Humidity hit me the second I stepped off the plane in Denpasar. The sort that instantly tells your brain it’s officially on holiday. Within minutes of landing in Bali with Virgin Australia Holidays, I was already wondering why I don’t do this more often.
Maybe it’s because Bali has become so familiar to Australians that we forget how magical it actually is. The incense drifting through the streets. Scooters weaving through traffic like choreography. The way every spa looks like it belongs in an interiors magazine. Or maybe it was because this particular trip removed the exhausting part of travel entirely.
Flights, accommodation and planning were all bundled into one seamless booking through Virgin Australia Holidays, which meant I wasn’t spending weeks opening 47 browser tabs trying to compare hotels, flights and airport transfers while slowly losing my mind. Instead, I just packed linen, sunscreen and an optimistic number of swimwear options.
I flew with Virgin Australia flights to Bali from Sydney, one of up to seven return services a week the airline operates from the city, with Melbourne travellers also able to access up to 13 weekly return services to Denpasar. The airline now operates up to 35 return services per week to Bali from Australia, which explains why half the departure gate looked like people escaping emotionally and spiritually.
The trip centred around COMO Uma Canggu, and within about 15 seconds of arriving, I understood why people become emotionally attached to hotels. Set directly on the beachfront in Canggu, the resort somehow manages to feel luxurious without being intimidating. It’s sleek and modern, but still deeply connected to Bali’s warmth and relaxed energy.
Mornings started at COMO Beach Club with long breakfasts overlooking the ocean, where smoothie bowls and strong coffee arrived alongside surfers gliding through the waves outside. Afternoons drifted between poolside lounging, massages at the COMO Spa and wandering through Canggu’s boutiques pretending I had enough luggage allowance for hand-carved furniture.
Then there was the food. I’m still thinking about dinner at Santanera, which may have been one of the best meals I’ve eaten anywhere. Not just in Bali. Anywhere. The kind of restaurant where every dish arriving at the table causes a brief moment of silence because everyone is too busy reacting dramatically to the first bite.
One day, we travelled to COMO Shambhala Estate in Ubud for a water purification ceremony at Kedara Water Garden. Bali has a way of making even the most sceptical traveller soften a little. Standing barefoot in the water surrounded by jungle, it felt impossible not to slow down and become fully present for a moment.
The trip also included a John Hardy masterclass in Seminyak, Pilates sessions back at the resort, sunset drinks by the beach and a buffet-style Sunday brunch so good I’m still emotionally processing it. What surprised me most, though, was how easy the entire experience felt. The Virgin Australia App kept everything organised in one place, from boarding passes to baggage tracking and flight updates, which eliminated the usual airport headaches.
Signing into Velocity Frequent Flyer also meant earning Velocity Points on eligible bookings, with members able to earn 3 Velocity Points per eligible dollar spent on eligible Virgin Australia Holidays packages.
And now comes the dangerous part of this article, because after experiencing it firsthand, I discovered the current Bali sale. Virgin Australia Holidays is offering Bali packages from $745 per person, including return flights and 4 nights accommodation for select travel dates between 15 July 2026 and 16 March 2027. The sale runs until 27 May 2026, although something tells me the cheapest packages won’t sit around for very long. For anyone currently staring out an office window fantasising about quitting their job to open a beachside coconut stand, this may be the more realistic option.
Bali remains one of those destinations that somehow works for everyone. Couples wanting romance. Families needing an easy tropical holiday. Groups chasing beach clubs and nightlife. Burnt-out Australians who just need someone to hand them a fresh juice beside a pool immediately.
By the time I boarded my flight back to Sydney, skin slightly tanner and suitcase mysteriously heavier, I understood why Bali continues to hold such a grip on Australian travellers. It’s not just the beaches or the luxury resorts or the infinity pools flooding Instagram feeds every winter. It’s the feeling that life becomes softer there for a little while. After this trip with Virgin Australia Holidays, I’m already planning my next adventure.
