My favorite thing about Ubud is its natural beauty-- misty mornings surrounded by a lush jungle landscape. The Viceroy Bali is an intimate boutique hotel that captures the essence and serenity of Ubud. Located in the Valley of the Kings, it is no surprise that previous Balinese royalty made this mystical area their home. I stayed in a stunning deluxe terrace pool villa. My villa was very spacious and had a beautiful bale outdoors, which is a Balinese gazebo, perched atop a heated private pool with a view of a million palm trees. Breakfast was fresh-to-order all you can eat with the option to eat at the restaurant or in your terrace...

During my ten day trip to Bali, I was really ambitious and wanted to check out all the hot spots during my stay. We hired a private taxi driver who drove us around to a list of places we wanted to see. The cost of a chauffeur was inexpensive, about $45 a day, to drive us from 8am-5pm, which was a great deal and super convenient! Tanah lot, a temple by the sea, was particularly stunning at sunset, which is a popular time to see it...

My impression of Nusa Dua is that it is an area with a ton of resorts and you mainly go here to hang out at your resort or villa. If you are looking to just relax, then you will find paradise and solitude here in the comforts of your hotel. The nice thing about this side of Bali is that there are some pretty sunrises. The not-so-nice thing is there were a ton of mosquitoes here, so insect repellent is a must...

Ubud is the spiritual and cultural heart of Bali with beautiful temples, lots of restaurants (organic vegan to gastronomic/gourmet), and yoga amidst a background of jungle greenery. Definitely stop by the Tegalalang rice terrace...

Bali is the perfect place for any kind of traveler. Whether you are looking for a relaxing luxurious vacation; a spiritual yoga retreat; a trip to explore the culture or sightsee famous temples; or if you are a beach-goer/surfer, this is the place for you! Each town is different, so I would recommend staying at hotels that are near the activities that interest you the most...