Everything That Went Wrong on Our Trip to Bali (and What We Learned)

Last Updated on May 19, 2025 by Charlotte

When my travel buddy and I booked a suspiciously cheap round-trip flight to Bali, we expected beaches and temples, not to be sending Venmo distress signals from a mystery hotel in a Shanghai industrial area while our luggage circled the Pacific. What was supposed to be a dreamy escape quickly spiraled into a series of surreal, slow-burning disasters. We got stranded in a country with no working Wi-Fi, lost a suitcase (and rebuilt a wardrobe from knockoff “Kalvin Kllien” and “LEEVS”), and got pickpocketed during an aggressively unsolicited “massage” on our final night. And yet…we learned a lot. Not just how to avoid these kinds of travel mishaps, but how to stay calm when everything goes sideways. Think of this post as both a cautionary tale and a survival guide. You’re welcome to laugh at our misfortune (we do now), but also: Take notes. Because one day, it might just be you sitting in a mosquito-infested terminal, realizing the flight you’re waiting for… doesn’t exist.

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We Got Stranded in Shanghai for Three Days

It all started with a delay in Honolulu. No big deal, we thought. We had a three-hour layover in Shanghai, with plenty of time to spare. Everything’s fine.

Spoiler alert: nothing was fine.

As we landed in Shanghai, we watched our connecting flight to Bali taxi away from the gate like it was actively fleeing us.

At the transfer desk, they coolly informed us the next flight would be “same time tomorrow.” They’d provide a hotel. We just needed to collect our bags first. While we waited, we tried to get online, but the airport Wi-Fi was down.

Eventually, my suitcase emerged on the carousel. But after over an hour of waiting, my Travel Buddy’s bag never did. As it turns out, his bag was still in Honolulu and had never made it on the plane.

We joined what can only be described as a human centipede of misery, a 300-person line for hotel vouchers. After several hours of shuffling forward inch by excruciating inch, we were finally handed a paper slip and vaguely directed to find “the van.”

The van, as it turned out, was completely unmarked. No logos. No company name. No reassuring signage whatsoever. The driver, an old man with a cigarette hanging from his mouth, pushed us inside. And, like the jet-lagged cattle we had become, we obeyed.

As we pulled away from the airport, we were packed in like sardines with ten other dazed tourists. We had no money, no SIM cards, and absolutely no way to tell the outside world where we were.

The air of unease grew in the van as we drove deeper into what looked increasingly like an industrial wasteland. We passed warehouses, construction equipment, and concrete barriers, bathed in the yellow glow of flickering streetlamps. Not a hotel in sight.

Then the van jerked to a stop in the middle of nowhere. The door slid open. The driver pointed vaguely toward a gray structure in the shadows. And then… they left.

We stood in the dark, dragging luggage across the gravel, silently calculating our odds of survival. The looming shape ahead could have been anything.

Miraculously, it was a hotel. A concrete block of a building, but still walls, a roof, beds. It was now 10 PM. We’d landed at 3.

Inside our room, the reality of our isolation sank in. No texts worked. No emails could be sent. Thanks to the Great Firewall of China, we couldn’t even message anyone or open Google Maps. Our families had no idea where we were.

Except, bizarrely, Venmo worked. So I started sending $1 payments to my friend with increasingly desperate memos:

“We are trapped in China.”
“Hotel unclear.”
“No contact with outside world but Travel Buddy is still weirdly calm.”
“Please tell someone.”

Sleep came hard and fast, only to be shattered at 7:00 AM when our door burst open without warning. A tiny, hotel landlady marched in with a pink fly swatter, shouting and gesturing frantically at our bags. We were discombobulated and bleary-eyed, as checkout was enforced with military precision.

Downstairs, breakfast consisted of boiled chicken drumsticks and tomatoes scrambled with egg. Outside the hotel, rows of red flags flapped against the concrete hotel walls. It suddenly hit me: we weren’t just delayed travelers. We were completely untraceable, isolated in a country where we couldn’t communicate, couldn’t connect, couldn’t leave.

Back at the airport, we headed to our gate for the 10 AM departure. To my surprise, the gate was barren. No agent. No passengers. No plane. Just the same lost souls from the hotel, waiting for a flight that, as hours stretched painfully by, clearly wasn’t coming.

To our luck, we found a group of five other travelers from Canada who were supposed to be on the same cancelled flight. We set up camp together in the waiting area, like a ragtag band of refugees. Mid-way through the day, a bilingual woman joined our group, and we learned that our upcoming flight had been canceled. It didn’t exist. This woman became our salvation, translating, advocating, and demanding answers from the gate agents who had been perfectly content to let us wait indefinitely for a phantom plane.

Another night. More vending machine dinners. Thankfully, the airport wifi started working so we could send more desperate Venmo messages home.

Inside the terminal, the mosquitoes were relentless, swarming us under the fluorescent lights as we slapped uselessly at our arms and legs. The air felt thick with frustration and rising panic.

Finally, on day three, a real plane materialized. We all boarded in a daze, having lost nearly three days of our vacation time to this limbo.

My travel buddy still had no bag.
But we were free.

What We’d Do Differently

I would implement several important safeguards for future international travel, especially through countries with internet restrictions.

Share Your Full Itinerary With Loved Ones

First, I’d ensure someone back home has a detailed copy of our complete travel plans: all flights, layovers, hotel names, and contact information, so if we disappear unexpectedly, at least someone knows where we were supposed to be and can raise appropriate alarms.

Download Offline Resources for Your Layover Countries Too

I would also pre-download essential offline resources: a translation app that functions without internet access, offline maps of all layover cities (either Google Maps, or Maps.me), and digital copies of all important documents. Additionally, I’d research whether my layover airport has firewall limitations, reliable Wi-Fi availability, and customer service representatives who speak English or other languages I understand.

Download the FlightAware App

After our layover in Shanghai turned into a three-day disappearance act, I’ve added the FlightAware app to my pre-travel checklist. It’s free, easy to use, and can save you a world of pain in two key ways:

1. Before Booking Your Flight:

Search the route you’re considering (e.g., Honolulu to Shanghai to Bali) to see how often flights on that route are delayed, cancelled, or only operate once per day. If a route has a sketchy track record, it’s worth reconsidering, especially if it’s your only connection.

2. Day of Travel:

Track your flight in real time to see where your incoming plane is coming from and whether it’s already delayed. It’s often more accurate than airline websites, especially when you’re stuck in a terminal with no updates and a growing sense of dread.

Some Deals Are Too Good to Be True

In retrospect, our $300 roundtrip flight to Bali should have warranted more scrutiny. Extraordinarily low prices often come with hidden costs, in our case, a risky connection through Shanghai with limited daily flights to our final destination. Before booking, I would now check the flight history between connection cities to understand the frequency of departures. If your layover city only offers one flight per day to your destination, consider building in an overnight stay intentionally or choosing a different route with more backup options.

Consider an E-SIM

Finally, I would carry an international SIM card or ensure my phone plan includes international data for emergency situations. The ability to contact family or research alternative options during a travel crisis is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for both safety and sanity.

The Airline Lost Our Luggage, and We Had No Clothes

When we finally made it to Bali, we were exhausted, mosquito-bitten, and running purely on adrenaline and rice crackers. Our spirits had lifted slightly at the mere fact of escape from Shanghai, but reality quickly reasserted itself: Travel Buddy still had no clothes. None. Just the increasingly questionable outfit he’d been wearing since Honolulu, now on its third brave day of continuous service.

While most tourists’ first Bali agenda item involves beaches or temples, ours was decidedly more urgent: finding pants that hadn’t experienced 72 hours of international travel across three climate zones. Our driver assessed our situation with a knowing smile. Instead of heading to our hotel, he made an executive decision and diverted to a local market.

“Better prices,” he said with a wink. “Better stories too.”

He wasn’t wrong.

The market unfolded before us like a bootleg designer wonderland, a parallel fashion universe where spelling was merely a suggestion and copyright laws a mere suggestion. Stalls overflowed with “GUDDI” handbags positioned next to “Kalvin Kllien” underwear multipacks. Shirts proudly displayed “Abercomby” logos, “Niek” swooshes adorned knockoff sneakers, and jeans boldly proclaimed themselves “LEEVS” in confident stitching that almost dared you to question their authenticity.

My Travel Buddy, faced with the necessity of creating an entire wardrobe from scratch, dove into the experience with surprising enthusiasm. He tried on shirts with misspelled inspirational quotes (“Just Do It Tomorrow“), shorts with suspiciously familiar alligator logos that more closely resembled confused salamanders, and sandals that bore a striking resemblance to Birkenstocks, if Birkenstocks were made of mystery materials and cost $7.

The vendors, sensing our predicament, doubled as personal shoppers, holding items against Travel Buddy to assess the fit, running to neighboring stalls to find specific sizes, and negotiating among themselves to assemble the perfect counterfeit collection. One particularly enterprising woman even produced a “Tommy Hifliger” belt from beneath her counter with the secretive flourish of someone dealing rare antiquities.

By hour two, my Travel Buddy had assembled an entirely new identity via knockoff couture, a sartorial phoenix rising from the ashes of airline incompetence. And honestly? He looked fantastic. The “Abercomby” shirt fit better than the real thing ever would have, and the off-brand board shorts had pockets in places that actually made sense. Somewhere between examining the knockoff Ray-Bans (Ray-Bens? Ray-Bams?) and trying on neon tourist bucket hats emblazoned with “BALI PARADISE GOOD TIME BEACH,” we found ourselves laughing, really laughing, for the first time since Hawaii.

We were finally in Bali. We had gloriously fake pants. And somehow, against all odds, life was good again.

What We’d Do Differently

Bring Two Days Of Clothes in Your Carry on

When traveling internationally, especially with connecting flights through multiple countries, smart luggage strategies can prevent clothing emergencies. Always pack at least two days’ worth of climate-appropriate clothing in your carry-on bag, including underwear, versatile outerwear, and comfortable shoes. This precaution ensures you have the essentials regardless of checked baggage delays.

Consider Cross-Packing

For travelers with companions, consider “cross-packing” by distributing each person’s clothing between multiple bags. This strategy means that if one bag is delayed or lost, each traveler still has access to some of their belongings rather than one person losing everything.

Photograph Your Luggage and Luggage Contents

Always keep high-value or irreplaceable items in your carry-on, and consider photographing both the outside of your luggage and the contents of your checked luggage before your trip. These photos can be invaluable for insurance claims if your luggage is permanently lost. I also now try to include a piece of paper with my name and address inside the luggage so that if the luggage tag gets ripped off, my luggage is still identifiable by ground crew.

Use an Air Tag in Your Luggage

In recent years, I’ve upgraded my luggage to include an AirTag in every checked bag, backpack, and purse. My phone will notify me if a piece of luggage gets left behind, and I’m able to see where it is on a map.

Purchase Travel Insurance

Finally, research your travel insurance coverage for delayed baggage. Many policies offer allowances for purchasing necessary items if your bags are delayed beyond a certain timeframe, which can help cover emergency shopping expenses without straining your vacation budget. Travel Buddy’s clothing replacements were covered by our World Nomads insurance.

We Gave Our Driver the Wrong Hotel Address in Ubud

After surviving Shanghai and restocking my Travel Buddy’s wardrobe with questionable designer labels, we were ready for the actual vacation portion of our vacation. Our next stop was Ubud, Bali’s cultural heart, all lush rice terraces and spiritual wellness retreats.

I had sent our driver the hotel name earlier that day, copied from Google Maps. Or so I thought.

As our car inched through Bali’s legendary traffic, a mesmerizing chaos of scooters, trucks overflowing with temple offerings, and the occasional holy cow, we finally arrived at a hotel that looked… nothing like the photos I’d obsessively studied. I pulled up my confirmation email again, and my stomach dropped.

The pin on the map was showing a completely different location. I’d somehow sent our driver to a similarly-named hotel on the opposite side of Ubud. The correct hotel was 30 minutes away. Back through all the traffic we’d just endured. In a different village entirely.

“I’m so sorry,” I told our driver, showing him the correct address. His expression remained professionally neutral, but his sigh spoke volumes. And so we embarked on our second rush-hour tour of Ubud, marinating in embarrassment as we crawled through congestion that seemed to multiply by the minute.

What should have been an easy drive from the airport had transformed into a multi-hour odyssey through every back road in central Bali, all because I hadn’t double-checked which “Eco Villa” was actually ours.

By the time we finally arrived at the correct location, it was late afternoon. We thanked our saint of a driver, who had somehow maintained his composure through this ordeal, and began the trek to reception with our luggage bouncing over uneven stones. The room, when we finally collapsed into it, was indeed as beautiful as promised. But at that moment, I would have traded all its Instagram-worthy charm for the simple joy of having arrived somewhere, anywhere, without creating another travel disaster.

What We’d Do Differently

When traveling to destinations with complex addressing systems or places where multiple businesses may share similar names, double verification is essential. Before departure, I would now contact the hotel directly to confirm not just the address but the exact location, nearby landmarks, and recommended transportation routes.

Don’t Blindly Trust Google Maps

For places like Bali, where Google Maps can be misleading and street names often change or are duplicated across different villages, save the hotel’s location directly from their official website rather than searching for it separately. Many Balinese hotels also provide their coordinates or WhatsApp numbers specifically because address confusion is so common.

Download Offline Maps Before Departure

Always download offline maps of your destination before arrival, and take screenshots of the exact location pins for all accommodations. When possible, arrange transportation directly through your hotel, as their drivers will know exactly where to go, often using local shortcuts and navigation techniques that aren’t on any map.

Try To Avoid Peak Rush Hour

If you’re using a taxi or ride-share service in a location known for traffic challenges, consider scheduling your transfers outside peak congestion times (typically 8-10 AM and 4-7 PM in tourist areas). A 30-minute drive can easily become a 2-hour ordeal during Bali’s rush hours, particularly in high-traffic areas like Ubud and Seminyak. Finally, build buffer time into your itinerary for transportation mishaps. In places with challenging traffic and navigation, what looks like a quick trip on a map can consume half your day, plan accordingly and remember that a relaxed attitude will serve you better than a rigid schedule.

We Got Pickpocketed in Uluwatu

It was our final night in Bali, and we were having dinner at a quiet beachside restaurant in Uluwatu, the kind of place with plastic tables in the sand and a salty breeze drifting in from the waves. We were tired but content, ready to enjoy our last meal before heading home.

Without warning, two older women approached our table and immediately placed their hands on our shoulders, beginning to massage us without asking. Startled and uncomfortable, my Travel Buddy and I both tried to politely decline, but they completely ignored our protests, all while smiling and continuing as if we hadn’t spoken.

I froze. I really, deeply hate being touched without my consent, and the shock of it took a second to process. My Travel Buddy and I both started trying to wave them off, telling them no, trying to make it clear we weren’t interested. But they ignored us. They just kept going, smiling, acting like it was all part of the experience, like we were in on it.

After a brief and unwelcome “massage,” they abruptly stopped and demanded payment. They said we owed them for the “massage.” We said we hadn’t wanted one, hadn’t asked, had tried to decline. But they kept pressing, and in the haze of awkwardness, we just wanted to leave. So we paid our dinner bill and walked away, still rattled, still uncomfortable, trying to shake off the encounter.

It wasn’t until a few minutes later, back near the scooter, that we realized something else was wrong. All the cash was missing from Travel Buddy’s wallet.

There hadn’t been much, but it was enough. Enough to feel it. Enough to leave us standing there in the dark, retracing the last half hour in our minds, realizing that somewhere between the pressure, the invasion of space, and the push for payment, they’d managed to reach into his pocket and take what they wanted.

We didn’t say much after that. We were exhausted. The trip was almost over. But even now, that night sticks with me—not because of the money, but because of the discomfort, the helplessness, and how easily it all happened in the span of a few minutes.

What We’d Do Differently

Practice Saying No in the Local Language

In unfamiliar destinations, maintaining firm personal boundaries is not impolite; it’s essential for safety. Practice saying “No” firmly in the local language before your trip. A clear, direct “Tidak” (Indonesian for “no”) leaves no room for misinterpretation, regardless of any language barrier. Trust your instincts about uncomfortable situations. If someone approaches you with unsolicited services, particularly involving physical contact, you have every right to immediately and firmly decline. Cultural sensitivity doesn’t require accepting unwanted touching or interactions that feel unsafe.

Consider a Money Belt

Keep valuables secure and inaccessible, especially in tourist areas. Use money belts worn under clothing, anti-theft bags with locking zippers, or distribute cash and cards in different secure locations on your person. Never keep all your money in one easily accessible wallet or pocket.

Research Common Scams Before Your Trip

Lastly, before traveling, research common scams at your destination. The “massage diversion” is actually a well-documented technique in many tourist areas worldwide. Knowing what to watch for can help you recognize potential scams before becoming a victim. If you do experience theft while traveling, consider filing a police report immediately, even if recovery seems unlikely. The report is essential for insurance claims and helps local authorities identify patterns of criminal activity in tourist areas.

Finally, while it’s important to be vigilant, don’t let one negative experience overshadow your entire perception of a place. Every destination has opportunists, but they represent a tiny fraction of the population. Maintaining a balanced perspective allows you to protect yourself without developing unnecessary fear or prejudice about the places you visit.

Final Thoughts

In the end, we still fell in love with Bali, but not for the reasons we expected. It wasn’t the temples or the beaches that stuck with us most- it was the resilience, the perspective, and the unexpected moments that made the trip unforgettable. And if this post saves even one traveler from losing their luggage or their wallet, then honestly? It was worth it.

If you made it this far, you deserve a peaceful post about rice terraces or temples. For a slightly less chaotic side of Bali, check out my honest guides to the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, Snorkeling on Nusa Penida, or Sekumpul Waterfall.