Bali’s Most Affordable Vacation Itineraries Are Becoming Cheaper For Tourists

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Here at The Bali Sun, we have to admit that we love the low season. Even though it’s rainy, the fact that the island feels a little less busy, and everyone is moving at a pace that the weather dictates…not to mention the drop in prices…there is a lot to love about traveling to Bali in the low season. 

Bali’s most affordable and budget-friendly itineraries have just become even more affordable, for several reasons. First, the low season is officially underway. We are now well away from the Christmas and New Year holidays, where prices for rooms and some day trips increase massively.

This, in addition to a weakening of the Indonesian Rupiah, means that tourists traveling to Bali in the coming weeks are going to be blessed with fantastic value for money, on top of the world-class hospitality and travel experience that the island is so famed for. 

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The Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA), Putu Winastra, spoke to reporters about recent arrivals to the island and what the travel data is telling key stakeholders. He confirmed that the number of arrivals has officially dropped and will continue to decline steadily until the Chinese New Year. During the Lunar New Year festival, there is always a huge influx of tourists from China visiting Bali. 

Winastra noted, “January and February always see a decline. That’s the pattern every year. February usually sees an increase, especially in the Chinese market, due to the Chinese New Year.” He explained that tourism from China has not fully bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, despite Chinese tourists being the second most frequent arrivals to the province. 

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He explained, “The number has indeed increased since the pandemic, but it hasn’t yet reached the pre-COVID level. The increase hasn’t been significant.”

Winastra confirmed that, based on bookings and a wealth of other travel data, Bali will start to feel busy again in March and April, which is when tourists from both Europe and Australia start to travel more frequently. 

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Winastra spoke to travelers’ changing preferences and booking habits.

He explained, “Currently, tourists, especially those traveling internationally, have been using online platforms directly. We’re trying to leverage these platforms to distribute hotel products. The advantage is that we can get real-time room availability and pricing.”

With it now easier than ever for tourists to book their vacations and travel adventures independent of a travel agent, it’s easy to see why tourists are opting to book directly and independently of travel agencies. This is also the best time of the year to secure super last-minute deals, especially on accommodation.

Typically, the New Year is the time when cultural attractions introduce annual price increases. Though even for the most budget-conscious of travelers, these tariff adjustments don’t make too much of a difference. Where there are savings to be made, however, is on accommodation.

Back in the day, during the travel blog boom, there were article after article about how backpackers could secure a low key luxury stay for as little as $10 in Bali. Over the last few years, it has seemed like it’s no longer possible, as hostels become more bougie and hotels add extra amenities that result in increased room rates. 

It is still possible, however. Travellers only have to hop onto one of the hotel booking sites and have a little scroll around the map to find a deal that suits their budget. One top tip we will share is to look outside of the popular resort areas for the best accommodation deals.

Not only are these areas super quiet at this time of year, but they are also home to the most welcoming and most affordable accommodation options. Take Pemuteran, for example, winner of the UN World Tourism Organisation Best Tourism Village in the World award, where a stay at locally owned guesthouse Capital O Kubu Mesari is just $10. Jungle House Surf & Stay is also offering rooms for $10, which is unrivalled value for a stay in such a gorgeous part of Bali.