This Is Your Life-Changing 5-Day Dream Honeymoon in Bali: Planned

We went away the night after our wedding and flew 23 hours in business class, all paid for by points on our Chase Sapphire credit card (which I highly recommend opening before your big day for this reason!). After all of that travel plus the wedding weekend, we just wanted to rest and lay on a beach. So we booked our first three nights at The Mulia Bali, a huge resort on the beach that's only about 20 minutes from the one airport in Bali (FYI: you get everywhere in Bali by car, and drivers are pretty inexpensive — we're talking about $40 for the entire day!).

Staying at The Mulia made life easy for us since there were so options for us to keep busy without feeling claustrophobic. The resort has six restaurants, four bars (even a nightclub!), six pools, a giant wellness center and spa, and a gym (where I got a private one-hour trainer for the same price as a SoulCycle class). Basically: we knew we wouldn't have to leave for a few days — and we didn't!

Like everything else, there are tons of room options for different budgets. If you're seeking privacy, you can get a pool villa (starting at $980 per night) or stay in a suite The Mulia (approximately $750 per night), an intimate hotel next door with a private pool access. But we went with a Royal Suites Ocean Court hotel room (approximately $575 per night) in the main resort building. Our room had a large tub, a spacious balcony, a separate sitting area, and a partial ocean view.

Here's a photo of the roomy tub in our room. I highly recommend taking a bath while wearing a hydrating sheet mask. My favorite is this SK-II Facial Treatment Mask. The whole process will give you life (and make your skin more hydrated!) after all of that travel.

The pools at The Mulia were made for Instagrams! Don't miss them at sunset!

Everywhere you go in Bali, you'll see decorative baskets of flowers on the floor (like this one at The Mulia spa). These are shrines called canang sari that Balinese Hindus offer to their god, Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa.

The hotel recommended we do a spa treatment at 11 a.m. on our first full day there. Usually, I like to do spa services in the afternoon before dinner so I can get a full day in beforehand. But I am so happy I listened to this advice, because the treatment we choose — a hydrotherapy pool and sauna/steam room experience ($156 for two people, plus a 90-minute Balinese couple's massage for $280) was the perfect way to combat our jet lag.

Also, most spa treatments in Southeast Asia begin with a signature welcome drink (this is a refreshing red ginger tea) and a cold towel. It's a delightful ritual!

For the hydrotherapy pool experience, we were given disposable swimwear before we relaxed in these outdoor tubs. The idea behind this is that you go from hot to cold pools to relieve body aches (you will likely have this from the long plane ride!) and detoxing (which also helps with postflight puffiness). We spent 20 minutes in a hot bubbly tub set at around 37 degrees Celsius (to soothe) before moving onto a cooler one set around 32 degrees Celsius (for a stimulating effect). While we were mostly left alone, someone from the spa came by to tell us when to switch tubs.

After, we were led to a private bathroom featuring different saunas, steam rooms, and even an ice room. Color-changing chakras enhanced the head-clearing experience.

This is the color-changing ice room. So cool (literally)!

Out of all of the restaurants at The Mulia, our favorite was Table 8, a Chinese restaurant with incredible dim sum. There's an a la carte menu or buffet — we did the latter. I am still dreaming about the honey pork dumpling I ate there.

While we didn't stay in Uluwatu — another beach town in the South of Bali, known for its historic temple and epic sunsets — we did take a day trip there (it's about 30 minutes from Nusa Dua). Here is the gorgeous welcome view at the luxe Bulgari hotel, where we spent the afternoon.

Lunch at the Sangkar Restaurant was memorable for the stunning water views and delicious Balinese food. These giant (and I mean enormous!) grilled shrimp were proof. My dish — called udang pelalah — features tiger prawns, chili, garlic, ginger, stir-fried morning glory, and sambal matah. Balinese cooking is generally pretty healthy featuring well-prepared meats with local spices and lots of rice, which is a main part of the local agriculture.

This cocktail featured lemon sorbet, fresh thyme, and Prosecco. It was refreshing in the Balinese heat.

If you stay at the Bulgari hotel (starts at $1,000 per night for a villa), you'll have access to this private beach. Luckily we "knew a guy" so we were permitted there to take some photos.

Here is another breathtaking beach view!

The spa at the Bulgari is intimate but worth checking out. This is the open-air relaxation lounge, where you can chill out after your treatment.

Inside the treatment rooms, the mood lighting is on point.

We got a 90-minute traditional Balinese couples massage ($280 per person). The treatments are all done in individual huts, so you feel like you have your own little villa and complete privacy. Most massages in Bali start with a foot soak. It really helps you relax before the treatment. Plus, your feet might swell from the travel and the heat.

Uluwatu is known for having the most magical sunsets. People gather around the local temple to watch dancers do traditional rituals and see the fiery skies. While we did not make it there this trip, we caught a glimpse of the pink skies after our massages.

We spent the second leg of our trip in Ubud, which is the cultural center of Bali. Our hotel of choice was the Viceroy Bali, and this is a shot of the bar there.

The Viceroy is the opposite of the The Mulia, since it's a much small boutique hotel. There are 25 rooms, all of which are private villas (starting at $800 per night). There is one restaurant, one bar, a spa, and a fitness area. That said, the rooms are stunning and spacious — so you might not want to leave yours!

Here's a shot our of king-size bed and sitting area. The fresh fruit at The Viceroy — at breakfast and in your rooms — is outstanding. Enjoy tastes like passion and dragon fruits!

The bathrooms in the villas are also giant! This tub came in handy to soothe my muscles after I took a sunrise hike. But more on that soon. There were rose petals left all around the bathroom that I used in my soak to add a bit of romance.

And, of course, there was the outdoor cabana and private pool. All you see when you look out are lush trees and jungle scenery. So you really feel alone, making it an incredible atmosphere for a newlywed couple. You really can't see or hear the neighbors, so if you want to spend your time there in a robe — or nothing at all — go for it.

We also booked a private tour guide through the Viceroy Bali ($28 for a half day, not including entrance fees to temples). He took us to several temples, to see what traditional Balinese houses looked like, and to other cool sites.

Here is a photo of a traditional Balinese house from our cultural tour. The homes were all open like this, and you'd walk from room to room. Currently, some people still live in homes like this, while others have more modern homes.

Locally crafted silver jewelry is a part of Bali's shopping culture. I stopped by the Prapen Jewelry and Artifacts on our tour. At this boutique, you can either buy Balinese goods or learn how to make them at workshops (pictured).

Since the workshops weren't running (it was a holiday), I just had to buy these hand-crafted silver earring for about $35.

Everyone told us to eat at Mozaic in Ubud, and the fine-dining experience lived up to the hype. You have the option to choose between a locally inspired or globally inspired six- ($92 per person) or eight-course meal ($120 per person). We did the eight-course local version, and it was fantastic. A boat of spices and ingredients (pictured) is placed in the center of your table. Before each course, the waiter explains how one of the items from there is used in your dish.

Here's a sample of a dish: it's a coconut shrimp sitting in coconut foam.

If you only do one activity in Bali, make it the sunrise hike in Mount Batur, which is actually a volcano.

To do this, we woke up at 2:30 a.m. to meet with a small group and a guide to do the hike ($50 per person). The guide first took us for Balinese pancakes and coffee to help us wake up. We then hiked in the dark (using flashlights!) for two hours up the volcano. Once you get to the top, you watch the sunrise with hundreds of other people who took the same journey. Our guide also gave us a light breakfast up there. It's as magical as it looks in this photo.

Yes, it's steep, and the guide had to hold my hand for parts of it, but it was worth it. You just committed to start your life with your partner, and now you get to watch the sunrise halfway across the world. It feels monumental.

Make time to wander the streets of Ubud. There's a little town where local goods are sold, like handwoven baskets, colorful scarves, and printed cotton pants. Yoga is also a big part of Balinese culture, so you'll find athleisure wares and studios.

While the spa at the Viceroy Bali is not big, it's definitely a must go. There are two couples treatment rooms, one facial room, and a room for manicures, as well as a Jacuzzi, steam room, and cool pool.

We loved our 90-minute Balinese couples massage ($83 per person) after our big hike. We got to choose from an array of local essential oils before talented masseuses worked out our sore muscles. After the treatment, there's a lovely balcony where you can sit, enjoy a fresh green juice, and stare out at the green jungle.

Every honeymooner needs to enjoy a private, romantic dinner. We did ours at CasCades Restaurant, where this setup made us feel like we were in an episode of The Bachelor! We enjoyed a five-course, preset dinner ($110 per person) without having anyone else nearby. Whether you're by a beach or in the jungle, spend the extra money to do this once-in-a-lifetime romantic experience.

Also, don't miss the coconut-oil-soaked pancakes at CasCades for brunch.

Here we are at The Viceroy Bali reflecting on the amazing first leg of our honeymoon!