is why it’s good that Bali is plentiful in the free activities it offers. From hiking volcanic ruins to exploring coffee plantations, you won’t be bored in Bali.
Free things to check out in Bali:
- Stargazing
- Village of the deaf
- Attend local festivals
- Visit Ubud royal place
- Taman festival park
- Boeing 737
- Turtle Conservation and Education Center
- Satri Coffee Plantation
- Tegallalang Rice Terraces
- Gateway to heaven
- The beach
Most of Bali is extremely rural, which makes it a great place to stargaze! Lake Tamblingan extends for miles and offers panoramic views of the night sky, water, and surrounding mountains.
The residents of the village of Bengkala are known for one particular trait, most of them are deaf due to genetics. Villagers have adapted and created Balinese sign language and what is known as “the dance of the deaf” in order to attract tourists.
Rich in culture and religion, Bali has no shortage of festivals. The city will come alive as they celebrate Nyepi, Bali Arts Festival, Bali Kite Festival, Bali Spirit Festival, and many more.
Nyepi is a public holiday dedicated to silence. It is a Hindu holiday where the participants spend the day fasting, meditating, and in complete silence. The holiday is typically celebrated every Saka new year.
The Bali Arts Festival lasts from mid-June to Mid-July and showcases various artworks and cultural achievements.
The Bali Kite Festival is an international festival held between July and August. Traditional kites are made and flown competitively by teams.
The Bali Spirit festival is celebrated for five days in either March or April. It is a festival dedicated to yoga, dance, music, health, and wellness. It attracts yoga enthusiasts from all over the world and is plentiful in yoga classes, healthy food, and music.
You can walk where the former kings and queens used to at the Ubud royal palace. Now a tourist’s attraction the old palace is stunning, you can admire the age-old Balinese architecture and ornate furnishings. The palace currently holds cultural events such as traditional dances and the Ubud Readers and Writers festival.
If you love horror films, you may want to visit the Taman festival park, which used to be an amusement park, or the Boeing 737. Both sites were mysteriously abandoned and give visitors eerie vibes.
The Turtle Conservation and Education Center is dedicated to educating the public about turtles and breeds turtles and releases them into the wild.
The Satri Coffee Plantation is located in the jungle and is famous for its civet coffee. A kind of coffee that is first eaten and then excreted by the Asian palm civet. While there, you can try a complimentary cup of coffee.
The Tegallalang Rice Terraces has tidy rows of rice paddies that will be harvested. Villagers maintain the use of traditional Balinese cooperative irrigation system.
The Gateway of Heaven is a split gate is located at the summit of Mount Lempuyang, which is home to one of Bali’s most highly regarded temples. This gate reflects the sacred boundary between the holy temple and the outside world.
Check out the Bali travel guide for more amazing things to do!
The Average Cost to Fly to Bali
Flights anywhere outside of America can be costly, it’s difficult finding a trip outside of the United States for less than $800. When you initially search for flights to Bali, you get sums of around $1000, which isn’t bad for an international trip.
Saving money on Flights to Bali
- Be flexible with what days you go
- Compare prices on more than one website
- Book a bundle package
- Book tickets on a Tuesday when prices drop
- Search incognito
The first thing you should do when planning a vacation is to check airplane prices, but be sure to do it in incognito mode! Based on the cookies in your browser, flight prices do increase when a particular route is repeatedly searched, as the site wants to scare you into booking the flight quickly before prices get even higher.
Many travel sites such as Kayak offer bundle deals ranging from $900-$1300. If your schedule isn’t very flexible, but you still want to see what Bali has to offer, look into a bundle deal.
You can save significantly on a flight and hotel, many hotels in Bali also offer vouchers for costly activities like dolphin watching or a guided volcano hike in order to entice visitors.
Many airlines will drop prices on Tuesday morning and hike them back up to regular rates on Thursday, so it may be beneficial to look for plane tickets and book tickets on the best day to buy plane tickets, usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
If you’re flexible with your dates, you can often get a much cheaper flight. For example, if I search for flights to Bali in my area for a month from now, the average price I get back is $1103. If I don’t put a date or an airport, I get an average price of $485 in September from nearly every major national airport.
Airfare for Bali can be extremely cheap, combined with inexpensive hotels and plenty of free activities, you could easily plan a week-long trip to Bali for under $1000. It is the perfect vacation destination for any traveler on a budget. Don’t let your wallet stop your wanderlust.
All in all, the total amount of money that you spend on your vacation to Bali will really depend on what you decide to do there. This includes everything from how you fly to where you land as far as hotels go, along with what you do and even what you eat.
However, your dream vacation to Bali is not out of reach due to the price tag. If you are able to plan a fun-filled itinerary while sticking to a smaller budget by using the tips that were outlined in this article, you will be on your way to exploring the beauty of Indonesia without feeling guilty about it later. Check out cheap flights to Bali for ways to save money on flights, things to do, places to stay, and more!
(After seeing Bali, you may be wondering what the rest of Asia has to offer. You may also be surprise how much a trip to Asia cost. See all the information you need to plan your next trip in that article!)