Maldives vs. Bali : Which Destination is Right for Your Honeymoon [ 2023 ]

I’ve been getting a ton of questions comparing The Maldives and Bali lately from couples planning their honeymoons so I figured I’d write this post to help answer some questions about two of my very favorite honeymoon destinations

These two absolute dream honeymoon destinations are both incredible in their own right, but they are VERY different! It totally depends on the type of honeymoon you’re looking for which one is right for you and your fiance, and your travel personalities. So let’s break the differences between Bali and The Maldives down.

BALI:

Bali is a tropical island off the coast of Indonesia full of active volcanic mountains, tropical jungles and a dreamy coast. Bali is known for its rich culture, unbelievable landscape and zen ambiance. 

Go to Bali over the Maldives if: You want adventure and beautiful landscapes, and want a honeymoon that’s a little bit of relaxation but mixed in with exploring a new culture. 

Maybe it’s your first time in southeast Asia and you’re excited to expand your travel horizons, and see a new part of the world. Maybe you are more of a lay-at-the-resort-and-do-nothing beach person but your fiance is more of a hikes, activity, and culture type of person, so you’re looking for the perfect destination that has both. Go to Bali if you’re looking for the type of honeymoon that has a little bit of everything, for every type of couple. 

 

Do not go to Bali over the Maldives if: You are expecting a completely first-class, first-world vacation, or you’re expecting to spend your vacation laying on a beach.

Bali is a third world destination. While there are unbelievably gorgeous beaches, lush jungles, a rich culture, and dreamy waterfalls… There is also poverty, traffic, and pure chaos sometimes! This is not the USA, and it’s not Europe. But that’s exactly what makes a vacation in Bali SO amazing, and different, and beautiful. If you’ve been to Southeast Asia, you know what I’m talking about.

Yes, there are 5-star resorts in Bali that will take care of your every need, but you’ll still be exploring the island on a Bali honeymoon, and if you’re expecting it to all be as easy, simple, and first-class of a honeymoon destination like Santorini, or The Amalfi Coast, you’re going to the wrong place. 

for more information on Bali – check out my instagram highlights @JetsetChristina

THE MALDIVES:

The Maldives is a country that’s 99% water and only 1% land, made up of over 1200 islands (only 200 of which are inhabited), pristine white beaches, endless turquoise blues, and a thriving marine life. Oh and of course it’s 5-star private island resorts

Go to the Maldives over Bali if: Budget is no object. You love the ocean, want pristine, perfect beaches, and the idea of a honeymoon waking up in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives with nothing to do but enjoy your five-star resort all day is your dream. The Maldives is first-class LUXURY. The resorts here are little slices of private-island-heaven, and they are incredible. The beauty of these islands for a beach-lover is like nothing else in the world. 

Do not go to the Maldives over Bali if: You want a more adventurous, action-packed, expand-your-horizons type of honeymoon. You don’t LOVE the ocean. You want the best bang for your buck. Bali can be a much more affordable honeymoon destination than the Maldives, but of course, there are ways to do Bali very luxuriously as well. 

What are the most important things you should keep in mind when deciding between Bali and the Maldives for a honeymoon?

Budget, type of honeymoon you want, and TIME OF YEAR!

The best time to visit Bali:

April-October. You can of course still visit in Bali rainy season, but you risk lots more rain than in dry season. 

The best time to visit the Maldives:

December-April. Once again, you can of course visit in Maldives rainy season, there are plenty of sunny days in “rainy” season, but you always run the risk. 

Can you do Bali and the Maldives in one honeymoon?

I guess technically the answer is yes, but please consider your travel time, relaxation time, and SANITY when planning your honeymoon! I’ve found through my custom honeymoon planning services that WAY too many couples try to see too many things, in too little time. They completely forget that the whole POINT of a honeymoon is to (finally) relax, and they make the mistake of trying to see too many places, in too little time.

Bali and the Maldives may seem close to each other for someone from the US, but they’re actually about a 7-9 hour flight away from each other. I personally would definitely recommend doing two separate trips rather than planning both for the same honeymoon. 

Okay, I think I know which destination is right for my fiance and I for our honeymoon. Now what? How do we plan our trip?

Check out my post on How to Plan the Perfect Honeymoon : A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning the Trip of Your Dreams, and defintely check out my Ultimate Bali Honeymoon Guide and My Ultimate Maldives Honeymoon Guide. If you still have questions, or are overwhelmed when it comes to planning your honeymoon, I can do it for you! I provide custom honeymoon itineraries for Bali or The Maldives, which you can read more about here, & reach out to me at [email protected] and I can send you my rates. 

       

The Ultimate Maldives Honeymoon Guide       ,       The Ultimate Bali Honeymoon Guide

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PS – have more questions on Bali, the Maldives, or any other destination? Join the JETSETTERS secret facebook group to get & give travel recs to our Jetset Christina community and connect with other #JSCJetsetters!

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WRITTEN BY:

Christina is a leading luxury lifestyle and travel blogger with over 2 million readers. Follow her on instagram @jetsetchristina.

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