Late Flights from Bali: How to Enjoy Your Final Day at AYANA Bali

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

Late flights from Bali are very common for Australians, and the biggest question we always get is simple... where do you shower after checkout?

Whether you are flying back to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or the Gold Coast, chances are your flight home departs somewhere between 9pm and midnight. While that means a red-eye flight home, we actually love this flight schedule because it means you get one final full Bali day instead of spending half of it sitting at the airport.

The good news is, at AYANA Bali, you do not need to stress about your final day. In fact, a late flight can actually be a bonus, giving you a full extra day to enjoy the resort.

AYANA Bali is a fully integrated resort, which means even after you check out of your room, you can continue to use the pools, restaurants, beach, and facilities across the property. Once you understand how to plan your last day, it becomes one of the most enjoyable parts of your stay.

Here is how we like to spend it.

One of the silver linings of flying home to Australia's East Coast is that many flights leave late at night. While nobody loves a red-eye flight, it does mean you are not losing an entire day sitting around waiting for your departure.

Instead, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, beach time, pool time, dinner and even a shower before heading to the airport. We always remind people that checkout does not mean your holiday is over.

With a little planning, your departure day can feel like an extra day of your holiday rather than a travel day.

One of the best parts of a late flight is not having to rush.

We always start with a long, leisurely breakfast, taking our time and soaking in the views one last time. After breakfast, we head back to the room for a slow pack, making sure nothing gets left behind.

Before checkout, we prepare a small bag with everything we will need for the rest of the day. This usually includes a fresh outfit for the flight, toiletries, and anything we want to change into later. It makes the rest of the day feel easy and organised.

We then change into swimwear and a cover-up, ready to enjoy the rest of the resort. Knowing we still have another eight or nine hours before our flight departs, we treat it like a bonus holiday day rather than a travel day. Mentally, it makes a huge difference.

Checkout at AYANA Bali is typically around midday.

At this point, we send our luggage to the bell desk and finalise our room bill. From here on, anything we purchase is simply paid as we go, which makes the departure process much smoother later in the evening.

The team will also assist with storing your luggage for the duration of your time on the property, so you can enjoy the rest of your day without needing to worry about your bags.

Once that is done, the day is yours again.

This is the part many Australians are unsure about.

Even after checkout, you can continue using the facilities across AYANA Bali. That means pools, restaurants, Kubu Beach, and everything else the resort has to offer.

You are not stuck waiting around. You are still very much on holiday.

By the time checkout is done, it is usually lunchtime, which is the perfect opportunity to revisit a favourite restaurant or try something you did not get to earlier in your stay.

On our last day, we often gravitate towards Indonesian dishes before heading home. If the weather is good, we head down to Kubu Beach Club, where you can snack on local favourites, enjoy the sun, and take one last swim in the ocean.

After that, we usually make time for one final pool stop. The Ocean Beach Pool is always a favourite for this. It is a calm, adults-only space with incredible views, and the perfect place to wind down with a cocktail while soaking in your final moments at AYANA Bali. We always find ourselves ending up here on our last day.

AYANA Bali also has a number of boutique stores worth exploring before you leave.

We like to use this time to pick up gifts or something small to take home. One of our favourites is creating a custom scent, which is a really special way to bring a piece of the trip back with you.

It is a relaxed way to fill the afternoon without needing to leave the resort.

This is the question we get asked more than any other.

For guests checking out at midday with a late-night flight, AYANA Bali provides access to shower facilities at AYANA Spa, so you can freshen up comfortably before heading to the airport. Luggage can be stored with the bell desk, and the team will happily assist with both arrangements after checkout, so you can enjoy the rest of your day without any inconvenience.

Because you packed your essentials earlier in the day, getting ready is quick and easy. It means you head to the airport feeling refreshed, not rushed or uncomfortable.

This is especially handy for Australians facing an overnight flight home, as arriving at the airport feeling fresh makes those final few hours of travel much more comfortable.

Before heading to the airport, we like to sit down for one final meal.

A favourite for us is Liu Li Palace Seafood Restaurant. It is air-conditioned, which makes a big difference before a flight, and the dumplings are the perfect comfort food. There is something about sitting down to a basket of dumplings before an overnight flight that just feels right.

It is filling, relaxed, and a nice way to wind down before travelling.

From there, it is simply a matter of calling a car and heading to the airport.

This is another common question.

For most Australians, the answer is no.

Because you can store your luggage, continue using the resort facilities, and freshen up at AYANA Spa before your flight, there is usually no need to book an additional night just for convenience.

That said, if you are travelling with very young children and preparing for a red-eye flight back to Australia, the extra room access can sometimes be worth it. Having a quiet place for naps, baths and downtime before a late-night departure can make the journey home much easier.

For most travellers, though, AYANA Bali makes it easy to enjoy a full final day without it.

If there is one thing AYANA Bali does exceptionally well, it is giving you options without ever making things feel complicated. Even on your final day, everything flows easily, allowing you to enjoy every last moment without stress.

With a little planning, your last day can feel just as memorable as your first. In fact, some of our favourite AYANA Bali memories have happened on departure day, and that is what keeps Australians coming back time and time again.