Balinese massage is gentler than its Thai cousin. Skin kneading is lubricated with essential oils and there are a number of techniques that encourage oxygen flow around the body, rather than the stretching and lengthening of muscle tissue. More often than not, floral oils will be used and the massage can include a scalp and hair treatment that’s popular with women.

Bali massage techniques are especially beneficial for muscle strains and this is partly why Balinese massage professionals have found plenty of work outside of Indonesia in professional football teams and other sporting arenas. Bali massage techniques alleviate fluid and congestion around the joints, too, so anyone used to seeing a chiropractor will benefit from this kind of rub down.

Bali massage techniques heavily emphasise relaxation and the use of fragrant and essential oils can be overpowering for the first time visitor. A lot of local spas combine the massage with a water treatment that washes the oil from the skin but many people love the scent and feeling of fragrant oil on their skin and prefer to finish a treatment with an oil massage, or not combine the massage with another treatment.

Each part of Bali has developed its own brand of Balinese massage over the centuries. There are local methods in use in Sasak, Lombok and Bali itself. Regional and cultural techniques have influenced the various types of massage too. Balinese Boreh massage evolved from rice farmers and uses a ground up paste made from rice husks and spices. The Javanese Lulur Ritual is performed on brides in preparation for their marriage ceremonies.

Massage is ubiquitous in Bali. Plenty of visitors enjoy receiving a massage from the comfort of their towel or sarong while the very skilled women who ply the beaches of Kuta perform their trade right on the beach. It’s really great to have a massage while the surf crashes nearby and the sun hits the skin. Alternatively, all the major resorts and hotels will have on site health, beauty and wellness spas and these retreats can offer sumptuous luxury, for a price.

Bali’s happening gay scene is centred around the area of Seminyak and while it is no Bangkok, gay visitors to Bali will find a number of great bars and even a couple of discos along the club street of Jalan Dyana Puna. Most nights out start with sunset drinks on the beach and the bars and clubs have two peak periods – before dinner and after, where the fun goes on way into the night.

Kudeta and La Luciola are two of the beachfront gay bars in Seminyak and most guys end their day with a couple of beers or cocktails here. Within walking distance are some of Bali’s top gay-friendly restaurants such as the superb, upscale Kafe Warisan and the gay and budget friendly Rumours.

Bali’s gay central is QBar, on Jalan Dyana Puna. There are nightly drag shows here and late at night the dancefloor is packed. There’s a good mix of local guys and tourists here and the atmosphere is frantic but friendly. Across the road is Kudos which is more beer-themed and has a breezy outdoor terrace.

Further along the road are Mixwell club and the Kween which also do good business, especially on the weekends. These two clubs are more popular with local gay guys but anyone and everyone is welcome. Club 66 and the adjacent Papparazzi Club are mixed venues but both very gay-friendly.

Bali doesn’t have a dedicated gay beach and no nude beaches, but most gay tourists settle at Petitenget Beach, also known as Ganesh Beach, at Seminyak. All the clubs and restaurants listed above are within a sandy stroll from Ganesh Beach, hence its popularity.

Hindu Bali doesn’t really stigmatise gay and lesbian people but as with most of Southeast Asia, excessive displays of public affection between people of any gender is frowned on. Also like elsewhere in Asia, two men holding hands should not be misinterpreted as homosexuality, as it very often isn’t.

Bali abounds in health and wellness centres. There are luxurious massage and beauty spas in the upscale resorts, but many visitors swear by the skills of the nimble beach vendors who offer everything from massages to face masks and pedicures right on the sand for unbelievably reasonable prices.

Traditional Balinese spas specialise in local traditions like fragrant petal baths and hair cream treatments. More expensive outfits will operate courtesy shuttles between the spa and popular tourist destinations like Kuta, Legian, Denpasar and Nusa Dua. In most cases bookings are not required but the more upscale spas will usually take bookings several days in advance.

Full and half day treatments and wedding packages are available and these should be booked at least a day in advance. As with most everything in Bali, prices fluctuate wildly, with full day treatments at five star resorts in Nusa Dua and Ubud costing upwards of USD100. On the other end of the scale are the beach vendors who will give excellent full body and foot massages for just a few dollars.

This is a good option and a novelty for a lot of visitors to Bali since getting an expert scalp or foot massage, or both, while basking in the sun is both a real pleasure and an excellent photo opportunity. All the popular tourist beaches in Bali are over stocked with vendors and hawkers and most wear laminated identification cards that show their licenses and credentials.

Balinese massage is gentler than its Thai counterpart and uses oxygen flow and gentle stretching of muscles rather than pummeling and bending. There are numerous places that specialise in Swedish and Shiatsu massage too. The most renowned spa in Bali is the one at the Ritz Carlton in Nusa Dua and the cascading hill terraces of the resorts in Ubud are right on that venerable spa’s heels when it comes to range and quality of services.

There’s much more to Bali than drunken Aussies partying the night away at the pubs and bars of Kuta. Bali nightlife is quite diverse and there are plenty of quiet spots to hang out. There’s arts and sports clubs, film groups and even philosophical societies that hold regular meetings in various nooks and crannies of Bali so for every kind of visitor, nightlife in Bali has something to offer.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with whooping it up with the beach party crowd and indeed that is one of the main reasons that a lot of people travel to Bali in the first place. The A Bar in Kuta is named after its primary alcohol supplier, Absolut Vodka and the clear spirit flows freely here at the exemplary Kuta nightclub. Not all nightlife options in Kuta are raucous and crowded – places like the A Bar a very elegant and similar to cocktail bars in Europe, North America or Australia.

Quieter Ubud is happy with its restaurant scene and art gallery openings. These form the double backbone of nightlife in Ubud with very little noise and festivities carrying on here far after midnight. However, there are plenty of options for night owls such as Barandi, a lively club that specialises in lychee martinis. Other places around Ubud will feature people hunched over chess boards and the ubiquitous sight of people examining and discussing art.

Over in Sanur, nightlife takes on a very international flavour with the Pergola club’s Thursday night salsa dancing classes and demonstrations. The Wine and Cigar Bar at Pala is just that – a huge wine list from all over the world as well as a good range of Cuban cigars and humidors. The Koki Pub is a slice of England in Southeast Asia with bar food, pool table, and sports cable television.

The nightlife in Nusa Dua has a James Bond feel with elegant cocktail bars like the Octopus Club on the third floor of the Hilton Hotel offering pricey drinks and live pianists. Quinn’s at the Sheraton Lagoon is known for its superb live music acts while the Salsa club at the Grand Hyatt has a glamourous deck overlooking the ocean.

By far the largest and busiest bar and pub complex in Bali is Kuta beach itself, where thousands gather for every sunset of the year, to down some bottles of Bintang, the local beer, and watch the sun go down. Apart from this open air ad-hoc wonder, there are plenty of Irish themed pubs, Australian-owned pubs and other recognisable pubs and bars in Bali. It goes without saying that Bali’s tourist central of Kuta is where most of the pubs and bars in Bali are to be found but there are some venues in Nusa Dua and Ubud.

Exile Bar and Funky Monkey are two of the most popular bars in Ubud, but visitors to Bali shouldn’t travel to this sleepy, artistic hill town expecting rocking nightlife. Most places close around midnight. Likewise, Nusa Dua bars shut around midnight though the cocktail bars and piano bars of some of the luxury resorts in Nusa Dua operate much later into the morning. The Trophy Pub is Nusa Dua’s most popular, and one of its oldest, pubs.

At Kuta, open air bars like Casablanca attract a mixed crowd of very drunk Aussies and jaded observers. The Bounty Shop is an enormous club in the shape and style of an old pirate boat, and it is packed to the gills on weekend nights. M-Bar-Go specialises in premier DJs and great dance music.  The venerable Mama’s in Kuta is one of the last places to close, so it fills up in the wee hours as other places empty out. Many people swear it is still rocking on after dawn, though the official hours state the opposite.

More elegant Kuta bars and pubs include Kori and TJs. the open street bar at Nero Bali and the nearby La Luciola and the Living Room attract an older, slightly better-heeled crowd and also contain their own acclaimed restaurants. Made’s Warning is a very popular mixed venue where the restaurant tables are packed away for dancing somewhere around 23:00 seven nights a week.

Pricey drinks are served to the beautiful people at Ku De Ta, Bali’s most exclusive nightclub. It is located opposite the Oberoi hotel and its decks and terraces afford visitors splendid sunset views. The Hulu Cafe is not the only gay bar in Bali but this is how it advertises itself and its outrageous drag shows which start at 23:00 seven nights a week. The nearby Bali Beach Shack provides stiff competition.

The evergreen Hard Rock Cafe looms large over the Kuta scene – literally as it is one of the only mutli-storey buildings in the area. The thumping rock music and huge crowds here dominate the aural scene for blocks, too, though there is a quieter section towards the rear of the Hard Rock Cafe in Kuta.

The range of dining options in Bali is truly immense. Visitors to Bali can dine out in some of the world’s most luxurious and expensive restaurants or pick up a delicious snack prepared in seconds from a street vendor for less than a dollar. Local delicacies abound and the cuisine of Bali is organic, healthy and inexpensive. Alternatively, anything from pizzas, Swedish pastries and sushi is available in Bali.

Naturally, eating at one of the restaurants in Bali’s innumerable luxury resorts is an experience that doesn’t come cheap. Diners can spend upwards of USD100 per person on a gut-busting seafood dinner with fine wines imported from all over the world. Service and decor at these places is top notch with many set on breathtaking seafront locations.

The best of these upscale dining options include the Bulgari, St. Regis and Conrad resorts. The wine lists alone at these places is guaranteed to impress even the most discerning well-heeled diners. Special events like monthly champagne and wine clubs take place at these venues as do gala conference dinners and wedding banquets.

Regularly voted the best restaurant in Bali is Kura Kura which is located within the Oberoi resort at Kuta. The Kayuputi restaurant is Nusa Dua’s top upscale pick, and it is located within the St. Regis resort. These choices are not for the budget traveller but they do present a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience for those who can afford it.

Mid range restaurants like the ones in resorts like the Hard Rock Cafe in Kuta serve casual food for pretty much the same prices that similar dishes would cost elsewhere in the world. The food at these places is designed to be tasty and satisfying and in many cases, to be taken away and eaten by the pool – think pizza slices or gourmet sandwiches.

For a lot of visitors to Bali, though, the most authentic and delicious food is found at small and modest local restaurants. Here, gado gado and avocado milkshakes are menu staples and two people can have a multi-course dinner with beer for just a few dollars. Any of the places in Kuta and Ubud will serve the same quality food, and have similar menu options.

The sizzling delicacies on offer by street vendors and beach hawkers are great value too. Beach bums can have pineapples carved into slices right at their spot on the sand, while at the night markets baby octopuses on skewers are just the start of the cheap and cheerful snacks on offer.

Bali’s guesthouses provide excellent budget accommodation. Also known as homes-stays, they are often within the grounds of local family houses and so there is a nice sense of authenticity and sincerity at these places. Also, costs are quite low and sometimes, meals are included.

Cold water showers and basic rooms are the norm – visitors should not expect huge luxury – but there are few complaints about the price for a night’s stay in a Bali guesthouse, which is rarely more than USD5.

Guesthouses in Bali are located all over the island. Even in the middle of busy Kuta and Legian, plenty of families open up spare rooms and spaces out back of the main house for visitors. Large groups are discouraged but couples are welcome. Some Bali guest houses are suitable for young families and the Balinese love children so an added bonus is the option of free babysitting!

However, visitors should bear in mind the old adage that you get what you pay for. While Bali guest houses are cheap and informal, and some can be quite memorable, many do not even come with ceiling fan let alone air conditioning and sometimes, a flat rubber mattress is what passes for a bed. Also, security can be an issue as though most families that operate guest houses are perfectly trustworthy, rooms are not always able to be locked.

The good aspects to Bali guest houses though include the fact that when every other hotel in town is full, it is almost always possible to secure a cheap room at a guest house. If a lower level of comfort and no protection from noise is not a problem, this kind of accommodation in Bali is really the way to go.

Also, some Bali guest houses are real gems and the families that run these places are very friendly and interactive. This makes for a memorable experience that some people would prefer over the anonymity of staying in a luxury five star hotel.

Because Bali has been a top international tourist destination for such a long time, the hotel scene here is very well established and in general, competitive. Like most things in Bali, range of price and comfort in hotels in Bali is very broad. There are some excellent bargains to be found in modest and quaint, but comfortable, local hotels run by families as well as happening backpacker joints. Anyone with money to spend will find their dollar goes very far at Bali’s luxury five star resorts which are expensive but offer every service and convenience imaginable.

The top end resorts of Bali are located mainly in Nusa Dua, which is Bali’s most upscale area. Most of the international hotel-resort chains have five and six star resorts here and though the beaches are not private, Nusa Dua’s location on the southern coast of Bali means that few tourists staying elsewhere on the island make a trip here for a day at the beach.

All the Nusa Dua resorts have their own health and wellness spas, private pools and fine dining restaurants. Many offer scuba diving and yachting trips, too and there are great wedding and honeymoon packages available at these places. Prices are high, but good value when compared to equivalent accommodations in Europe, Australia or North America.

There are several dozen luxury resorts that cascade down the misty slopes away from the town of Ubud. Though Ubud is not on the beach, many stay at the upscale accommodations here for the mountain air and sense of privacy and exclusivity. Most five star resorts in or near Ubud offer bungalow accommodations so there is truly a sense of peace and alone-ness.

Also in Ubud are some superb small hotels that offer visitors to Bali an authentic experience and a high level of comfort and friendliness. Even in peak season, bookings are not generally required and if a place is full, owners and managers will only be too happy to recommend nearby equivalent accommodations to unexpected arrivals.

Down at Kuta is where Bali’s backpacker scene comes into its own and so as a result there is no shortage of cheap motels that cater to young groups and also, plenty of backpacker dormitories and bunk style accommodations. Kuta is also where many of Bali’s best family-friendly hotels are located, and these places have supervised play areas and pools with trained life guards.

Above is a good map of Bali, provided by Lonely Planet. Bali is easy to navigate but larger than many people expect. Because its attractions are dispersed across the island, Bali is a destination that should be explored with the help of a good map.

Google maps are great online resources that allow visitors to plot their course while in Bali. The huge amount of internet cafes and high broadband speeds available in these places mean that getting lost is not really possible in Bali since Google maps are comprehensive and continuously updated, and offer a handy service of directions to and from where ever a person is currently located.

All guide books, naturally, will have updated maps and these are a great resource that many visitors bring to Bali with them. The best thing about guide book maps is that they split maps up into areas and sections and offer close up maps of areas like Kuta and Ubud that contain detail like street names, locations of hotels and resorts, museums and restaurants.

All tourist centres in Denpasar, Kuta, Ubud and Nusa Dua will be able to give visitors fold out maps of Bali and these are usually very current and comprehensive also. There are special maps for art and museum tours that are held in the front desks of most galleries and art shops in Ubud and these can be used to plot good walking tours.

Denpasar, the capital city of Bali, houses most of the main municipal museums. These include the excellent Bali Museum on Jalan Letkol Wisnu, and the Museum of Archaeology, on the same road. At Kuta, the Randelli Gallery showcases modern and pop art by young local artists and is the focus of art culture in the Kuta, Legian and Seminyak area.

However, it’s in Ubud where the art and museum culture of Bali makes its main home. The range of galleries and museums here is large and wide, and everything from working artisans who specialise in ancient traditions right up to young artists from Bali and all over the world work and show in Ubud.

The Agung Rai Museum of Art is open every day of the year except for public holidays, and it has a fine and comprehensive collection. All of Bali’s celebrated artists are showcased here including Spies, Affandi and Hofker and the museum makes for a great tour through the centuries of visual art history in Bali.

The Antonio Blanco Renaissance Museum on Jalan Raya Campuhan celebrates the life and work of Bali’s most famous artist, Antonio Bianco. The museum is set in parks and gardens and includes the Bianco family temple.

The Blue Moon Gallery is near the associated Studio Blue Moon and is on the main road of Ubud at Jalan Tirta Tawar. Work created by young artists at the studio is then presented and sold at the gallery. Some of Bali’s up and coming artists are represented at Blue Moon, so collectors may want to get in quick.

The Gaya Fusion of Senses is a major new space that houses large installations and sculptures as well as regular exhibitions from local and international artists. The Komaneka Gallery is close to the Monkey Forest and presents the work of well known Balinese artists who presently work and sell in other countries.

The Seniwati Gallery of Art by Women does just what its name suggests – presents a showcase of art created by Balinese women. The gallery subsidises funding and training of female Balinese painters and sculptors. The nearby Sika Contemporary Art Gallery always buzzes with opening nights and exhibitions from emerging local artists.