So, if you didn’t know, Bali is definitely my FAVORITE travel destination. The country is absolutely beautiful, the people are amazing, and the prices are hecka cheap! Flights to Bali (from the U.S) can run you approximately $1000. However, once you land, everything is really inexpensive. I really felt like I was living a life of luxury and I enjoyed every bit of it. Keep reading to learn more about the cost of visiting Bali and my Airbnb experience.
During our trip to Indonesia, we stayed in Lovina, a city in northern Bali. Through Airbnb, we found Villa Nyoman, a small villa resort about 10 minutes from the Lovina city center. I believe there were 3 villas in total and we stayed in villa #3. There was also a restaurant on the property. I’m typically somewhat of a budget traveler (not hostel/couch surf level but I do spend time researching and looking for good deals on accommodation options) so this Airbnb far surpassed my typical standards!
One thing I would like to note before getting into the details is that Lovina is not one of the common tourist spots and is 2.5+ hours from the airport. Depending on what activities and attractions you are interested in, Lovina may be about an hour from those as well. We chose this city because of the services listed in the villa description. However, in hindsight, the amenities and services our villa offered are common all across the island. If I were to return, or recommend a city to visit, I think Ubud, Seminyak, or Canggu would be better. Nevertheless, if you are interested in venturing out and exploring the northern coast, Villa Nyoman was great! Here are the deets:
From arrival to departure, we were well taken care of. Our villa offered private airport pickup/drop-off for about $45 each way so we booked this option to minimize the planning we had to do beforehand. For reference, a 20 minute Uber ride in the US typically costs at least $20 dollars so I imagine 2.5 hours would easily run you at least $150 in the US. When we landed, our driver was standing at the airport exit with my name on a sign, my first glimpse into the fancy life LOL. Once we arrived at the property, we were offered a welcome drink to sip on while checking in.
When we walked over to our accommodation, I was thoroughly impressed. It looked just like the pictures, a beautiful 2 story villa with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, an open air lounge area, and a private pool! Open air living/dining areas are custom in Bali and they are definitely my favorite aspects of the villas, a non-negotiable for sure (I NEEEEEED). Our beds were even decorated with those cute towel animals with flowers for a nice touch. My bedroom also had an open air shower for those who like to feel the wind between their cheeks LOL! My pictures don't do the villa justice (I'll get better, I promise) so make sure to see the listing here.
The property offers all guests free American, European or Indonesian breakfast and a Bali High Tea every day. A staff member would take our orders down the night before and every morning, we would feel so fancy as the staff would set the table and bring our food at the requested time. Who you know has butlers serving them in their private villa by their private pool? I’ll wait! We could also request any other meal be brought directly to the villa if preferred. They also offer a complimentary shuttle to Lovina Beach. Some other services they offered (often for a small fee) were private drivers for day tours, Balinese cooking classes, laundry services, motorbike rental, and massages, manicures, and pedicures. The best part of this villa was the fact that it only cost about $100 per night. For reference, a basic DoubleTree by Hilton hotel room (not even a full suite) here in Tampa cost over $100, and you get a small room that fits 2 people, no kitchen/dining/living room area, no private pool, and no balcony.
Bali Expenses
Here is a breakdown of some of the other prices you could expect while in Bali:
Day Tours: Our villa, as well as many individual companies, offer day tours of various attractions that typically last up to 10 hours (i.e. full day excursions). Our driver took us to waterfalls, temples, rice fields, the Bali swing, etc. and would wait for us as we explored each location. Most day tours will cost between $25 and $50 per vehicle for the full day!
Meals: Most meals will cost you less than $10 and, to be clear, this is for most dine in restaurants not just fast food. Honestly, I believe most of my meals were more like $5 or $6!
Massage: Would you believe me if I told you a masseuse came to our villa to give us a 1 hour full body massage for literally like $10?! In fact, a travel influencer I follow posted that the cost of a 60 minute full body massage, exfoliating body scrub, foot massage, and flower bath service (with a gorgeous view of the Balinese landscape might I add) for 2 people is only $35 total!!! Getting pampered for the low low!
Entrance Fees: Most entrance fees will probably cost less than $10, some being as low as $1. The most expensive fee was definitely the Bali Swing for about $30 and, to be honest, that's because it’s an Instagram worthy attraction.
Airport transfer: If you stay in Seminyak, Canggu, or Ubud, private transfer will likely cost only $10 to $20.
Accommodations: Average prices on Airbnb are about $100 but finding private villas for as low as $20 per night is very common. I’d personally recommend going the Airbnb route vs. searching through hotel listings. Here are some beautiful options I’ve come across on Airbnb for various price ranges! Click the image to see the Airbnb listing.
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