How to Travel Solo to Bali on a Budget | Solo Female Travel

As solo female travellers, one of the most important things that keep crossing our minds before planning any trip is budget. When we travel with friends, the budget gets equally divided among everyone, and each of us has to pay only a small amount of money. But, when it comes to solo travelling, you have to pay the full amount for everything – accommodation, food, visiting places, among many other things. And honestly, if you are travelling to countries like Dubai, this can get quite a lot!

But Bali is one of the most budget-friendly destinations in the world. And this makes solo travelling to Bali very easy on the pocket. However, let’s not forget that even a travel destination like Bali requires you to keep a budget in mind and plan the trip accordingly. Not only will this allow you to avoid spending your hard-earned money on unnecessary things, but it also ensures you have a great time!

Bali on a budget: affordable accommodation

Safe and affordable accommodation is one of the most important things while solo travelling. In Bali, you will get hotels and hostels ranging from high-range (luxury) to low-range (cheap) accommodations. While there is no harm in choosing luxury accommodation for yourself, I would say mid-range accommodation will work just fine. Paying just a little lesser than you would for luxury accommodation and getting almost the same benefits is quite something, right? So, here are some of the top picks for affordable accommodations in Bali.

By the way, is solo travel safe for women? Oh well, you can read my blog here to know if it is. 

Penida Dream Homestay

A very beautiful stay that is perfect for solo female travellers, Penida Dream Homestay is located in Nusa Penida. The room has an air-conditioner and free WiFi with some gorgeous views from the balcony. Some of the other amenities you get here include an outdoor swimming pool, free toiletries, a garden, a terrace, and a sun deck. When it comes to breakfast, there are two cuisines offered – Asian and American.

Price for one night – Approximately 139527.59 Indonesian Rupiah

Dewi Putri House

Ubud is one of the most popular places in Bali, and getting affordable accommodation in the central area can help you avoid unnecessary transportation charges. Dewi Putri House is a beautiful hotel in Ubud that offers its visitors plenty of amenities. You get free WiFi, an air-conditioner, a garden, an outdoor pool, and a 24-hour front desk. The hotel is located approximately 600 metres from the Ubud Market, so you can visit the market without worrying about travel charges. Again, this hotel also offers two cuisine options for breakfast – Asian and American.

Price for one night – Approximately 432339.01 Indonesian Rupiah

Bali Full Moon Guest House

Established in 2014 in Canggu, Bali Full Moon Guest House is located about 600 metres from Batu Balong Beach. The amenities include a swimming pool, 24-hour room service, free WiFi, free private parking, a terrace, and a garden. Some of the nearby tourist attractions from the hotel include Vue Beach Club and La Laguna Bali. And the cuisine offered for breakfast is American.

Price for one night – Approximately 285147.23 Indonesian Rupiah

Bali on a budget: getting around on the island

Since there are no trains in Bali, the best way to get around the island is through the road. Now, there are plenty of options for you to choose from when travelling via the road. This section of the blog will give you a brief about everything there is to know about getting around on the island without spending too much money.

Local buses

Even though buses are not entirely absent, the bus system is not that developed yet in Bali. Most buses you see on the island will be tourist buses to get to certain places, such as Nusa Penida or Uluwatu. You can also opt for the tourist buses only because these are cute-looking and also offer free WiFi. The most famous tourist bus service that I came across on my solo trip to Bali was the Kura-Kura Bus Shuttle service. It takes you to all the major places you can think of – Ubud, Seminyak, and Kuta.

Taxi

There is nothing fancy about hiring a taxi in Bali. It works the same way it does in any other country. All you need to do is hail a taxi from the taxi stand, tell the driver where you need to go and pay the amount once you get dropped off at the destination.

However, I realised that most taxi drivers in Bali are not that honest when it comes to travel charges. Once, a taxi driver tricked me into believing that his taximeter is broken and made me pay him thrice the actual amount! 

Another of their famous trick into making the customers pay extra is taking the longer route to get to the location. Yes, all this sounds weird but trust me, it happens in a lot of places.

So, to avoid getting tricked like this on your Bali trip, I would suggest you look out for genuine taxis. The blue coloured taxis, also known as Blue Bird Taxis, are the most genuine ones. 

Bikes, or Moped

You will be amazed at how cheap this transportation option is. A moped is basically a two-wheeled vehicle. If you consider yourself a good rider, then you can rent out a moped for a day. However, I would say that you must stay away from renting a moped if you are not confident about your riding skills. While most roads in Bali are good, some of them are in bad conditions, and riding a vehicle can get a little tricky. And the last thing you need on your Bali trip is an unnecessary road accident!

Bali on a budget: pocket-friendly restaurants for delicious meals

Most restaurants in Bali serve delicious food at affordable prices. All you need is to find the best restaurants with some budget-friendly menus. Here are some of the top restaurants that offer meals at an affordable price.

Suka Espresso

As the restaurant’s name has got the word ‘Espresso’ in it, you can expect a cup of aromatic and rich coffee here. It is one of the best coffee you will have in Bali. Suka Espresso is located in Uluwatu, which is one of the main regions in Bali. Although the size of this restaurant is quite small, the food served here is what attracts all the customers. 

The menu offers about ten different mouthwatering dishes at reasonable prices. You can visit Suka Espresso for an early breakfast or stop by for a quick lunch. An average meal here would cost you about 143,200 to 358,100 Indonesian Rupiah.

Warung Bambuku

A very simple restaurant, Warung Bambuku is one of the best when it comes to authentic food. The restaurant stays open from 8 AM till 6 PM. Located in Seminyak, this is a perfect place if you want to grab a delicious breakfast or lunch. Some of their popular dishes include spinach omelettes and smashed avocado on toast. One meal at Warung Bambuku will cost you about 71,477.75 Indonesian Rupiah, which is a reasonable price for the delicious food you get!

Saffron Vegetarian Fusion

If you are looking for a healthy vegetarian meal, look no further than Saffron Vegetarian Fusion in Jimbaran. It serves a wide range of food items for you to choose from, depending on your cravings. The price of an average meal at the Saffron Vegetarian Fusion is 75,000 Indonesian Rupiah.

Bali on a budget: touristy places to explore

You should what the country has to offer to make the most of any trip, for that matter. And with all the places that Bali has to offer, you will be spoiled for choices! While most of these places may require you to purchase a ticket, it is usually not that big an amount. 

Tanah Lot Temple

Surrounded by clear blue water and located on top of a beautiful rock formation, Tanah Lot Temple is considered Bali’s most iconic temple. Throughout the day, the temple looks nothing short of scenic. But, the real magic can be seen during the sunset when the red and orange skies act as a picturesque background to the temple! Near the temple, you will find small shrines and some facilities like restaurants and shops set up especially for the tourists. 

Entrance Fee: 60,000 Indonesian Rupiah

Ubud Monkey Forest

A lush forest that houses more than 700 Balinese monkeys, Ubud Monkey Forest is one of the unique places to visit in Bali. You will also come across a variety of plant species in the forest. Every year, the forest community hosts several festivals in the temples situated inside the forest. If you plan a trip to Bali during the festival season, you can speak with the authorities about attending the festivals.

Entrance Fee: 80,000 Indonesian Rupiah

Goa Gajah

One of the most famous archaeological sites in Bali, Goa Gajah, is believed to be a former hermitage. The name Goa Gajah translates to Elephant Cave which can get quite misleading as there are no such animals here. Goa Gajah has a stone relic-filled courtyard that consists of sculpted fountains and beautiful bathing pools. At the southern end of the complex, you will see gorgeous rice fields and water streams. These lead to the Petanu River, a beautiful river where you will find stone relics submerged in the water. 

Entrance Fee: 50,000 Indonesian Rupiah

Beaches of Bali

If you want to spend some time in a peaceful place, then beaches should be it. Most beaches in Bali do not charge an entry fee. So if you have a tight budget, you can definitely check out the beaches that allow visitors for free.

Kuta Beach

Kuta Beach is a popular beach among all the Indonesian beaches! Since it is so popular, you will see a lot of people around. But that should not stop you from visiting this beautiful beach because the people add a fun vibe to the atmosphere. And for the peace, all you need to do is stand on the shore site and let the waves touch your feet while the wind runs through your hair and face!

Sanur Beach

If you fancy trying out a few adventures activities on Bali beaches, then Sanur Beach will be perfect for you. It is famous for its water sports, so you can expect many different types of adrenaline-pumping as well as laid-back water activities like kite flying and cycling at the beach. Because of the mild waves at the beach, it is not quite ideal for surfing. 

Balian Beach

Balian Beach has some powerful waves, stunning sunset views, and cute little restaurants and cafes for mouthwatering dishes. This beach is a paradise for every surfer. If you love capturing beautiful sunset views with your camera, this beach will definitely give you that perfect sunset shot!

Bali – the perfect destination for a budget-friendly solo trip

This is the end of this blog. To make the most of your solo trip to Bali, you should plan your trip well in advance and follow everything once you land on the island (well, skipping a few of the things from your plan to try out something new is totally okay, too!). And trust me, you will have a great solo travel experience in Bali. 

So, pack your bags and get ready to have a memorable solo trip to Bali on a budget. Cheers!