Travelling the world in luxury for less a week at a time
Last week I mentioned that warungs are my favourite places to eat in Bali and this week I want to share another winner. Warung Kultur Seminyak is a delightful family-owned eating house serving delicious authentic Indonesian cuisine in a rustic setting. No trip to Seminyak would be complete without a visit to Kultur. Read on for all the details …
A massage in a fancy spa in Sydney can cost upwards of $200, which means it’s usually a special treat for me. While it is possible to pay that in Bali’s top spas, there is no need to as many of Bali’s budget establishments deliver the real thing for a fraction of the cost. Spa menus are extensive and choosing is daunting so I made it my mission to hunt down the best budget Bali massage by trying the most popular varieties. If you don’t know your Lomi Lomi from your four hand massage my guide is a great place to start. Read on for all the details …
*** UPDATED: June 2018 ***
I first dined at The Melting Wok Ubud in 2016 and I couldn’t stop thinking about their sublime crepes. When I returned to Bali recently it was the first restaurant booking I made. The Melting Wok Warung is a tiny little place that is easy to walk past unless you know where it is but trust me when I say this is one warung you absolutely want to seek out. The Melting Wok Ubud menu is tight but you are sure to find something to tantalise those those taste buds. Read on for all the details …
Recently I found myself with a dental emergency while in Bali. The day before I was due to fly out my ten year old crown cracked and I knew there was no chance of getting it fixed before I took off. I had already had root canal on the tooth so I wasn’t in any pain and it was a non-visible molar so I did what any self-respecting holiday junkie would do and I got on that plane anyway. I’m no stranger to destination dentistry having previously had veneers in Thailand, so I had no qualms about getting the troublesome tooth sorted while I was away rather than cancelling my trip. I was however, somewhat surprised at the reaction from friends who were horrified that I would even contemplate visiting the dentist in a developing country. Destination dentistry is a growing trend, so much so that I have included it on my epic list of 110+ things to do in Bali. But why are more and more people choosing to combine a holiday with a spell in the dentist chair? If you are curious read on as I share my personal experience visiting a dentist in Bali at the BIMC clinic …
I’m always up for a good night out. The perfect night for me involves a few bevvies, some great music and dancing the night away. When I saw Frankensteins Laboratory, I knew it was right up my alley. Having enjoyed our visit to Dracula’s on Queensland’s Gold Coast we had a fair idea what to expect, but being Bali you never know. Read on for all the details …
One of my tips on getting a bargain flight is to choose a budget airline. I practice what I preach and for our recent lightening trip to Bali The Hubs and I chose Air Asia X, one of Asia’s most awarded budget airlines. This is our third trip on Air Asia but our first at the pointy end of the plane. I only have so many dollars to spend on airfares and I choose to travel more frequently than more comfortably, but an error fare of $570 for two Air Asia X business class return tickets (a saving of over $2000) was too good to pass up! While I am averse to paying full fare for business class, I am certainly not averse to enjoying a little extra comfort on the cheap. This trip was originally booked for October, but Air Asia cancelled the route after September and we had three alternatives; fly through Kuala Lumpur, get a refund or change the dates. The 13 hour layover in KL did not appeal and I knew we could never re-book for the same money so change dates it was, which is how we found ourselves heading back to Bali only 4 months after our last visit. Business class seats, cabins, facilities and service vary greatly across airlines and usually the budget airlines are the bottom of the pack. So how did Air Asia X business class compare to other flights we have taken? Read on for all the details …
Famous for the view, the Rock Bar Jimbaran Bali is one of the most unique bars in the world. Cut into craggy cliffs the bar is nestled below the swanky Ayana Resort and has been delighting guests for years. Cocktails are the order of the day and the bar list offers something for most. The views at sunset are the star of the show and despite its expansive size tables fill quickly. A hidden secret this is not! Read on for all the details …
Our working lives are often so hectic that the only chance we have to really relax is on our precious few days of leave from the daily grind. For this reason, I make it a point to visit a day spa (or two!) every time I’m away. Bali is renowned for its (cheap) massages and there are literally hundreds of places to satisfy your need for ahhh and ahhh on this tiny island so choosing a Spa is daunting. My preference lies in the middle ground somewhere between a $5 beach massage and blowing $250 at a 5 star resort. I recently discovered Cleopatra Luxury Salon & Day Spa in Seminyak and spent a blissful three hours testing out the best of the treatments on offer. If you are looking for a Spa in Bali that offers the perfect fusion of quality and value then Cleopatra is for you. Read on for all the details …