does anyone know contact info of the Harris Kuta Resort? I have tried the email address that was on the web site but no reply. Just wondering if anyone knew any other contact. many thanks
Tel: +62 361 753 868
Fax: +62 361 753 875
E-mail: sales@harris-kuta-bali.com
That might help?
On very short notice I have the chance to make one week of holiday, leaving tomorrow. I am looking for a nice place offering meditation and yoga. A bit better than an ashram but no luxurious resort. Spirituality is more important.
I appreciate all help.
Eva
Hi,
Where can I buy the above wedding door gifts in bandung? I plan to be there in June.
Pasar Baru is the place to be, but then U would have more choice if you go to Tanah Abg or Pasar Jatinegara in Jakarta..
I need to really think about the best Island tours in Bali I have 4 Sons and a Husband so its gotta be good and have food which I know might cost us extra in the tour so a place you will never forget, eg view, location experience
Hi,
I%26#39;d recommend booking a driver %26amp; planning your own tour or asking him to help you to plan it. It will be much cheaper than going on an organised tour, you can please yourself as to how long you spend at each place, when you want to stop for lunch etc.
Have a look at this website to get an idea of places you can visit on a tour:
www.balistarisland.com
One of the highlights of my visit last August was a day at the Safari %26amp; Marine Park. Had a fantastic day %26amp; we were the last party to leave...they were waiting to lock up lol!
My favourite views %26amp; places to visit are in the Karangasem region, east bali.
Ursie
Boys seem to really like the bike tours and the bali buggies tours.
Yes we are doing that but ti meant was an island tour
The best way to tour bali is as Ursie suggested, get a driver for the day. Load the van up with cold drinks in the esky and with some plan of sights in hand , have a great time going at your pace, not being taken to factories , shops and commissioned restaurants.
With a good driver you will see much more than the brochure tourist sights.
Sugeest you have a look at a map, write down some places you definitely want to see and let your driver guide you.
Expect to pay from 450,000rp for a day which will be a lot less than the cost of an organised tour per person.
I wil go for the bulldog, Friendly chap and a calm safe Balinees driver. You can view all his trips on
bali-arrangements.com/bali-arrangements-buld…
I%26#39;m travelling to Padang %26amp; Bukittinggi next week, thinking of spending 2 days in Bukittinggi and then back to Padang to visit Sikuai Island Resort. Anyone know if it is a nice resort? Thanks.
Hi charlie,
for me, Sikuai Island Resort is good and nice resort, specially for the beach and view arround.
you can check their website : www.newsikuaiisland.com
Thanks for your reply. I have been to Sikuai Island. It is a beautiful island, the only problem is that it is overrun by local day trippers on the weekend. Once they all leave it is very peaceful. I did enjoy my stay there.
I%26#39;m travelling to Bali for a short break with my young daughter. Am looking for a 4start plus hotel, on beach, short walk to markets but not in a supper busy spot? Spa and kids club would be good. Can anyone recommend somewhere?
Which resort are you looking at and what%26#39;s your budget?
Hi Ella,
Perhaps you should try Seminyak area they have good beaches and are close enough to Kuta for the odd shopping. In kuta the Ramada Bintang in Tuban is a good choice close to everything but staying in close has its advantages off being able to walk to your hotel to refresh and go out again after a dip in the pool as traffic can be very thick at times as they have alot of 1 way streets and at night if you are to far out they charge a fortune.
Have a good time and enjoy.
Ramada Bintang
Kuta Paradiso
Dynasty ( good kids hotel lots of Aussie go there)
they are all in Tuban.
In Seminyak just put in Seminyak hotels and read all the others reviews.
Pauline Perth
Hi Ella
I would definately recommend the Dynasty. The kids club is great. Even when your daughter is not in the club, she will enjoy the activities around the pool and finds lots of friends to play with. While she is in the kids club, you can enjoy some quiet time in the adults only area or have a lovely massage.
cheers
Sparky
I have stayed at the dynasty with my daughter when she was 7. She wasnt overly keen on the kids club but that is probably because she goes to holiday program in school holidays and it is a bit like that. SHe did love the pool and met heaps of kids to play with. She is now 9 and we tried to book for our next holiday next week but couldnt get in. The only down side is it was difficult to get a sun lounge around the pool and I have heard that recently there are a lot of people from other hotels who come in and use the pool. It is in a great location for waterbom and Dicovery shopping mall where there is a intecity games place that she loves. We have also stayed at the Jayakarta in legion. SHe enjoyed her stay there even though there were not a lot of other kids. I didnt like it as it was too big for me I like smaller hotels. This trip I will probably take her ot Hard rock for a day as I am told there pool is great and you can hire a cabana to lounge around the pool even when not a guest there. Thought about staying there but not keen on the location.
Please advise me about the travel agent in Medan. I have one in list now.TRAVELINDO.My group of 9 persons will be going on 2 March till 5 March 2009.We are also concerned about HALAL food.Really need advise.The vacation just round the corner....Thanks
Find the right travel agent in MedanHi,
I have mentioned many times on this forum about Narasindo Tours in Medan.
Here is an information post I wrote on another forum a couple of yrs ago.
…indahnesia.com/topic/4514/0/recommended_tra…
Hoping this will be of some help for you.
I also have another contact in Medan a young guy by the name of Bob who does take travellers around on tours and would be considerably cheaper than an organised travel agent.
Not so long ago he took a group of 15 Malaysian people on a 3 day trip from Medan to Lake Toba and maybe Brestagi.
He has a big van that carries about 9 people and being Muslim himself is very very aware of the need for HALAL food for a group such as yours.
He has a small website that was built for him by an European client of his.
Website link is http://sumatra-adventure.weebly.com/
His email address is bobsumatran@yahoo.com.au
and his mobile phone is +62 81361164282
A few weeks ago he did receive an email from someone but sadly did something wrong and deleted the email.
I tried to help him with finding out who the traveller would have been but could not find out.
I ownder if it was you who emailed him.
I have two photos on my desk top of Bob%26#39;s van with him that I took whilst visiting him in Medan in April/May 2008 that I can send to you if you send me a Private Message with your email address.
Pamela.
Find the right travel agent in MedanHow much does he charge per day?
The quoted price for a 10 day tour seems expensive to me.
Hi,
Sorry I forgot to say that any prices quoted on Bob%26#39;s website are NOT correct. The person who created his website made up those prices without quoting him and they have never been changed.
Email him and ask him- it will always depend on how many people etc etc.
Pamela.
i%26#39;m trying to contact bob but couldn%26#39;t. i made contact through pamela and arranged for medan lake toba tour. please contact me bob(taufik hidayat)
thank youy
Hi Siva,
I have sent you a Private Message.
Bob does not post on travel forums- he does not have the money to go to the internet every day- like most Indonesians who depend on travellers for their income.
For anyone emailing any Indonesian contacts please give them a few days- to one week to reply.
And if you have a mobile phone no. for your contact quickly send them a text to say an email is waiting for them.
Pamela
You might have a look at Website link is http://sumatra-adventure.weebly.com/
Thank you but I have already provided the website link above.
Pamela
We%26#39;re going at end of April for 12 nights, so these are the choices. We will have 2 toddlers with us, so we want to be walking distance to Ubud centre, and have a private villa for the extra space and privacy.
So, which to choose? Kajane has great reviews, but not a very good website - hard to tell what the Loji Villa will be like. Any experiences with this villa?
Natura also looks great - Luxury Pool Villa is available for us.
And there%26#39;s no reviews for Anhera - has anyone stayed here or knows what it%26#39;s like?
Advice would be greatly appreciated! It%26#39;s our 1st time in Bali, and really want it to be special.
Thanks!
Sorry I%26#39;m not a villa sort of guy, but from the locations alone, KaJaNe has the better location right on Monkey Forest Road.
Thanks for replying.
Do you have any other suggestions for us? What kind of accomm do you like if not villas? Do you know any really great family friendly places i could try? Bearing in mind my kids are only 2.5 and 1.
On that point, do you know if any of the ones in my OP have heaps of stairs or anything non kid friendly that i haven%26#39;t thought of?
Thanks, Trish
I love little boutique hotels, cheap and cheerful, preferably with a nice pool and good location. I don%26#39;t travel with children, Mrs Noodles says I%26#39;m handful enough, so can%26#39;t really comment from this perspective.
I%26#39;ve often liked the look of Lady Bamboo Villas in Ubud, they%26#39;re not a bad price and a good location, might be worth a look?
We stayed at Kajane last May for the last few days of our honeymoon and loved it! It was my wife%26#39;s birthday on our last day and they made such a fuss without any extra charge. I can thoroughly recommend it and the location is fantastic!
I%26#39;m not sure about the Loji villa though I%26#39;m afraid.
OK... thanks everyone for the responses.
I%26#39;ve gone ahead with Natura, because they offered us an excellent price for a 2 bed villa - a much better price than anyone else.
I will check out Kajane while we%26#39;re over there, because i think it looks great. Maybe next time...
Let you all know how it goes when we get back!
Thanks, Trish
I am rubbish at maths and just wanted to ask how do people get there heads around the currency with so many 0%26#39;s. Are there any tips for easy remembering for example.. one Uk pound will equal?...5 uk pounds will equal?...and 10 uk pounds will equal? etc. I am not getting the currency at all. Is it quite easy to get the hang of it once you are there? Many thanks.xx
Hi,
Print out a traveller pocket cheat sheet %26amp; take it with you. I laminate one %26amp; take it everywhere with me....brilliant.
www.oanda.com
Ursie
hey donnygirl its easy first off all take a small pocket size calculator with you when shoping and lets say the exchange rate is 7.600 rups to the aussie dollor and you buy somthing for 300.000 rps divide the 300.000 by 7.600 cost is 39 ausie dollors to buy the goods works the same in your countrys currancy find out how many rps to the pound and iff its lets say 25.000 rps then divide your purchase by 25 eg goods cost 300.000 rps thats 6 p0und your mony hope this helps kobrob
you are right there are lots of 000%26#39;s to get your head around, just make sure that when you hand your notes over to pay that you are not giving a 100,000rp note instead of a 10,000rp note. stick with reputable money changers that look more like %26#39;banks%26#39; and the kodak shops and stay away from the numerous money changers who are %26#39;tucked%26#39; inside shops and down alleys. some of these are not very honest and will try and give you lots of smaller notes which don%26#39;t add up to what you are meant to receive and they can have dodgy calculators.
Take a calculator, count your money from the changers it when you get because some do try to short change you. It its say 7600 for a dollar so 22,800 is 3 dollars , eg satay sticks are say 30,400 thats 4 dollars for satay sticks, its easy don%26#39;t shop on the beach don%26#39;t get massage on the beach unless you find your feet. The shops are the same price a lot easier, work out what you want to pay on the calculator and then barter away... if they say its so much work it out on the calculator, divide it by the rate and if your not happy give them half the price you want to really pay and then work your way up to the price you a willing to pay there is no way out of the bartering so good luck hope this helps
I just said the same thing funny
Really depends on the exchange rate, but I normally remember that 15000RP is æ‹¢1.00. So I know that 7500Rp is 50p, 30000Rp is æ‹¢2.00, 45000Rp is æ‹¢3.00, 60000Rp is æ‹¢4.00 etc.
Ursie%26#39;s suggestion is a good one. If you start converting to Aussie Dollars then to British Pounds you%26#39;ll get completely lost!
Hi , I am planning a 50th birthday surprise for my husband and was thinking about Bali. We would be staying late September or early October. Would it be the rainy season then? are there areas in particular that would suit our age-group more than others. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Fiona.
Hi, I would suggest Ubud for culture and art, and either Sanur or Seminyak (or both, depending on the length of your stay). Sanur and Seminyak both have great eats and shopping without the wild scene of Kuta. Both are close to the beach, Sanur is protected by a reef so no surf, and Seminyak has more surf.
Late September/early October would be a good time to visit. The wet season starts a little later in the year and even if it does rain, you won%26#39;t be inconvenienced too much.
September/October are great months to visit as the wet season hasn%26#39;t started. I was there last October and it was very hot and humid, more so than usual, so expect it be pretty warm. I also had my 50th birthday in Bali at my most favourite location Ubud. I have an ex-pat friend Janet de Neefe who runs two beautiful guesthouses - Honeymoon Guesthouse and Second Honeymoon (great places to stay), a world-renowned cooking school Casa Luna Cooking School and two of Ubud%26#39;s most popular restaurants - Casa Luna and Indus. I had my birthday at Indus and it was absolutely magical! The restaurant is magnificent with rice paddy views and the food sensational. I couldn%26#39;t have asked for a better 50th!!! I also like to spend some time on the coast, preferably Legian/Seminyak areas. There%26#39;s great restaurants here, especially in Jalan Laksmana at Seminyak, fabulous shopping and great day spas. Kuta is much more for the young crowd and Sanur is more family-friendly. Other great areas to visit include Candi Dasa, Amed and Nusa Lembongan and the beautiful, countryside around Ubud.
Thanks Whinnie and Elizabeth for your help and great tips! Sounds the place to go. Bali is def. it! Cheers all. Fiona.
We%26#39;re currently planning a honeymoon and are considering Bali as the packages are well priced. We like the idea of club med where everything is included but wondered if it gets boring eating/drinking at the same place each day and if it felt like a waste of money eating outside of the hotel.
Is it really worth the extra money as everything is included??
Any opinions would be great!
Thanks
It%26#39;s a personal decision - for me, part of the fun of a holiday is sampling the various local bars and restaurants. I%26#39;ve only been on an All Inclusive holiday once in Tunisia; food was buffet style, so you help yourself. So rather than dinner being a relaxed drawn-out way to while away the night, it was generally over in 30 mins. Also this is the only time I%26#39;ve ever had food poisoning on holiday.
Have been to CM Bali a couple of times but not since the renovation Personally, for a honeymoon I would go elsewhere- more romantic and more private. You could take in some of Bali and try some great restaurants.
If it was just a regular holiday CM is great- great fun, great food and drinks. I personally dont get bored with the food because I try something different each day/night and dont go over the top with food.
Happy honeymoon.
We are big fans of AIs in Mexico. It%26#39;s great paying for everything in advance and not having to worry about the costs.
However, we%26#39;ve been to Bali once and are going again in May and the AI there isn%26#39;t for us. There are just too many good restaurants and too much to do to do the AI from our point of view.
And I think the previous poster was right, for a honeymoon, you probably want something more romantic.
Club Med on Bali has a great beach - very expansive and private compared to other hotels. Its one of the best on Bali. The other great beach hotels are Conrad, Grand Hyatt, Amanusa (beach club), St Regis.
Hi, I have researched this on the internet and have seen conflicting reports, what is the weather likely to be like in Bali in October. Is it likely to be suitable weather for a beach holiday?
Bali in octoberOctober is a great time to visit Bali. The wet season hasn%26#39;t started so it%26#39;s just day after day of blue skies!!! It can be very hot and humid so is perfect for a beach holiday! I have been to Bali the past two Octobers and am going again this October! Both times I went there was no rain, but last October was hotter than usual, so swimming is an essential part of every day!
Bali in octoberGood to hear nothing but blue skies - I%26#39;m going in October too. It%26#39;s soooo far away!
I%26#39;ll also be there in October. Sept and October are a really nice time to visit. You may get the occasional short sharp shower, which I personally love watching (from indoors, with a beer).
Thanks, see you there!
Hi,
My friend and I am planning to take 2 days off post a work-trip to Singapore, to travel from Singapore to Bali and back to Singapore.
I%26#39;m looking for some suggestions/advice on the following areas:
a. what%26#39;s the best budget option to travel from Singapore to Denpasar, Bali? (I%26#39;ve heard of Lion-Air, any other recommendations?)
b. once in Bali, since we would have limited time of 2 days, what%26#39;s the key area of Bali we should head for? (am told that would be Kuta, but again, please suggest).
c. any suggestions about decent, clean hotels to stay (that are conveniently located not too far from the tourist areas) would be very welcome!
Thanks,
Surjo.
(b) What do you want to do in Bali? Are you looking to chill out on the beach, or looking to surf, check out the culture, night life etc?
(c) Depends on the answer to (b)
Well, I guess we%26#39;d like to see atleast some of the usual ';touristy'; places in and around Bali, visit one or two of the better-famed beaches, do a spot of shopping, and (time permitting!) laze around on the beach.
Would be great if you could post some suggestions.
Regards
You mention beach twice there, so I take it that this is important to you? In Kuta/Legian/Seminyak, you have a long wide stretch of brown sand with big crashing waves, ideal for surfing. In Sanur you have a long narrow stretch of golden sand with a calm lagoon off shore. Jimbaran is widely regarded as one of the nicest beaches, although you may find accomodation there expensive compared to other resorts. What%26#39;s your budget approximately?
For shopping, Kuta is excellent, although Legian and Seminyak are also very good (Seminyak has lots of little boutique shops). Sanur has Hardys Department Store, and a beach market, as well as various tourist shops. Ubud is also worth the trip for shopping, and to see cultural dance shows. It%26#39;s about a 50 min drive from Kuta or Sanur, so it may be worth heading there one afternoon for shopping then stay for a dance show before heading back. There%26#39;s also the Monkey Forest in Ubud which is worth a visit. Maybe consider a trip to Uluwatu or Tanah Lot, both on the west coast, both easily accessible. Bali is quite a small island so it%26#39;s easy enough to travel around to see what you want.
Hi Surjo,
Try Air Asia. I have flown with them a few times within Asia %26amp; they%26#39;re always quite reasonable. They fly from Singapore to Bali.
Also, Singapore Air fly to Bali, not sure of the price though.
Hope this helps.
Natalie.
Lion works great. Never had a problem. AirAsia is starting service this month. New aircraft 737-900
I wrote this review of Lion last year.
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294226-i7220-k215鈥?/a>
Hi All!
Happynoodleboy - thanks for the pointers on wwhat to do and where to go - it sure helps to have some starting points to explore further!
Farehamblue - thanks for the tip. I tried the Air Asia website, and it seems they just might have some air+hotel packages for sub-1000 Sing.dollars - looks interesting at first glance! - although not sure if these are really recommended. Any feelers on that?
Yamanote - thanks for the excellent review on Lion Air - I read through the entire posting, and must say your tip on the immigration forms is very useful. Wouldn%26#39;t have bothered with picking up the forms in advance had I not known this possible confusion upon landing.
Going by your feedback and some googling I have done, looks like the best-option for stay-location is Kuta, cos thats where all the action is!
Would appreciate any pointers on what definitely-not-to-miss whilst in Bali :)
Thanks once again!
Surjo
Hi Surjo,
I have flown quite a few times with Air Asia now %26amp; all flights have been fine. I have never booked a hotel package with them though so couldn%26#39;t comment.
Cheers,
FB
you may also like to try budget airline: Jetstar
here%26#39;s the link http://www.jetstar.com/sg/en/index.aspx
hope this helps =)
my last flight on Lion, about 6 weeks ago, they had immigration forms!!
1 word of warning re the discount airlines. They do often have delays or cancellations and if you only have 2 days it may be advisable to pay the extra and fly Singapore or Garuda air.
Just a thought.:)
Hi all,
I get to know that from 28 Apr to 3 May there will be Balispirit Festival - An annual celebration of Yoga Dance and Music in Ubud.
http://www.balispiritfestival.com/
Please advise if all the guesthouses in Ubud overbooked during that time? Do we need to make a room reservation in advance? How to book if we just need a budget room and the questhouses may not have a website?
Thanks in advance
Parkhopper
Hi there,
My wife and I are going to Bali for the first time in June, but can`t decide which part to stay in.
We basically just want a chilled out beach resort with good scuba diving nearby, as in we don`t have to drive to a site, just stay in a resort which has a centre there, or in walking distance
We don`t want to do to much travelling about as we would have completed a tour of vietnam just before, so I guess somewhere not too out of the way from the airport? maybe the south/south east? Sanur has been mentioned, but not sure if the diving is good there? what about Ulutawu, is that more for surfing?
any thoughts welcome!
thanks!
You can go scuba diving at Sanur, there are 3 dive sites around the offshore reef, Channel Point, Penjor Reef and Jeladi Wilis, essentially to see marine life. Sometimes visibility is a bit compromised but it%26#39;s good for novice divers.
For the best diving, you%26#39;re looking to the north west coast or the area around Candi Dasa/Amed/Padang Bai, all a good 2 hour drive from Sanur.
thanks, thats great, in fact i was just looking at Amed, the Life resort in fact. It is a drive, but might be worth getting a taxi straight there, and stay there the week...there seem to be some good revioews for Life, on here
Send a PM to Ursie57, she%26#39;s a big fan of Amed, or she may even read this posting. I%26#39;ve not been there but have visited Candi Dasa - very nice, but incredibly quiet, great for 2 or 3 days relaxing. Any more and personally I%26#39;d be climbing the walls.
Hi kahuna,
Amed is renowned for diving %26amp; snorkelling. It is a fishing village on the east coast which consists of a series of bays/beaches %26amp; stretches for approx 15km along the coast. There are several reefs you can dive including the Liberty shipwreck just off the beach at nearby Tulumben. Whichever dive operator you choose they will pick you up/drop you off from your accomodation. If you decide on Life in Amed which is at Lean, Euro Dive is approx 1km away at Lipah.Life in Amed is beachside, balinese bungalows %26amp; has a good restaurant from postings/reviews I%26#39;ve read.
www.eurodivebali.com
Jukung Dive is in Amed village which is at the other end of Amed but has a good reputation.Across the road are Kembali Bungalows
www.kembalibeachbungalows.nl
www.jukungdivebali.com
Next door is Geria Giri Shanti bungalows which also recently opened their own dive shop. The owner, Ian is English.The balinese bungalows are budget price,spotlessly clean, set in lovely colourful gardens but don%26#39;t have their own swimming pool.
www.adventurediversbali.com
www.geriagerishanti.com
Some of the hotels also have their own dive operation such as Amed Cafe %26amp; Apa Kabar Villas.
www.amedcafe.com
www.apakabarvillas.com
Amed is a great place to chill out %26amp; relax, has very few shops %26amp; no ATM%26#39;s. Uncommercialised 7 the local people are very friendly. Live music at Wawa Wewe I in Lipah twice a week. Lots of places you can visit from Amed, also some amazing scenery in the vicinity. I don%26#39;t Dive but my daughter does %26amp; has dived in the area. If you want any more info just ask or send me a PM.
Cheers
Ursie
Forgot to say but you%26#39;re probably better booking a driver to pick you up at the airport as it will be cheaper than a taxi. Can give you contact details of a local driver or there is a comprehensive list of recommended drivers here on the forum. He is called Salit %26amp; is on the list.
tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294226-c8993/Bali:In鈥?/a>
Hi there!
If you are diving in Bali for the first time, I would recommend the Liberty Wreck at Tulamben. It%26#39;s very easy diving (just a shore dive) but unfortunately it%26#39;s a 3 hour drive from the airport so you would have to stay at Tulamben itself. But the diving there is definitely better than in Sanur. Aside from the wreck, there are wall dives around the area and you can also take a short car ride to Amed from Tulamben. Here are some links to some resorts which I%26#39;ve stayed before. They are comfortable and clean and excellent for divers. Mimpi is slightly more upmarket than Tauch Terminal and both are walking distance to the Liberty Wreck. If you do decide to dive the Wreck, please remember to bring your booties..the walk to the wreck is on pebbles (pebbled beach) and can be really painful..think of it as free foot reflexology! Have a lovely holiday!
www.tauch-terminal.com/english/index.html
www.mimpi.com/mimpi-tulamben-resort.html
For diving and chilling out. Ahmed is THE place. Tulambeng where the Liberty Shipwreck is a must .. the wreck is very near the shoreline. and it%26#39;s only about 60 feet down. The waters there are crystal clear. Reason is there is no sand just pebbles .. millions of pebbles from from the volcanic runoff from Mt Agung 40 years ago.
In a pretty good sized article the NYTimes Travel Section discusses Mozaic, the chef%26#39;s approach, background and the food served. Its interesting.
…nytimes.com/2009/03/15/travel/15choice.html
The link doesn%26#39;t seem to work.
Cheers... Princi62
Hi Princi
It worked for me - try again. As tengohambre2 writes, it is a very interesting article. I have friends who went there 2 nights ago and said it was very, very, very good - they loved it all. They took a bottle of French champagne and were charged 125,000 corkage which was a pretty cheap option if you want to drink well and spoil yourself.
We went there again about 6 or so weeks ago.. as a special treat for my 14yo daughter (it is her favorite restaurant! - go figure!)
We always take our own wine 120++ rps is still good for corkage but it used to be 70k last year!
Was a bit shocked by the recent price rise though.. as we were just there a few months before in Dec and the jump in price is quite high! they have changed the way the menu works too - they now have 2 separate menus at different prices (plus the chef surprise one..) and now you have to choose one or the other.. we asked if we could swap a few choices and they seemed okay with that.. They just made the price in the middle of the two ranges..
It is still a fantastic restaurant but it is getting really a bit expensive for a family dinner in Bali IMO
Hey Brigid - I never really thought of it as a family restaurant I must say - lol. It should really be somewhere special and for a special occasion, don%26#39;t you think? It is easy to spend that kind of money in a restaurant in Australia but not necessarily with the same quality of food.
As much as I love the NYT, it%26#39;s typical of them to travel to a country where local workers earn less than $100 a month and recommend that travelers spend that on a single meal. They also like the $300 a night resorts in Cambodia.
I was at Mozaic in January and reviewed it here on TA. Although we enjoyed dinner, I didn%26#39;t go to Bali to pretend I was in Napa. And aside from the prices, I was disappointed at the lack of local ingredients.
I first heard of Mozaic because of Anthony Bourdain%26#39;s Cook%26#39;s Tour (or Without Reservations) TV show. But he at least combines dinner at his friend%26#39;s restaurant (Mozaic) with lunch at Ibu Oka ($2.50 for a fantastic only in Bali meal).
I think it is great that Bali can offer fantastic cuisine at many different levels and in many different styles.. diversity enjoy it all or what appeals! Yes it does seem out of kilter to spend as much as one person earns in a week or three for a meal.. but then people do that all the time here on hotels, villas, elephant parks or airline tickets too.. Meals like this are relatively expensive the world over they are meant to be an experience rather than simply a dinner and I personally think that it is great that Bali can successfully offer this type of dining along with all the other diverse styles and cuisines here..
To be fair to Moziac - most of the ingredients are actually grown or bred locally here and have actually empowered many farmers by earning extremely good money from limited farming space - to grow organically and it has allowed them to extend their products to the local gourmet markets here - (fantastic for a foodie who lives here)
It makes me really happy buying from these farmers at the weekly markets and see them doing so well...
Also the staff at Moziac get trained to a truly international level.. giving them career options way beyond what may be open to them other wise..
Just more food for thought..
';more food for thought..'; - puntastic!
As a matter of interest, how much is the grub at Mozaic at the moment?
Hi Noodles,
There are 2 prices at Mozaic at the moment: 2 menus at 550,000 and one at 750,000 - really not expensive by world wide standards and quite frankly, it is pretty easy to pay that at Kudeta and La Lucciola at the moment.
The chef at Mozaic is French so I hardly felt like I was in a wine growing region of the US, or of Europe for that matter, and my bill was about at third of what I would pay for a comparable experience in Canadian or European restaurant. I don%26#39;t know why the cost of a meal at Mozaic is really such an issue with so many people who have reviewed the restaurant. It%26#39;s comparatively inexpensive as is everything in Bali. What does it matter if you can eat for $2.50 at a local warung? It%26#39;s a totally different experience. Do backpackers on a shoe string budget make more of a contribution to the local economy than those who stay at five start resorts (I%26#39;m certainly not one of them) and dine at Bali%26#39;s poshest restaurants?
Well said Adventurix - have to say that I agree wholeheartedly with what you have written!
Hi, First time in Bali, staying at Conrad but would like to experience some real Balinese. Is there a local market (outdoor w/ a roof) that the local people go to do their food shopping??? Thanks!
1st time in Bali - Nusa DuaHello! If you%26#39;re staying at Conrad, you won%26#39;t be able to see the real Bali at all! I would suggest that you take a day trip up to Ubud (with a guide) and visit the local market there. The journey to Ubud would be nice too as you will see a lot of the countryside and villages. Another place to see the locals do their food shopping would be Pasar Badung in Denpasar. It%26#39;s a huge complex so this one has a roof but the fruits and vegetables section is in the outdoors. They sell everything there..from food to ceremonial offerings and it will be an eye-opener for you! Go early in the morning so it%26#39;s not too hot for you as the day progresses! Hope this helps and have a lovely holiday in Bali!
1st time in Bali - Nusa DuaThanks for the tip!!!!!!
Actually, the ';real'; Bali is quite close to the Conrad.
Drive 10 minutes to the north, is Benoa village, a fishing village at the tip of the peninsula. You can walk around this authentic village, see the markets, temples and mosque. You can actually take a long walk on the beach to get there.
About 15-20 min drive towards Denpasar is Jimbaran and Kedonganan village. Kedonganan has a real wet fish market - fishermen land their catch on the beach, which is sold by middlemen in the somewhat ramshackle market. Many of Bali%26#39;s chefs buy their fish here. Its great to visit, if not a little fishy.
Close by is the village market for Jimbaran, which is very busy in the mornings. Its on Jalan Uluwatu.
30 min away is Uluwatu temple - about as ';real'; as its gets.
Further away is the huge wet market in Denpasar. There are craft markets in Denpasar, Discovery Mall, and Bali Collection at Nusa Dua.
Conrad really isn%26#39;t Nusa Dua - its Tanjung Benoa. It has one of the best beach clubs I have seen on Bali and a nice restaurant called Spice.
Great advise!!! Thank you : ) any other recommendations in Bali or around Conrad?
Yamanote
Is it possible to walk from the Bali Tropic to Benoa?
I think you could, but its a bit of a long walk. I like to run, so frequently start at the mosque in Benoa and go all the way to Geger. Thats me.
To be sure, Benoa is not the most picturesque village on Bali, but it is authentic. There are lots of places to go that have more cultural impact, like Uluwatu, for example.
We stayed a week at the Conrad last month. It was our first trip to Bali as well. You%26#39;ll love the surroundings and service; but it is removed from exposure to daily Balinese lifestyles. We managed to take in quite a bit of the Island%26#39;s major sights and sounds by using a driver and going out in a different direction early every morning with plenty of stops throughout the day. Granted it%26#39;s not pure immersion, but for such a short visit we did come away feeling we had at least given ourselves a chance at ';the feel';. Our favorite day was spent driving up to Lake Bratan, stopping along the way for supplies at the various produce stands, and having a leisurely picnic on the park grounds; finished off by sunset cocktails at Tanah Lot. Go to Bali with an open mind...enjoy what you%26#39;re able to take in...and don%26#39;t regret what others think you should have seen or done. This place is truly magical wherever you go or stay.
Hi Ive just joined the site, thankgod, as im going crazy trying to book accommodation for my family of 5 people in August this year.
Im wanting bungalow or cottage style not hotel rooms, right on the beach and on the ground nearest the pool and nice gardens. My price range is approx $100.oo to $150.oo per night.
Has anyone got any suggestions not forgetting we have 3 kids two of which are busy boys.
Thanks Shelley
Try Villa Puri Ayu, they have a range of villas in different sizes at reasonable prices. Just google the name for the website and I have always found that the price quoted when I email them is lower than those posted on the website.
It%26#39;s not right on the beach, but a 2 minute walk from it and the resort has 2 pools.
Besakih Beach Resort has bungalows, it%26#39;s right on the beach in a very central position and it%26#39;s reasonable priced. Beautiful infinity pool overlooking the beach as well.
Cheers Deb.
For that price range, I would contact Floressa Tours. We have used them and just for that to get a hotel in Ubud. I used them the first year for lots of tours, the second year just hotel. Tell them what you want to pay and what you want.
I also have used web sites but liked Floressa tours better. John
We are staying at Legian and Tulamben and Amed have been recommended as good snorkelling spots. Do boats go there or will you need to go by car and how long would it take by both modes. Also, is the snorkelling done off the beach or do you need to taken to the snorkelling spot in a boat.
I assume you can hire the equipment there?
I stayed at Amed last October and the snorkelling is fantastic! It%26#39;s straight off the beach which is great and really easy or you can hire a boat to take you out to the wreck of a sunken US warship, the US Liberty where you can snorkel and dive. From Legian you will need to hire a car and it takes about three and a half hours to get to Amed. I stayed at a hotel at Amed so I hired all my equipment there. If you are just going for the day you will probably need to take your own, or maybe you could hire some from a hotel, not sure about that.
allow 3 hours drive to get there. there is good snorkeling but the currents/swell action can make it murky with jellyfish at certain times.
it might be worth your while to organise the whole trip from legian with everything you want so you don%26#39;t waste time there organising boat or driving to different locations equipment/etc.
as was said snorkeling is close to shore so a boat isn%26#39;t necessary so you will need a driver who knows where to go or else know yourself where you want to snorkel.
the trip up is great with good side trips worth doing. come via tirtagangga for water palace and return via the coast road between amed and ujung, it is spectacular.
Hi,
It%26#39;s approx a 2 1/2 hrs drive to Amed depending on traffic. There are several places where you can snorkle directly off the beach. Alternatively you could ask a local fisherman to take you out in his boat.
Geria Giri Shanti bungalows hire out snorkelling gear for a small charge or alternatively they offer a snorkelling course after which you get a C card.
Cost to hire for a day is 25,000IDR %26amp; in high season 30,000IDR. The snorkelling course costs 25GBP.
www.adventurediversbali.com
www.geriagirishanti.com
Also you can go to nearby Tulamben approx 20 mins drive from Amed village.
You could hire a driver for the day or maybe stay overnight. The bungalows above are very reasonable approx 10GBP a night.
If you%26#39;re interested I can recommend a driver based in Amed who could pick you up in Legian, take you to the best snorkelling spots %26amp; drive you back either that day or the next if you decided to stay.
Ursie
hi
wanted to try some of the water sports in Bali.was wondering for the diving(we never try before,n had no experience at all)do they provide coaching for 1st timer?or maybe we just try snorkeling instead.
need some opinion.
thanks
Hi,
Where are you staying in Bali?
There are watersport clubs operating from Tajung Benoa. Here%26#39;s a link for one of them
balistarisland.com/Bali-Adventure-Sightseein…
You%26#39;ll be able to take a beginners diving course I imagine.
Amed on the east coast is good for diving %26amp; snorkelling. You can snorkle directly off the beach or take a snorkelling course if you prefer.
Jukung Dive has a good reputation. Also Geria Giri Shanti Bungalows have recently opened their own dive shop, the owner is english %26amp; is a master diver. There is also Euro Dive.
You can also dive or snorkle at nearby Tulamben where there is a shipwreck just off the beach.
www.jukungdivebali.com
www.adventurediversbali.com (at Geria Geri Shanti)
I am just wondering if anyone has stayed at the Grand Natia in Candi Dasa?We have spotted it on the internet but there are no reviews to see.It looks like a great central location on the beach but would like to hear from anyone who has stayed there.Do they have a fridge,air conditioning etc.Also the Puri Oka Cottages.Any photos and info would be greatfully appreciated.
Hi
I googled Grand natia candi dasa and found links to sites explaining in detail what facilities are available. There were also some photos.
cheers
wendy
Hi, I%26#39;ve not stayed at Grand Natia but see my review of Alam Asmara in Candidasa. It%26#39;s lovely and if I can manage it, I%26#39;ll be back there for Xmas 2009. Yes it%26#39;s right on the water, has air conditioning, fridge, great restaurant and staff - hard to beat I would think. Sue
A friend %26amp; I stayed at the Grand Natia back in April, 2008. We were in a ';suite'; next to the infinity pool. There was air conditioning, but no refrigerator. There is a restaurant on-site. However, whenever we finished a meal, they expected payment immediately; said that they could not add it to our hotel bill. Also, whenever we ate on the deck in the back of the restaurant, it seemed as though the entire hotel staff followed us there %26amp; watched us as we ate. Our room was dark %26amp; depressing, oddly decorated, but with an open-air bathroom. We found the staff indifferent for the most part. I would never stay there again %26amp; do not recommend it to anyone.
On the other hand, in May of 2007, I stayed at the Temple Cafe %26amp; Seaside Cottages, which were right on the beach. The rates are more reasonable than those at the Grand Natia %26amp; the rooms were much nicer. There is no swimming pool or refrigerator, but there is air conditioning %26amp; a restaurant on-site. The staff was wonderful.
Hi,
My husband and I (both 28) have just booked our flights to Bali (with a stopover in Hong Kong).
We will be in Bali for 8 nights so were thinking of spending the first 4 in Sanur and the last 4 in Ubud. After 5 nights in Hong Kong we%26#39;ll be after a bit of relaxation but like to go somewhere with a bit of local character. We want somewhere with plenty of restaurant choices, a few low key bars, a nice beach and somewhere we can use as a base to see other parts of Bali. Will 4 nights in Sanur and 4 nights in Ubud fit the bill?
Secondly, I have just started looking at accomodation in Sanur and there is so much choice that I don%26#39;t know where to start. In our budget and with good reviews on TA I%26#39;ve found Tropical Bali Hotel, Pondok Ayu, Hotel Palm Garden, Tamukami Hotel, Ari Putri, Swastika Bungalows and Sari Sanur. However, I%26#39;m having trouble working out which of these is in the best location for being able to walk to the beach through the day and restaurants/bars at night. I know taxis are cheap but it would be nice to be able to walk most of the time. Is there an area of Sanur that is better?
Thanks
Just booked flight, please help with accomodationWe went to Bali last December and spent a couple of nights in Sanur just basically chilling out. We stayed in a small place just a minute to walk to the sea. It was called Puri Gopa Bali and we just LOVED it. Small and very cheap and a lovely atmosphere. Close by are some lovely restauarnts too but it is not bang in the middle of Sanur it is just slightly on the edge which made no difference to us at all. It is not too far to walk right into the centre and most restaurants have a fee pick up service anyway from your hotel. If you are staying in Sanur for a few days then take a day trip to Lembongan Island(we went for 3 days). Ubud is a fantastic place and excellent centre as a base for exploring the rest of the island too. Hiring a driver for the day is cheap and a great option. We hired this guy Nengah Polos - not only was he a good driver with a comfortable air coonditioned car but an excellent tour guide too. His website is http://www.bali-driver-polos.com/
Also in Ubud we stayed in Adi Cottages - the staff are just exceptional. It is just up the road from Monkey Forest and is in Monkey Forest road. The food in Bali seems to be excellent wherever you - not once did we have a bad meal. It was a case of which restaurant had the edge on the last one!!
Just booked flight, please help with accomodationHello :-) I would prefer a hotel by the beach in sanur. we have stayed at hotel Mercure, lovely garden, many rooms, two pools with seaview from one,really good breakfast restaurant with seaview.it is located at the southern end of sanur beach, with their own beach(it is clean) further up the coast, about 1km there is a hotel called Gryia santrian, we have some friends who have stayed there, perfect as well, just by the beach. In ubud we have stayde at tegal sari, a blittle bit from the center, but in walking distance, they have some nice rooms with views over the ricefields, one of the best views i have expirienced in ubud.but, there are so many good places to stay, so it is difficult to decide. Hope you will find some good rooms/hotels. :-)
here is a copy of a reply i made to budget accommodation in sanur.
sanur beach villas
www.sanurbeachvillas.com/Mambo/index.php
stana puri gopa they have family rooms and the puri suite is large
http://www.purigopabali.com/
palm garden hotel
http://www.palmgarden-bali.com/
villa puri ayu they have an assortment of accommodation to choose from
http://www.villapuriayu.com/
pondok ayu (here is some reviews from families who have stayed there and also a link to their web site
kidsholidaysonline.com.au/reviews/balipondok鈥?/p>
http://www.pondok.com.au/
in addition to this tamukami is up there as well. i looked at a room in swastika but like the above better. no matter what area north or south etc you stay there will be restaurants and shops you will want to try so use the bemos to get you around.
stana puri gopa has nice deluxe pool side rooms and the puri suite is larger and good. this hotel and palm garden are located in JL Kesuma sari which is reasonably %26#39;central%26#39; and only a couple of minutes walk to the beach. the beach front hotels are more expensive.
in ubud i like adi cottages as it is central and just opposite cafe wayan which is a great place to eat.
tegal sari is a good hotel but not as central.
There%26#39;s an interesting local website that reviews hotels in Sanur. Check it out at www.itravelindonesia.com . It reviews hotels, warts and all. Don%26#39;t know how they get away with it.
Otherwise, the old favourite is www.asiarooms.com . But they don%26#39;t give you a particularly good honest assessment of the Hotels.
Good luck.
While I agree with jsjDenmark about the excellent beachfront hotels, if I%26#39;m reading between the lines correctly, I don%26#39;t think your budget will stretch to it. Of the hotels you%26#39;ve narrowed it down to, Tamukami is a good choice although they%26#39;ve recently increased their prices for this year. It%26#39;s only a 3-4 min walk to the beach, over the road and through the Bonsai Cafe. From there it%26#39;s a leisurely walk down Jalan Danau Tamblingan to the restaurants and bars. It takes probably about 15-20 mins to get to Hardys Supermarket from there if you%26#39;re walking. Also there are a nice selection of beach bars and restaurants near the Bonsai. This is my preferred location in Sanur.
Your 4 days in Sanur and 4 days in Ubud sounds fine to me, you%26#39;ll get the best of both worlds.
4 and 4 is great. We have stayed in Puri Santrian and Sanur Beach in Sanur. Right next door to each other. Shops and restaurants in walking distance. On the beach.
Sanur Beach, great SPA, great breakfast, and the Bamboo Bar, happy hour, music and swings for seats.
Puri Santrian - great breakfast, sitting right at the beach for breakfast and other meals. in the pool bar, happy hour, two restaurants one by the beach, and the Mezzanine right in front of the hotel - realy good.
Restaurnt in the area - Cat and the Fiddle.
Hardy%26#39;s grocery store - 25 minute walk - grocery and every nic nack made in Bali - should stop.
We stayed very similiar; 7 days Sanur, 7 days in Ubud and 4 days in Candidasa.
We hired a driver to pick us up at airport, take us to hotels and even some tours and them back to the airport. have used him all 3 times we have gone to Bali. He is great: mertagct@telkom.net
Very trustworth, knowledgeable and reasonable. He is a licensed guide and driver. Be careful of unlicensed guides, they know nothing. John
Thanks for all the help.
I%26#39;ve managed to get a really good deal on the Tamukami Hotel through asiarooms.com so have booked there.
Now all my flights and accomodations are booked I%26#39;m sure I%26#39;ll be back on here for more tips nearer my departure date. Can%26#39;t believe I have to wait 6 months!
Any recommended scuba diving or surfing School in Nusa Dua?? Thanks!
here are some details for surf schools. they are on kuta beach.
Surf lessons
There are many surf schools along the beach from kuta to seminyah. When you get there you will see them if not ask someone and they will point you in the right direction.
The waves on the beach break on shallow, flat sandbanks. Between the banks are strong rips which can have good surf. Out pass the breaking waves the currents are very strong and will easily take you quite a distance along the beach. The waves are crowded with experienced foreign and local surfers, who at times come dangerously close to beginners if they get in their way. The safest places to learn are on the shallow sand banks riding the white wash and the reforming waves.
You can organize the lessons when you get there. This way you can check them out the surf schools directly so that you feel assured that they are okay.
Generally, the surf schools are well organized with good equipment and instruction.
Here are the web sites of a few of them.
http://www.prosurfschool.com/
http://www.odysseysurfschool.com/
http://www.balilearntosurf.com/
http://www.schoolofsurf.com/?home
Warning: a certain number of people both locals and tourists drown each season on Kuta鈥檚 long beach. If in trouble raise your hand. Don鈥檛 panic if you get caught in a rip or current. do not swim against it but swim at roughly a 45 degree angle with the rip towards the shore. Don鈥檛 panic and remain calm someone will help you
Hi again!
Here are some website links of scuba diving schools you may like to check out.
http://www.atlantis-bali-diving.com/
http://www.bidp-balidiving.com/
http://www.divecenterbali.com/
**this school has a Japanese instructor and a Japanese-speaking instructor.
http://www.absolutescubabali.com/
If you are learning diving for the first time, it will be a 3 - 5 day course (depending on the school%26#39;s course). If you are already a certified scuba diver, most of these schools offer diving packages/day trips.
Happy Diving!
Thank you very much!
You could look at
www.balistarisland.com
They offer several watersport packages including scuba diving. They%26#39;re based at Tanjung Benoa
Hi All,
I need help鈥y head is spinning! My husband and I (late 40鈥檚) are going to Sanur March 19th for about 2 weeks. We are overwhelmed with the choice of accommodations. How can such a small region house so many hotels? We don鈥檛 need anything that fancy 鈥?the less we spend on a hotel the more we will have to spend on other things like dining and activities. We would like somewhere quiet but not too dead; since the ocean seems good only during high tide, a nice big pool might be good; a comfortable room for us would be clean, decent pillows and mattress, and functioning AC. All the rest, beautiful gardens, close to the beach and restaurants, balcony with view, fridge, etc would of course be wonderful, but icing.
Since we will be there before high season, we鈥檙e hoping for about $30 to $40 US (the former would be preferable) advice please on whether to book with hotel directly or Asia Rooms which often seems to have better prices. We are batting around: Tama Palem, Sativa Sanur Cottages, Swastika, or maybe Tamukumi鈥e keep changing our minds! Please help us! I know everyone says we can鈥檛 really go wrong, but we don鈥檛 get the chance to travel much anymore (life鈥檚 gotten in the way), so your guidance would be very much appreciated!
Thank You!
My sister in law and her family stayed at Taman Palem in January. while we didn%26#39;t stay there ourselves we did visit often and found it a nice place and a short stroll to beach. She had no complaints with the hotel. We stayed at Sanur beach villas. short stroll to beach and the owner is a great easyy going Aussie who will make you feel very welcome, and at approx US$25 a night (including breakfast) they are well within your desired budget.
www.sanurbeachvillas.com
Both these hotels are at the southern end of Sanur but a short and cheap bluebird taxi ride will get you to all the other areas of Sanur, however there are plenty of shops and restuarnts within short easy walk from both hotels.
I%26#39;m also going to recommend Sanur Beach Villas. Good quality accommodation at a very good price and the added bonus of a great host.
It%26#39;s not that small a region, the beachfront alone stretches for over 5km! Then you have all the hotels on the streets behind.
I%26#39;ll be staying at the Taman Palem myself this year, but have stayed in the Tamukami and loved it. Check out the hotel reviews section, read the reviews and see if these sway you.
palm garden (hotel taman palem) is closest to the beach only about 2 minutes. in the same street JL kesumasari is stana puri gopa. both good budget places in a good position. i have looked at rooms at swastika but this did not appeal to me at the time i looked BUT it is still good value and very popular. sanur beach villas is a very good choice. some good cheap restaurants down that end of sanur. the good thing is you can pay in rupiah. tamukami is popular and so to is pondok ayu and puri mesari. IF it was me i would get quotes and go for the cheapest as all would be suitable and offer what you are looking for. some places even have a shuttle service around sanur.
Thanks to you all for your advice. We鈥檒l be in Sanur for 3 days before heading off to Ubud, but since it seems so central and such a good place to use as a home base, we will likely be back after our time at the Saren Indah (thankfully, we were clear where to stay in Ubud). So regardless of where we stay initially, we鈥檒l have a look around before deciding where to stay when we return.
You鈥檒l probably see more posts from us as we continue to plan (and daydream) about our trip. This is such an amazing resource! Thanks again for your wisdom!
Hi Vancouver!
I have travelled to Bali 17 times (one more and I get a free set of steak knives!) since 1979. I am about to go again in 3 weeks to celebrate my 40th birthday with my two favourite people in the world, my children. Sanur is and always will be my favourite area on the island of the Gods.
Firstly, I would strongly suggest that you always email the hotel you are interested in directly, before booking through asiarooms (if that%26#39;s what you decide). Ensure that you ask them to quote you for taxes and breakfasts included and don%26#39;t forget to mention if you need a late check out on the day of departure. All hotels are very willing to offer you the absolute best price given the decline in tourism over the past few years.
As for your choice....I would recommend the Bumas Hotel, Sativa cottages, Sari Sanur Resort or the Puri Sading Hotel. I have visited each of these properties and they all offer a little something extra special and they are all very well priced to suit your budget. All are very centrally located. I have stayed at the Swastika twice, and although very nice, I am guessing that you would like a little bit of added luxury. If you want intimacy, tranquility and something unique in concept and presentation, I would suggest the Puri Sading Hotel or the Sari Sanur. Sari Sanur is about 100 metres from the Bonsai Cafe restaurant and the beach. Puri Sading is very tranquil with a central courtyard pool, fountains, etc and quiet.
Hope this helps. Have a great holiday.
When in doubt, try them all. We have done both, gone directly to the hotel and got a good price, and we have used Passion Asia.com and got excellent prices. Make sure you get to UBUD. John
Go to a 4 to 5 star something you can go back to chill out after a day of fun fun fun in Bali. And trust me you are a millionaire when you are in Bali other things are affordable that is no problem... But a good Hotel to a bad is...
Can anyone suggest a wheelchair friendly hotel in Bali?
I have a friend wishing to take her father.
Also, which area has the best footpaths to enable them to venture outside the hotel?
cheers
Sparky
sanur would have to be the best place to get around for someone in a wheel chair. less traffic, the footpaths are a bit wider and %26#39;better%26#39; condition. apart from that there is a fantastic paved walkway stretching the length of the beach. plenty of great restaurants and a selection of shops and local markets. when i have stayed at the bali hyatt there were stays where my youngest was in a stroller we had no problems getting around as they have ramps, lifts and easy access around the hotel with good footpaths and the path leads directly to the beach front and this links with the paved footpath.
personally i feel kuta and surrounding areas are not as suitable for a wheel chair.
There is now a company in Sanur specialising in tours for the disabled, Bali Access Travel
http://www.baliaccesstravel.com/
There is also a link to wheelchair suitable accommodation
http://www.disabledholidaysbali.com/
Legian beach hotel has what they call handicapped friendly rooms with wheelchair access.
I noticed they had a ramp at the Kuta Paridiso, its a nice hotel its in Kuta it has lifts to all floors and to the pool area with lounges to relax in from his chair where he will enjoy the holiday as much as you will,and the things around the area have good paths and access around from markets to beach walking distance to many things like waterbom centro plaza and places to eat I think this place is perfect for you have a look at the site under the stairs to the pool in photos is another entry from the lifts, i think sanur is to far our if you want to be ale to leave your father at the hotel where he will be most happy if you wanted to go out and Im sure your fried will be happy to know hes somewhere safe
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I%26#39;m sure we can come up with something using your information.
hello peeps heard abt the new hotel, I hotel in batam recently. was thinking of giving the hotel a try. anyone stayed there b4 ? can provide any review or comments abt the hotel?
I hotel in batam ( new hotel) any1 stayed there b4???I have just returned from I Hotel, Batam. According to our tour guide, I Hotel only opened in March 2008. Thumbs-up to the hotel: room, service, breakfast, pool, gym, spa and safety. Just behind the hotel is the Nagoya Shopping Mall which is alright. I done all my shopping and eating there. It took about 15 minutes from the Batam Ferry Terminal to reach the hotel.
I hotel in batam ( new hotel) any1 stayed there b4???I%26#39;m in Batam now and went and checked out the i Hotel and it looks very nice.
Prices start from S$85 though it seems these are negotiable depending if they are busy.
It is right next door to the Nagoya Hill Shopping Plaza and about a 10 minute walk from central Nagoya for all the restaurants and bars.
I%26#39;ve posted some pictures of the hotel from the outside as well as prices and contact details here:
http://www.sumatra-indonesia.com/ihotel.htm
Kimberly, can you remember how much you paid for the cab fare from the ferry terminal to the hotel? And which ferry terminal was it?
The closest ferry port to Nagoya in Batam is Batam Centre.
Taxis are a fixed price of 45,000Rp from the ferry port into Nagoya.
Hi, is it safe down at I hotel and the area around the hotel? thanks!
Hi Scott, it would be great if u could help me out with this question. '; Is it safe down there at I hotel and the area around the hotel? ';
thanks scott! (;
Hi Jas,
It%26#39;s relatively safe in Batam. there are usually men hanging around everywhere not just in Batam though all through Indonesia. These guys are generally harmless.
iHotel is isolated with not alot around it except for the Shopping Plaza right next door.
Will be easy enough for you to catch a taxi from the hotel to where ever you are going, especially at night time. It%26#39;s about a 10 - 15 minute walk form iHotel to the other shopping plaza%26#39;s and food courts in Nagoya. Very safe during the day.
Hope this helps.
Scott
Hi, anyone know that is this hotel near to WinSpa?
Hi,
Win%26#39;s Spa is located just behind Harmoni Hotel in the bar district of Nagoya, on the same street as Last Pub. Probably about a 10 - 15 minute walk from I-Hotel.
I prefer staying at Goodway Hotel which is closer to the centre of Batam.
I went to Win%26#39;s Spa today though was not allowed in as it is for woman only. Just a spa/sauna/beauty therapy and hairdresser, no massage available.
For more information about hotels in Nagoya as well as spas check out this site:
http://www.sumatra-indonesia.com/batam.htm
Hi, I heard that Wins spa has massage for couple, now they don%26#39;t...
hi, what is it like for shopping in bali?
is it like thailand with all the fake watches and fake designer clothes etc or is it just mainly surf wear?
cheers
I don%26#39;t think there is a place in the world you can go to anymore and not be stopped to buy watches. Did not see much fake designed clothes. Lots of shops that make there own clothes. Sanur has some good dress shop - my wife loved it there. Ubud is overrun with shops - great jewlery and clothes. Not sure I even saw surf wear - maybe that was in Kuta, and didn%26#39;t spend much time there. Also some great restaurants.
if you go to the market type areas yes a bit the same not so rushed I just shop in the department stores so cheap and real
Surf wear - mainly in Kuta and some parts of Legian...
Clothing (not surf wear)/(some)household - Legian and Seminyak
Handmade Ceremics - Jenggala
Crafts/Art work - Ubud and surroundings
Fake watches and Designer goods - I think it%26#39;s mainly Kuta area - not sure, don%26#39;t go for that stuff. ;-P
You can find loads of stuff in Kuta - not just surf wear.. :-)
Favorite things I bought:
textiles especially sarongs (mostly in Lombok but also in Bali)
carved wooden holders to display fabric
wooden bracelets, belts, and necklaces
art from the Seniswati Gallery of art by women in Ubud; modest prices
print purse
dried jackfruit
sea salt, in baskets with tiny coconut spoons
salad tongs from coconut
embroidered skirts
silk scarves
vanilla beans
wooden musical instruments including cool rattles
You can definitely pick up deals in the markets if you know what things should cost and are prepared to bargain hard. It is easier to go to stores with labels. In the south, Hardy%26#39;s in Sanur has a second level filled with crafts of individual merchants.
Hi has anyone stayed at the kuta royal villas or know of anyone that has.....Family of 4 going in oct.I saw them on website looked great and price very reasonable. Any info would be apprciated. Thanks in advance
No, I am confused though, going over in May this year, and might stay there myself, just google it and a few different ones come up, or try wotif.com
Hi since i posted this msg i have been in cotact with kuta royal villas and they are fully booked for oct.... the web site i went to was www.kutavilla.com. the villas are in tuban.
May i know beside Perama Tour have boat from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan at morning.
Is there any local boat is depart from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan at everning?
And how much is cost?
We went to Lembongan for 3 fantastic days in December. We caught the Scootcruise which is the main fast ferry - it only takes 30 minutes. There is the slow ferry on traditional boat which the locals use but it takes about an hour and a half and the sea can get quite rough, so unless you have a strong stomach being tossed about in the sea swell I sugget you pay a bit more and use the fast ferry. This link gives you the times and the prices.
http://www.scootcruise.com/information.htm
We found them very efficient and they also pick you up from your hotel. Depending on where the hotel is the pick up is usually free of charge.
Have you got accommodation on Lembongan yet cos we stayed in a great bungalow OKA 7 Bungalows which were bed and breakfast and very cheap. The bungalows are set on the hill just overlooking the bay and you have the most fantastic views. Also there are two great restaurants next door and further along the beach are some great restaurants too. For around US$30 we rented a local outrigger boat and the driver took us to several different locations snorkelling - the outing lasted around 5 hours and was worth every penny. If you need any advice about Lembongan or Ubud in Bali drop me a private message. I can send you some photos too.
thanks windfreak, great, helpful advice.
The local boat is a real experience but not one that I would ever want to repeat for health and safety reasons. Its a kind of rickety wood thing packed with people, appliances, animals, everything you can think of. On the day I went over the sea was very calm, but it can be treacherous. If you do go, take a life jacket.
Thanks for the reply and the suggestion %26amp; advice.
But the speed boat cost is very expensive, is out of our budget. Maybe will consider 1 way...
Only will spend 3 days 2 nights at Nusa Lembongan.
scoot 10:30, 1:00 and 4:00 US$ 35 or 330 000r one way 35mins
perama 10:30 10:30 100 000r one way 1 hour
This is a picture of the local ferry from Sanur. Don%26#39;t know that I could do it!
鈥ebshots.com/photo/2235707900013752363lsOulH
There doesnt look like there would be any drinks service on this boat!
I wonder where the bathroom is?
If you think there is any service of any kind on the local ferry to Lembongan............think again. You have just the basics and you could be spending a bumpy hour and a half sitting next to someone with a smelly chicken on their lap (alive ofcourse!).
We were joking Windfreak. :)
Padma vs Niksoma?
Which one would you choose?
Izzy
Hi Izzy,
I remember you from the phuket forum staying at the Impiana.
We went to Bali last Oct/Nov for our 4th trip and had friends staying at the Niksoma and also had a walk through of the Padma. Both hotels are really nice and located in the same area, both have great pools and gardens etc - I would say that if you have kids then the Padma would be a good choice and no kids the Niksoma would be perfect.
Hope this was of some help.
Hi Emjean,
I remember!!! Thanks for your reply.
Well we don%26#39;t have kids so that works out perfect. We are going for new yrs with a big group of people, staying in Kuta then thinking of moving somewhere more quiet for a few days! I will have to do some more research soon but we off in a weeks time for another trip to S.E asia for 5 weeks.
Take care and i%26#39;m sure ill be back on the bali forum when we return.
Izzy x
has any one flown indojet out of perth,let me know about purchasing duty free and taking it on as carry on luggage. also where it leaves from at the airport
mabbs
have you flown indojet out of perthHi Mabbs, we flew with Indojet last October, leaves from the International Terminal. No problem with Duty free there or coming back. You get a meal on the plane but no entertainment. We had no problems with them and they were very cheap.
Have a good trip.
have you flown indojet out of perththanks wama5 for the info
mabbs
hi there
need a nice cafe or restaurant in ubud that also has wifi. i%26#39;d like a nice meal, a cool drink, and a place to research/write with wifi!
thanks!
Casa Luna in the main street is the perfect place. Owned by an Aussie ex-pat Janet de Neefe and her Balinese husband Ketut, Casa Luna is a beautiful restaurant and one of my favourites. The food is fantastic, the atmosphere wonderful, staff gorgeous and you are sure to enjoy a nice meal, a cool drink and you can use your computer. If you go make sure you try Janet%26#39;s famous lime pie it%26#39;s to die for!!! They make great coffee too! The salads are fantastic especially the health salad, the nasi campur is fantastic in fact the whole menu is great - it%26#39;s always hard to know what to choose.
Agreed. Casa Luna has exceptional pastries, good atmosphere, live music even. And wifi.
There are many places, almost too many to list here.
Casa Luna - lime pie is fantastic, as is mango lassi and iced cappuccino
Nomads - really good meal
Tutmak - great coffee and breakfasts etc
Warung Enak - good food and really friendly
Murni Warung - nice environment
Fly Cafe - good for a burger
and many more
All are good for a quiet beer
Regards,
David
We are going to Bali in September just confused as where to stay. Any recommendations for a family holiday with 3 children aged 4, 8 and 11.
Having trouble finding accomadation to suit since there is 5 of us !
Want a great pool for the kids but budget is $200 - $250 per night.
What is the bestarea of Bali for families.
Thanks
I would suggest either Legian/Seminyak or Sanur. Start your searches there and I think you will find what you are after.
Some suggestions for Sanur:
villa Puri Ayu, Sanur Beach Villas, Mercure Resort Sanur but there are heaps of others in your price range.
The Bali garden is nice with beach access, close to everything, safe, and across the road from waterbom park you could get a family room that sleeps 5, everything else is easy once you are there and its nice to be able to go back to a nice hotel after a day out or even just to relax by the pool
http://www.sanityinbali.synthasite.com/ look this up comes with everything 150 Au a night sleeps six has a pool driver/transfers cleaner Seminyak
Have a look at Breezes Resort in Seminyak - use to be contiki but have now changed name and focusing more on families and couple%26#39;s.
They have a family room - which consists of 2 standard rooms interconnecting which sleeps 2ad and 3ch for around $200aud a night. I haven%26#39;t seen it but looks great on the website and nice and new and clean with 2 great pools. Quieter area of Seminyak with only a short stroll to the beach. Good reviews on tripadvisor too.
www.breezesbali.com
We like Tuban. A short walk to Kuta to enjoy great eating and shopping, but far enough away to be quiet and relaxing. The Dynasty has a great supervised kids club with a pool just for the kids including a waterslide. The new Holiday Inn also has a kids club, and a superb location spilling out onto the beach. Both have rooms to cater especially for families. Hope this helps.
http://www.balidynasty.com/
www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/dpsbh
would have to agree with Wayne and Micha, Tuban is the place to stay with family. We are going in May with our 2- 8yrs and 1yr. Plus other friends and there are kids from 4yr - 17yr. So close to everything. We are staying at Dynasty. But there is new resort Febris across the road, they have some good deals.
the kids will love the kids club and Waterbom across the road.
for anyone interested the Sanur Village Festival date is set
August 21-25, 2009.
For 5 days there will be parades, music, water sports, balinese performances, great food and other activities.
this is the 4th year for the festival. this year the theme is ';marine';.
Cheers Snooky, might just manage to get there before we leave on the 26th. Bad timing last year as we left Sanur for Amed the day before the festival started. I wanted to watch the kites.
The kites are well worth looking at. Last year there were flying boats, dragons, a push bike rider and a multitude of whirling, spinning colourful arrangements.
The biggest problem is the locals with there loud speakers. Everyone seems to have one. The guy announcing the kite flying has his speaker on full volume. The guy commentating on the wind surfing has his on full volume. The guy talking about the body painting also likes to join in. Then there are the guys organising the pillow fights and the the guy organising the turtle release plus the guy yelling into his microphone for the greased pig race.
Over the top of this is the Coca Cola van with its bank of loud speakers bursting out music.
All of this is on the beach within about 10 metres of each other.
Sounds like mayhem...but alot of fun! Am really looking forward to it.
Hi,
I am looking at staying at The Seri Suites in May %26amp; would welcome any advice from people that have stayed there.
Is it better to book the Grand suite (downstairs) or delux suite (upstairs)? What are the advantages/disavantages of each suite?
Any help would be very welcome!
Thanks,
Natalie.
I stayed at The Seri Suites in Oct 2008 for 7 days. I chose the Grand suite mainly just because they don%26#39;t have double bed for Deluxe. Other than that I am not sure whether there is any other difference, since I didn%26#39;t check the deluxe room when I was there.
Hi cdonna,
Thanks for your reply. It%26#39;s very helpful. I%26#39;ll think I%26#39;ll go for the grand suite downstairs if the upstairs only have single beds.
How did you find the hotel? Any tips on where to go near by?
Thanks,
Natalie.
booked a few nights in kp. there was an earlier post that discussed the best and worse rooms. i wrote the info down but can%26#39;t find it. so what are the blocks to ask for or avoid?
thank you RT
best/worse rooms kumala pantai?If you prefer a bit quieter, stay in old wing, block B or Y overlooks the pool. I found the rooms in NS and A too dark.
I also don%26#39;t recommend ground floor as you have no privacy on your open verandah and can%26#39;t even have your curtains open.
The new wing seems to suit families and of course noisy kids. :) :) but the rooms will also be new.Again I would avoid ground floor there as you don%26#39;t even have bushes to screen you from the pool and people.
best/worse rooms kumala pantai?Hi Rock, it all depends on personal taste I guess.
SG Block(Suglewa) left hand side of new pool.Entrance side of hotel.
S Block (Subali) right hand side of new pool, beach side.
H (Hanoyman)Block overlooks entrance driveway and is partly behind reception.
B Block overlooks old pool from balcony and back balcony%26#39;s from most of 1st and 2nd floors you can view new pool and new room blocks.
Y Block overlooks old pool and backs onto entrance.
NS Block is the closest block to restaurant and beach.
I would avoid H and NS blocks but that is my personal choice. We stayed in S block and were very happy.
Andrea
Hi Linda, where is A block?
A block is the block before NS -
close to the pool.
Wendy
Hi Rocky,
I prefer Y or B, the old blocks, both have pool view %26amp; you aren%26#39;t overlooked by patios directly opposite, also quieter.
S %26amp; SG blocks are newer, swim up pool but blocks face each other so you are overlooked on your patio.
NS %26amp; A blocks overlook the garden between pool %26amp; restaurant. Stayed in NS block for my last night at Christmas, room rather dark %26amp; there was a smell of drains when I was out on the patio.
H block is new, overlooks driveway near reception, looks nice but no pool view.
Have posted photos recently of the new blocks taken at Christmas, they%26#39;re on my profile page. Posted some more earlier this week but don%26#39;t know whether they%26#39;ve passed quality control yet, I haven%26#39;t checked. Am having problems posting photos %26amp; can only post 3 at a time...very frustrating! Every time I click on the button to extend the list I get taken to a different page.
Ursie
B and Y block but not on ground floor, no privacy.
Ursie, have yu thought about putting your photos on Flickr or Webshots and then just give us the links?You can post whole albums then.
Flickr is better quality,:)
thank you linda, theqm, ursie, wenful and andrea. i now am loaded up with the good and the bad. i appreciate your advice.
the good Y B SG S blocks but not the ground floor
and the bad NS A H blocks.
only 6 weeks to go. very excited!!! the family have discussed the rough flexible travel plan and it looks like the best trip ever. i%26#39;m off to QLD for a week for a reunion and surfing so the time will fly by.
thanks once again. RT
Rock Terrigal, We booked last October and I asked for 2 double rooms in B Block then, could only get one and had to take one in A Block. I thought, okay, as we didn%26#39;t want the new blocks. Eeek it sounds like A block will be dark, memo to self, buy a lightbulb!!
It might have been because we were staying for 2 weeks but I do know that they are fairly fully booked over the Easter period and so I don%26#39;t know that you will be able to request a specific room at this late stage??? they will probably have allocated most of the rooms already.
You will find that NS Block and A block balcony/sliding door to room face south and for most of the day the pathway that runs past these blocks is shaded,as are the rooms.(apparently the large tree that was in front of A block lost a limb or several and the whole tree may have been reduced in size or removed.
The owners two storey living quarters are across the pathway from NS Block restaurant end, so at least a quarter of these rooms light is blocked by this.
B Block faces north and Y Block faces west and the afternoon sun will hit it.
SG Block faces west and S Block faces east.
I%26#39;ll get back to you with a weather update later!
Cheers
Burns
hello, has anybody been to the safari park we have read alot of mixed review even to the point that people had felt that the animals had been drugged. we would like to stay over at the park for a couple of days and would love to hear if any of you Bali experts had enjoyed or disliked your time at safari park\marina.
We are also interest in visiting the elephant park safari. we understand that these are elephants that have been rescued. could you tell us your experiences. i.e. was the elephants treated well was it a good day out and how much did you pay and would you recommend it.
just in case you are wondering we didnot want to mix up the questions on the one forum. thanking you,
We loved our day at the Safari Park. In fact we thought it was better than Disney%26#39;s Animal Kingdom in Orlando.
As for the ';drugged'; animals, they aren%26#39;t. They ARE very humanised and whether this is a good or bad thing, it does allow people to fall in love with species that they would not otherwise be able to come in contact with. As soon as the animals show signs of restlessness or distress, they are taken back to their enclosure and replaced with another animal who is settled and docile. We were actually impressed with how active the big cats were in the heat of the day. And they are all breeding so they must be well looked after.
We have had experience with a full grown tiger in the USA that, like the animals on display for the photos in the park, would lie dosing for hours while people patted and took photos with him. In fact every Saturday night, he lay dozing with dragster racing cars roaring right beside him. The noise was deafening but he dozed on and was definately not drugged.
