Leah

We are going to Bali in the first two weeks of October and are thinking of staying at the Bounty Hotel in Kuta. Any opinions on this hotel and area of Bali would be appreciated. Also has anyone been on the Elephant Safari Rides?? What was it like?

Made

To get the most of your stay in Bali, do not take any packaged tours, no matter how cheap they may seem at the time. They make their money by taking you to commission shops which charge in US dollars and are extraordinarily overpriced compared to what you would find in normal stores. For example, paintings that could be $50 in a normal gallery might be listed for up to $1,000 if a bus or tour guide takes you there. Of course they will give you a big discount and then the painting will be only $250 but still way overpriced. It would be best to rent a driver and car for day tours and tell him exactly where you want to go...or at least do a lot of comparison shopping. Many guides will actually refuse to stop at places that do not give commissions. <BR><BR>The same goes for restaurants, tours normally go only to places that give commission. <BR><BR>The cost for a bus tour might be perhaps $25 or $50 per person, which would take you on a set agenda. The cost for a private car and english speaking driver is at the MOST $30 per 8 hour day and that includes up to 4 people. <BR><BR>Also, do try to spend at least a few days in the areas around Ubud for a taste of the local Balinese culture, which you will certainly not find in Kuta. Keep your plans flexible, you will probably get much better hotel rates and find hotels that are better suited to you if you don't book ahead. Bali is chock full of hotels and October is low season so you will have tons of choices. If you do go to Ubud try to stay away from the touristy downtown area, get out into the countryside north of Ubud around Kedewatan and Sayan for fabulous views.<BR><BR> I live in Ubud but have never stayed at the Bounty Hotel and actually try to stay away from Kuta as much as possible. If you want to stay at the beach another possibility is Sanur or Jimbaran.

Ruth

Just confirming all Made said. You're definitely better off going on your own vs. a tour. Then you get to select what you want to see. We're planning another trip to Bali in Sept.,(our 8th or 9th), and have stayed at the Bounty twice. As we've aged we've tried other places, and I'll have to agree with Made again. While the Bounty is clean, fun, etc., it IS in Kuta which is very young and touristy. We've switched to Sanur as our destination of choice, though we do go to Kuta to shop, party, etc. Any quesitons drop me a line. And have fun!

Kathie

I agree with the other ersponses. Hire a car and driver, then you decide where to go.<BR><BR>Kuta is party-town for post-adolescent Australian males. If that's what you want, fine. If not, I wouldn't stay in Kuta. I, too, would recommend Sanur.

Leah

Thankyou all very much for your detailed responses, it is much appreciated. The reason for us staying in Kuta is because it is our first time in bali and there are 4 couples going - we are all aged between 19 & 22 - so we would really love to be around the night life. We were also thinking about going into the monkey forrest, to turtle island and also on an Elephant Safari. Would any of you happen to know what a reasonable price is for the Elephant Safari? Which restuarants at Jimbaran Bay?

Made

The monkey forest in Ubud is fun, but go in the morning when the monkey are still not too stuffed with peanuts and bananas. I haven't been on the elephant safari ( you do know the elephants are not from Indonesia, right?) but it's controlled by a foreign company so there's not too much negotiating on the price, unless perhaps you do a package deal of rafting and elephant park together. <BR><BR>Also, some people do have a good time in Kuta but as other posters have said it's dominated by young aussies whose mental age or behavior is not matched by their chronological age. Some collage student friends of mine came back from Kuta very disappointed. They thought it was a fun party town but it was too druggy for them. Also, you might be turned off by the constant hustling that goes on there.<BR><BR>Whatever you decide to do, have fun and have an open mind. Do make an effort to meet and talk to the local people and perhaps go to the dance performances and local ceremonies.