Where to stay in Bali: Best areas and locations for Malaysians

Bali is a fantastic destination with a reasonable flight time from Malaysia, and loads to do for everyone - whether you need a quiet break or you’re looking to hit the party beaches.

What’s hot in Bali does change frequently as the island develops, but this guide covers some good bets - including where to stay in Bali for first timers, where to stay in Bali for couples, and where to stay in Bali with family, whether you want culture or relaxed beach life. We’ll also share more about the Wise card, a handy way for you to save while spending abroad.

What types of accommodation are there in Bali?

Bali is extremely varied, from the glorious beaches to Ubud and other inland towns, to the jungles and paddy fields of the interior. All this means that there’s a pretty astounding range of accommodation in Bali. Of course you can pick a hotel or hostel. But why not also look into homestay experiences, villas, bungalows, beach houses and even treetop retreats.

Take a little time to explore a service like Booking.com¹ or AirBnB² and you’ll quickly get a feel for the broad range of accommodation options available. And once you have some inspiration, read on to learn more about which area to stay in Bali, no matter what type of accommodation you’d like.

Is Airbnb legal in Indonesia?

AirBnB is legal in Bali and elsewhere in Indonesia³, although hosts must follow a pretty broad range of rules, and may need to seek permissions to operate.

Because there are some rules in place to ensure AirBnBs can operate legally in Bali, you’ll be best off looking out for well established hosts who have many customer reviews posted - this can give an insight into they way they operate, and more confidence that they’re a legit provider with a strong track record.

Where to stay in Bali for first timers?

Let’s start with the best place to stay in Bali if you’re new to the island. We’ve focused on a popular beach area here, as that’s a very common reason to pick Bali as your destination, as well as Ubud as a strong all rounder.

It’s good to know also that most areas of Bali are accessible within a reasonable drive time for day trips. Hotels and hostels manage guided tours on a private or join-in basis which pick up from many popular areas like those we cover in this guide, and can whisk you to other parts of the island to explore, before returning you to your hotel ready for an evening on the beach.

Seminyak

We’ve picked out Seminyak as a solid choice for first timers in Bali as you’ll get the beautiful beaches and outstanding sunsets, with an added bonus of very beginner friendly waves if you want to surf. Seminyak has some high end hotels, but the costs aren’t as high as you might expect, which means you can get a lot for your money. Or look at villas - being just a few minutes from the beach can mean you get a stunning villa all to yourself, with easy beach access when you want it.

Ubud

With little question, the best area to stay in Bali for people looking for culture, history, or a spiritual experience is Ubud. This can work very well for first timers, and for family visits as there’s lots of activities and entertainment to keep everyone busy, from dance and theatre to temples and plenty of people watching. The downside is you miss out on the beach - but you can still walk from Ubud out to rice paddies for a peaceful moment when you want to get away from the buzz of the town.

Where to stay in Bali with family?

While some of Bali’s beaches do have a reputation for being quite lively, most of the island is actually very family friendly. You could find a lovely family hotel in Seminyak which we’ve picked out already - or, if you’re looking for culture, try Ubud. Here we’ve also highlighted another couple of good family spots for beach lovers - in case you need more ideas!

The main issue you’re likely to have is finding the time to pack it all in. One top tip is to use your Wise card to spend in IDR as you go, with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees - saving time and money versus queuing at a money changer every few days.

Sanur

Sanur is a fabulous beach area on the quieter east coast, so while you may not get the classic sunsets you’ll find a peaceful area with a strong expat community, and tourist infrastructure geared to family use. You can expect play areas and child friendly eateries - and the area, like Uluwatu which we’ll cover next, is a short ride from the airport.

Uluwatu

We’ve included Uluwatu as a good family pick as beaches can be a bit quieter than some of the more party focused areas. There’s also plenty of higher end accommodation, and the resorts are a relatively short drive from the airport, which can be handy if you have cranky kids after the flight. If you need an evening’s entertainment, check out the Kecak Fire Show at Uluwatu Temple - or if you have a babysitter, try one of the many beach clubs which offer world class entertainment.

Where to stay in Bali for couples?

If you’re wondering where to stay in Bali for couples you’ll find you’re pretty spoiled for choice. Depending on your budget and your interest, pretty much anywhere we’ve mentioned so far could be a hit - although we’ve picked out Nusa Dua as a good high end destination for a special couples trip, as well.

Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua offers easy access from the airport, and also ways to get into the main northern parts of Bali if you want to take a day trip to explore. The main event, though, is likely to be your resort. This whole area has been developed with luxury travel in mind, which means there are high end and all inclusive resorts which offer everything you could wish for on a special trip with your special person.

Where to stay in Bali for the best beaches?

Bali is famous for its beaches. There’s not a single ‘best’ beach - it’ll depend whether you want a chill family stay (try Sanur), awesome waves (Uluwatu’s worth a look), or luxury (Nusa Dua is your top pick here). We’ve highlighted another couple of popular options here to help you while you decide - but in truth, you can’t go wrong if you’re looking for beautiful Bali beaches.

Canggu

Canggu is quite close to Seminyak - so you’ll get many of the same great benefits - but it’s generally a cheaper place to stay, with more of a digital nomad vibe. This is also a top choice if you’re wondering where to stay in Bali for singles, with co-working spaces built into some hotels, and many gyms, spas, yoga facilities and more. One of the highlights of Canggu is the food, with loads of eateries to give you a great introduction to Balinese food and produce.

Bali’s North Coast

The north of Bali is far less developed than much of the island, so you can still discover beach coves which are pretty deserted - particularly if you’re confident and licensed to ride a scooter. Look for accommodation around Lovina, where hotels are smaller than in the more over developed resorts, with a boutique feel. Beaches here are black or grey sand, and you’ll be able to see dolphins in the water if you're really lucky.

Save even more on your travels when paying in foreign currency with the Wise card

Check out Wise and the Wise card for a great - low cost - way to spend while you’re away from home. Top up in MYR from your bank or with a card, and manage your money in IDR with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees.

You can use your Wise card to spend in 150+ countries around the world, in over 40+ currencies. Start spending with your free virtual card, or order a physical Wise card for a one time fee. This grants you some free ATM withdrawals of up to 1,000 MYR each month as you travel, to save time waiting at a money changer.

Choose to convert your MYR to IDR in advance at your desired rate, or leave it to Wise’s auto conversion and spend in MYR directly. All Wise currency exchanges use the rate you see on Google, so you’ll know you’re getting a great deal without the hassle.

Whether you want wall to wall culture, a quiet beach hideaway or banging party tunes, there’s something for you in Bali. Use this guide for inspiration, and while you’re planning your trip, take a look at Wise and the Wise card for a great - low cost - way to spend while you’re away from home.

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1. Booking.com
2. AirBnB
3. AirBnB Help