Karma Beach: Secret beach connoisseurs should start their Bali beach hopping journey on the Bukit peninsula -- the egg-shaped bulge that protrudes from the bottom. Here's where you'll find Karma Beach, a private beach club with stylish bungalows and a glorious cliff-top spa.
Thomas Beach: Thomas Beach sits between two of Bukit's most iconic surf breaks, Uluwatu and Padang Padang. It has golden sands, turquoise waters and sculpted rock formations framed by towering cliffs.
Kedungu Beach: Out of Bali's wealth of dark sand beaches, Kedungu, a surfing beach not far north of the famous sea temple at Tanah Lot, is ripe for discovery.
Nusa Penida: For pristine -- and largely unfrequented -- beaches it's worth heading off the mainland to Nusa Penida, around 40 minutes by speedboat from the port at Sanur. Its limestone coast has eroded into spectacular forms -- natural arches, broken bays, sea caves, freestanding pillars and more.
Tugel Bias Beach: Tugel Bias, a little cove just south of the ferry port at Padangbai is one of Bali's cutest white sand beaches.
Nyang Nyang Beach: Nyang-Nyang is another classic, concealed beach that delivers the Bukit trifecta of golden sands, rugged cliffs and turquoise ocean.
Some hotels and resorts depend on social media posts to get future guests inspired to visit.
But the Ayana Resort and Spa in Bali, Indonesia, is taking a different approach.
Their new "In the Moment" program is encouraging visitors to unplug when they're by the pool -- by banning smartphones and other electronic devices.
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week, guests will not be able to bring smartphones to the pool area.
People who don't want to leave their phones unattended in their rooms can put them in a locker while they swim.
And the ban doesn't only extend to smartphones. All electronic devices, including iPads, digital cameras, Kindles and tablets fall under the digital detox ruling.
However, while some travelers intentionally seek out opportunities to unplug while traveling, not everyone has an easy time letting go.
In 2018, marketing group OnePoll released data showing that 53% of American travelers have never switched off while on the go.
The phenomenon even has a name -- nomophobia.
While some of that phone usage while traveling is due to necessity and ease -- using apps to translate menus, check directions or confirm bookings,
for example -- some admitted that they just couldn't cut the cord altogether.
Twenty percent of respondents said they checked their phone at least once an hour while traveling, while 14% confessed to checking twice an hour.
So what should you do if you're planning a Bali vacation and if you need more incentive to turn off the phone for a while?
Consider ordering one of the Ayana's special cocktails -- namely, the aptly named Digital Detox, which is made of vodka, yuzu, honey and clear tomato juice.
