One magical week in Sanur, Bali

Back in July, we took off for a week in Bali! We had never been there before and we’re so excited to travel to somewhere brand new to us (last time we did that was when we went to Hawaii…that was so long ago!)

Traveling abroad this year was so different from doing so less than a year ago, when we went to Fiji. I was so nervous about being in a crowded airport and on a plane then, but this time it felt almost back to normal (I mean, whatever normal is now?!). We took our international vaccine certificates but I don’t think we were asked for them once. And we remained healthy the entire time – feeling very lucky about that! I went to the doctor beforehand and stocked up on the recommended medications to take and to take with us (doxycycline for prevention against malaria, loperamide, anti-nausea drugs, paracetamol and ibuprofen for us and for Amelie) and we didn’t need any of it. It felt good to be prepared in case we had needed it, but I was definitely the right amount of prepared – I don’t think anything more is necessary for most people visiting Bali.

So why Bali?! Well in all honesty, we were only planning to go to Fiji but our favourite place was booked all through winter and I figured if we couldn’t go back there, why not look further afield?! Originally I was looking into Vietnam but it is the rainy season in the areas I wanted to go to, during the NZ winter. Bali has always looked nice but it’s never felt like it’s for us exactly (hard to explain that but maybe if I say I’m not the ‘yoga poses staring into nature, but Instagram it’ type it’ll make some sense). Happily, I was very wrong!

We stayed in Sanur – according to the guidebooks the locals call it Snore, and that was pretty much perfect for us. Sanur has a small village with a few cute shops and cafes, but its main draw is a boardwalk stretching along the beach, lined with the occasional cafe but mostly just a lovely place to walk or cycle. The beach itself is not too exciting – it’s not a surf beach (for that you need to be over the other side) but it’s pleasant! We went knowing that the beaches weren’t the tropical island ideal, so we didn’t feel like we were missing out on anything…but I think it bears emphasising that Bali (or at least the part we were in) is not about the beaches or watersports. They’re not bad though!

So full disclosure, we spent most of our time in the resort…and I don’t regret one minute of that. We were staying at the Andaz and I cannot recommend it more – it is just absolute bliss. The people who worked there were just lovely; the food was amazing – loved all the different restaurants and the ‘village square’ concept they’re arranged around! The room was gorgeous and very comfortable, and the pools were so much fun. And the breakfasts were easily amongst the best I’ve had in my life.

Apart from enjoying the pleasures of the Andaz we ventured into Sanur a couple of times, walked along the boardwalk a few times, and one day hired a driver to take us over to Seminyak. All of it was fun but honestly, nothing beat relaxing at the hotel – which was the point of our holiday. I got up for sunrise yoga on the pool deck a couple of times, but sorry – no photos (not even for Instagram!).

I did what I did in Fiji last year and left my phone in the room the whole time. All the photos I took were on our camera, which is so freeing in so many ways – because it’s less easy than a phone, I take fewer, but more thoughtful photos, and of course it’s just a camera with me, so I’m never tempted to put my book down in favour of flicking through my phone. For me, it’s so much nicer than using my phone, and is something I’d love to bring into my weekends as well even at home.

Speaking of photos, we took a bunch! Here are some of our favourites, if you want to see…