To describe Bali is to dive into the world of clichés. Picture perfect, friendly smiling faces, exotic cultural dancers, lush and tropical, a surfer's paradise. It's all true of course and is reflected in the amount of visitors each year.

Bali has long been the first destination for Australian's on their inaugural overseas journey. Whilst offering a change of location and culture, it still provides that secure feeling of seeing familiar faces, quite often from your own suburb. How small the world appears when you visit a popular tourist destination.

But don't let that deter you, Bali is unique and worth a visit if only for its friendly people and unique Hindu culture nestled amongst one of the world's largest Muslim populations.

Although a paradise, Bali has not escaped the horror of recent world events.Bombings occurred in 2002 and 2005. Check with your local embassies before you go. The Australian government has a travel advisory site called Smart Traveller. It's worth remembering that tourism is a major source of income for the Balinese.

Below are some links with useful information. My advice is to stick to well-known resorts when booking online. As with booking anything online, what the web site describes, can be very different to reality.

The first link has an extensive online data base of hotels in Bali and Indonesia in general, although you will need to know roughly where you want to go. Use the Bali map link below.

The popular part of Bali is in the south near the tourist centre of Kuta - visit - Bali and Indonesia online

Bali Hotels and Villas plus good advice and tips

Bali resorts bargain finder

Bali map and other information. To see where Bali lies within the chain of southern Indonesian islands click here.

Getting there

Bali International Airport and airlines flying to Bali

What's the best time of year to go?

The dry season, with its cooler weather occurs from April-October. Other times of year can be humid and rainy, after all it is the tropics.

Peak holiday periods - July - early September and again throughout the Christmas holiday period.

Other useful information