Bali - where to stay?

So my boyfriend and I are going to Bali in 6 weeks. It's all very last minute and we've only just booked our flights. We're staying 2 weeks but we're having some trouble deciding where to stay.

We both want to be able to relax on beaches, but also go out and do some fun stuff and explore. He is a bartender and wants to go to some nice bars and experience a bit of the nightlife, but not a crazy amount (from what I've heard kuta would probably be a bit much for us).

Any recommendations of what parts of Bali to stay in? I was thinking seminyak and ubud to start, and then gili air for a couple days after. He's not too fussed on the idea of the gili islands as he thinks they'll be boring and secluded, but I really want some time to relax on beaches etc. Is there anywhere in Bali that is good for somewhere to chill towards the end, but still has bars and shops etc?

Or anyone who has stayed in gili air, Did you find it to be boring compared to other parts of Bali? Any info would be appreciated as we are feeling a bit lost. Thanks!

The Gilis are part of Lombok and quite different from Hindu Bali. They are not isolated since thousands of people go there every day, but if you keep your plans flexible you can always leave and go somewhere else if you are bored.

Sanur is often called "snore" because it's more laid back but there certainly lots of shops and cafes/bars and a nice little boardwalk on the sand.

Try Grandmas Hotel Seminyak. You can book online.

Try La Favela for an upmarket bar and the Skygarden in Kuta for a downmarket night club.

Padangbai has some nice beaches to the right and left of the townsite. It is also the departure point for ferries to Lombok (Lembar Port) with easy access to the Southwest Gilis which IMO are much better and less touristy that the NW Gilis.

It’s either Seminyak or Legian where you could walk to the beach as well as to the club

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