Under $100: Kuta, Bali

If you’re making your way through Southeast Asia, be sure to make a stop in Bali, the island of the gods, popular with backpackers, surfers and tourists alike. Though it lacks in authenticity, Kuta is particularly popular as a nightlife destination, packed with shops, bars and beaches where $100 will take you a long way.

Made’s Warung © Aaron Toth | Flickr

For brunch, stop at the local legend Made’s Warung, one of the first restaurants in Kuta, specializing in Balinese, Indonesian and Western cuisine. Warungs are small, family-owned shops and restaurant that specialize in selling Indonesian food and goods, like a smaller version of your neighborhood corner store. In recent years, the term has been adopted by foreigners and expatriates to describe shops and cafes that cater to tourists, selling Western items alongside traditional Balinese offerings. Made’s started out as one such warung, growing into a Kuta institution among locals and tourists. A meal here will run no more than $10.

Nasi Campur at Made’s Warung © Wel-Chieh Chiu | Flickr

While the island invested heavily in Bali’s upscale accommodations, Kuta is still best known for welcoming vacationing Indonesians, backpackers and tourists on a budget. Getting around can be tricky in Bali’s intense traffic, especially when it rains. If you’re traveling with a group, bemos are cheap mini van taxis that will take you anywhere on the island. Lone backpackers can hire an ojek (motorbike taxi) or if you need some more autonomy, rent a motorbike with a full tank of gas for $5–7.

Brazilian Pro Surfer Gabriel Medina © Trubavin | Dreamstime

Don’t wait until night to experience Kuta, as there are plenty of things to do while the sun’s out if you want to spend the day in the neighborhood. Kuta has five kilometers of beautiful sandy beaches. In the morning you can see people throwing religious offerings into the water. This is also one of the best surfing destinations in the world, and there are plenty of instructors available for beginners. Bali Learn to Surf is one of the best surf schools in the area, offering 2.5-hour lessons for $45. If you’re willing to spend more time and money, there are three and five-day “surfaris” priced at $120 and $200. There’s no end to surfer dudes who will be happy to offer private lessons at a cheaper price. If surfing’s not your thing, there are plenty of spas available at prices you won’t find anywhere else. Establishments like Carla Spa offer massages for less than $5.

Fire Breathers celebrating Nyepi-Balinese Day of Silence and the New Year © Dimaberkut | Dreamstime

You can save some cash for booze by eating lunch and dinner at one of the hundreds of warungs dotting the streets of Kuta. These budget stalls offer great tasting street food that the best restaurants of Indonesia can’t duplicate. Once the sun sets, the town’s nightlife scene is bursting at the seams. Sky Garden is a popular, multistory club with fire-dancing and international DJ bookings. If you’re looking for live music or just some standard American fare, the Hard Rock Café has bands every night of the week in addition to burgers and fries. For something a little different, get a dinner and show package for $10 at Kuta Theater, a blending of drama, illusion and culture into a thrilling hour of fun.