For me, Bali is one of them.
At 21, I returned, this time with the man who would later become my husband. The chaos softened into curiosity. We still danced, still stayed out too late, but
we also began noticing the culture, the food, the rhythm of island life. Bali was no longer just a party. It was becoming a place.
In July 2024, six close friends escaped for 12 nights of sunshine, cocktails and long overdue adults-only time. It was the first holiday I have ever taken without a colour-coded itinerary. No restaurant bookings. No scheduled tours. No spreadsheets.
Just go with the flow.
And Bali is the perfect place to do exactly that.
Holidaying with adult friends has a rhythm all of its own.
There’s an unspoken understanding: sometimes you’re together, sometimes you quietly disappear for a few hours, no explanation required. Conversations bounce all day long. Banter. Laughter. Half-finished stories resumed hours later as though no time has passed.
Mornings often began with the “gym group,” enthusiastically pretending we wouldn’t immediately undo all progress at what was widely agreed to be one of the greatest buffet breakfasts known to humankind. The men developed an almost competitive commitment to the seared tuna sashimi plate, clearing it with the focus normally reserved for Olympic sport.
That kind of easy connection only happens when you travel with people who know you well enough to laugh at you, and with you, in the same breath.
We based ourselves at the Double-Six Luxury Hotel in Seminyak for six nights and it was perfect.
The tone was set immediately: a theatrical vodka cocktail on arrival, complete with dry ice. A subtle hint that this may become a cocktail-forward holiday.
Our ocean-facing room looked directly over Bali’s legendary sunsets. Swan-shaped
towels greeted us on the bed, alongside a
The buffet breakfast deserves its own fan club: tropical fruit, eggs any style, lemon crêpes, Indonesian favourites and enough coffee to revive even the most committed Negroni enthusiast.
Evenings drifted down to Double Six Beach, music in the air, frangipanis scattered in the sand, the sky painted in orange and pink.
Some nights it was one cocktail. Most nights… it wasn’t.
During the days, we often walked along the beach toward Kuta, retracing the footsteps of our younger selves. In our twenties, nights at Paddy’s Pub felt like the centre of the universe. Jungle Juice. Cheap drinks. Carefree innocence.
Walking past the Bali Bombing Memorial now is sobering. Quiet. Powerful. A reminder of lives lost and a moment that forever changed the island’s story.
We wandered past the remains of the once-infamous Bounty Hotel, now a crumbling shell. Surreal. Emotional. A physical reminder of how much Bali has evolved and how much we have too.
Seminyak today feels like Bali’s grown-up cousin. Boutique shopping. Exceptional cafés. World-class beach clubs. Sophisticated energy but still unmistakably Bali.
And honestly? This chapter suited us perfectly.
Seminyak balances indulgence with ease and it’s very hard to leave.
After six sun-soaked days, we traded ocean breezes for jungle air.
The 45km drive to Ubud took nearly 2.5 hours, Bali traffic weaving its familiar choreography of scooters and cars. Roadside temples draped in checkered cloth flickered past as the landscape shifted from beach bustle to layered green.
Ubud feels different the moment you arrive. Cooler. Softer. Slower.
Rice terraces ripple across hillsides. Incense drifts from daily offerings lining the footpaths. Art galleries sit beside yoga studios and cafés. It is Bali’s cultural and spiritual heart and you feel it.
Located in Payangan, about 30 minutes north of central Ubud, Padma Resort sits within an 11-hectare valley surrounded by untouched forest.
It feels wonderfully removed from the world.
The resort blends modern luxury with subtle Balinese design. Service was warm, intuitive and genuinely welcoming. Daily activities yoga, guided walks, cultural workshops add depth beyond relaxation.
For three days, we slowed down. Long spa treatments, Lazy jungle mornings, Brunch at Simply Social. Wandering past Ubud Palace and artisan markets.
Our final stop was Nusa Dua and the contrast was immediate.
Wide roads. Manicured gardens. Security gates. Calm.
The 59km journey from Padma Resort took around 2.5 hours. Next time, I’d pre-book a driver being 30 minutes outside Ubud made pickup trickier than expected.
We checked into Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort, staying in a One-Bedroom Pool Villa with Club Millésime access. Private pool. Lush gardens. Complete privacy.
Morning swims became ritual. Club access added elegant breakfasts,
A lovely problem to have.
Nusa Dua is ideal for slowing down. Cleaner beaches. Calmer water. Beautiful beachfront walking paths. It doesn’t have Ubud’s cultural depth or Seminyak’s buzz, but it delivers relaxation beautifully.
July/August falls in Bali’s dry season (May–September): 26–29°C days, low humidity, blue skies and perfect sunsets. It’s peak season but the weather is worth it.
Ride-share apps like Grab and Gojek make getting around easy and affordable, though some venues require short walks for pickup due to local taxi rules.
This trip marked a shift.
The chaotic nights of our youth have given way to rooftop sunsets, long lunches, spa days and exceptional cocktails.
And it felt exactly right.
But Bali had one more chapter waiting.
Exactly one year later, we returned, this time with our young adult children experiencing the island for the first time.
And that trip?
Just as special.
But that’s Part Two.
- Alex