Is Bali a safe choice for the first time traveller ?

I would save Bali for later, when you have a little more travel under your belt. I think Ireland, however, would be a GREAT choice for a first solo international trip. There are loads of very pleasant hostels where it's easy to meet people. Everyone speaks English. It's easy to get to from North America (if that's where you are) - if you live near a major city you probably won't even need a layover. It's relatively easy to get around the country (and cities) on buses. I really like traveling by myself, but three weeks can be a really long time and feel isolating. Again, for a first trip, something more like 10-14 days might be better, and that's plenty of time to see the highlights of Ireland. Do it! You'll have a great time.

My parents who are in their early 70's went to Bali recently. They stayed at the Marriott or something, but ended up taking a taxi or something around the island. I could not believe it, as I once left my parents overnight at a hotel in Japan (they had to catch a flight) about ten years ago and my Mom phoned me up whispering that there were people "talking out on the street."

Bali in March is an excellent choice. First, a bit of a warning, do not schedule your return flight on Nyepi, the Balinese New Year, March 31, because the airport will be closed. If you are worried about arriving late at night*, book a hotel in Legian or Seminyak for the first night that will send a driver to pick you up. Or just take a taxi. It's perfectly safe. Kuta is for the party-hearty/package tour crowd. Then I'd suggest going up to Ubud for the rest of your stay. It is smaller, less frenetic, more centrally located and a better option for finding budget accommodation. You can easily book a driver to take you around sight-seeing but there are a LOT of things to see and do in Ubud itself. Memail me if you need more specific advice and recommendations. I'm here right now. *My first trip to Bali, I landed at the airport around 10 o'clock at night (breaking one of my primary rules of travelling, never arrive late at night). I had been told to take a bemo (public transport) from "outside the airport gate" as it was cheaper than a taxi. What with waiting for someone's lost luggage and backpacker's kismet, there was a group of around 5 of us who were similarly adrift. We couldn't find a bemo... because they stopped running at sunset, LOL...so we decided to walk to Kuta. I mean, it didn't look far on the map in Lonely Planet and it was a nice night. What a sight. Taxi after taxi stopped to ask if we wanted a ride and finally, after spending what seemed like an eternity walking on one long road without even coming to the first intersection, we accepted, after bargaining hard, I'm sure. Not. We didn't even have the name of a guesthouse and anyway, it was so late and just after Christmas so everything was booked anyway. Finally the taxi driver stopped at a hotel under construction and the night watchman let us sleep in a bale, a thatched roof, open-sided pavilion, that had wooden beds with mats on them. He showed us a bathroom we could use to wash up and he brought us tea. So that's where I slept on my first night in Bali. I'm sure you will do better.

I would go to Bali!! Bali is amazing. The people are gentle and lovely, the culture is beautiful and intricate, the landscape is lush. It'll be more of a challenge than Ireland (I've been to both) but well worth it - stretch yourself! I'm biased 'cause I've been to Bali five or six times, including living there for nearly a year (volunteer work). I have a love affair with that little island. Memail me if you'd like more info. :)

If millions of eighteen year old Australians can handle Bali, you can probably handle Bali. For example - if I fly into the airport at 3:40 am how do I get anywhere ? Guidebooks are a great resource for questions like this. However, as an experienced traveler to a part of Asia where travelers often arrive in the wee hours just because of how time zones and airline schedules work, my first guess is that there will probably be taxis. Anytime there are flights arriving, there are going to be taxis, because taxi drivers want to earn money. You may need to take special consideration in selecting a taxi and behaving in the taxi due to the hour*, but there will almost certainly be a taxi. I would personally opt not to stay in a homestay after arriving so late, just because it seems sort of rude. You should get a hotel the first night then go to the homestay the following day, at a reasonable hour for expecting guests. And if I fly from boston to Tokyo to Taipei city, how does it work in the airport - do I have to figure out a million lines at each stop because I'm leaving one country and entering another? No. You'll board in Boston, arrive in Tokyo and then again in Taipei, and stay in the airport terminal for your layover. You may be given customs and immigration forms on the plane (because many of your fellow passengers will have Tokyo or Taipei as their final destination), but you almost certainly won't need them. You might want to read up on the airports to double check that this is the case, but every time I've flown internationally and had a layover in a third unrelated country, I have not had to go through customs or immigration because I was technically not entering the country. And once I'm on the ground - what do I actually do with my stuff when I am out and about ? leave it in my homestay? You'll take ground transportation (again, probably a taxi) to wherever you're staying, and then for the most part you'll leave most things there during the day while you enjoy Bali. A lot of people like to carry a "day pack" or slightly larger handbag to fit a camera, travel journal, guidebook, and the like. *I have no experience with Bali, but when I flew into Mumbai at 2AM, I was advised to ONLY take the official airport pre-paid taxi service, pay in advance at the window rather than paying the driver, and never under any circumstances allow the driver to take you ANYWHERE other than your hotel, or to pick up ANY other passengers, even a "friend". I'd guess Bali isn't quite as wild and wooly as all that, but again, a guidebook can provide more specific information.

quince is right, Bali is well-prepared for tourists. The party scene in Kuta can be easily avoided if it's not your thing, and it's where most of the petty crime and horrible traveller experiences are. Outside of the few blocks that make up Kuta, you can find beautiful scenery and experiences. I'm not an experienced traveller by any means. I stayed in the next section over from Kuta in a chain hotel with two girlfriends, ate mostly at local places, took day trips out to waterfalls, crafts markets, parasailing, white-water rafting and the volcano. We got ripped off by a few taxi drivers, but since the exchange rate was so strongly in favour of the Aussie dollar it didn't put the slightest dent in our budget. I figure the drivers have got families to feed, whatever, at least they got us where we wanted to be on time. We also scheduled a rest day to sit by the hotel pool to read and swim and drink cocktails, which was quite a relief for me as an introvert. If you have any problems your hotel or hosts will likely be very helpful. As a single woman you're more likely to get hassle from drunk tourists, but tourist family groups and the locals will be more than happy to help if you have problems. It's a family-oriented culture so I think a homestay would be a really lovely way to experience the place. Indonesian is not difficult to learn if you just want the basics, but many Balinese speak job-related English and I got by with please, thankyou, no thankyou, no money (useful in markets for persistent sellers, as long as you are honest and don't just buy something at the next stall), where is... that sort of thing. That said, I've never been to Ireland but I bet it's great too. It's just that if Bali is your first choice there's no reason not to go even if you're alone.

Do you think the hassle of the learning curve of a first time traveller makes it worth it to go someplace a little safer and milder, like Ireland, before attempting Bali? (I would be psyched to go to Ireland too!) On my first trip out of the country, I bought a one way ticket to Guatemala and spent three months in Central America by myself. I didn't know a word of Spanish. I survived. Go where you want to go. You'll manage. Read up on where you're going, get travel insurance, make sure you have a place to stay when you land -- you'll start meeting other travellers on the first day and you won't be alone.

Also -- use the /r/travel subreddit and Lonely Planet forums and trip advisor. There are a lot of people who do this kind of thing and they have plenty of advice -- almost every question you asked has been asked there before. As far as your specific questions -- don't buy a flight that lands at 3 in the morning in an unfamiliar city -- land in the morning, give your self plenty of daylight to find transportation, a hotel, get a meal, etc. And yes, at every airport you need to figure out lines, but there are signs in english and poeple that speak english in pretty much every major airport in the world. If you're confused, talk to the airline people, that's what they're there for. As far as where you leave your stuff, yeah, you either lock it in a safe or leave it with the homestay if you're doing a home stay. Take as few valuables as you can on your first trip, because you're probably going to lose stuff or get it stolen. That's just part of travelling.

HA! I misread this while scanning headline as a "time traveling" question.