Bali

Bali belly is real but very avoidable with a little discipline. Never drink the tap water — stick to sealed bottled water, and use it even for brushing your teeth. Ice at proper cafes and restaurants is generally made from filtered water and fine; it is the roadside stalls where we would be cautious. Peel your own fruit, favour hot, freshly-cooked food, and carry a basic kit — ORS sachets, a probiotic and whatever your doctor recommends. Go easy on very rich or very spicy new dishes on the first day and your stomach will thank you.

We steer our guests firmly towards a private driver. Scooters look cheap and fun, but Bali’s traffic is chaotic, most tourists lack the correct international licence, and if anything goes wrong your travel insurance often will not pay out — the hospital bills and police hassle simply are not worth it. A car with a friendly local driver for the whole day costs surprisingly little, comes with air-conditioning and local know-how, and means your parents or kids travel safely while someone else handles Ubud’s narrow lanes. We arrange trusted, English-speaking drivers as part of your itinerary.

The temples are beautiful and welcoming as long as you dress respectfully. A sarong and sash around the waist are required, and most major temples lend them at the entrance, so you need not buy your own. Keep your shoulders covered too. By local custom, menstruating women are traditionally asked not to enter the temple grounds — a quiet matter of respect rather than anything policed. And inside, never stand or walk directly in front of someone who is praying, and do not climb on the shrines for photos. A little courtesy goes a long way here.

Kuta is the loud, backpacker-party end — great for surfing and cheap shopping, but not where we would place a family or a honeymoon couple. For culture, rice terraces and calm, Ubud is the heart of Bali. For couples and families who want beaches and a smarter feel, Seminyak, Nusa Dua or the clifftops of Uluwatu are lovely. The nicest trips usually split the stay — a few nights inland in Ubud, then a few by the sea. Tell us who is travelling and the mood you are after, and we pick the right two bases for you.

Nyepi is Bali’s Hindu New Year, the Day of Silence — and it genuinely stops the whole island for around 24 hours. No going out, no lights at night, no traffic, and even the airport closes completely, so no flights land or leave that day. Everyone, tourists included, stays quietly inside their hotel. It is a fascinating thing to witness if you are prepared, but a nasty surprise if you are not. The date shifts each year (it falls in March), so we always check it against your dates and plan your arrival, departure and hotel around it.