What Is It Like To Date In Bali?

I get asked this question all the time by my friends in London and all over the world. If you’re based in Bali you get asked “How is your dating life going?” I normally laugh and say I don’t have one. Sometimes you are not even looking for anyone but you meet a person and boom you start dating. Whether you are visiting Bali temporarily or for a long amount of time, there are a few things you need to know before dating on this beautiful island. 

In this blog post, I will tell you the truth about what it is like to date in Bali based on my personal experiences and my friends until now. I hope you are sitting down with a bag of organic pop-corns because things are going to get juicy real quick.

The Exciting Part About Dating In Bali

I’m going to start with a positive note. Dating on this beautiful island is dreamy (check out this Valentine’s Day post to get an idea!).

I have been living in London for over 9 years and dating involved going to bars or restaurants. That’s not the case in Bali!

A date could be visiting a temple, watching the sunset, swimming in the Ocean, surfing, dancing and a lot more. Isn’t that amazing?

If you are lucky and find the right person, a local or expat, you can have the time of your life. I can 100% guarantee. However, meeting the right person in Bali is not that easy.

There Is Too Much Competition

A lot of people keep swiping on dating apps because there is too much choice. Maybe you match with someone but don’t even chat with the person because he or she has already moved on to the next person. Well, this is exactly what happens in real life in Bali!

There are way too many beautiful people, so, why choose one? This is the underlying truth about dating in Bali. Does it sound superficial? It is!

It might work for you perfectly if you are looking for a temporary fling but not if you want to build a relationship. And there is more…

People Come And Go

If my previous point wasn’t enough, think about this. Bali is one of the most ambitious destinations in the world for both tourists and digital nomads. People come and go daily. This is a sad reality for friendships and romantic relationships as well because most of the time you have to say goodbye. 

There Are Serious Trust Issues

I have way too many friends who told me they had been cheated on a night out or the guy/girl they were dating was seeing other people at the same time (without telling them). In some cases, the person had a relationship back home even! 

If you are looking for a transparent relationship, well, it’s not going to be easy. 

I’ve also met travellers who were in an open relationship. Again, you will find plenty of people if this is your thing. 

Fake It Until You Make It

A lot of people will tell you everything they can to convince you they are also looking for a relationship (when they understand that’s your goal) to get a one-night stand. This can be the same all over the world but in Bali, it happens all the time. 

It doesn’t matter how you meet the person. If you are looking for a relationship wait and get to know the person more before looking for intimacy. If they don’t want to wait, this says a lot about their intentions. 

Canggu Leads The Way

Whilst all the above can happen anywhere on the island, Canggu is definitely the epicentre of the “fake it until you make it” movement. Why?

Because that’s where most of the expats are based as well as night clubs. Some wouldn’t even pretend they are not looking for fun and they are honest straight away.

So if you are looking for short adventures, you can surely head to Canggu. I’m sure there are also people looking for a relationship there but you might need a magnifying glass to find them.

There Will Be Some Strange Dating Or Marriage Proposals

During yoga classes sometimes you meet amazing people who will be your friends for life, and sometimes you get some strange encounters instead.

Last year I went to a vinyasa class and right at the end, the guy who was sitting right behind me came over and asked me to go on a date. Guess where? In a sauna!!!

I looked at him thinking if this suggestion had ever been successful before. I wonder who would go to a sauna when there are more than 30 degrees outside already. That’s when I understood he was a few candles short of full illumination and I kindly declined his offer.

I’ve also had a handful of marriage proposals from Grab scooter drivers. The proposals come after only 3 qualifying questions: where are you from, what’s your job, are you married.

That being said, I’ve also had an amazing dating experience which you can listen to on this podcast episode. So don’t give up, there is still hope!

Pro Tip: Check out this blog post if you want to know how to make friends in Bali. You know what they say… “you’ve got to be friends first!”

Everyone Will Know Who You Are Dating And When

You would think Bali is a big island, but the gossip runs fast! That’s even if all you know is your homestay staff. This is how it goes. Say for example you are dating someone in Ubud. The staff of your homestay hangs out in Ubud after work hours.

If you are riding a scooter with someone they don’t know – you will get noticed, especially if that person is Indonesian! Questions will be asked when you are back with grand curiosity – 100% guaranteed! You thought you left your parents at home but actually, you haven’t factored in your new Balinese family.

The same goes with restaurant waiters. They might move to different restaurants but they rarely change village. There are waiters who are still asking me where my “partner” is after 2 years.

Tips on dating in Bali: 

Respect Local Customs: Understand and appreciate Balinese traditions, especially when dating locals. Always ask the person if you have any doubts.

Clear Communication: Be upfront about your intentions and expectations to avoid misunderstandings. 

Leverage Bali’s Beauty: Plan memorable dates exploring Ubud’s rice terraces, watching sunsets at Tanah Lot, or taking cooking classes.

Stay Safe: Opt for public places and daytime meetups when meeting someone new for the first time.

Be Open-Minded: Embrace the diverse cultural backgrounds and social dynamics that come with dating in Bali.

Want To Know More?

If you want to know more about this and other useful things to know about life in Bali, subscribe to my newsletter! It’s fun and useful 🙂

Ciao for now,

Silvia x

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