Australians can enjoy Bali holidays from Australia at surprisingly affordable prices. In addition, cheap holidays can be found on the local cuisine, in budget hotels, or spending your money in more extravagant resorts, private accommodation, experiences and excursions. The amount you spend on a Bali package depends on which city you fly from, the time of year you go and how long you stay.
When you compare prices for Bali packages, you should be aware that it can be worth looking further than the headline price and see what it includes.
When To Go To Bali
Bali is a year-round destination and weather may impact your experience and your pocket book. Hotter months are likely to be the most popular for days on the beach, sightseeing and outdoor adventure, but cooler months might just be a good value for your trip if you don't mind the occasional shower.
What is the best time of year to go? Book during the busy periods of travel like Australian school holidays, Bali holiday packages and other popular dates when flights and hotels will be more expensive.
How to Get to Bali from Australia
Most Australians who venture to Bali fly there from Australia, with flights available from most Australian destinations including Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane. The city you fly from can have a significant impact on cost.
For example, if you're comparing Bali deals from Melbourne, don't just look at the flight price, you're better off comparing the full package price, with flight, baggage and hotel included. Bali deals from Perth can be especially good value to compare as well as they are relatively close to Bali.
Where to Stay
Accommodation is among the biggest Bali budget killers.
Nature, culture, rice terraces and peace: Ubud is recommended for its nature, culture, rice terraces and quieter pace. Seminyak is the place to go for those who are interested in restaurants, shopping and beach clubs. Canggu tends to be a little bit more relaxed and social.
A mid-range holiday would see you pay around AUD $50-$150 per night per person for accommodation, although this can be much more if you are staying in a luxury resort or villa.
Activities to Engage In
You don't need to spend a fortune in Bali. Visiting temples, markets, beaches and rice terraces is cheap, and if you plan on snorkelling, taking a cooking class, going on a day tour or hiring a private driver, you will need to budget for these too.
To receive numerous professional and paid experiences you desire, try to plan a few paid activities you really want to do instead of scheduling something every day.
Suggested Itinerary
For a 7-day Bali holiday, you could spend:
Days 1-3: Ubud - temples, rice paddies, cafes and local life
Days 4-6: Seminyak or Canggu - beaches, restaurants and sunset locations
Day 7: Relax, shopping and departure to airport
This provides you with diversity without the hassle of moving your whole time travelling from luxury homes to remaining in diverse locations.
Transport
Transportation costs can be cheap depending on your route. It can be cheap using cabs or Uber as the trip is less long and the car price for a full day is expensive.
When you'll be touring a few attractions in a day, having a driver may be the easier option than booking a ride each time.
Food
Food is likely to be one of the easiest things to budget in Bali. Cheap Indonesian food at local warungs, expensive meals in Cafs, beach clubs and world cuisine at restaurants.
A sensible budget for food for example $20-$60AUD per person per day depending on where and what you eat.
Estimated Costs
A rough estimate for a 7 day trip might be:
Flights: AUD $400-$1,000+
Accommodation: AUD $350-$1,050
Food: AUD $140-$420
Transport: AUD $70-$250
Activities: AUD $100-$400+
That equates to a budget to mid-range holiday of around AUD $1,060-$3,120+pp, exclusive of shopping and including uncertainty of flights & accommodation.
To compare the options available to you, EaseOnTrip can help you explore flights, hotel and holiday packages in conjunction. Packages for Bali for one person starts at just 999 AUD on EaseOnTrip.
Curious how your Bali package will shape up?
Frequently Made Errors
One common mistake is to choose a package just because it is the cheapest advertised. Check the hotel location, baggage allowance, transfers, meal inclusions and cancellation policy
One more error I make is to try to fit too many places into a week. It is quite annoying trying to squeeze in Bali while other drives are longer than expected.
FAQs
Is Bali costly for Aussies?
It shouldn't have to. Your highest costs are likely to be the flights and the accommodation, with the food and experiences on the ground being quite economical.
What is a reasonable budget for 7 days in Bali?
A rough mid-range budget could be: AUD $1,500-$2,500 per person – excluding shopping and depending on the flights.
Are Bali holiday packages less expensive than separate bookings?
Not always, but packages may help take the stress out of your planning and they might be good value when booked with flights and a hotel.
Which Australian cities have Bali packages?
Convenient flights are available from the following cities: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and Brisbane.
Final Words
How much does it cost to visit Bali? Every Bali holiday is unique and there is no one answer to this. The most economical Bali trip will vary depending on your travel style, when you are leaving from, when you are going and what you hope to get out of your time on the island.