I have never had an issue in the US. It was just before COVID times since I was last there but I do not even remember being asked questions. I recall walking through to a machine, validating the ESTA and then walking through someone from customs stamping my passport like any other place.
I’ve only really been fully interrogated in some obscure Midde Eastern countries. Mostly because I’ve done a fair bit of travel in that area like Morocco, UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Azerbaijan and Israel (which was well before the current situation but there is no ISrael stamp in your passport at least). In 2023 when leaving Azerbaijan, they full blown interrogated my partner and I because we had a few of those countries stamps in our passport and it was unusual to see Australian’s leaving Azerbaijan that had been to those places (on previous trips). They questioned us separately and our stories matched up, so were then let through. It was quite confronting but unless you have a reason like that I think it’s unlikely you will be questioned. Thankfully I have a new passport now so don’t have those stamps anymore.
I’m finally popping my Bali cherry just after Easter. I’ve travelled to 40+ countries and Bali has never appealed to me. Now that I have a dog, shorter/closer overseas trips like this are more appealing. We considered Singapore but it’s too expensive at that time of the year, then saw return flights to Bali less $700 which convinced us. Villa type accommodation is super cheap too. So doing 3 nights in Ubud and 3 nights in Seminyak. I’m looking forward to Ubud, not so much Seminyak but have really nice accommodation there so will be good to see it for a few days anyway.
After having the same feelings/opinions as you, we finally did Bali a few years ago, and to be fair actually quite enjoyed it. Yes it’s touristy and all that, but if you avoid the dive bars/nightclubs and pick your locations well, you can actually have a really enjoyable holiday for not much, and it’s a (relatively) short trip from Australia to get there.
We did a few nights while there on Gili Air, one of the islands nearer Lombok, and absolutely loved it. All the charm, no traffic (cars and motorbikes are prohibited on the island), so you just walked the place and swam/snorkeled as you pleased, and the beach barbecues in the evening were amazing. We’re itching to get back there sometime again, once family situations permit (holidays were a lot easier before we were chasing two small children around…)
Yeah we’ve got friends in the Maldives right now. Though it’s still quite the flight to get there.
Bali also has some elevated areas, we did a couple of nights in the north of the island up high, stayed in a coffee plantation. Certainly the coolest evenings of the trip up there.
Yeah I was more interested in doing Lombok or one of those closer islands. We looked into it and would’ve needed more time if we were to stay at one of them, otherwise Bali would’ve been very rushed. We didn’t want too much hassle moving about this trip. Although if we want a break from Seminyak, we may consider a day trip somewhere like Nusa Lembongan which seems close and accessible.
Did not realise Mount Agung was so high, wow, 3031 m. More than cool enough. I know Timor and Papua are more mountainous again (but aren’t exactly friendly to tourists). Same with the PNG highlands.
I am looking at finally travelling to Canada next year if I can manage it. Wanted to visit parts of the Flawed Democracy as well (specifically, around Seattle) but I’m increasingly unsure about that. Who knows what will happen by September next year in the US.
Vanessa Hudson also revealed that once Qantas received its first A350 jet in late 2026, it would probably fly on the Trans-Tasman route so that pilots and cabin crew could get familiar with the plane.
Indonesian airline Citilink has cancelled all flights between Perth and Bali for the remainder of 2025. It commenced operation on the route in 2023. It initially stopped flying to Perth in February, and suspended the flights until May 1.
What better for BAC to spend their copious profits on than a rebrand, hey?
Mind you, flying back from Perth the other week, the two airports felt like chalk and cheese. Perth Airport with all that mining money flowing into it felt so sleek and new, Brisbane by comparison quite old (although it is currently being refurbished).
The seasonal flight commences on December 11 from San Francisco to Adelaide.
Flight UA208 will depart Adelaide at 2.55pm every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, reaching San Francisco at 11.15am; return flight UA207 leaves San Francisco at 11.05pm every Monday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving in Adelaide at 9.30am two days later.
