I have just booked...am i mad?

Hi all, myself and my bf have just booked on the spur of the moment a holiday to Bali...we will staying in July in the Kuta area. We have never ever been this far before and are very excited. We never checked the foreign office website before we went to the travel agent as it was real spur of the moment, and i have just checked it now and wonder if we have made a mistake as it warns against travel? can anyone advise? Bali looks stunning and there appears to be alot of activity on here so i expect everyone is still traveling there. please tell me it is amazing...we have booked for two weeks to stay in the Bali Rani. Also can anyone tell me how long the flight is from the Uk Heathrow. Thankyou.x

I have just booked...am i mad?

yes you could wonder if it%26#39;s the right choice, and worry about the travel warnings. but then you would miss out on one of the best travel destinations there is.

you and your friend will have an absolute ball. your senses will be in overdrive. make sure you go off the beaten track, once you%26#39;ve settled in. good time of year to go.

the flight from uk will be a long one. do you get a stop over? for us aussies it is a 6hr journey.

I am taking my family over for the first time, this will be my 6th trip. I feel that if we live in fear we let the bastards win. no one should have the right to take away our freedom to travel somewhere we love to go.

have a great trip.

I have just booked...am i mad?

the travel warnings have been in place since the bombings. i travel there regardless. to be honest many places have travel warnings, not just bali. i always feel safe in bali and will continue to go there. who knows when and if the travel warnings will be reviewed / renewed. bali is a beautiful holiday destination. relax and start planning your holiday. i have friends that stay at bali rani each year and love it.

dOnnygirl

we%26#39;ve been to Bali both before and after both lots of bombings.

We felt very safe.

It%26#39;s a fab place (we stayed in Sanur) and one of our favourite holiday places.

Who are you flying with?

I don%26#39;t think it will be a non-stop flight to Bali.

We%26#39;ve flown Thai and Garuda into Bangkok and Malaysian into Kuala Lumpur, then onto Bali.

It%26#39;s about 12 hours, then maybe 2.5 or 3 hours onto Bali.

You%26#39;re not mad - just very lucky. LOL

Bali is such a wonderful place to visit. As Snooky said, the travel warnings have been in place for a long time. I%26#39;ve been to Bali twice since the bombings and I%26#39;m going twice this year. There is more security that there used to be but other than that that it feels just the same as pre-bombings.

You need to make up your own mind of course, but if I could, I%26#39;d be back there in a heartbeat!

well not everyone is travelling to bali but quite a few go. it is nice, different, cheap, fun and AMAZING. so if that is what u want, u have made the right decision.

get the lonely planet book to get ideas of places to see or things to do in bali. the forum here is pretty helpful so when u have questions ask away.

just as a start in case you dont know: you need to purchase a visa on arrival $25 us each or $50 for the two of you.

do you have transfer from the airport to your hotel? if not, you can book a taxi from the airport counter.

while at the airport you may wish to change pounds to rupiah. it isn%26#39;t the best rate but it isn%26#39;t too bad either and they are honest. or you may choose to use atms.

have a good trip RT

Hi,

I love Bali %26amp; wild horses wouldn%26#39;t keep me away. I was there last August, at Christmas %26amp; will be there again next August. I feel safer in Bali than I do when I%26#39;m out %26amp; about here at home. Since the executions of the Bali Bombers there has been heightened security at th airport, in hotels %26amp; shopping malls.

Depends on which route you%26#39;re taking. My flights usually take 24 hrs+ from Manchester including waits at airports enroute.

Bali is truly amazing so you%26#39;ve made the right choice. It%26#39;s got everything, beautiful scenery, some nice beaches, watersports, art, culture, temples, spas, shopping, adventurous activities etc %26amp; it%26#39;s main asset...the Balinese people themselves who are unique!

Ursie

Hi dOnnygirl

This is information i have from Canberra, from a very reliable source, close to me and connected to the Australian Government. If the Aust Travel warning changes to %26#39;Only essential travel%26#39; do not go Bali. At the moment the warning %26#39;we advise%26#39; is in place and has been following 2002.

As a caution our Government are covering their %26#39;butts%26#39; and i guess you can understand why.

I%26#39;m not trying to put you off travelling to Bali, im here now.Yes it is Amazing, and so much more, so hurry up an book those flights!

Cheers

Burns

The UK Foreign Office website doesn%26#39;t actually warn against travel. The advice for Bali is ';You should take sensible precautions for your personal safety and avoid large crowds, political gatherings and demonstrations.';

This advice hasn%26#39;t changed for the last six years.

Interestingly, if you check out the FO advice for travel to Brit favourites Spain, Turkey and Egypt, you%26#39;ll also find similar warnings.

If you%26#39;re going via Singapore, expect about 11-12 hours to Singapore, then another 2 and a half hours to Bali.