FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Dance, Dine and Unwind in Bali After Hours

by Johnny Motley

Aug 10, 2023

PHOTO: © PETER GALLEGHAN | DREAMSTIME.COM

August 2023

Bali, the Indonesian tropical paradise, has long been known as “The Isle of the Gods” — a fitting epithet, as the island is blessed with regal temples, majestic mountains and spectacular beaches. Dazzling scenery aside, one of the gods in question surely must be Varuni, the Hindu deity of wine and revelry. While Bali evokes yoga retreats, luxury spas and cozy beachside bungalows, the island is equally celebrated for pulsing clubs, glamorous beach parties and roaring nightlife.

Receiving untold thousands of tourists annually, Bali’s Denpasar International Airport — the most advanced in Indonesia — receives direct flights from most major cities in Southeast Asia and Australia. At nearly 2,300 square miles, Bali is a large island, home to several sizeable towns, each boasting a distinct personality and after-hours diversions.

In Kuta, the closest town to Denpasar Airport, hard-hitting clubs keep the party rocking each night until sunrise … or even later. The crowd in Kuta tends to skew younger, mostly 20-somethings brimming with spring- break energy. For packed dance floors, strobe lights and seismic speakers, head to Sky Garden, a four-story super club. Sky Garden frequently attracts big-name international DJs, and each floor boasts a distinct aesthetic and sound. Paddy’s Pub, another multistory nightclub, churns out house music and pours of Bintang beer until the wee hours. If you need a break from dancing, Paddy’s has quieter sections for lounging with a hookah or beverage.

North of Kuta lies the gorgeous beach town of Seminyak, the Malibu of Bali. Seminyak has its share of thumping nightclubs, but the town is better known for glitzy beach parties. Seminyak attracts a more refined clientele than Kuta does, and prices are noticeably higher. Go to Potato Head Beach Club, a glittering beachside resort, to sip cocktails by the pool and rub shoulders with the rich, famous and beautiful. Entry into some pool parties requires a reservation and cover charge. After dark, La Favela, a famous Seminyak nightclub, keeps the dance floors hot and the libations flowing. The top floor of La Favela treats patrons to exquisite views of the ocean and island. Bali’s LGBTQIA+ nightlife scene is small, with Seminyak its current center, but growing.

© LCCHEW | DREAMSTIME.COM

In the center of Bali, about an hour by car from the coast, discover Ubud, a mountain enclave renowned for yogis, Balinese theater and Hindu holy sites. While Ubud’s ethos is more subdued, the town offers no shortage of evening fun. Laughing Buddha Bar, a popular haunt among travelers and locals alike, serves up live music, cold beer and delicious bites. Ubud proves a fantastic place to watch traditional Balinese dance, a venerated tradition with all the beauty and subtlety of French ballet. You can watch Balinese dance most nights at Uluwatu Theater, with tickets about $7 and performances lasting around an hour. Ubud boasts plenty of fabulous dining options, too. The chefs at Restaurant Locavore use traditional Balinese ingredients to craft Michelin-quality plates. Try the seven-course tasting menu for an unforgettable dinner.

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
Airlines
Nov 17, 2024

LATAM Upgrades Boeing 787 Cabins

LATAM Airlines announced a multimillion-dollar investment to modernize its fleet of 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, updating both Premium Business and economy cabins. Modernization began September 2024 and will be completed around mid-2026.

Remarkable Medellín

Visiting Medellín in Colombia: The Country of Beauty is like stepping into a fantastic story — literally, as the city in the Western Colombian Andes region inspired Disney’s Encanto. Here, valleys, the world’s tallest palms, vibrant communities, colorful houses, garden-like balconies and more prove reality is more picturesque than anything on film. And it’s especially more tempting following Medellín’s remarkable transformation, shedding its troubled past and reawakening as a city of innovation, art, cultural richness, modern infrastructure, thriving tourism and resiliency.

November 2024
Nov 16, 2024

Discover The Cotswolds’ Quintessentially English Villages

Famous for rolling green hills, quaint villages and distinctive honey-colored limestone buildings, the Cotswolds (an 800-square-mile region in central southwest England) carries a designation as an Area of Outstanding Beauty. More than 80 percent is still farmland, meadows and woodlands.

Airlines
Nov 16, 2024

Brussels Airlines Expands Fleet, Invests in New Cabins

Brussels Airlines will grow its long-haul fleet with three new Airbus A330 aircraft, bringing its widebody fleet to 13 in the coming years. These additional aircraft comprise the airline’s greater initiative to strengthen its position in Africa following increased demand for air travel across the continent. The airline will mainly use the extra long-haul capacity to reinforce its Sub-Saharan African network, making Brussels Airlines a European hub for flights to and from Africa.

Discover the Pristine Beauty of the Sporades Islands

Nestled in the northwest Aegean Sea, the Sporades Islands are a hidden gem of Greece, offering breathtaking natural beauty and unique experiences for every traveler. Comprised of four main islands — Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos and Skyros — this island cluster is renowned for its lush pine forests, crystal-clear waters and idyllic beaches.

Daily
Nov 15, 2024

SLS Barcelona Opens This December

SLS Hotels & Residences makes its European debut this winter on Spain’s Mediterranean coastline in Barcelona, where the city’s excellent climate keeps winter temperatures pleasant. SLS Barcelona hits the waterside district of Port Fòrum, where a large marina is 15 minutes from city center.

Daily
Nov 13, 2024

Discover the Birthplace of Cacao in Ecuador

Chocolate is made from cacao beans and Ecuador, the birthplace of cacao, has long been a significant player in the world of chocolate. Although historians once believed cacao was first used by Mesoamerican cultures, more recent studies from scientists around the world confirmed the cacao bean was first cultivated by indigenous tribes in what is now Ecuador.

Extraordinary Egypt

ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME JOURNEY INTO THE ANCIENT WORLD OF THE PHARAOHS

November 2024
Nov 13, 2024

Drink It All in During a Stay at Hotel Manapany on Swanky St.-Barth

Vacationers travel to the posh island of St.-Barth for its ritzy shops, tucked-away local beaches and elevated cuisine melding classic French technique with flavorful Caribbean ingredients. Guests staying at Hôtel Manapany, an eco-focused boutique property on picturesque Anse des Cayes beach, can also sip their way through beverages that showcase these two distinct yet remarkably harmonious cultures.