Is there really a curse on couples who visit Bali? We put it to the test
Seventy-eight per cent of Luxe Nomad followers had not experienced the Bali curse – they and their partners are still together
So you’re finally in a good committed relationship (go you!) and your partner suggests a trip to Bali. At first, you’re excited but then you remember that urban so-called “Bali curse”. Is there actually a curse on couples who visit Bali? Well, that depends on who you ask.
The legend
Once upon a time, there was a young prince and princess who fell deeply in love on the island. And well, to put politely, they were intimate while they were still unmarried. But as it turned out the prince was not looking for a fairytale ending and did what any modern day man would do: he ghosted the princess and was never seen or heard from again.
Naturally, the princess didn’t take it very well – ghosting was not as common back then as it is now. It’s said that she then put a curse on all unmarried couples who visited Bali so that they would break up after leaving the island.
The variations
As with any urban legends, different versions of the Bali curse exist. Some say the curse only affects unmarried couples who do the deed (okay, had sex) while in Bali, while others say unmarried couples who travel with family and friends are unaffected. Another version says the curse only affects couples who visit the famous Tanah Lot Temple.
The statistics
We put the Bali curse to the test the only way we know how – on an Instagram poll. We put it to The Luxe Nomad followers – have you ever really been struck by the Bali curse, or is it just an urban myth? The answer was pretty conclusive: only 22 per cent of you had actually experienced the curse, while a resounding 78 per cent hadn’t. We also received the following responses from the poll:
