Bali

Bali is probably the most popular destination in Indonesia, and it was the first place we went on holiday after moving to Singapore.

The first time we visited Bali was in July 2022, when countries were still emerging from the pandemic and travellers had to carry proof of Covid vaccination to enter.

Bali suffered greatly during those months, with many people losing their jobs as the region depends almost entirely on tourism. I remember hearing that tourism had recovered by around 30% by that time, but it was still far below expectations. Overall, it was a very peaceful holiday, but I was frustrated by how much time we lost travelling by car, as we were often stuck in stop-start traffic.

When we returned to Bali in August 2025, three years later, I could hardly believe that the traffic had somehow become even worse. The island seemed completely overwhelmed by tourists, and it was clear that some form of control over the number of people entering Bali was urgently needed – otherwise people might not want to return, as it was genuinely overwhelming, especially in central Ubud, where we stayed this time. Despite this minor drawback, Bali is always wonderful worth a visit!

Don’t miss my posts about Bali. I recommend starting with Before Travelling to Bali, where I share valuable tips on how to avoid waiting time in traffic, and then moving on to Where to Stay in Bali, where I explain how to organise your itinerary on this culturally rich and uniquely island.