Lindy Klim: 'I just got back from a girls' trip to Bali. Here are my top recommendations.'

Mamamia Must-Go is your insider guide on what to see, do and eat at popular holiday destinations. It's where you'll find honest recommendations from the women who've been there. This week, Lindy Klim shares her Bali recommendations.

My daughter Stella just turned 18, and we went on a girls’ weekend away together in Nusa Dua, Bali, to celebrate. Stella and I are two peas in a pod. We're both silly and love to have a laugh. We love music and dancing. The main difference in our interests is that she’s a big surfer, and I don’t surf, but we're always together.

Stella’s the eldest of my four kids, and we’re moving into that friendship space where we have really open conversations and love to spend time with each other. So, it’s nice that I can get away with my now 18-year-old for a weekend and have a sunset cocktail with her. It’s quite special.

Whether you’re planning a girls’ weekend away with your daughter, sisters, mum or girlfriends, I have so many great suggestions after living in Bali for almost 13 years now. Let me share them with you…

Where to stay in Bali.

Location. 

The great thing about Bali is that it has something for everyone. There are so many different parts of the island. You've got Ubud, which is super hippie, and everybody's just so happy and high on life. Or you've got the east of Bali, which is really remote, super old school but stunning.

Canggu is the party place, while Seminyak is the place to go for all the restaurants and bars. Bali has come a long way in terms of restaurants, nightclubs, and beach clubs — and I've heard it referred to as somewhat of a dupe of Ibiza. 

Here in Uluwatu, where I live, you’ll find more of those laid-back, chilled vibes. It’s only 20 to 30 minutes away from the airport, and it has the most stunning beaches. In so many ways, it feels like you could be in Europe. 

Accommodation.

For our girls’ weekend away, we headed to Nusa Dua, which is a beautiful part of Bali located on the eastern side of the Bukit Peninsula, only 10 minutes away from the airport.

Nusa Dua is heaven. It's very old-school Bali, where the beaches are perfect with white sand and no waves. We stayed at the Accor French-inspired Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort. 

Image: Supplied. 

The beachfront five-star property is stunning. One of my highlights was having a relaxing massage near the beach while listening to the sound of the waves. The food was delicious too; the resort's restaurant, Cucina, has just been revamped with an incredible menu. There’s just something special about going to a resort and having everything at your fingertips and experiencing that full luxury experience. It was a really beautiful weekend. 

As an Accor Plus Explorer member, we even received a complimentary night, which was amazing. Travelling so often, I'm all about the perks (which I love) and the convenience that the membership offers, particularly when I'm navigating different time zones. 

With my membership, I get up to 50 per cent off dining and 15 per cent off alcohol and beverages when travelling in Asia. I also automatically get access to priority check-in, free Wi-Fi and a welcome drink on arrival, which makes travelling so much more enjoyable. 

Image: Supplied. 

As an Accor Plus member, you also have access to their 'More Escapes' offers, which are members-only holiday packages. These packages include everything you might need for an unforgettable holiday, from spa treatments to all-inclusive dining — the perks are endless.  

Where to eat in Bali.

Restaurants. 

There are so many great places to eat in Bali for a special night out. Mason in Canggu is a top pick. All the food at this modern Australian, Mediterranean-inspired restaurant is made from scratch — they even make their charcuterie and cheese in-house.

There’s also Japanese restaurant Yuki, which my cousin owns. They have two locations, one in Canggu and another in Uluwatu, where they serve fusion, plant-based sushi, and wood-fired meats.

Another restaurant I highly recommend is Akasa at the Jumeirah Hotel in Pecatu. If you’re looking for a prime spot to celebrate with the girls, at Akasa, you’ll be enjoying Asian-influenced flame-grilled cuisine with panoramic coastal views. It's stunning.

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Sunset drinks. 

For sunset drinks, there’s El Kabron, a luxury day club in Uluwatu. It has the most stunning sunset views with Greek Island vibes, although it can be quite expensive. Otherwise, anywhere along Legian Beach is just very cool, and you can see the sunset from anywhere on the beach. Most people will head there around 5pm, and you'll get a mix of locals and tourists.  

Local eats. 

If you’re looking for delicious, cheap, local eats — those are really easy to find. We eat in the local warungs, these are small, family-owned eateries and cafes. We can feed our family of six for about $20. In Uluwatu, we go to Warung Local and a place called Lucky Fish, which is down on the beach and serves grilled seafood. If you see any of those places around, just go in and try them. They're absolutely amazing.

Bali cuisine is a lot like spicy Malaysian food. Getting a satay off the side of the road is our favourite thing to do. And I know that might turn some people off it completely, but if it's cooked well and hot, I think it's totally fine! 

What to do in Bali.

Beaches. 

You definitely need to visit Bingin Beach in Uluwatu. Padang Padang Beach is also heaven — you walk down all these stairs, then go through a cave to get to the white sandy beach. Nyang Nyang Beach is another one — although I think it could be a nudist beach on some days! And Dreamland Beach is super old-school Bali, but it's stunning.

Image: Supplied. 

Hikes. 

If you’re looking for an active girls’ weekend away and don’t mind an early start, I love doing the sunrise Mount Batur hike. You have to get up at 2am to climb the mountain before sunrise, but I highly recommend it. There are also many beautiful waterfall hikes too — find a good tour guide to take you on one of those.

Image: Getty. 

Shopping. 

When it comes to shopping, there are some beautiful boutiques, especially in Canggu. Bali's becoming known now for its fashion and it's definitely growing. Make sure you check out State of Georgia, Cove and Stella in Canggu. The Find and Parker in Uluwatu are also great for picking up a little present for yourself.

For access to exclusive Accor Plus member hotel packages and more value while you travel, visit Accor Plus.

Feature Image: Supplied.