8th Day of Christmas Holiday Gift Guide: All Luxury Bali

The Indonesian island of Bali is often voted the best island in the world thanks to its unique culture, beautiful beaches and world-class surf breaks. In recent years it has also emerged as a bit of a party hotspot with the coastal towns of Seminyak, Kuta and Canggu acting as the centre the action. The cultural capital of Ubud, made famous by Eat, Pray, Love, is slightly inland and well worth a visit, and the northern fishing village of Lovina and the windswept beaches of Uluwatu provide a welcome break from the often over-crowded southern tourist towns. The sunsets are legendary and the beaches are picture-perfect, so Bali is the perfect place to take a loved one if you’re hoping to impress. Treating someone special to a sun-drenched week in Bali will be a Christmas gift they’ll never forget. Here’s everything you need to know.

Where to stay 

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to picking accommodation in Bali. There are so many stunning luxury rentals in Bali to choose from that you will be able to find something to suit your budget and needs. Almost every accommodation option that we offer at All Luxury Apartments comes with a swimming pool, usually a private one for your villa. So you can roll out of bed and straight into your own private paradise. 

 

 

Seminyak is a trendy area of the island that is very built up with boutique hotels, fantastic restaurants and amazing nightlife, so this is a great area to stay if you want to be in the centre the action. It’s also where lots of luxury villas in Bali are located. 

 

 

The party town of Kuta is another popular destination for tourists and is conveniently located close to the airport. Staying in Kuta won’t be a chilled out affair but we do offer a lot of Balinese villas in the area which will be a peaceful retreat from the busy streets of the party capital. 

 

What to do

One of the best things about Bali is its beaches. So make sure you set aside some time to explore the island’s stunning coastline. There are a number of reef breaks around the southern tip of Uluwatu which provide surfers with some of the best waves in the world. The sandy beaches of Seminyak and Kuta provide a brilliant learning place for beginner surfers and the hipper-than-hip beachside town of Canggu is where you’ll find the trendy holiday makers and the island’s most fashionable bars and restaurants. 

 

 

Ubud was made famous by Elizabeth Gilbert’s iconic Eat, Pray, Love novel, and the town is now full of barefoot backpackers looking to find themselves. The cultural capital is also a great place to experience genuine Balinese life and is surrounded by the lush green rice paddies which the island is famous for. 

 

 

If you’re treating someone to a break in Bali, a show-stopping moment will be seeing the sunset from Uluwatu temple. Here you can enjoy traditional Balinese dancing as the sun goes down as you enjoy the view from the cliff top temple. Just be wary of the monkeys. They can be a little bit cheeky. 

 

 

Some of the smaller islands surrounding the main island of Bali are well worth a visit. The Gilli Island archipelago is a beautiful place for snorkelling and diving. You can go here for a day, but the journey is quite long so it is worth staying the night. There are also the islands of Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan which are all still relatively untouched. A lot quieter than the Gilli Islands, they make a tranquil escape from the chaos of Bali’s main towns. 

 

What to buy

If you’re treating someone to a holiday in Bali, you might even want to do some shopping when you get there. The Balinese style is very distinct and you’ll find beautiful furniture and fashions all over the island for very good prices. Keep an eye out for baskets and wicker bags as well as beautiful rugs and cushions. 

 

 

All set on the idea of a Christmas gift for a loved one somewhere sunny? Why not read our All Luxury guide to a holiday in St Bart’s? Or if you want to treat them to something a little more lowkey, they’ll love a shopping weekend in London.