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ASIA

Seminyak vs Ubud – The Unfortunate Truth About Bali

May 23, 2019

Since Bali had been on my bucket list for years after seeing the most gorgeous images all over Instagram and Pinterest, our second last stop in Asia was a very highly anticipated one. Now the question was Seminyak vs Ubud? All I could think about was beautiful beaches, warm ocean water and stylish island people. While planning for the Bali trip, I learned that Bali has many different sides and I wanted to have a comparison myself. Based on my research Seminyak and Ubud seemed like the perfect spots for us. We wanted to explore so we stayed away from the south coast of Bali which is mostly big resorts with their own beaches. Very different from each other but each with very stylish and Instagram-appeal we choose Seminyak and Ubud for a few days each.

When we ventured out however the streets were filled with vendors which seems amazing at first, but it turned out all vendors just carry the same items and everything is super overpriced (of course you have to bargain, but even then you overpay in most cases), plus most items are just imported from China. Shopping in Bali definitely has a certain allure but trust me, check out Kimsoo and you will never shop anywhere else. Kimsoo is an Australian store, which sells typically Balinese items for a better price than most vendors. It seemed like a very popular store as many people took there Goojek (Uber equivalent) there.

SEMINYAK

Seminyak was supposed to be beachy and full of Balanese style, markets and very Instagrammable food and moments. While some of this is true, I definitely expected more. Our hotel Llyod's Inn was absolutely perfect for us; it was clean, had very friendly staff, an amazing breakfast, and was in a great location - so no complaints about that. Seriously, I highly recommend this hotel if you are looking to shoot some photos and enjoy a complimentary breakfast that you would normally probably pay around $25USD for!

The beaches were nothing special at all, in fact they seemed a bit dirty and the beach chairs were old and broken. Unless you do to a beach club like Potato head you will not really find a nice beach in Seminyak. We skipped Potatohead because we also read very mixed reviews about it... Something like it being overrated and overpriced. To me, these beach clubs rarely have any authentic feel and I try to stay away and would rather experience something authentic to the culture of the place I am visiting.

In terms of food there is so many great places in Seminyak and Bali altogether. Anything from Mexican, Italian, Greek etc but we loved the local food of the "Warungs”. These are small restaurants where you can order from the menu or simply pick our items from the daily offering, which is super fresh, and you pay per items. 4-5 items came to around $3CAD which is amazing and it will definitely beat the taste of some overpriced pasta. Overall I liked Seminyak but probably would not return but I would visit other areas of Bali.

Tips For First Time Visitors to Seminyak and Ubud

just a few things I recommend to keep in mind

1. Book your airport transfer beforehand. Arriving at the Denpasar Airport was overwhelming, especially with offers for transport at crazy prices. I used Jayride.com, it only cost $10USD and brought us from Denpasar Airport to Seminyak late at night. The driver picked us up and had a sign with our names, so truly like a car service.

2. Get a portable WiFi device, which is something we didn't do and regretted. WiFi is hard to come by and often so handy!

3. Pre-book any tours as you will probably get a better price and have a chance to do ample research.

4. Book yourself a scooter!

UBUD

All Ubud meant to me was rice fields and a huge concentration of yoga spots. Arriving in Ubud, I wasn’t wrong about these things but I did not realize how big Ubud was. Our hotel was a bit too far from the main area where there is many nice restaurants, shops, bars etc. We walked a lot and since everyone is driving a motorcycle, it is very dirty. We loved the Bali swings (the main Bali swings as there are many random ones!) and the culture and beauty of Ubud. It again is very populated by foreigners and many visitors are everywhere. In our experience the Balinese drivers, whether its Taxi or GoJek will try to screw you over and charge high prices so it is better to book a central hotel or rent a scooter. I felt that locals where just waiting to overcharge you on rides, food or tours which is unfortunate.

Seminyak vs Ubud

I think there are many nice places in Bali and I definitely want to return to other spots that are not as popular as Seminyak and Ubud, maybe like Gillis Island where there are no cars allowed or a place north of Seminyak called Canggu. Tourism can be so great for a country but it can also take a toll on its culture, which is always sad. My recommendation for Bali, get a villa with a private pool, relax how you have never relaxed before and eat the great food and take in the beautiful history. Stay away from needing transportation because you will really get ripped off in that department, so make sure to stay super central or rent a scooter, which would be my choice. Being flexible in where and when you want to go on an adventure is key to happiness!

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