'I fly to Bali for a 4-day reset. Here's exactly how I do it for less than $1,500.'

Like many millennials, I feel perpetually on the brink of burnout. Despite not actually being that busy or important, if I'm completely honest.

Life is a never-ending loop of trying to keep on top of the housework, parenting a very small human, being a good partner, being a good friend, paying the bills, seeing family, and doing a somewhat good job at work.

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I love my life and am very grateful and happy for what I have, but every now and then, I LOVE being gloriously selfish. I love indulging in all my favourite things and only worrying about what I want to do and when I want to do it. Just for a few days, every now and then. It's a reset and reminder of who I am and what I enjoy outside everything that takes up so much of my headspace.

Life is short and I truly believe we all need to make time for ourselves to be selfish because no one else is going to. You'll be a better colleague, employer, friend, partner, and parent by making some time, just for you.

So every now and then, I like to take myself on a long weekend to Bali.

Why Bali?

My own mother can't grasp why on earth I fly internationally for some me-time, so I'm sure plenty of you are scratching your head too.\

I love Bali, I love the people, I love the culture, I love the smell of incense permeating the balmy air. But why I choose Bali for my 'selfish time' primarily comes down to cost.

I can generally get flights and accommodation for $ 1,200 to $ 1,500 for four nights. Where in Australia can you get that? And once you're there, you can spend as little or as much as you like.

Getting there.

I live in Sydney and take the 6.30am Friday flight to Denpasar. There's a three-hour time difference, so you arrive in Bali at 9.30am — a full day ahead!

I think one of the reasons international travel isn't considered for a long weekend (bar the perceived high cost) is the faffing around at either side of the airport. Here are my tips for making it as easy as possible:

Tip 1. Take carry-on only.

If I can do it, you can do it. I PROMISE you don't need much. Here's what I packed for my recent trip: it was 5.6 kilos.

Taking a backpack means you can check in ahead of time to and skip the bag drop line at the airport. It's the only line you will generally find before 6am, so bypassing it means I get through customs/security, etc, in record time.

Given it's an ungodly hour, I can't tell you how nice it is to settle at your gate with a coffee rather than stand in lines.

Tip 2. Have all your paperwork ready for entering Indonesia.

Wi-Fi is tricky at the airport, so have your docs pre-downloaded for scanning.

You need a Visa, a tourism levy and an entry card. If you don't have these done prior, you will be in line for one to two hours. If you do, it takes 10 mins to get through passport control.

You don't want to get stuck in these lines. Image: Supplied.

Money.

The only places you need cash for are street vendors and drivers. You can also use ATMs and cash converters over there.

Make sure you alert your bank and put your travel dates in your banking app. Have about $100 in cash, which is 1 million Indonesian Rupiah.

The easiest way to think about money is that a 100k note is about $10 AUD. So if you have a 2000 dollar note, that's 20c!

Itinerary.

Ok, once you get out of the airport, you'll be met with swarms of people offering you cars or to help with your baggage, etc. Just kindly but firmly say "no thank you" (or "tidak terima kasih") and follow the signs to the car park, then walk through it. Just keep walking through it!

You'll get to a main road, and to your right is a crossing. Cross the road, and there's a fence with a bunch of men on scooters behind it.

*Look for a driver wearing a green vest, walk up and negotiate where you want to go, and show them on a map.

It should be about $100-$150k (which is the most you'll spend on transport). Wear your backpack on your front or ask them if they can store it for you to save your back, and ASK FOR THE HELMET. They often have their spare stored in the seat because most Australians are idiots think they're invincible and don't need it (you absolutely do). 

*Of course, riding on the back of scooters comes with more risk than a car, but it's my personal preference, given the traffic in Bali. What would take two hours travel time in a car takes 30 minutes on a scooter. 

There are plenty of incredible spots in Bali, but I love Canggu for solo weekends as it has the best of everything: sunset cocktails, shopping, day clubs, insanely yummy restaurants and epic spas.

Canggu is the best for solo weekends. Image: Supplied.

Ask to go to E.Space Spa — I have no idea why this place never gets listed on any 'top 10 Bali spa' articles because I've had the best massages of my life there.

You can always walk in for an appointment (maybe not in peak season but you can book via WhatsApp prior) and they have a shower so you can wash the plane off before you start your relaxation.

Get the 90-minute Balinese massage — it will cost about $45 and will make you forget about sitting in an uncomfortable plane seat for six hours that morning. 

During my 90-minute Balinese massage at E.Space spa. Image: Supplied.

After your massage, you're going to be STARVING, given you've only had snacks and crappy plane food all day; so pop 'Shady Shack' in your maps and walk the four minutes to the cutest and yummiest vegan cafe.

Sit outside amongst the trees and order something fresh and delicious. I've eaten there probably 20 times and everything is outstanding.

A feast at Shady Shack! Image: Supplied.

I suggest ordering the Choc Tops smoothie with an espresso shot in it — so yum and will keep you going through the afternoon. 

By now, you should be able to check into wherever you're staying. If it's walking distance, off you trot, but you can easily order a Gojek. Speaking of, make sure you've downloaded the app prior to getting there because it makes everything so easy!

You can order anything, but I primarily use it for booking rides — you'll get anywhere for 80c to $2. And before you ask about Wi-Fi, you can get a SIM for cheap but I personally wouldn't bother. EVERYWHERE has Wi-Fi and you can use maps when not online.

Once you're checked in, the weekend is YOURS and yours alone. The beauty of a selfish solo weekend is that you can do absolutely whatever you want, whenever you want.

What to eat in Canggu.

Keep in mind that I'm a vegetarian, so my recommendations are based purely on eating veggo food. But given it's harder to nail, I assume if they do good veggies, they do good meat! I am not a foodie in the slightest but I think it's because chefs in Sydney are generally super lazy with veggo food. I find it so much better in Bali. Fresh and full of flavour.  

The best meal of my last trip was at Masonry. Every single bite was OUTSTANDING and it's known for its steak, not veggies! Even the cocktails were super interesting and not too strong. Please order the roast pumpkin croquette and chickpea empanada — both standouts I will dream about till I return.

Yum! Image: Supplied.

Other faves are Touche, for the fluffiest pancakes of your life, and Crate, for chill/communal seating and sandwiches so good you'll finish every last, gigantic bite.

A delicious sandwich I had at Crate. Image: Supplied.

Fold, for the best and freshest baked yumminess and Penny Lane — good food but mainly to awe at the aesthetics.

The vibes in Penny Lane. Image: Supplied.

The best spas in Canggu.

Listen, I haven't tried them all, but I'll tell you my top recommendations in the area (in addition to E.Space).

The thing about spas in Bali is that you can get an hour-long massage for $12 or $40. But in my experience, you do get what you pay for, and when I'm on my selfish solo weekend, I want strong hands, a clean massage table and a private, quiet room.Please, if you're going to Canguu, get the 24k Gold Facial from Goldust Spa.

Then get the Poolside Stress Buster massage. It will be the most relaxing, therapeutic, luxurious 2.5 hours of your life. I swear I lifted off and went to actual heaven at one point.

Keep in mind, it is expensive for Bali and the 2.5 hours was $220 AUD, but it's worth every penny.

Trying out the 24k Gold Facial at Goldust Spa. Image: Supplied.

Report back, I need to hear how incredible you found it and feel smug for the suggestion.

I generally don't get facials because I'm a bit fussy about what gets put on my face, but I will get a massage or something relaxing every day. Other spas I've only ever had great experiences at in Canggu are Spring Spa (which is SO beautiful) and Tonic, which looks like it's straight out of Palm Springs.

Tonic Spa, Canggu. Image: Supplied.

What to do in Canggu.

Eating delicious food and getting incredible treatments will take up a lot of your time, but I also recommend a few specific things.

Take an afternoon stroll and sit on the steps at Echo Beach for the sunset — they are absolutely beautiful in Bali and watching the surf while you sip on a cocktail is so relaxing.

Echo beach, Canggu. Image: Supplied.

Spend an afternoon drinking cocktails on a daybed at a pool club. The vibes are always so great and you can chill in silence or strike up a convo with someone, it's just so fun!

Generally, there's a minimum spend for using the daybed, so make sure you'll be there for a while, because even the pricier Bali establishments are cheaper than Australia, and it's harder than you think to drink $100 worth of cocktail,s given they're strong and $13.

The Lawn, COMO, and La Brisa are all close to everything and glorious, with epic sunset views.

Relaxing and enjoying the sunset views. Image: Supplied.

For shopping, La Brisa have epic markets every Sunday, featuring local vendors offering an array of organic produce, handmade products, beautiful textiles and more.

There are markets and beautiful boutiques everywhere in Canggu, but if you're after cheaper prices and more variety you need to head to Seminyak or Garlic Lane in Legian. Both will take about 30 minutes on a scooter.

There are big shopping centres in Bali but I've personally never been to one — if I'm going to shop, I want to shop with the locals and walk around outside. If you do get carried away (very easy to do), you can generally pick up a suitcase or overnight bag for $20-$40, just make sure you give yourself that extra time to get to the airport in a car on your way home and bag drop! 

Markets in Canggu. Image: Supplied.

So these are my top recommendations for a long weekend in Canggu.

Something to try in 2026? I like to think of the flight as part of the holiday (six hours of uninterrupted TV time) and have always felt so safe by myself in Bali — streets in Sydney are far dodgier!

It always takes me 24 hours to settle into my own company — I feel a bit sad and lonely on the first afternoon but that's because I'm not used to it. When I wake up after 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep without being booted in the face, the sadness is gone, replaced by pure gidyness that I get to do whatever I like all day. And the day after that.

It doesn't have to be Bali. But I hope, if anything, I can inspire more people to take time for themselves. To enjoy their own company. To prioritise themselves in a world where it's often not encouraged, but oh-so rewarding in so many ways.

Feature image: Supplied.