Why Australians Should Spend Their Last 3 Days in Bali at AYANA Bali

Karlie is an Australian travel writer and Indonesia destination expert based in Bali.

If you ask us when to stay at AYANA Bali during your Bali holiday, our answer is almost always the same: leave it until the end.

Most Australians don't come to Bali to sit still. We arrive ready to revisit favourite restaurants, discover new venues, catch up with friends, squeeze in beach clubs, do some shopping and generally get amongst it. The first part of a Bali holiday is often busy, and rightly so.

But after a week of running around Bali, many Australians are more tired than they realise.

That is exactly why we love finishing a Bali holiday at AYANA Bali.

Instead of spending your final few days organising taxis, sitting in traffic and rushing between venues, you can finally slow down. Long breakfasts replace early starts. Pool time replaces planning. Sunset cocktails replace traffic jams. It is a completely different pace, and by the time you fly home, you genuinely feel like you've had a holiday.

Could we spend a week at AYANA Bali? Absolutely.

But for many Australians, three nights is realistic and surprisingly perfect. It gives you enough time to experience many of the highlights, settle into the slower pace and leave already planning your next stay.

One more bit of timing advice… if you're travelling in the June or July school holidays, those final three nights book out fast, because the Australian break overlaps with Indonesia's own end-of-year school holidays. If AYANA is your planned wind-down, lock your room in early and book the things you don't want to miss during your stay, such as Rock Bar, a spa treatment, the Thalassotherapy Pool, or a KISIK dinner, before you fly, not once you've arrived.

Before we get into the itinerary, there is one mistake we see Australians make time and time again.

They book too many plans outside the resort.

On paper, it sounds sensible. A dinner reservation here, a beach club booking there, maybe one last day trip before flying home. The problem is that most people underestimate just how much there is to do at AYANA Bali.

We often describe AYANA Bali as less of a resort and more of a village.

Between the 14 pools, Kubu Beach, more than 30 restaurants, cafes and bars, incredible sunset spots, kids clubs, spa experiences and activities, there is enough here to keep most people happily entertained for days.

It is why we always recommend keeping your final few days as flexible as possible. There is a very good chance you'll check in, look around and immediately wish you'd left more room in your schedule to simply enjoy being there.

By the time most Australians arrive at AYANA Bali, they have already had a pretty busy Bali holiday. They've done the beach clubs, revisited favourite restaurants, explored new areas, caught up with friends and probably spent more time sitting in traffic than they planned.

That is why Day 1 is all about slowing down.

If this is your first stay at AYANA Bali, try to arrive as close to check-in time as possible. Once you've dropped your bags, download the AYANA app and spend some time getting familiar with the property. One of our favourite tips is simply jumping on the tram and doing a full loop of the resort. It sounds simple, but it is the quickest way to appreciate just how big AYANA Bali really is and helps you work out which pools, restaurants and areas you want to revisit over the next few days.

If you've stayed before, chances are you'll already know exactly where you're heading. Usually, that's your favourite pool.

As sunset approaches, it is time for the highlights of any AYANA Bali stay.

For first-time visitors, Rock Bar is a must. There is a reason it has become one of Bali's most iconic sunset venues. The waves crash against the rocks below, cocktails are flowing, the music is playing and the atmosphere feels unmistakably Bali.

If you are after something a little quieter, we love the bar at KISIK. You still get the incredible ocean views and spectacular sunset, but with a calmer and more refined atmosphere.

Another favourite is the Luna Rooftop Bar at AYANA Segara Bali. Whether you're taking a dip in the pool or simply enjoying a drink overlooking the ocean, the views are incredible and it often feels a little more relaxed than Rock Bar.

For dinner, we like to keep the ocean theme going. Either stay at Rock Bar or head to KISIK for fresh seafood by the water. Both feel distinctly AYANA and immediately set the tone for the rest of your stay.

If Day 1 is about slowing down, Day 2 is about enjoying everything that makes AYANA Bali so special.

Start with a leisurely breakfast and take your time. The things Australians love about AYANA Bali is the variety of breakfast venues available across the resort. Grab a coffee, go back for another pastry and enjoy the fact that there is nowhere else you need to be.

One of our favourite experiences at AYANA Bali is the famous Thalassotherapy Pool. Perched above the ocean, it is the most unique wellness experiences in Bali and something many guests have never experienced before. The seawater therapy circuit is incredibly relaxing and the ocean views make it feel even more special.

If you are travelling as a family, this is also a great day to let the kids experience the incredible kids clubs. AYANA Bali has two fantastic kids clubs, including one at RIMBA by AYANA Bali, and they are consistently the biggest hits with families.

By lunchtime, we love heading over to RIMBA by AYANA Bali and grabbing a table at the swim-up bar. There is something undeniably fun about enjoying lunch with your feet in the water, especially when the tables are literally in the pool.

The afternoon is where AYANA Bali really shines because you have options. You might spend a few hours at the Ocean Beach Pool enjoying the adults-only atmosphere and spectacular ocean views. You might go pool hopping between some of the resort's most beautiful pools. Or you might head down to Kubu Beach and spend the afternoon swimming, relaxing on a sunbed and enjoying one of Bali's most beautiful stretches of sand.

The main reasons Australians love AYANA Bali so much is that you can fit so much into a day without ever needing to leave the property. Instead of spending time in cars, you're spending your time actually enjoying your holiday.

For dinner, we usually recommend either UNIQUE or Sami Sami. UNIQUE is perfect if you're in the mood for sunset margaritas, tacos and a fun social atmosphere. Sami Sami is always a crowd-pleaser, serving delicious Italian food in a beautiful setting and remaining one of our favourite easy dinner choices within the resort.

By Day 3, something funny happens. You've settled into the AYANA Bali rhythm.

You've found your favourite pool. You know exactly where you're getting your morning coffee. You've probably stopped checking your phone as often and, somewhere along the way, you've realised you don't actually want to leave.

That is why we always tell people not to rush their final day.

Start with one more slow breakfast and enjoy it. This is exactly what you came here for.

If you haven't visited Kubu Beach yet, today is the day. Even if you would not normally go out of your way for a beach, it is worth making the effort. The limestone cliffs, turquoise water and secluded setting make it the most beautiful beaches attached to a resort anywhere in Bali.

Most families will easily spend a few hours here, especially at low tide when children can explore the rock pools. For couples and groups of friends, it is simply a beautiful place to soak up every last bit of Bali sunshine before heading home.

For lunch, we love heading to Honzen. The fresh sushi, sashimi and authentic Japanese setting make it feel like you've briefly stepped into Japan before returning to Australia. It is fresh, delicious and the perfect choice for a final lunch.

If you have a late flight back to Australia, the biggest advantages is that you get a full final day. Instead of sitting around waiting to leave, take advantage of the departure facilities available at AYANA Bali. Freshen up, shower and change before your flight, then make the most of one final Bali sunset. Most flights back to Australia leave late (often around 10 or 11pm) which sounds like an awkward end to a trip but is actually a gift on your final day. Checkout is at midday, so before you leave, ask the concierge to store your bags. That frees up the whole afternoon for one last swim at the Ocean Beach Pool, a long lunch and a rinse-off and change at the departure facilities before your transfer. By the time you make the easy 30-minute drive to Ngurah Rai, you'll have squeezed a full extra day out of your holiday instead of sitting in the lobby watching the clock.

We love heading to either the Rooftop at AYANA Segara Bali or UNIQUE for a farewell cocktail and a few bites while watching the sun disappear into the ocean one last time.

It feels like the perfect way to finish a Bali holiday.

If time was limited, these would be our five non-negotiables:

• Rock Bar
• Kubu Beach
• Ocean Beach Pool for adults, or the RIMBA by AYANA Bali pools and waterslides for families
• After Rock for adults, or the Kids Clubs for families
• A fresh seafood dinner at KISIK

What we love most about staying at AYANA Bali for the final three nights of a Bali holiday is how naturally everything slows down.

The first part of the trip is often spent exploring. You're trying new restaurants, visiting favourite spots, shopping, beach club hopping and making the most of every day. By the time you arrive at AYANA Bali, you're usually ready for something different.

Instead of planning every hour, the days seem to unfold naturally. You find yourself lingering over breakfast, spending longer than expected by the pool and stopping for one more sunset cocktail because, quite frankly, there is nowhere else you'd rather be.

That is why we think AYANA Bali is the perfect final stop for Australians. It allows you to finish your holiday feeling as if you've actually had a break.

There is a big difference between arriving home exhausted and arriving home refreshed. When you spend your final three days at AYANA Bali, you are far more likely to be boarding that flight back to Australia feeling relaxed, recharged and ready to return to work rather than needing another holiday to recover from the one you've just had.

And if you're anything like us, you'll probably be looking out the plane window somewhere over Australia, thinking the same thing most people think after their first AYANA Bali stay. We should have stayed longer.