Kelly Meharg enjoyed a dream Balinese honeymoon – here are her tips and advice for your own magical, memorable post-wedding Bali honeymoon!
Ah, Bali – one of the best places to go on honeymoon (in my humble opinion!). It’s a super-popular option for Kiwi couples: it’s close enough to feel easy (for us, one flight is easy!) yet far enough to feel like you’ve stepped out of real life and into a fantastically warm daydream.
For newlyweds, Bali hits that perfect trifecta of romance, relaxation and adventure. You can spend mornings eating smoothie bowls by your private pool, afternoons getting $20 massages, and nights drinking cocktails on the beach while someone plays an acoustic version of a song you probably danced to at your wedding. Add in world-class food, genuinely welcoming locals, and accommodation options for every budget and vibe, and it becomes a choose-your-own-romantic-adventure. Fuss-free, gorgeous, and reliably warm -Bali is basically built for honeymoon happiness.
I headed off to Bali for my own honeymoon last year and absolutely loved it, staying at ultra-resort Ayana, as well as small, intimate cabins Desa Hay and Munduk. They were wildly different experiences, but both incredible – so here’s my take on them, as well as other Bali options, for you to figure out what your own perfect Bali honeymoon (or holiday!) would look like!
Here’s your cheat sheet to the perfect Bali honeymoon, broken down by vibe, budget, and just how much privacy you want for… you know… honeymooning.
THE BIG RESORT: AYANA
If you want your honeymoon to feel like you’ve moved into a glossy travel magazine, Ayana Bali is your girl (check out my full story on it here!) This sprawling clifftop resort in Jimbaran is basically a small, extremely glamorous city, complete with private beaches, multiple pools (yes, the famous ocean pool from Instagram), and a spa that could spiritually re-align your entire bloodline. Couples come here for the indulgence: champagne breakfasts, sunset cocktails at Rock Bar, lazy laps in pools that overlook the Indian Ocean. You can stay entirely within Ayana’s borders for days and not see the same thing twice – just like we did! It’s the ultimate “we’ve earned this” honeymoon energy – plush bathrobes, immaculate landscaping, and enough on-site restaurants to keep you well-fed and blissfully horizontal. If your love language is luxury, this is where you book in and bliss out.
THE INTIMATE CABIN FEELS: DESA HAY & MUNDUK CABINS
For couples who want the romance without the resort sprawl, Bali’s cabin-style escapes are straight-up magic. Desa Hay, just out of Canggu, feels like a little eco-fantasy: lush jungle gardens, dreamy private pools, and villas that look like the Pinterest board you made at 2am the night you got engaged (oh wait was that just me?). Our jaws DROPPED when we saw our villa – it’s intimate, tranquil, and Insta-perfect, ideal for couples who want to hide away from the world and re-emerge only for food and massages. Or, if you like to mix it up like we did, the property also has drivers who will whisk you to Canggu for a day trip to a beach club!
Up in the misty highlands, Munduk Cabins offers an entirely different flavour: moody mountain vibes, crisp cooler air, and cabins that seem to float over the valleys. We were there during a thunderstorm and we can’t remember a more magical afternoon – huge lightning and thunder, cosy cabin, amazing room service and a cabin that we would live in if we could! Think: morning coffee in the clouds, afternoons chasing waterfalls, nights soaking in warm tubs overlooking the twinkling lights below. It’s a honeymoon where you can actually breathe, and it was such a highlight for us to connect and enjoy time together after the stress of the wedding planning!
THE VILLA LIFE: BALI VILLAS
If privacy is your love language, Bali villas are the sweet spot between luxe and laid-back. Bali Villas have a good selection of one-bedroom options such as Avalon III – think private pool, private chef and only 15 minutes away from Seminyak. Villas give you a “this whole place is ours??” feeling – complete with private pools, outdoor showers, massive daybeds and staff who seem to magically appear with fresh fruit and croissants whenever you blink.
The beauty of villa life is the freedom: you can stay in your robe all day, order floating breakfasts, play your playlist as loudly (or softly) as you like, and never worry about racing other guests for loungers. And they are such good value!
ON A BUDGET BUT STILL CUTE: THE KOMU
A Bali honeymoon doesn’t have to decimate your joint savings. There are heaps of options that keep things romantic, stylish and budget-friendly. Think airy guesthouses, chic-but-simple stays, and smaller hotels with surprisingly bougie touches The Komu is our pick – it’s gorgeous, modern, close to Canggu, has a fab pool, and here’s the best bit. A studio king room is currently $542 for FOUR NIGHTS. The magic of Bali is that you can spend less and still feel spoilt – cheap massages, sunset dinners on the beach, scooter rides through rice fields and cocktails that won’t make your credit card want to escape your wallet. Keep your accommodation simple and funnel your budget into experiences: cooking classes, snorkelling trips, private drivers for waterfall hopping or that very wholesome honeymoon photoshoot at golden hour.
The FANCY HOTEL FOR THE “SETTLE IN & SOAK IT UP” TYPES: THE APURVA KEMPINSKI
There’s something comforting about a great hotel – the daily housekeeping (bliss when you’re on your honeymoon!), the room service, the familiar hum of other people having a great holiday. Bali’s hotel lineup is stacked with romantic options that balance ease with style. Try The Apurva Kempinski for sweeping architecture and a lobby so big you’ll feel like you’ve entered a palace, an open-air theatre, STUNNING rooms, and the most amazing views. Hotels are ideal if you love having everything within arm’s reach: restaurants, bars, spas and anything else you could want. Plus, there’s no pressure to “make the space your own” – you just show up, check in, and slip straight into holiday mode.