Bali : Most Desirable Island Destination

When there's a survey to find the world's most desirable island destination, you can bet your bottom dollar that Bali will come out on top. It seems the allure of this Indonesian tropical paradise knows no bounds. The charm of Bali is not that it is a pretty island with lovely palm-fringed beaches; its real staying power is that it is so much more.

With dramatic volcanoes, soaring seaside cliffs, green rice-terraced valleys and mystical temples hidden in traditional villages, Bali defies simple descriptions. This is where you fall in love, but it's also where you come when you are in love. Join us as we seek out 10 good reasons why you are bound to find Bali irresistible.

Become a millionaire 

There's nothing like the thrill you get when you lay your hands on your first million. In Bali, with an exchange rate of around 10,000 Indonesian rupiah for one US dollar, you can make it for only one hundred dollars! But, before you get too excited, the enterprising Balinese traders will more than likely quote you dollar prices for those lovely curios you want to take home. Don't worry, you will still score a bargain or two.

Get addicted to Ku De Ta

There’s nothing quite like Ku De Ta anywhere else in the world. Perched on the edge of the sea along the beach from the Oberoi Hotel, this beach club is a magnet for the rich, the famous and the wannabes. There are beach beds overlooking the rolling surf, tables to dine at and a bar to flit around. The time to arrive is just before sunset.

What you are wearing is not as important as how you wear it. The Ku De Ta crowd is not your regular ‘happy hour’ brigade; they would be equally at home in the south of France, the Caribbean or a private island in the Indian Ocean. Strike your finest pose as the rays go down, but don’t fall over yourself when someone like Brad Pitt or Madonna settles down next to you.

Experience a day when nothing moves.

If have ever wondered what it would be like if we all just stopped rushing around for one day, then give Bali’s Nyepi Day a try. This is the Balinese New Year’s Day. For 24 hours, the islanders' believe you should do absolutely nothing to attract the attention of the spirits. This means that they stay as silent as possible.

It also means that you should not talk out loud, play music, drive a motorbike or car or use any electrical appliances. There are no taxis, the international airport closes down and tourists are advised to relax at their hotels and not to offend the local people by making any noise. 

Fly from tree to tree in the jungle

Yes, in Bali you can fly. Experience the amazing Flying Fox, where you are propelled through the jungle for up to 160 metres at a time. You are attached to a wire strung between high points in the forest and gravity provides the propulsion, but the experience is of being like a bird. There are five different routes at the Bali Treetop in the Bedugul Botanical Gardens. You'll never want to come back to earth!

Rub shoulders at Bulgari

Two of the world's most sought-after hotel brands, Bulgari and St Regis have just swung open the doors of lavish new  resorts in Bali. They join some of the finest hotels you can find anywhere. For one, the island has two Four Seasons Resorts, one overlooking Jimabaran Bay and the other in a riverside jungle setting in Ubud.

Asia's prestigious Aman group, has three resorts tucked away in quiet corners of the island. All the major groups are represented: Hyatt, Conrad, Laguna and InterContinental, to name a few. And then there are spectacular villas that you can call home for a few hundred dollars per night. The bottom line: If you want luxury, Bali's sure got it.

Have a cup of the world's rarest coffee

Head on down to the Garden Cafe in Sanur for a cup of the world's rarest coffee. Enjoy your drink of "Kopi Luwak" before you decide to find out how this delicacy is created. The truth, believe it or not, is that the coffee beans all pass through the digestive system of the Asian Palm Civet, a tree climbing cat.

This creature seeks out only the finest beans in the coffee plantations at night and they pass through its system undigested. Workers collect the beans in the droppings and the rest is just packaging. So sought-after is this drink that prices can reach 1,000 dollars per kilogram in the States. Here you'll pay $55 for a small pack, well worth it for the shock value alone.

Find a spot in paradise for a song

So you think the Bali of today is only for rich holidaymakers, who swagger around their million-dollar villas in designer swimwear? How wrong you are. Although Bali has indeed cornered the ultra-luxury market, there are great bargains available for vacationers who need to count their pennies.

Check out the HotelTravel.com website and you'll find a range of hotels starting at only 23 US dollars a night. In fact, you can book a room in a Kuta hotel with its own swimming pool from only 26 US dollars per night. And there are scores of good family holiday resorts available for under 100 US dollars a night. How's that for great value?

Follow in Mick Jagger’s footsteps

When Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger and American model Jerry Hall got married in Bali in 1990, it immediately became a highly desirable place to tie the knot. Mick and Jerry were married in the grounds of the  luxurious Amandari resort in a simple Hindu ceremony, but the industry has become much more sophisticated these days.

You can have a quiet beach wedding, but you can also get married with all the fanfare you desire. Professional planners will put a package together for you and ensure that all the legalities and documentation are taken care of. One thing you won't have to worry about is where to go on honeymoon!

Learn to ride the waves

Bali has been a mecca for surfers ever since the pioneering students discovered its perfect swells in the 60s. If you've ever wanted to surf, book a course at one of the surfing schools on the island. Within a few days you could be riding the waves like a pro. You can buy a five-day package for around 120 US dollars. You can hire a board there, so all you need to bring is your sexiest swimsuit.

Freshen up with a mud bath

Everyone has heard about the legendary health spas in Bali, where the staff have perfected the art of pampering and relaxation. Whether you are covered in mud, bathed in local herbs or massaged with tropical oils, the spas are bound to give you a fresh new outlook. Set in beautiful gardens, you will have time to reflect on life.

Balinese massage is part of the traditional culture and the spas on the island use the freshest ingredients from the jungles and gardens. There are hundreds of places to choose from, ranging from simple massage huts in Kuta to lavish spas such as the award-winning spa at the Four Seasons Hotel outside Ubud.