We have been to Bali at least 8 or 9 times at last count. You would think visiting a place that many times that we would love it? But I’m here to tell you that I like Bali but I don’t love Bali. That may seem a really really strange thing to say because we come here regularly. We come here regularly because it’s convenient from Melbourne, Australia.
It’s probably our closest international destination besides New Zealand. A lot of people come to Bali with an idyllic mindset of what they think Bali’s all about. They come here thinking it’s beautiful beaches, palm trees and sunrises and look, in reality it really is all that, there’s no doubt about that. But there are things about Bali that can be really really frustrating and hard work. As midlife travel couples in our 40s and 50s, we’ve learned to go in with our eyes open.
Bali is overcrowded
The number of tourists coming to Bali every year is growing every year. It just keeps getting busier and busier. According to the Bali Provincial Statistics Office, in 2025 Bali welcomed 6,948,754 foreign visitors, an increase of 9.72 percent compared to 2024. If you’re coming to Kuta, Seminyak, Legian or Canggu, you will be surrounded by hordes of people wherever you go.
If you are going to stay in the popular areas of Bali, early mornings and shoulder months like May, June, September and October are going to be less crowded.
And if you want to get away from that and possibly see a better side of Bali, you need to head to places like Amed and Lovina in the north to get that real Balinese feel. These places are less crowded with tourists, traffic and noise. The 3 hour drive from the airport means not as many tourists stay in these areas.
If you go to places like Legian and Kuta, you’re just surrounded by tourists everywhere. There’s nothing peaceful, nothing idyllic about it. It’s just like a glitter strip full of bars, rubbish, people, traffic, everywhere.
Traffic in Bali is a nightmare
Probably the main frustration about Bali is the traffic. The traffic in Bali is absolutely horrendous. And I mean horrendous. This place is a small island. It wasn’t built for the amount of people that visit it these days.
Bali was built for small village life and today you’re trying to fit millions and millions of annual tourists on small two-way roads that weren’t designed for this many people. Traffic jams are a real problem.
For instance, to get from Sanur to Canggu, which is 21 kilometres away, can sometimes take you three hours, especially later in the day. If you plan on travelling around the island by car, you really need to leave early in the morning to avoid the traffic.
I can see why a lot of people come to stay in a resort in Sanur, Kuta or Seminyak and really just stay in that area for the whole time. That way you won’t run into all the traffic. But the traffic is a real killer here in Bali. There really is just too many people coming to Bali.
Bali Belly is always a possibility
A constant worry is Bali Belly. Now I’ve been pretty lucky and never really had a severe case of it in all the times I’ve come to Bali, but my wife Bec has. She was pretty sick and we had to get a doctor around to give her a needle to stop the nausea and the vomiting.
Bali Belly can be really, really nasty for some people and I know people who’ve only ever come to Bali once and got it and have never come back because of the experience. The pain and discomfort it causes makes it hard to motivate yourself to ever come back to Bali again after you’ve had it because there’s no real rhyme or reason to it.
It is really hard to know when you’re going to get it or where you’re going to get it from. You can as easily get it from a five-star hotel as you can from a place off the street and a lot of times it may not even be the food. It may just be something you’ve touched.
Make sure you use bottled water for drinking and teeth washing, always wash your hands or use sanitizer and eat at busy restaurants where you see locals eating.
Alcohol poisoning is a real risk
Another Bali concern is alcohol poisoning, especially when you drink spirits that come out of the bottle. A lot of the time, the real alcohol can be substituted with homemade alcohol that can lead to methanol poisoning, which can actually kill people.
This does not happen everywhere, but just be aware of the issue. The best bet is to drink pre-mix drinks that come in sealed bottles like Smirnoff Ice or Black Jack Bourbon.
Being what many people would call a budget destination, competition is fierce to attract customers and cheap alcohol is one of the ways to do this. Some businesses take shortcuts and homemade alcohol is one way they do this. Just follow the old adage, cheapest is not always the best.
Stick to pre-mixed drinks in sealed bottles like Smirnoff Ice or Bourbon and Cola. Homemade spirits are where the alcohol poisoning risk comes from in Bali.
Be aware of people trying to take advantage of you
Another thing you may find about Bali is that there is a lot of petty theft that goes on. There’s a lot of people that ride around on motorbikes, happy to steal your bag, steal your phone. There’s definitely people who are looking to take advantage of tourists.
Taxis are a really big one. You should never just jump in a taxi in Bali because there is a chance you will get ripped off. Never accept an offer off the street, never take a ride in an unmetered taxi without negotiating a price first. The best idea is to download the Grab App or the Bluebird Taxi app. These apps will give you an official price up front and that’s the only really safe way to get around in Bali.
To be honest, another thing that I really don’t like about Bali is the constant harassment you get from shopkeepers, drivers, people standing on the road saying you come my shop, I give you best price, morning price, you need driver, you want to do tour. I understand that the Balinese people need to make money, but when someone approaches me like that it pretty much means I’m never ever going to go into their shop or ask them for their rates.
It can be really awkward for a lot of people, especially if you’ve never been to Asia before, to have that constant stream of people coming at you. It’s not so bad in Sanur where we stay a lot, but in Kuta and Legian and Seminyak it’s really prolific. You probably can’t walk more than 10 steps down a street without someone saying you want to buy this. It becomes a real, real drag after a while.
Is the price really the price in Bali?
Another thing that can catch many people out in Bali is the pricing. What you see may not always be what it costs. Pricing is not consistent in Bali. If you go to a restaurant or a high-end resort, even just for happy hour, they will add sales tax and service tax.
If you go to a small warung or restaurant on the street, they won’t include tax. Make sure you read the menu closely. There should be a note on the footer explaining the precise tax that will be added.
The Maya Tree Bar has a daily happy hour and advertises two drinks for the price of one. On the surface it seems like a really good deal, but then when you’ve finished you end up paying a 21% service charge and government tax on top of that which can then pretty much negate your two for one price. You think you’re getting a deal in Bali but you’re actually not getting a deal because when the bill comes you get a shock with all the tax on top of it.
It is always hot and the weather is unpredictable
The weather in Bali can also be horrendous, like horrendously hot. It’s always hot and humid and sweaty. You can just be sitting in a cafe, sweating. I look for air-conditioned places everywhere.
There is a dry and wet season in Bali but the temperature stays constant throughout the year between 26 and 33 degrees. The wet season is between November and April and heavy rain causes flooding, there’s rubbish floating around everywhere, out into the ocean, on the streets. At this time of year you will see the beaches on the west side of Bali covered in rubbish most mornings.
If you’re coming to Bali looking for an idyllic destination full of rice fields, well, they’re becoming more and more scarce every year as more hotels get put up and even hotels that get started and never finished. There’s a lot of these ghost hotels around where it’s just frameworks of buildings. There’s no real urban planning in Bali.
You’ll see a hotel dotted somewhere next to an empty paddock or you’ll walk down the main street of Sanur and you’ll see a building that’s half built that hasn’t been finished. A good example of this is right next to the Icon Shopping Centre in Sanur. The Magnolia Residents project has been sitting there for three or four years unfinished. Urban planning is out of control in Bali. It makes it unsightly at times.
So why do we keep going back?
There are many things about Bali that are really, really good and appealing to many people. It’s a cheap destination. Accommodation is cheap, food is cheap, drinks are cheap. It’s convenient from Australia, especially for couples travelling after 50 who just want an easy, affordable trip without too much planning.
The Balinese people are really nice, especially in shops and restaurants. Not the people who are trying to scam you or sell you things, but the people you’ll find working in hotels and warungs are pretty genuine, pretty smiley and happy people.
So while you will enjoy your trip to Bali, just be aware Bali is not perfect. But nor is any destination. Go in with realistic expectations and you’ll have a great time. We always do.
We’ve been giving straight-up travel advice for midlife couples for over 26 years. Take a look at the story behind Street Eats & Window Seats. And for more on travelling in Bali, head to our Indonesia guide.
Is Bali worth visiting?
Yes, with realistic expectations. Bali is a cheap, convenient and genuinely beautiful destination, especially if you stay away from the most overcrowded areas. The food, the people and the price point are all hard to beat. Just don’t go expecting a quiet paradise and you’ll have a great time.
Is Bali too overcrowded?
In the popular areas like Kuta, Seminyak, Legian and Canggu, yes it can feel very overcrowded. In 2025 Bali welcomed nearly 7 million foreign visitors. If you want a quieter experience, head north to Amed or Lovina, or visit during shoulder months like May, June, September and October.
How do you avoid Bali Belly?
Use bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth, wash your hands regularly, use hand sanitizer and eat at busy restaurants where you can see locals eating. There’s no guaranteed way to avoid it but these habits go a long way. Bali Belly can hit you from anywhere including five-star hotels, so it’s not just about avoiding street food.
Is Bali safe for tourists?
Generally yes, but be aware of petty theft and scams. Never get in an unmetered taxi without negotiating a price first. Always use Grab or Bluebird Taxi app for transport. Be aware of the alcohol poisoning risk from drinks made with homemade spirits and stick to pre-mixed drinks in sealed bottles if you’re unsure.
What is the best time of year to visit Bali?
The dry season between May and October is generally the best time to visit. The shoulder months of May, June, September and October offer good weather with fewer tourists than the peak July and August period. Avoid the wet season between November and April if you don’t like heavy rain and flooding, particularly if you’re planning to spend time on beaches on the west side of the island.
Which areas of Bali should you avoid if you don’t like crowds?
Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and Canggu are the most crowded and touristy areas. If you want a quieter experience, Sanur on the east coast is more relaxed and lower key. For something even more off the beaten track, head north to Amed, Lovina or Munduk where you’ll find far fewer tourists and a more authentic feel.
