mytripology

We loved our trip to Indonesia! We especially appreciated having a local agent to interact with on WhatsApp while we were in country. Ciella's check-ins and help were invaluable, especially when an earthquake occurred and our plans had to be adjusted. She and the guides/drivers took care of us, made sure we were safe, and rescheduled our plans to make it possible for us to do as many activities as we could after the event. We appreciated our guides--Arif, Edi, and Ibnu--and their knowledge. They were patient and understanding of our family's needs, and they made sure we ate well, even with some who are more picky, and saw all we wanted to see. It was so nice to be able to go where we wanted (with a family of six!) and not worry about logistics, fees, and parking! In addition, our hotel accommodations were amazing! We were very impressed.

One of our favorite parts of the trip was the day of island hopping on Komodo Island and Padar Island. All of the stops were incredible, and even though we couldn't do any scuba diving, we enjoyed the sights and snorkeling. Arif was very patient with us in our snorkeling and helped the kids enjoy it. Another favorite part was the stop at the Jatiluwih rice terraces. We would have liked to spend more time there, though the 2-3 hours at sunset we had was magical. We appreciate that Edi and Parlan were willing to stay late with us and let us enjoy it even after dark. The monkey forest was better than anticipated, as was our visit to Borobudur.

If we were to do this trip again, we would choose not to go to Nusa Penida (this is something we arranged on our own on a free day), or we would snorkel and see the island from the sea instead of from land. We would also tour more around Nusa Dua, as Jessica suggested. If we had more time (perhaps 14 days instead of 12), we would include the sunrise volcano visit and Java cave rappelling that Jessica recommended, or add another day in Labuan Bajo to do more snorkeling/diving/exploring.

Hotel Reviews

Sudamala Resort, Komodo, Labuan Bajo

Labuan Bajo

Beautiful resort with a great pool, beach, and restaurant. Rooms were separate villas. The private outdoor showers and toilets were a surprise, but not a bad one. The spa was great, as was the food on site. We enjoyed the resort's Indonesian buffet night. We especially loved the beautifully landscaped garden grounds.

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Sea Sand & Sun Villa

We loved this fantastic villa! It was so beautiful and comfortable--perfect for a family of six. The pool and patio were gorgeous, and the rooms very comfortable. Our agent arranged for a chef to come each morning and provide breakfast, which was so nice! The only thing to know ahead of time is that the villa isn't near any businesses or restaurants. So you'll need to book rides or order delivery from Gojek for meals. If a clothes washing machine were also available on the property, that would be ideal. But the overall experience was top notch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It would be helpful if there were restaurants closer to the villa, but the privacy tradeoff is worth it.

Staff

Pande communicated well with us and made sure we had all we needed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - MGallery Collection

Yogyakarta

Great location near Malioboro Street, with wonderful character and decor. The pool was beautiful, and the breakfast buffet was amazing. Rooms were comfortable and worked well for our family.

Authenticity & Character

The artistic details throughout are one-of-a-kind.

Location

Walking distance to Malioboro Street, right near the Tugu Jogja monument.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Island Hopping in Komodo Island

Indonesia

The Padar Island views were incredible and very worth the climb. Komodo Island was incredible. We saw half a dozen komodo dragons up close. We enjoyed the beauty of Pink Beach and all the snorkeling stops. Some of us were lucky enough to see sharks, mantas, and turtles, though the reefs and fish were incredible on their own. Even though an earthquake meant we had to reschedule our initial plans (and skip scuba diving), this was the best day of our trip to Indonesia and satisfied all ages in our family of six (teens, young adults, adults).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Visit Borobudur Temple

Indonesia

The way this site is organized to manage the flow of many visitors was impressive. We thoroughly enjoyed the temple, learned a lot from our guide, and felt we were able to get great photos despite the crowds--especially toward the end of our allotted hour. It's an impressive site!

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Visit Tanah Lot

Indonesia

A beautiful site on the sea! Very picturesque.

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Campuhan Ridge Walk

Indonesia

Not as picturesque as expected, but still nice. It's a short walk, and it was neat to see the temple at the start. You can get glimpses of the ravines on each side, but jungle growth makes vista photos difficult. Overall, this isn't a must see, but it's nice if you have a little time or are staying nearby.

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Visit Banyumala Twin Waterfall

Indonesia

Beautiful waterfalls and a wonderful area. The hike down and back is steep, but doable. Most people only get in the water long enough to take a photo, and the site is wonderful even if you don't get wet. An excellent activity.

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Klipoh Village Cycling Tour

Indonesia

For personal reasons, we didn't have time to do as much as we would have liked. We only stopped at one place: pottery. We enjoyed it and the bike riding. My husband and I actually enjoyed it most, and we were surprised that our teens and young adults weren't as engaged with the hands-on activity. We might have been better off choosing something more adventurous with them.

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Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Indonesia

Better than anticipated. A very fun activity, and great with kids.

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Visit Mirror Stone Cave

Indonesia

Not as large as expected, though not bad. If you've visited cave systems in the United States or parts of Europe, you've probably seen much more impressive caves. Don't go out of your way to visit.

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Visit Ubud Palace

Indonesia

Public areas are smaller than expected, though elaborate and amazing. It's certainly worth a visit, but this site won't take a long time.

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Visit Goa Gajah

Indonesia

Very cool temple complex! There's more than just the elephant cave entrance. The ravine cascade was very nice. This won't be a long visit, but it's a nice one.

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Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

Indonesia

The grounds and gardens are much larger and more elaborate than expected. It makes for a longer, beautiful experience. There are a few smaller attractions within the grounds as well. The animals were a big hit with our young teens. It's best to visit on a day that's not cloudy, so you can see the mountains behind the lake.

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Visit Prambanan Temple

Indonesia

Cool temple! This is large and ancient and a must see. Our guide gave us plenty of great information, which was helpful because there isn't any explanatory info otherwise.

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Watch Ramayana Dance Show

Yogyakarta

The show is interesting, but very long. There are two 90-minute parts, with an intermission. It was too much for our teens and young adults, so we stayed only for the first half. Unless you pay for cushioned seating, you'll be sitting on the side on rough stone benches, which gets uncomfortable fast. That said, the artistry was nice, and there were some fun acrobatics and fireworks. The second half probably had more of this, but we did get a good amount in just the first half. We didn't regret leaving early.

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Visit Amelia Sea View

Indonesia

Great views!

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Visit Ubud Art Market

Indonesia

A nice souvenir shopping experience. I expected more unique offerings, but you can find mostly the same items store to store (and in other locations in Bali).

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Visit Jatiluwih Rice Terrace

Indonesia

This is one of the best things you can do in Bali. It's much larger than you might expect. Plan to spend plenty of time. We were there for three hours at sunset and wished we had more time to explore farther. It's simply breathtaking.

Quality of Experience

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Our Bali trip was absolutely incredible, and so much of that was due to the thoughtful planning and exceptional service of our travel agent, Athaya. She created an itinerary that gave us a wonderful mix of adventure, excitement, relaxation, culture, and luxury, while also allowing us to experience the dramatically different regions and topography of Bali. Every part of the trip felt intentional, and we came away feeling like we had truly experienced the island rather than simply visited it.

One of the absolute highlights was the team Athaya arranged for us. Our driver, Sang, was amazing. Anyone who has experienced Bali traffic knows that getting around the island is an adventure in itself, but Sang maneuvered through it like an expert! We always felt completely safe and comfortable with him, and his skill behind the wheel was truly impressive.

And then there was our wonderful guide, Mr. Oki. I cannot say enough good things about him. He was incredibly kind, patient, attentive, and genuinely cared about making sure we had the best possible experience. He taught us about Balinese customs, traditions, and culture in a way that made everything we were seeing so much more meaningful. He stood in lines to get our admission tickets, handled all the little details so we didn’t have to think about them, and was always looking for ways to make our day easier. He even made sure to take pictures of us throughout our adventures, which means we now have wonderful photographs of our amazing trip.

What impressed me most about the entire trip was the balance. We had exciting adventures, peaceful moments, beautiful accommodations, cultural experiences, and opportunities to see completely different sides of Bali. Each region felt like a new experience, and the itinerary flowed beautifully without ever feeling repetitive.

But perhaps the best example of Athaya’s level of service came when something happened that wasn’t even part of the trip she had planned. Our onward travel arrangements unexpectedly fell through, leaving us in Bali with nowhere to stay and no transportation arranged. Athaya immediately came to our rescue. Within minutes, she had found us a driver and secured a hotel so that we weren’t stranded. There was no hesitation—she simply stepped in and took care of us when we needed help. That kind of responsiveness and genuine concern for her clients is something you don’t forget.

This was the kind of trip that makes you realize how much difference an exceptional travel planner can make. Athaya didn’t simply arrange hotels, transportation, and activities—she created an experience, surrounded us with wonderful people, and made us feel cared for from beginning to end. And when the unexpected happened, she was there for us then, too.

We left Bali with incredible memories, a much deeper appreciation for the island and its culture, and enormous gratitude for Athaya, Sang, and Mr. Oki. They each played a special part in making this an unforgettable experience.

I would recommend Athaya without hesitation to anyone planning a trip to Bali. She is the person you want planning your vacation—and, perhaps even more importantly, the person you want in your corner when your plans don’t go according to plan.

Activity Reviews

Bathe the Elephants

Ubud, Bali

Quality of Experience

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Visit Penglipuran Village

Indonesia

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Gitgit Waterfall Canyoning Adventure

Indonesia

Canyoning was hands-down one of the most exciting and memorable experiences of our entire trip to Bali! The guides were absolutely fantastic. They were knowledgeable, professional, and extremely safety-conscious, which made us feel completely comfortable even when we were doing something that pushed us outside our comfort zones. They explained everything clearly, told us exactly what to expect, and made sure we knew what to do before every jump, rappel, and challenging section of the canyon. We always felt like we were in very capable hands, which allowed us to relax and actually enjoy the adventure. And then there was one particular guide who was absolutely hilarious. He honestly made the experience! He kept us laughing throughout the entire excursion and somehow managed to make even the more intimidating moments fun. His personality, humor, and enthusiasm turned what was already an incredible adventure into one of those experiences we’ll be talking about for years. The scenery was spectacular, the adventure was exhilarating, and the guides were exceptional. It was the perfect combination of adrenaline, natural beauty, and just plain fun. If you’re considering canyoning in Bali, DO IT! It was one of our favorite experiences of the entire trip, and we would recommend it without hesitation.

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Cliffs of Majesty : Visit Uluwatu Temple & Watch Kecak Dance

Indonesia

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Balinese Massage

Indonesia

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Bali Swing at Tegallalang Rice Terrace

Indonesia

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Visit Ubud Art Market

Indonesia

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Our trip was amazing(
Our Yogya Karta guide, Bien was amazing. His level of knowledge of the history of Indonesia from early days to today was great. He was thoughtful, patient and his years of experiences came to life in the way he understood and explained everything. I am sure you use him in your tours as his English language is also very good....

In Bromo, Teguh was an amazing guide and loves Indonesia! My son, Sunny and I enjoyed the time with him and the visit to Bromo and surroundings.

Today our guide Yanto at blue flame was also amazing. He stayed with us the whole hike up and down and was a delight to be with. Would recommend him as a permanent guide for anyone speaks English or needing English speaking guides - would recommend same with Teguh as well - both of them were great for us.

And our drivers ebot and Pedro were great as well.

Hotel Reviews

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - MGallery Collection

YOGYAKARTA

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Manis ae Hotel, Cabin, & Resto Bromo

Bromo

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Teras Hotel Ijen Banyuwangi

Banyuwangi

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Hotel Majapahit Surabaya

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Activity Reviews

Visit Taman Sari Water Palace

Yogyakarta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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The Refined Java Experience : Visit Borobudur & Visit Klipoh Village by Andong

Yogyakarta

Witness the Blue Flame of Ijen Crater

Indonesia

Go on a Sunrise Hike to Mount Bromo

Indonesia

Kota Gede Walking Tour

Yogyakarta

A Royal Evening at Prambanan : Visit Prambanan & Watch Ramayana

Yogyakarta

Our guide Adi was incredibly knowledgeable and so excited each time we asked him a question. You could feel his love for Bali and the people. Out driver Ardi was also amazing!
We had the luck of being in Bali on a major holiday so got to see the people and temples dressed up!
Sofitel Nusa Dua cannot be beat!
K Club was in a beautiful setting- high in the mountains.
We had a packed itinerary so be sure when planning you’re ok with long drives and bad traffic or just stay in one area. It’s all beautiful!