How to Plan Your Honeymoon in Bali

The exotic beauty of Bali's people and landscape transport visitors to another time and place, where tradition is treasure. Enjoy artist mountain villages, manicured rice terraces, cleansing rivers, world-class diving, surfing and golf, and the amazing Balinese furniture and architecture.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Long Pants
• Long-sleeved Shirts
• Swimsuits
• Local Guidebooks
• Maps
• Bottled Water
• Airline Tickets
• Golf Clubs
• Surfboards

1. Be prepared, Bali is sheltered from the turmoil other parts of Indonesia can experience. Rich in natural and cultural beauty, the island offers myriad outdoor activities - but luxury and relaxation don't come cheap.

2. Fly Singapore Airlines (call [phone]) to Denpasar, and book through Asian Affair Holidays (call [phone]), which runs fantastic round-trip airfare specials with five-night accommodations for as little as $1,200 U.S.

3. Stay in one of the deluxe Begawan Giri Estate villas in Ubud, Bali's famous artist and craftsperson town in the rice-terraced mountainous interior.

4. Stroll the sculpted gardens of Begawan Giri (Wise Man's Mountain), swim in placid pools and marvel at the luxurious carved wood furniture and villa architecture.

5. Enjoy the world-class golf and surfing beaches while renting an authentic Balinese villa through Bali Vacation Properties (see bali-properties.com).

6. Prepare for heat, humidity and mosquitoes (mostly at night). Wear light clothing and a bathing suit where appropriate, and long-sleeved shirts and long cotton pants at night to ward off possible malaria-infested mosquitoes (see Warnings).

7. Drink Bintang (Star) beer, Bali's own brew. Cool down in the shade and rehydrate with some bottled water whenever possible.

Tips & Warnings

• If staying in an open air bungalow (recommended), make sure you have a bed with mosquito netting, and burn mosquito coils to keep the critters away.

• Hire a day boat from Sanur to take you to the tiny island of Nusa Lembongan for fantastic snorkeling in the shallow bay.

• Flag a bimo (taxi) and visit the lake and volcano regions and their many temples. A bimo can be as cheap as $10 per day.

• Getting to Bali is usually your major expense, so eat and drink well as long as the U.S. dollar is strong against the rupiah.

• Get a massage often (it costs as little as $5 per hour).

• Check with your local county health agency to see if anti-malarial medication and any other shots are recommended.

• Wear reef shoes/booties if you plan to surf or walk over the reef. Sea snakes live there, and cuts and scrapes can become infected if not scrubbed and kept clean.