Last minute advice: what not to miss/ best tips for Bali and Lombok?
Jun 6th, 2014, 07:22 AM
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Last minute advice: what not to miss/ best tips for Bali and Lombok?
Hi Fodorites,
In one week, we (me, my husband and our 20-something daughter) leave for two weeks in Indonesia (Yogyakarta, Bali and Lombok) to visit our younger daughter, who is in Yogya on a two-year teaching fellowship. Normally, I am all over a trip. But a serious illness (I'm fine, thanks) made me question whether we'd go, and I handed over all planning duties to my husband. Now it seems the trip will actually happen, and I want your advice!
My daughter will handle all details for our five nights in Yogya, including Borobudur, Prambayan, the Ramayana, and of course, her life. She loves it there.
In Lombok we are staying 3 nights at Qunci Villas ( okay, I did do some research and found it here
In Bali, we are staying 5 nights at Komaneka Monkey Forest in Ubud.
We are interested in festivals, temples, culture, great food, beautiful natural scenery and easy hikes. Probably beach and snorkel in Lombok, not Bali. Not interested in nightlife (although my daughters may be
My questions:
What are not to miss sights/itineraries in Bali away from Ubud that we should hire drivers for? What should we group together (say going north from Ubud one day and South another)? Do we need drivers more than two days in Bali, since there is so much to see in Ubud? Can we walk to the best rice terraces, etc. from there? (Not to miss sites IN Ubud are appreciated, too.)
What villages/culture/temples should we hire a driver for to see in Lombok? One day driver enough? May do day in Gillis to snorkel. Recommend?
We have not arranged drivers yet--assuming we can do so on the fly or with hotel ( I know will cost more) Or do we really need to have plans in place in advance?
Any absolute favorite restaurants, sites, experiences are appreciated.
Thank you all! Can't wait to see this beautiful country and most of all, my daughter!!!!
In one week, we (me, my husband and our 20-something daughter) leave for two weeks in Indonesia (Yogyakarta, Bali and Lombok) to visit our younger daughter, who is in Yogya on a two-year teaching fellowship. Normally, I am all over a trip. But a serious illness (I'm fine, thanks) made me question whether we'd go, and I handed over all planning duties to my husband. Now it seems the trip will actually happen, and I want your advice!
My daughter will handle all details for our five nights in Yogya, including Borobudur, Prambayan, the Ramayana, and of course, her life. She loves it there.
In Lombok we are staying 3 nights at Qunci Villas ( okay, I did do some research and found it here
In Bali, we are staying 5 nights at Komaneka Monkey Forest in Ubud.
We are interested in festivals, temples, culture, great food, beautiful natural scenery and easy hikes. Probably beach and snorkel in Lombok, not Bali. Not interested in nightlife (although my daughters may be
My questions:
What are not to miss sights/itineraries in Bali away from Ubud that we should hire drivers for? What should we group together (say going north from Ubud one day and South another)? Do we need drivers more than two days in Bali, since there is so much to see in Ubud? Can we walk to the best rice terraces, etc. from there? (Not to miss sites IN Ubud are appreciated, too.)
What villages/culture/temples should we hire a driver for to see in Lombok? One day driver enough? May do day in Gillis to snorkel. Recommend?
We have not arranged drivers yet--assuming we can do so on the fly or with hotel ( I know will cost more) Or do we really need to have plans in place in advance?
Any absolute favorite restaurants, sites, experiences are appreciated.
Thank you all! Can't wait to see this beautiful country and most of all, my daughter!!!!
Jun 6th, 2014, 07:31 AM
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Spend your Lombok time relaxing... and Qunci Villas is an ideal place to do it. You don't really need to hire a car and driver while there. While there are some interesting places to visit, none are compelling, IMO. Go for a day trip to the Gillis if you'd like. You can take a boat from the beach by Qunci, ask the staff at the hotel to arrange it for you.
In Bali, I'd say hire a car and driver one day. (you can always add another day if you wish) You can arrange a driver on the spot - either via your hotel or somewhere in Ubud. Have the driver recommend any festivals going on. Bali is lovely, but the best things to see are often the most ephemeral - a procession through a village to a temple, a ceremony or festival. Your driver will be the best source of info for you on this.
It's great that your daughter can arrange things for you in central Java - one of my favorite places. There is so much to do and see there.
In Bali, I'd say hire a car and driver one day. (you can always add another day if you wish) You can arrange a driver on the spot - either via your hotel or somewhere in Ubud. Have the driver recommend any festivals going on. Bali is lovely, but the best things to see are often the most ephemeral - a procession through a village to a temple, a ceremony or festival. Your driver will be the best source of info for you on this.
It's great that your daughter can arrange things for you in central Java - one of my favorite places. There is so much to do and see there.
Jun 6th, 2014, 09:45 AM
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the best way to see as much as you can is to hire a driver... I always hire putu... [email protected] he is less than $50 for a whole day of guiding and comfortable transportation.
he is fabulous.
he is fabulous.
Jun 7th, 2014, 01:26 AM
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You won't have any problem arranging a car/driver and/or guide in Bali. The Koman will do this for you or you can take advantage of the many offers you'll see in town. Arma is also good for cultural activities.
I agree, though, don't overplan and don't overdo the car time. After a while despite the glorious scenery your eyes glaze over from too much green. Get out and walk around as much as you can. Leave a lot of time open for serendipity and spa treatments.
A day trip to the south coast may be more trouble than it's worth when you only have 5 days on Bali. You'll get plenty of ocean/beach in Lombok, and once you get into the Ubud groove you won't want to leave.
Depending on what time your flight departs, you may want to stop in Seminyak for dinner on your way to the airport. I often take travelers for an early sunset dinner at La Lucciola. (If your daughters want a night out in Seminyak, they should try KuDeTa, Potato Head, Mantra. Also Single Fin in Ulu Watu has a great Sunday party from sunset onward.)
These are some of my favorites in Ubud.
Neka Art Museum
Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets
The Green School -- Take the tour
John Hardy Jewelry -- Expensive, but fun to look
Threads of Life -- textiles from all over Indonesia to see and buy
Evening dance performances at Ubud palace, Jungungan and Peliatan
Sobek river rafting
Yoga Barn for drop in yoga class
Restaurants
Clear Cafe -- Fresh and beautiful
Mosaic -- Pricey but very good
Alila Hotel -- Especially nice for lunch with a view
Locavore -- Serious foodie experience
I agree, though, don't overplan and don't overdo the car time. After a while despite the glorious scenery your eyes glaze over from too much green. Get out and walk around as much as you can. Leave a lot of time open for serendipity and spa treatments.
A day trip to the south coast may be more trouble than it's worth when you only have 5 days on Bali. You'll get plenty of ocean/beach in Lombok, and once you get into the Ubud groove you won't want to leave.
Depending on what time your flight departs, you may want to stop in Seminyak for dinner on your way to the airport. I often take travelers for an early sunset dinner at La Lucciola. (If your daughters want a night out in Seminyak, they should try KuDeTa, Potato Head, Mantra. Also Single Fin in Ulu Watu has a great Sunday party from sunset onward.)
These are some of my favorites in Ubud.
Neka Art Museum
Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets
The Green School -- Take the tour
John Hardy Jewelry -- Expensive, but fun to look
Threads of Life -- textiles from all over Indonesia to see and buy
Evening dance performances at Ubud palace, Jungungan and Peliatan
Sobek river rafting
Yoga Barn for drop in yoga class
Restaurants
Clear Cafe -- Fresh and beautiful
Mosaic -- Pricey but very good
Alila Hotel -- Especially nice for lunch with a view
Locavore -- Serious foodie experience
Jun 7th, 2014, 01:47 AM
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marmot. I'm making notes of all your informative stuff. Got any first hand comments about Perama Tours please...
http://www.peramatour.com/
They seem to cover quite a lot, and their prices don't appear excessive.
http://www.peramatour.com/
They seem to cover quite a lot, and their prices don't appear excessive.
Jun 7th, 2014, 05:12 AM
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Your hotel will be able to tell you if there are any festivals in the area. There is a rice paddy walk in the Ubud area.It goes early in the Am. It runs the ridge of the river. Very beautiful walk. We did it thru our hotel with a guide .
Jun 7th, 2014, 07:07 AM
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Wow, thank you all for the great info. Exactly what I am looking for.
I am glad to hear we can wait to schedule drives, etc. til we get there. I assume that includes restaurant reservations and dance performances?
Marmot, you don't think we'd miss much by not going south? Uluwatu or other sites down there? Or is it touristy, and better temple experiences in Ubud or north?
We leave Bali at 5:20 ...not sure how far in advance we have to get to airport? Flying from Denpasar to Singapore, before we transfer to go home.
Thanks again!
I am glad to hear we can wait to schedule drives, etc. til we get there. I assume that includes restaurant reservations and dance performances?
Marmot, you don't think we'd miss much by not going south? Uluwatu or other sites down there? Or is it touristy, and better temple experiences in Ubud or north?
We leave Bali at 5:20 ...not sure how far in advance we have to get to airport? Flying from Denpasar to Singapore, before we transfer to go home.
Thanks again!
Jun 7th, 2014, 07:49 AM
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There are temples everywhere in Bali. Each is unique. No reason to spend an hour in the car to see a particular one, IMO. Traffic in Bali has gotten worse and worse, so you will likely want to plan to do things close to where you are staying rather than an hour away. Yes, wait until you get there for restaurant reservations, dance performances, etc.
Jun 7th, 2014, 12:36 PM
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Looks like traffic, especially 2-wheeled 2-stroke seems to have screwed up just about everywhere in SE Asia.
Foreign money, foreign tax payers money is going into preserving many a UNESCO World Heritage Site, only for locals to stick their fingers up at it. Very sad, very annoying!
Foreign money, foreign tax payers money is going into preserving many a UNESCO World Heritage Site, only for locals to stick their fingers up at it. Very sad, very annoying!
Jun 7th, 2014, 08:00 PM
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In Bali there are temples and there are temples. The famous sea temples -- Ulu Watu, Tanah Lot and to an extent, Petitenget -- are practicing temples, but also major photography sites, especially at sunset. Same is true, in a different way, for the "mother" temple at Besakih.
Village temples and shrines are everywhere in Bali. Some are grand, some are humble, but all are photogenic and all have festivals and ceremonies on the average once a week. Your guide or resort will tell you what's on while you're there. Tourists are invited to observe as long as they wear appropriate Balinese attire -- usually a sarong and sash, a head piece for males.
Personally, I don't think Ulu Watu is worth the trek unless you have another reason for wanting to visit the area (e.g. surfing spots, the kecak dance). If you want a sea temple, Tanah Lot, while still a drive from Ubud, is more manageable.
Besakih is an impressive site, but getting from the parking area to the temple compound is unfortunately an ordeal of aggressive hawkers and touts. If you go, take a guide who will run interference for you.
With only five nights, I'd stay put in Ubud and surrounds. Time spent on the road brings out the worst of Bali. I don't think that Southern Bali is any more or less tourist-y than Ubud, but the environment is completely different. It doesn't sound like beach resort is what you're looking for in Bali, though your daughters may feel differently. You'll get the sun/sand/sea in Lombok but not the buzz, which is either a positive or a negative depending on what you like to do.
A note on restaurant reservations: If you're interested in very popular places -- like Mosaic, Locavore or some of the spots in Seminyak -- then yes, reservations are absolutely required.
Seats for dance performances are not reserved, so if you want an upfront seat, come early, especially at Ubud Palace. The atmosphere is very relaxed.
If I were the one traveling, I'd plan to leave Ubud at 2:00 for a 5:20 international flight. I tend toward the conservative though.
Lancaster, I don't know Perama Tours, but looking at their itineraries, I'd say you'd have no problem visiting all of those sites on your own with a car and driver. I'd only go with a group tour if you want companionship.
You are right about the plague of motorcycles that has overtaken Bali. I can't begrudge the Balinese the right to inexpensive transportation (the government certainly doesn't provide it) but motorcycle traffic is completely unregulated resulting at best traffic snarls and at worst deaths and injuries. This is a huge issue in Bali, both for tourists and locals.
Village temples and shrines are everywhere in Bali. Some are grand, some are humble, but all are photogenic and all have festivals and ceremonies on the average once a week. Your guide or resort will tell you what's on while you're there. Tourists are invited to observe as long as they wear appropriate Balinese attire -- usually a sarong and sash, a head piece for males.
Personally, I don't think Ulu Watu is worth the trek unless you have another reason for wanting to visit the area (e.g. surfing spots, the kecak dance). If you want a sea temple, Tanah Lot, while still a drive from Ubud, is more manageable.
Besakih is an impressive site, but getting from the parking area to the temple compound is unfortunately an ordeal of aggressive hawkers and touts. If you go, take a guide who will run interference for you.
With only five nights, I'd stay put in Ubud and surrounds. Time spent on the road brings out the worst of Bali. I don't think that Southern Bali is any more or less tourist-y than Ubud, but the environment is completely different. It doesn't sound like beach resort is what you're looking for in Bali, though your daughters may feel differently
. You'll get the sun/sand/sea in Lombok but not the buzz, which is either a positive or a negative depending on what you like to do.A note on restaurant reservations: If you're interested in very popular places -- like Mosaic, Locavore or some of the spots in Seminyak -- then yes, reservations are absolutely required.
Seats for dance performances are not reserved, so if you want an upfront seat, come early, especially at Ubud Palace. The atmosphere is very relaxed.
If I were the one traveling, I'd plan to leave Ubud at 2:00 for a 5:20 international flight. I tend toward the conservative though.
Lancaster, I don't know Perama Tours, but looking at their itineraries, I'd say you'd have no problem visiting all of those sites on your own with a car and driver. I'd only go with a group tour if you want companionship.
You are right about the plague of motorcycles that has overtaken Bali. I can't begrudge the Balinese the right to inexpensive transportation (the government certainly doesn't provide it) but motorcycle traffic is completely unregulated resulting at best traffic snarls and at worst deaths and injuries. This is a huge issue in Bali, both for tourists and locals.
Jun 8th, 2014, 01:39 AM
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marmot. Thanks for the last two paragraphs.
At the moment we only plan to use Perama on their shuttlebus between Sanur to Ubud, and from Ubud to wherever we plan on next. We don't do group tours, much preferring to get lost on our own and see where we end up.
I suppose we'll have to tolerate the motorcycles. I'm hoping that they aren't so much of a problem in Sanur as they perhaps are in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak areas or Denpasar. At least our first two accommodation choices seem to be in quiet areas.
At the moment we only plan to use Perama on their shuttlebus between Sanur to Ubud, and from Ubud to wherever we plan on next. We don't do group tours, much preferring to get lost on our own and see where we end up.
I suppose we'll have to tolerate the motorcycles. I'm hoping that they aren't so much of a problem in Sanur as they perhaps are in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak areas or Denpasar. At least our first two accommodation choices seem to be in quiet areas.
Jun 8th, 2014, 07:08 AM
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marmot,
Thank you for your very detailed replies. Wonderful, useful information. Just perfect. Locavore sounds like it is worth reserving in advance for.
kathie,
Thank you for permission to relax and enjoy vs. over plan!
Thank you for your very detailed replies. Wonderful, useful information. Just perfect. Locavore sounds like it is worth reserving in advance for.
kathie,
Thank you for permission to relax and enjoy vs. over plan!
Jun 8th, 2014, 12:13 PM
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Kathie. From what I can see on their website the Perama shuttles have a timetable from and to quite a few points in Bali, and so fitting in with their schedule shouldn't be a problem.
I'm not too fussed about the bus being quick, as the distances are short. And the cheaper the better, so long as the vehicle is fit for purpose.
The Perama office in Sanur is just round the corner from where we're staying in Sanur, so we'll be popping into their office during our week in Sanur, to see what they've got to offer.
I'm not too fussed about the bus being quick, as the distances are short. And the cheaper the better, so long as the vehicle is fit for purpose.
The Perama office in Sanur is just round the corner from where we're staying in Sanur, so we'll be popping into their office during our week in Sanur, to see what they've got to offer.
