• By: RIYANKA
• Nov 07, 2026
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I Travelled to Bali with Two Friends and Discovered That Everyone Travels Differently

A trip can make or break a friendship, and I’ve always believed that. But as I age, I’m becoming more mindful that everyone is different, with their own quirks, preferences, and ways of experiencing the world. When I travelled to Bali recently with two friends, I was reminded of how differently we approach travel. We may have shared the same destination, but our ideas of a perfect holiday weren’t necessarily the same. And that’s when it struck me: there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to travelling. Every traveller has their own preferences, and perhaps the joy lies in learning to make room for that.

From left to right: Three of us at Mt. Batur; posing at Ubud market; and chilling at Padang Padang beach in Bali.

This wasn’t the first time I was travelling with Dipti and Sanj. We had taken another trip together to Vietnam last year, but that time, there was a larger group, and I was the one hosting the trip. Naturally, I had planned and chalked out most of the things we were supposed to do. Bali, however, was different.

This wasn’t a trip I was hosting. It was more about three friends deciding to travel together, figuring things out along the way, and exploring at our own pace. But, as often happens when people travel together, there were things we all wanted to do, and then there were things one of us was keen to explore while the others weren’t quite as enthusiastic about them. And that’s where things can get a little tricky. When people have different ideas of what makes a perfect holiday, a little tension is sometimes inevitable. It happened with us, too (and I won’t pretend otherwise!).

But here’s the best part: all three of us returned home happily, without killing each other, and even started planning our next trip together. If that’s not the sign of a successful holiday with friends, I don’t know what is!

For me, this trip was a beautiful reminder that travel isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience. It’s about choices, preferences, individual interests, and, perhaps most importantly, making room for the fact that not everyone wants to experience a destination in the same way. Sometimes, travelling together is also about learning when to do things together and when to let each other wander off on their own.

This was Day 1 in Ubud, when we went out for brunch at Milk & Madu.

Understanding Our Different Ways of Travelling

As I mentioned, the three of us are quite different from one another. Dipti (42), me (35), and Sanj (27) have our own preferences, priorities, and ideas of what makes a holiday enjoyable. And nowhere was this more evident than on our trip to Bali.

Dipti was all about adventure. She knew exactly what she wanted from the trip and had her priorities sorted. An ATV ride, a jeep excursion to Mount Batur, snorkelling – she was keen to pack in as many experiences as possible. Sitting around doing nothing wasn’t quite her idea of a holiday.

I, on the other hand, was looking for a slower, more laid-back Bali experience. Having visited the island before, I wasn’t particularly interested in ticking off every attraction or chasing new experiences. All I wanted was a good spa session, plenty of downtime, massages, a pool to lounge by, some sunshine on the beach, and, of course, good food. If I could spend an entire afternoon doing absolutely nothing, I’d consider it time well spent!

Sanj, meanwhile, was the youngest of the lot, young at heart, and an absolute social media enthusiast. Her Bali bucket list seemed to have no end! Pilates sessions, yoga classes, shopping, beach time, temple hopping, spiritual cleansing, café hopping, more shopping, snorkelling, clubbing – and more shopping! She wanted to experience a little bit of everything, preferably with enough photographs and reels to document it all.

(Left) During a Balinese spiritual healing session. (Right) Hopping around Ubud market.

Finding a Middle Ground (Without Losing Our Minds)

There were moments when we had to negotiate, make adjustments, and juggle our individual plans. I suppose there were also times when one of us felt a little low or left out, but thankfully, those feelings never lingered for too long.

On our very first day, Dipti headed out for an ATV ride on her own while Sanj and I opted for a relaxing Balinese massage. Later that day, Dipti and I went out for a lovely brunch, while Sanj decided she’d rather wander off and indulge in some shopping. We eventually reunited, each having spent the afternoon doing exactly what we wanted.

On one of the nights, Sanj wanted to experience Bali’s nightlife, so I decided to accompany her, while Dipti preferred to stay back and get some rest. On another evening, Sanj went partying on her own, while Dipti and I found ourselves a beach shack, ordered a couple of beers, and spent the evening watching the waves break along the shore. Honestly, it was just the kind of evening I had been looking forward to.

There were moments when the three of us weren’t really on the same page. And while things occasionally felt a little off, we learnt to navigate those emotions without letting them define the rest of our holiday. We are, after all, adults with our own preferences, moods, and expectations. Not every disagreement needs to turn into an argument, and not every activity needs to be a group activity.

At FINNS Beach Club in Canggu.

Bonding Over Food, Always!

If there was one thing we never disagreed on, it was food! The three of us absolutely love eating, and discovering new cafés, restaurants, and local flavours was something we were equally excited about.

No negotiations, no compromises, no separate plans needed here!

From our first meal of nasi campur in Ubud to hunting down the best ramen spot in town, discovering lovely brunch places in Uluwatu, and figuring out where to head for dinner in Canggu, food was always a shared priority. In fact, it almost became a running theme of our holiday. While we were enjoying one meal, we would invariably be discussing where to eat next.

It didn’t matter whether we were in the mood for a leisurely brunch, a comforting bowl of ramen, or a lovely dinner after a long day of exploring. We were always up for trying something new. Perhaps our travel styles were different, but when it came to food, we were very much on the same page!

Also Read: In This Quaint Indonesian Diner, I Found Bali Breathing Beyond Its Beach Clubs And Sundowner Parties

And Experiences That We All Said ‘Yes’ To!

Looking back, I think some of my fondest memories from this trip are tied to the experiences we all happily signed up for together. Despite our different ideas of a perfect holiday, there were plenty of things that got all three of us equally excited.

From waking up at 3 AM to catch the sunrise at Mount Batur to slipping into our bikinis and spending lazy hours at the beach, going for a spiritual healing and sound therapy session, and snorkelling with manta rays, we had our fair share of shared adventures. Some of these experiences pushed us out of our comfort zones, too. Whether it was overcoming our fear of diving or letting go of our inhibitions about wearing a two-piece swimsuit, we had each other’s company through it all. There is something rather reassuring about trying something new when you have your friends beside you, cheering you on or simply sharing the experience.

And perhaps that’s what I’ll remember most about Bali. Not just the places we visited or the things we ticked off our bucket lists, but the moments when our individual interests came together to create memories that belonged to all three of us.

(Left) Around the black lava fields, after witnessing the Mt. Batur sunrise. (Right) Getting a glimpse of Uluwatu Temple from a distance.

This Trip Made Me Realise That Everyone Travels Differently

Every time I open my photo gallery and stumble upon the pictures from Bali, I can’t help but smile. The sun-kissed mornings, Dipti and me taking our daily fit-check selfies, Sanj telling us about all the lovely shops she’d discovered, our endless discussions about where to eat next, and those spontaneous stops at random places just to take photographs – it all comes rushing back. 

As I’ve said before, travel means different things to different people. Some want adventure, some crave a little indulgence, while others want to squeeze in as many experiences as possible. And it’s only when you travel with friends that you truly begin to understand these differences. You discover little things about them that you might never have noticed otherwise – what excites them, what makes them happy, what they fear, what they’re willing to try, and when they simply need a little space.

I think this trip to Bali taught me that travelling together doesn’t mean having to do everything together. It’s about respecting each other’s choices, finding common ground, making compromises, and knowing that it’s perfectly okay to go your separate ways for a few hours. We always came back with different experiences, different stories, and plenty of photographs, but one thing remained common: we were already talking about travelling together again.

And perhaps that’s the real test of a good holiday with friends. Not how much you did together, or how perfectly everything went, but whether you returned home still wanting to do it all over again. And I think we did pretty well!

(Left) With Dipti, at Mt. Batur. (Right) With Sanj, at Nusa Penida.

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