Is Bali Worth Visiting? Pros, Cons, and Honest Advice

Rice fields outside Ubud

Should We Visit Bali? A Tropical Island Dilemma

Before we visited Bali, my wife and I had to ask an oddly specific question: Do people who live on a tropical island (Oahu) really need to spend time on another tropical island (Bali)? Apparently, we decided the answer must be yes—because in 2022, we spent the better part of our 33 days in Indonesia exploring Bali’s beaches, rice terraces, temples, traffic jams, and smoothie bowls.

What follows is our honest take: the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

The Positives of Bali

Let’s give credit where it’s due—Bali definitely has highlights that make it a worthy destination.

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Daughter 3 diving off the shores of Tumbalen

While places like Komodo or Raja Ampat might steal the show when it comes to Indonesia’s underwater wonders, Bali still punches above its weight. Tulamben, in particular, offers a rare mix of quality and ease: you load your gear, waddle a few meters down the black sand beach, and plunge straight into technicolor coral gardens. Currents are typically forgiving, the reefs are thriving, there is a fantastic reef-covered wreck to dive on, and if you’re lucky, you might catch a lightshow of bioluminescent plankton on a night dive. It’s diving without the drama—no boats, no long rides, just gear up and go.

Waterfall Hiking

If you’re willing to do a little online research, you can find more spectacular waterfalls in Bali than you can shake a selfie-stick at. Yes, some are painfully over-touristed, complete with ticket booths, drone swarms, and people queuing up to pose in inappropriately fancy clothing. But others are still wild, misty, and quiet, especially if you head north or start early. On the right trail, you can hike through lush jungle and suddenly find yourself alone with the roar of a hundred-foot cascade—and maybe a few monkeys watching from the trees.

The wife, me, and Daughter 3 at Hidden Canyon Beji Guwang

Fried duck

Fried Duck

Yes, fried chicken is classic. But in Bali, fried duck (bebek goreng) is a thing of transcendent beauty. A perfectly crisped skin hiding tender, flavorful meat beneath—this is not a meal, it’s a spiritual experience. Stop in places like Bebek Bengil (the aptly named “Dirty Duck Diner”) in Ubud and prepare to have your poultry priorities permanently rearranged.

Baby Sea Turtle Releases

Every evening during hatching season, the Bali Sea Turtle Society lets travelers take part in the release of rescued hatchlings. Participants line up on the beach, each armed with a tiny turtle, and then you send your little buddy skittering toward the surf like a hopeful punctuation mark on a long conservation sentence. It’s one of the most charming, wholesome things you can do on the island—and it’s free (though donations are appreciated).

Me on a baby sea turtle release

Rice Terraces

They’re on every postcard for a reason. While some of the more famous terraces like Tegallalang are now full-blown Instagram theme parks, others—like those near Sidemen—are still peaceful, working landscapes. Wander through the bright green tiers just after sunrise or late in the golden afternoon light and it’s easy to see why they’re so beloved.

Ubud

Ubud still holds magic. Yes, it has its fair share of traffic and yoga cultists, but the town remains charming, nestled amid jungles, rice paddies, and temples. There’s an almost overwhelming selection of boutique hotels (many with private pools and jungle views), and the food scene is legitimately excellent—both local and international. Add in the Monkey Forest, an abundance of art and dance, and a surprisingly good bakery-cafe or two, and Ubud makes a solid base.

Customer Service

The Balinese people are one of the best parts of Bali. Their warmth, hospitality, and good humor seem to flow as naturally as the island’s spring water. We’ve rarely felt more welcome than we did by our hotel staffs here. We chatted with our drivers, laughed with waiters, and left feeling not just accommodated, but cared for.

The Negatives of Bali

Let’s be honest—no place is perfect. And while Bali has some great upsides, there are definitely some downsides worth considering before you book your ticket.

Two kids wondering why they left their home in Hawaii to come to Bali

Beaches: Lower Your Expectations

Let’s just say this up front: we’re from Hawaii. We live a stone’s throw from some of the best beaches on the planet. So we may be spoiled, but even trying to be objective, Bali’s beaches just didn’t impress. The diving? Fantastic. The scenery? Often dramatic. But soft white sand, swaying palms, and empty stretches of shore? You’ll find better—and cleaner—on neighboring islands like Lombok or in places like Sumatra. If you're after beach paradise, Bali isn’t your best bet.

Overtourism and Insta-Invasion

Bali, especially in its beach towns, often feels more like Australia-lite than Southeast Asia. The crowds in places like Canggu, Seminyak, or Kuta are overwhelmingly Australian—and to be fair, it makes sense. From Perth to Sydney, Bali is close, cheap, and easy. But if you're coming to Southeast Asia for a dose of local culture, it can feel like you've accidentally landed in a discounted Gold Coast resort.

The consequences of over-tourism aren’t just cultural. Kuta, in particular, bears the environmental scars: overdevelopment, drainage problems, and visible plastic pollution are all too real. Meanwhile, in the interior, the rise of “Instagram tourism” has reached levels that are both absurd and tragic. We visited Tukad Cepung, a waterfall outside Sidemen that could be a spiritual experience. Instead, we were treated to an uninterrupted 20-minute photo shoot of a single person standing dead center in the falls, as their photographer worked every angle. As soon as they were done, the next “model” stepped up. You could almost hear the sound of magic evaporating.

There are literally sites where you take a number once you get there and wait for your turn to get your Insta-worthy shot. That wait: hours! If that is your thing, great. It isn’t mine.

Persistent Touts and Pushy Sellers

Not everywhere, but definitely in places like Kuta, we found the constant barrage of sales pitches draining. A polite “no, thank you” often isn’t enough. Want a quiet stroll by the beach without being offered massages, bracelets, and boat rides every 10 feet? Maybe try elsewhere.

Traffic, Infrastructure, and Time-Warped Roads

On the map, Bali looks manageable. But once you hit the roads, you realize time moves differently here. A 15-mile drive might take an hour and a half, especially in the south. Most roads are narrow, and the mix of local traffic, tourists, scooters, and delivery trucks means gridlock is more the rule than the exception. Public transportation is almost nonexistent, and while ride-share apps like Grab or GoJek work well in many parts of the island, there are areas where the “taxi mafia” has chased them out. Unsurprisingly, those are the same places where you’re more likely to be overcharged—or outright scammed.

The Verdict: Is Bali Worth Visiting?

So, what is the verdict? Is Bali worth visiting? Well, you can absolutely have a great time in Bali. It’s beautiful. It’s convenient. English is widely spoken. Accommodation is everywhere. And while public transportation is lacking, rideshares are cheap—especially if you’re arriving from North America, Europe, Japan, or anywhere else with a strong currency and weak scooter skills.

So yes, Bali is easy. But here’s the thing: easy doesn’t always mean best.

If you’re looking for a gentle first step into Asia, Bali seems like a solid choice—until you remember that Thailand exists. Thailand has better food. Better beaches. Better diving. And just as much comfort and convenience for first-time travelers.

And if you’re an experienced traveler, Bali might make a decent resting point—a place to catch your breath as you move from Nusa Tenggara to Java or Sumatra (or vice versa). But as a destination in its own right? There’s always somewhere better.

That doesn’t mean Bali is bad. It’s not. You’ll find smiles, sunsets, and smoothie bowls in spades. But if you're asking whether it’s worth crossing the world to visit Bali specifically—well, probably not.

Because travel is too precious to settle for "nice enough."