Eat * Play * Love * Bali

The retreat runs from Sunday, October 25 to Sunday, November 1, 2026. We stay together in a private villa, the Santa Monica & Kala Villa, northeast of central Ubud.

Villa address: Santa Monica & Kala Villa, Pejeng Kawan, Tampaksiring, Ubud, Gianyar Regency, Bali 80552, Indonesia. Open in Google Maps. Save it on your phone, and show it to your driver if you ever take a taxi on your own.

• Check-in is at 3:00 PM on October 25. Luggage can be dropped from 11:00 AM.
• Checkout is at 11:00 AM on November 1.
• Central Ubud (the Palace and Art Market area) is about 3 miles from the villa, roughly a 15 to 20 minute drive.

No. The program includes meditation, sound healing, reiki, breathwork and software training, and it is not a yoga retreat. There are choose-one time slots, and you are always welcome to rest instead. Nobody is expected to do everything. Every minute is not planned, so there is plenty of free time to rest, shop or explore.

We are finalizing the schedule now. Scott is away on a retreat this week, and once he is back we will lock it in. Then you will be able to see everything on the agenda, pick your options, and choose your massage times.

The full schedule will be a pinned post in our WhatsApp group, and each evening we will post the next day's plan. We will send you the WhatsApp group link within about a week.

• Airport to villa: about 24 miles, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes with no traffic. Allow 1.25 to 1.75 hours.
• Sanur to villa: about 16 miles, roughly 50 minutes with no traffic. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours.
• Seminyak to villa: about 16 miles, roughly 1 hour with no traffic. Allow 1.5 to 2.5 hours in heavy traffic.

Bali traffic is slow and unpredictable, so treat these as estimates.

US citizens need a visa to enter Indonesia, but it is simple. The tourist Visa on Arrival costs IDR 500,000 (about $28) and allows a 30 day stay, which covers the whole retreat. You can pay at the airport, or apply for the e-VOA online before you fly and use the automated gates.

• Online application: evisa.imigrasi.go.id (the official Indonesian immigration portal).
• Apply a few days before you fly, and do not leave it to the last minute.
• Use only the official government websites. There are look-alike sites that charge extra fees, and some are scams.

• Valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date.
• At least 2 completely blank visa pages.
• A confirmed return or onward ticket.

If your passport is close to the 6 month mark, renew it now.

Every international visitor pays a one-time Bali tourism levy of IDR 150,000 (about $8). You can pay online in advance at the official Love Bali website, lovebali.baliprov.go.id, and show the voucher on arrival, or pay at the airport.

It is a free digital form that replaces the old paper customs and health forms. Complete it within 72 hours before you land, then show the QR code at immigration. It is on the official site, allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id.

Keep these in one easy place on your phone (a screenshot works) and in your carry-on:

• Your passport.
• Your visa confirmation (the PDF from the e-VOA, or your receipt if you buy at the airport).
• The QR code from your All Indonesia Arrival Card.
• Your Love Bali tourism levy voucher, if you paid ahead.
• Your return or onward ticket.
• The villa address: Santa Monica & Kala Villa, Pejeng Kawan, Tampaksiring, Ubud, Gianyar Regency, Bali 80552.

Apply for the e-VOA online before you fly. If you buy the visa at the airport you stand in one line to pay and a second line for immigration, and one traveler reported waiting over an hour. With the e-VOA you can skip the payment line.

Beware of look-alike sites. Real Indonesian government sites end in .go.id. The All Indonesia Arrival Card is free, so if a site asks you to pay for it, you are on the wrong one. Do not use links from social media or from agents.

We strongly recommend it. Your US health plan almost certainly does not cover you overseas, and Medicare does not cover care outside the US at all. Hospitals in Bali generally expect payment upfront, and a serious emergency could mean a medical flight to Singapore, which can cost six figures.

• Check the emergency medical evacuation limit. If you compare only one number, make it this one. Plans commonly run between $400,000 and $1,000,000.
• Two types of plan. A travel medical plan covers medical care and evacuation overseas and averages under $100. A comprehensive plan also covers trip cancellation and averages closer to $450.
• Where to buy. InsureMyTrip compares plans from many companies, and has licensed agents on the phone six days a week who can answer details.
• Age 70 or older: a few companies will not sell to you directly and will point you to a partner product. Just ask when you call.
• Check your credit card too. Some cards include travel and medical coverage when you book your flight with them, and some do not. Call the number on the back of your card.

Yes, the villa has wifi. You will want mobile data on your phone for the times we are out shopping, visiting temples or exploring Ubud.

Check this first. You may not need an eSIM at all. Some US plans include international data. For example, certain T-Mobile plans (such as Experience Beyond, Experience More, Go5G Next and Go5G Plus) include roaming data in 215+ destinations, and one guest who checked found she was already covered.

Call your carrier or look at your account, and ask these questions:

• Is Indonesia on my plan's included list? (T-Mobile has a roaming coverage lookup tool on its website.)
• How much data do I get at full speed, and how slow is it after that? Some plans drop to about 256 kbps, which is fine for text messages but too slow for maps or photos.
• Are calls included, or charged per minute? You can use WhatsApp for free calls over wifi or data.
• If my plan does not include it, what does a daily or trip pass cost? Verizon and AT&T charge by the day, which adds up over a long trip. One guest found that temporarily upgrading to Verizon's Ultimate Unlimited plan for the trip dates, then switching back, cost less than the daily pass. Ask your carrier if that is an option.

If your plan covers Indonesia with enough full-speed data, you are all set. If not, a travel eSIM is usually the cheaper backup.

We recommend a travel eSIM from Roamless. An eSIM is a digital SIM you install on your phone before you leave, with no card to swap and no store to find. Roamless connects to Indonesia's Telkomsel and Indosat networks (both with 5G), allows hotspot with no throttling, and its plans last 30 days from activation, which easily covers the whole trip.

Because we have villa wifi, you do not need a big plan. Roamless's Indonesia data plans look like this (check Roamless for current pricing):

Watch how it works: this short video explains how Roamless plans work and how to install one: Roamless review on YouTube.

The Roamless app also offers a pay-as-you-go option, but for this trip a fixed data plan is the better value. Plans are data only (see the next question).

• Check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked. Ask your carrier if you are unsure. Phones bought on a payment plan are sometimes locked.
• These plans are data only. There is no local phone number, so regular calls and texts will not work on it. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work fine over data.
• Install it at home while you are on good wifi, before you fly. It usually starts counting when it first connects in Indonesia, but check the validity rules on the plan you pick.
• Pick days that cover your whole trip, counting your arrival and departure days.
• Keep your home SIM for text codes from your bank, and turn off data roaming on it so you are not charged by your home carrier.

• Download offline maps (Google Maps) and your translation language before you go out.
• Turn off mobile data for video apps like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and let photos back up on villa wifi instead.
• Save your hotspot use for when you really need it.

Please do not. The villa does not allow outside vendors (spa, yoga, chefs, decorations, photography) and charges a fine of IDR 2,000,000 (about $112). Everything we bring in is arranged through the villa host, so check with Julie or Scott first.

The massages at the villa are covered by Julie and Scott. They are booked through the villa's own team, which asks for a few hours' notice (4 hours for massage). Once the schedule is final, you will be able to choose your massage times, and they run at the same fixed times each day.

Please do not bring in outside therapists. The villa fines IDR 2,000,000 (about $112) if anyone comes in who is not one of its own people.

If you want treatments beyond what is scheduled, a spa outside the villa is a good option. Extra treatments are at your own cost. Here are some spas in the Petulu, Tegallalang and Ubud area, north and northeast of central Ubud:

• Ubud Wellness Spa in Petulu.
• Ubud Balinese Massage by Saskira Villa in Petulu, a small family-run spa.
• Hutan Spa in Tegallalang (Jl. Sri Wedari).
• Spring Spa Ubud in Tegallalang, set in the rice fields.
• Karsa Spa near the Campuhan Ridge walk, in central Ubud.

If you go out to a spa yourself, that is fine. The villa fine only applies to bringing outside people into the villa. We have not confirmed how far any of these are from the villa, or that any are within walking distance. Ask the villa team or a driver for a ride, and check prices and opening hours when you book.

The villa is a short drive, not a walk, from the shops and restaurants. Distances below come from the villa's own listing and are measured in a straight line, so driving distances are a bit longer:

• Coco Supermarket (groceries and snacks): about 2 miles.
• Neka Art Museum shop: about 2 miles.
• Ubud Palace and the Ubud Art Market area: about 3 miles.
• Ubud Monkey Forest: about 3 miles.
• Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave): about 3 miles.
• Warung Made Onie restaurant: within about a 10 minute drive.
• Peliatan (Sayuri's Healing Food and other cafes): about 2 miles, roughly a 10 minute drive.

The villa is out in the Pejeng countryside, so most restaurants and shopping are a ride away. Your driver or the villa team can take you.

Laundry: yes. The villa staff will take your laundry and bring it back the next day, so you can pack light.

Butler: the villa has a butler, Lenju, who can help with almost anything, from laundry to arranging a scooter or a ride. Message him on WhatsApp (Julie will share his number in the WhatsApp group). Use very simple words and short phrases, which translate best.

Also at the villa: hair dryers and bidets are provided.

Monkeys may visit. They can try to grab phones and glasses, so keep them out of reach.

The villa is providing drivers for everything on the retreat schedule, so you do not need to arrange anything for those outings.

Scooters and motorbikes are not part of the retreat. If you want to rent one on your own, you can, and the butler can help. Before you do, check whether your travel insurance covers scooter accidents (many policies do not, in the same way a car rental needs its own coverage). Riding legally in Indonesia also generally requires an international driving permit with a motorcycle endorsement, and traffic around Ubud is busy.

For outings on the retreat schedule, the villa provides drivers. If you want to go somewhere on your own, these apps are the most useful:

• Grab: books cars and motorbikes with a fixed price up front. It is reliable for airport pickups and accepts international credit cards. It also delivers food, groceries and small packages.
• Gojek: the local favorite, often cheaper for short rides. It also has motorbike rides, which are a scooter taxi, and it delivers food, groceries and small packages.
• MyBluebird: the official app for Bluebird Taxis, with metered or fixed-price traditional taxis.

Tips: download the apps and set up your payment method before you land in Bali. Some areas, such as parts of Ubud and temple zones, do not allow app pickups, so you may need to walk to a main road.

Bali uses Type C and Type F sockets (two round pins) at 230 volts. US plugs do not fit, so everyone needs a plug adapter.

• Phones, laptops, tablets and watches: You only need the plug adapter. Look for "INPUT: 100-240V" in the small print on your charger. Almost all of them say it.
• Hair dryers: The villa provides hair dryers, so please leave yours at home. Many US hair dryers are made for 120V only and can be ruined by Bali's 230V power.
• Curling irons, flat irons and other heated tools: The same warning applies. Only bring one if its label says 100-240V. Otherwise leave it at home.
• Tip: A multi-port adapter with several USB ports lets you charge a phone, watch and earbuds from one wall socket. Bring one for your room.

The villa can provide a chef. Its published rates are about IDR 130,000 per person for breakfast and from IDR 500,000 per person for lunch or dinner. We will share the meal plan for the week separately.

Once the retreat starts on October 25, all of your meals are covered. Before that, on the hotel nights, your room is covered but meals are on your own, so eat anywhere you like.

Check the baggage rules for every flight on your trip, not just the long one. Shorter flights, such as a connection between countries, often have tighter size and weight limits than the long-haul flight. Julie once had a carry-on that was fine on the long flight but too heavy on a shorter Singapore Airlines flight between countries.

• Search the web for your airline name (or your flight numbers) plus "luggage size and weight limits," and read the rules for each leg.
• Weigh your bags at home before you leave.

No towel is needed, since the villa provides them. And no steno machine, please leave it at home. This week is for rest and fun.

Pack a lightweight, foldable duffel or "moving bag" inside your suitcase. On the way home, put your clothes in that bag, and use your big suitcase for everything you bought in Bali. That way you will not run out of room.

• Double-bag it. Put the moving bag inside a second bag, so if a zipper comes undone nothing spills out and everything stays secure.

Yes, bring some. Hotels, supermarkets and many restaurants take cards (often with a 2 to 3% surcharge), but small shops, markets, temple donations and independent drivers are cash only. Cash is in Indonesian rupiah (IDR).

• At the airport: You can get rupiah with your debit card, either at a small exchange kiosk or at an ATM. The rates there are usually not the best, so an airport withdrawal is best kept to a small amount, enough for tips or a sandwich.
• For the rest: Use ATMs attached to a bank branch or inside a guarded minimart like Indomaret. BCA and BNI are generally easier on fees for foreign cards. Avoid standalone machines on dark side streets, where card skimmers turn up.
• How much: About IDR 500,000 to 1,000,000 a day (roughly $28 to $56) is plenty, and mostly in small notes (5,000, 10,000 and 20,000) for tips, parking and small purchases.
• Limits: Many machines cap each withdrawal at about IDR 2.5 to 3 million. If your card is declined, try a smaller round number before assuming something is wrong.
• If a machine offers to charge you in dollars, choose rupiah. Let your bank know you are traveling.

Dollar amounts use about IDR 17,900 to $1. ATM fees change, so check with your own bank.

Tipping is not expected, but any little extra is truly appreciated. Some typical amounts:

• Private driver (full day): IDR 50,000 to 100,000 (about $3 to $6).
• Spa therapist: IDR 30,000 to 50,000 per treatment (about $2 to $3).
• Ride-share driver: Rounding up by IDR 5,000 to 10,000 is a nice touch.
• Restaurants: Many add a 5 to 10% service charge, so check your bill first. If it is already included, extra is optional.

Julie and Scott are planning a spa day and cave tubing. These are ideas on the menu, and the final schedule will come later. Everything is optional.

• Water purification (melukat) at Pura Mengening, a quiet spring temple in Tampaksiring, roughly 6 to 9 miles from the villa (about a 20 to 25 minute drive), a short walk from the famous Tirta Empul temple. Best in the morning.
• Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu, a peaceful water temple with koi ponds, about 8 miles from the villa (roughly a 25 minute drive).
• Petulu white herons at sunset. Thousands of herons fly home to the trees around 5:30 PM. Ask your driver for the drive time from the villa.
• Campuhan Ridge walk in the early morning, finishing with breakfast at Karsa.
• Drum circle at Ubud Drum in Peliatan.
• Legong dance at Ubud Palace in the evening. Tickets are about IDR 100,000 (about $6).
• Pilates, yoga and fitness classes: Ubud has many of them. Ask the butler to help with a ride, and let Julie know if you want to go together.
• Shopping: Ubud Art Market (go before 9 AM), the Tegallalang craft road, Mas (woodcarving) and Celuk (silver) villages, and Threads of Life for hand-woven textiles.

The full moon (Purnama) is Monday, October 26. On full moon days temples fill with local families dressed in white and carrying offerings. It is the most memorable temple morning of the week, so we plan to make it a temple day.

The Ubud Art Market (Pasar Seni Ubud) is in the middle of Ubud, across the road from the Ubud Palace. It is about 3 miles from the villa, roughly a 15 to 20 minute drive. Entry is free, and one to two hours is enough to browse.

• What you will find: handwoven rattan bags, batik fabrics, silver jewelry, wood carvings, paintings, beaded accessories, masks and aromatherapy products.
• Bargaining is expected. Opening prices are often inflated, and you can negotiate down by half or more. Stay friendly and smile.
• Bring cash. Many stalls accept cards now, but cash makes bargaining easier.
• Timing: late afternoon gets crowded with tour groups. Mornings are quieter, though some stalls open later than others (one guide lists 9 AM to 5 PM).
• Close by: the Ubud Palace and the Saraswati Temple are steps away.

Temples ask for modest dress: shoulders and knees covered, and a sarong at the waist. Sarongs are included in the entry fee at some temples and rented at others (the Pura Mengening bathing sarong and locker are about IDR 20,000, or about $1). A light scarf and a comfortable pair of shoes you can slip off are handy.

Bali is hot and humid year-round, and late October to early November is the start of the rainy season. Expect warm days and the occasional shower.

• Light, breathable clothing and a light rain jacket.
• Comfortable walking shoes or sandals.
• Water shoes with a good grip, if you plan to go on the tubing adventure.
• Something white, cream or light colored for a group photo. We would love to take a picture of everyone looking like angels in disguise.
• Sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent.
• A small bag for day trips. Keep your phone and valuables zipped.