Client Blog: Abbey and Conor's blissful Bali honeymoon

Sankara Suites & Villas, Ubud

When we first started planning our honeymoon, we weren’t entirely sure where we wanted to go. But one chat with Nikki at NC Travel and we were heading to Bali, and thank goodness we did. From the moment we touched down (albeit a little later than expected!) to the final goodbye, this trip was everything we’d hoped for and more.

The journey out (and a silver lining)

We flew with Malaysia Airlines. Yes, the outbound flight was delayed by quite a few hours, which wasn’t ideal, but it was all handled really well and we were generously compensated upon our return. We’ve now got a nice little sum to put towards some furniture for our new home, so every cloud really does have a silver lining!

Hotel 1: Candi Beach Resort (the perfect place to unwind)

We started with five nights at Candi Beach Resort, staying in a Garden Deluxe Bungalow on a bed and breakfast basis. It’s peaceful, beautifully kept, and ideal for just kicking back and relaxing after the wedding madness. It is a little isolated, so we didn’t eat out too much here, but honestly, the food and drink at the hotel were lovely.

The staff were absolutely wonderful, always smiling, offering drinks poolside, and just making us feel really welcome.

We did push the boat out a bit, eating and drinking what we fancied, and were stunned that our total bill came to just £100 for the five nights. We were quoted £800 to upgrade to all-inclusive, so our tip? Don’t bother unless you’re going all in on cocktails.

They also surprised us with some lovely honeymoon touches - flowers, fresh fruit and a little honeymoon cake, which was such a sweet start to our trip.

Water taxi adventures and the Gili Isles

From there, we took the Blue Water Express (a public water taxi, everything was pre-booked and included, thanks to Nikki).

The crossing was smooth-ish, although Conor did feel a bit seasick on the way there. They kindly gave him some tablets for the return journey, which worked wonders, he even managed a nap.

Hotel 2: Mahamaya, Gili Meno (our absolute favourite location)

We spent three nights at Mahamaya in a one-bedroom suite with American breakfast. The location was perfect and our favourite of the whole trip. The beach was stunning, the food was divine, and the staff felt like friends by the end.

We snorkelled, we relaxed, and then came Tuesday, the day. Sitting on the beach, cocktail in hand, we watched turtle heads pop up in the water right in front of us. We couldn’t believe it. We swam out and there they were, actual turtles, gracefully gliding through the sea.

For Conor, that was the moment. For me, it was all the snorkelling. I’ve always been a water baby, and this just made my heart so full.

Also, shoutout to the fresh mango juice here - it was so good I’m still dreaming about it.

Hotel 3: Sankara Suites & Villas, Ubud (stylish, serene and our favourite hotel)

Our final three nights were spent in Ubud at the beautiful Sankara Suites & Villas, in a suite valley room. It felt super stylish, yet homely.

The breakfasts were amazing. They had seven different breakfast menus. We ate in a few times, but Ubud has so many lovely places to try that we did go exploring, and we’re glad we did. One night we had a two-course meal with beers for just £3.80 total. Yes, really.

Overall this was our favourite hotel. Move this to the location of Mahamaya, Gili Meno and it would be the perfect combination.

The honeymoon extras here were so special:

• One-hour Balinese massage for the two of us

• Flower decorations and honeymoon cake on arrival

• A romantic dinner (note: drinks weren’t included, something worth remembering!)

They definitely went above and beyond with the treats and made us feel really special.

Exploring Bali

Thanks to private transfers and a pre-arranged itinerary, everything ran smoothly. We were delighted with how easy it all was, especially having the support of Nikki just a message away, even at odd hours (sorry, Nikki!).

We hired a private driver for about £20 for half a day and visited a coffee plantation, rice terrace and a waterfall - all in one go. It was incredible. We also used the hotel shuttles and taxis into town, which were super convenient and cheap.

One trip we didn’t do was the Mount Batur sunrise hike. You have to be up around 2am for a 6am summit. We weren’t quite feeling that level of adventure on this trip, but it’s on the list for next time.

The people, the food, the magic

What stood out more than anything was the Balinese people. In every hotel, they remembered our names, welcomed us back like old friends, and never made us feel like tourists. No pressure to buy anything, just genuine, heartfelt hospitality.

And the food - wow!

Don’t be afraid to eat out. It took us a few days to pluck up the courage, but once we did, we were hooked. It’s fresh, different and ridiculously cheap. One of the best things we did.

Nikki made the whole process simple and stress-free. She handled everything, from our seats on the plane to our honeymoon perks, and always had our backs. We loved the little touches in our travel pack and just felt looked after from the start.

It’s honestly so much easier than Googling everything or going to a high street agent - Nikki’s just a message away.

We’ll 100% be booking with NC Travel again, and we’ll 100% be going back to Bali. We barely scratched the surface and fell completely in love.

Top tips from us

• Pack light - it’s hot, humid and casual

• Don’t be scared to eat local - the flavours are amazing

• Try snorkelling, even if you’re a beginner

• Chat with the locals - they’ll enrich your trip

• Take seasick tablets before your water transfer

• Trust Nikki - she knows her stuff and genuinely cares

Ready for your own Bali adventure? We’d say, do it. It’s magical. And if you want it all to run smoothly? Go with Nikki at NC Travel. We did, and it was the best decision we made (apart from getting married, of course!).