I SURVIVED 5D4N IN BALI
Planned for this trip with my sisters before my solemnisation to spend some time together. Couldn’t postpone the trip because I didn’t buy travel insurance at that time. So this is a reminder to buy travel insurance once you’ve bought your flight tickets!!
🗒️ BRIEF ITINERARY, DETAILS BELOW
D1: Airport - Milk & Madu - Villa - Mozaic - Villa
D2: Mt. Batur sunrise - Black Lava tour - Hot Spring - Plantation - Warung Kayana @ villa - R4D - Villa
D3: Powder Room - Tegallalang Rice Terrance - Tanah Lot - Home by Chef Wayan - hotel
D4: Hotel - Atlas Beach Club - Hotel
D5: Hotel - Sistersfield - Seminyak Village - Hotel - Airport
🏨 ACCOMODATIONS: both of the accoms that I booked has a flight of stairs to access and are definitely not suitable if you have trouble with stairs.
📍Ubud | Villa Loft Valilana : $165/night
the villa was clean and photos on the listing were accurate. BUT!! there’s a flight of stairs in front of the main door 😭 since we booked the accoms before I fell, didn’t think to check this point so.. it’s totally my fault haha. BUT, the tap for the bathtub wasn’t working.. so I had to find a chair to sit down so I can bathe 🥲
📍Seminyak | Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Seminyak: $161/night
would NOT recommend if you’re handicapped or wheelchair bound. When we reached, we were told that there is no lift to reach the lobby and there were soooooooo many steps.. my younger sister piggybacked me up. the next day, the security guard was around and informed us that there’s a lift to the lobby at the basement. But you’ll have to change to the hotel lift to access the room, so it will be inconvenient if you have mobility issues. Furthermore, we were assigned a room that was far from the lift lobby. But they did give up free upgrade and late check out 😋
🍽️ WHERE WE ATE IN UBUD
1️⃣ Milk & Madu Ubud : $17.90/pax for 2 mains, 2 sides and 3 drinks. we had to wait awhile (20 - 30 mins) even though we reached after lunch hours. honestly, food was kinda underwhelming for it’s price but maybe cause my expectations was kinda high due to all the hype. just normal cafe food!
🩼 accessibility: I almost fell here because the area outside of the toilet was slippery due to the rain. also, the surrounding area is not suitable for crutches, it was super tiring for me to get around due to the uneven floor and high steps.
2️⃣ Mozaic : $44.48/pax for 3x complimentary bites, 2 mains (burger & risotto), 1 sides and 1 cocktail
initially we stopped by Warung Kayana upon our driver’s recommendation but they were sold out :”) we went to Mozaic as the younger sis was craving for some Italian food. the restaurant is aesthetically pleasing but dang the price is high. we ordered the burger and risotto, nothing mind blowing 😛
🩼 accessibility: had to climb two flights of stairs with my crutches to access the toilet 😢
3️⃣ Warung Kayana Pork Ribs : $5.86/pax for two pork ribs with fries
instead of queuing up for the wildly popular Naughty Nuri’s, try this instead!! Hearsay Warung Kayana was opened by an ex staff of Naughty Nuri’s. 😏 We ordered from Gojek and it was soooo cheap and yummy! Do try to go earlier if you plan on eating in as they were sold out the first night we visited.
4️⃣ Room4Dessert : $160.00/pax
We opted for the spirited tasting and I would recommend this place if you have any special occasion to celebrate! The experience deserves a post of its own🙂
5️⃣ Powder Room by R4D : $17.55/pax
R4D’s sister restaurant! We came here for brunch and it did not disappoint. The food is mainly pastries and is perfect for high tea. They have cute gummies and chocolate bars available for takeaway! Unfortunately, the gummies will melt and not suitable for bringing back to SG. They kindly let us taste the chocolate before buying and we each bought a few bars back 😋 They are also open for dinner, do let me know how was it if you’ve tried!
🍽️ WHERE WE ATE IN PERERENAN
1️⃣ HOME by Chef Wayan : $20.78/pax for 3 mains (grilled octopus, smoked duck, Tempe), 1 side (chicken wings) and 3 drinks
We ate here after stopping by Tanah Lot as it was otw to the hotel. They serve elevated Indonesian cuisine and I would recommend to visit if you’re around the area!
🍽️ WHERE WE ATE IN SEMINYAK
1️⃣ Atlas Beach Club : $73.31/pax
We booked the daybed for the whole day via their online booking system for 2.5 million IDR. I feel that it can sit up to 6 pax, so that would bring the per pax cost down!! The amount paid could be entirely offset by the food there. The food was nice and the nachos plate was huge af 💀 we spent our whole day here so essentially lunch + dinner. I recall that the dinner service had some delay (1 hr) due to the amt of ppl ordering at 7+. Do order earlier!
2️⃣ Sisterfields : $22.77/pax for 3 mains (avo toast, truffle scrambled eggs & pasta), 3 sides (mushroom, polenta fries, spinach), 3 drinks
We really enjoyed our food & drinks here! Would caution against the polenta fries, it was too gelat for our liking. But would recommend if you’re nearby and could proceed to Seminyak Village to do some shopping~
🤩 ACTIVITIES/ATTRACTIONS:
1️⃣ Ubud market: we were stuck here for 4 - 5 hours after our lunch due to the traffic. The Ubud king has passed away recently and they were preparing for his burial and the whole area was jam. It’s a very touristy spot, with many shops selling souvenirs, massage parlours and cafes along the streets. You’ll be spoilt for choices! Just take note of the jam or you’ll be stuck here for hours.
2️⃣ Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep Tour & Natural Hot Spring: $58.20/pax booked through SeekSophie
I booked through SeekSophie because they advertised as being different and seemed to contribute to the locals more.. but it felt similar with Klook. Initially we booked the trek but because of my injury, we changed to the jeep! Do note that SeekSophie charges straightaway and what you pay is based on the current exchange rate. Because I changed the activities, the refund was processed according to the date it was initiated and lost some $$ due to the exchange rate 😢
The driver picked up us at 3am as we stayed in Ubud. Do bring some blanket or jacket because it is COLD 🥶 going up. The view of the stars ✨ while going up was AMAZING!! The black lava ain’t much, just a rocky ride and funky photo taking 😆 I LOVE the hot spring and I lowkey think it helped with my injury because the swelling went down after.
For the plantation tour, I think it’s a scam because the product I bought back didn’t taste like what I had there. Also!! I feel that there’s many of such ‘plantation tour’ within Bali but there isn’t an actual plantation. Just one fruit tree here and there.
2️⃣ Tegallalang Rice Terrace : we didn’t pay entrance fee to enter as it was mostly for the grams~ there’s also a flying fox if you’re up for it. I couldn’t navigate the rice terrace with my crutches and so we skipped it. The place looked interesting and I would visit again in the future to walk the terrace!
3️⃣ Tanah Lot : FREE
This place is famous for the temple that’s off the coast of Bali. There’s many shops selling food, clothes and souvenirs while walking towards the main attraction and we got distracted many times. 🤣 They are open to haggling so do bargain for ur items!! It requires quite a bit of walking so do take note. Till now, not too sure whether we saw the correct temple or not.
4️⃣ Atlas Beach Club : I would rename this beach club to Atlas KIDS club. It was like a family beach outing when I was there 😆 I ain’t against kids in beach clubs but just annoyed that they don’t care about where they spray the water gun. Had to protect my food multiple times 😤😤 there’s some fire show at night in the main area but overall it was pretty meh.
5️⃣ Shopping Seminyak Village : would recommend visiting Sensatia for some hand cream etc. actually many cafes within Bali uses it for their hand wash! I bought two pieces of clothing at Bamboo Blonde and I looooove it ❤️
Traveling with mobility challenges requires careful planning, especially in destinations like Bali where accessibility can vary. Based on my experience using crutches, I recommend always checking accommodation accessibility beforehand. If you rely on lifts or need to avoid stairs, confirm that your hotel or villa can accommodate those needs to avoid unexpected difficulties. For activities, consider options like jeep tours for sunrise experiences at Mt. Batur instead of strenuous treks. This way you still get to enjoy breathtaking views without overexerting yourself. Similarly, when visiting places like Tegallalang Rice Terrace or Tanah Lot, be prepared for some walking, and plan rest stops if needed. Dining out can also be a challenge due to uneven floors or stair access. I found cafes such as Sisterfields and Warung Kayana to be enjoyable, but be aware of potential accessibility issues at some venues – for example, slippery floors or stairs to restrooms. It's helpful to call ahead or read recent visitor reviews focused on accessibility. When it comes to beach clubs or crowded tourist spots, expect some limitations. For instance, Atlas Beach Club was lively but presented some frustrations with children running around and water spray to watch out for. Finding quieter spots or visiting during off-peak hours might enhance your comfort. Lastly, always purchase travel insurance before your trip to cover unforeseen incidents, especially if you have mobility challenges. This proactive step can save you hassle and expense down the road. I hope these tips empower fellow travelers with mobility concerns to explore Bali confidently and enjoyably. Safe travels and happy adventures!
