Ladouca

I am just about finished planning our one month stay in indonesia. We will be headed to Laos and Burma afterwards. Our travel period is from Oct 3 - Oct 29th incl.
Any comments you may share would be greatly appreciated especially concerning the length of stay and if the order makes sense.

Kuta 3 nights
Seminyak 4 nights
Ubud 5 nights
Munduk (for ferry to Lombok) 3 nights
Lombkok, Lembar 2 nights
Mataram
Senggigi 2 nights
Gili Trawangan 6 nights
Flores 4 nights

marmot

It's hard to comment without knowing what your interests and activities are, but I think that some of your destinations could be combined. I'm not a big fan of Lombok so I'd condense your time there and add Java -- Central Java (Borobudur/Yogyakarta) and/or East Java (Bromo).

Kuta and Seminyak are on the same continous beach. Kuta is more raucous, Seminyak more upscale. I'd pick one or the other. Munduk is a good choice, but you do know that the ferry to Lombok is nowhere near Munduk?

On Lombok, there's no reason to spend time in Lembar or Mataram. I'd increase Senggigi or go to Kuta. 6 nights on Gili Trawangan would be way too long for me, but again, I don't know your interests.

You could use more time in Flores (which you'll achieve if you streamline your other stops) as getting there and around is slow. I haven't been to any of the islands east of Lombok, so I can't compare, but it sounds like Sumba and Sumbawa would also be worth consideration. I'd also recommend Sulawesi in conjunction with Bali -- both central (Tanah Toraja) and north (Manado).

Ladouca

In terms of interest we like to be close to the population rather than close to many other tourists. We prefer rural areas to large cities. We like to combine beach, mountain, beach mountain because we aren't quite into beaches quite frankly. We enjoy a nice sunset but bar far prefer a nice pool to cool off in the afternoon after a hike in the mountain. We are both divers so if the opportunity is right we will dive otherwise snorkeling will be on our list. To sum it up, local people and picturesque sights. We usually fly from one area to the other to have more time. I don't need 5 star accomodations but more than basic. I like a clean comfortable room with a/c pool and fridge. This will be our first time in indonesia we will be arriving from bangkok. Our itinerary was chosen with the lonely planet quide classic routes two to three weeks bali to gilis. We prefer to stay longer in areas to savour the moment that's why we chose to do this first run in 4 weeks. In Munduk it is suggested to take the ferry at Pandangbai to Lombok. We will definitely consider the comments of the experienced fodors for our trip. Nothing is booked yet so any change is possible.

marmot

From your comments, I would definitely encourage you to consider Java and Sulawesi. Lombok and the Gilis are okay but nowhere near the level of other parts of Indonesia either in nature or culture.

I like the beach in Bali (disclaimer, I live in Seminyak) but if you're "not quite into beaches" and want to avoid touristy areas, you may want to cut back your time in Seminyak/Kuta.

It's true that the ferries from Bali to Lombok leave from Padang Bai; however it's quite a distance from Munduk. At any rate, Munduk is a good destination for you. It's Lombok I'm less enthusiastic about.

Kathie

The first part of your trip seems too repetitious. I'd agree with marmot, choose either Kuta or Seminyak or Sanur, for that matter. If you don't want to be close to many other tourists, cross Kuta off your list. Ubud is fine, and I defer to marmot on Munduk. Skip Mataram, and choose one area on Lombok. You have way too much time on Bali and Lombok and you are ignoring the vast majority of Indonesia. Add in Java and consider Sumatra as well.

Ladouca

You guys are great I will redo my homework to consider your comments.

kuluk

Hi Ladouca: I would take what Lonely Planet suggests with a huge grain of salt. There is so much misinformation and dodgy restaurant and hotel recommendations,and now we realize that they don't know that Munduk is in the central mountains a good 2 hours or more from Padang Bai on the far Eastern coast. To give you a good idea of travel times, Munduk is almost 2 hours from Ubud in the central are of the island, and Padang Bai is another 1.5 hours further away. I recently went from Ubud at 6 in the morning to catch the 8 am boat to Nusa Penida from Padang Bai and got there at 7:30 am... I'm saying this only to give you an idea of travel times and relative locations on Bali.

I agree with what Kathie and Marmot both say about your plans...their comments echo what I would have said as well.

If you want to stay away from tourists do not stay in Kuta or Seminyak, I would choose someplace like Amed or even Sanur in that case. Also, not all hotels have pools, in-room fridges and AirCon, so make sure when you book in that these amenities are available.

My personal choices for only a month to tour Indonesia would be Central Java (Borobudur, Prambanan) 3 days minimum
then east to see Bromo volcanos, (2 days min)
then to Bali minimum one week, two if possible)
For diving I highly suggest either Nusa Penida or Menjangan.

then Sulawesi to see Toraja (5 days or so)

then Flores (Komodo and Flores island). which takes at least ten days if you traverse the entire island from Larantuka to Labunhan Bajo and then do Komodo) Kelimutu Lakes in the middle of the island are a must-do, and you will see lots of markets and weavers and great scenery and culture.

If you are not a beach person then you can safely skip Lombok and the Gilis (unless you want to hike Rinjani).

Flores and Sulawesi do not have the large range of comfortable accomodation but it's a very rewarding place to travel in...and you won't see many tourists. It's kind of a cart and horse thing...without nice infrastructure the tourists don't come, and if there are no tourists there are not too many nice hotels or eating places to choose from.

As you know, Indonesia is a really huge country and the cultures, people, scenery and everything is really diverse, unlike Laos or Cambodia which is a bit more homogenized. That makes it a challenge to try to see a wide range of cultures and places in a short time.

That said, I'm sure we are all standing by to help you sort it out! I've lived in Indonesia for a lot of years and still haven't seen some of the major islands, like Papua!

StanKase

I would agree with a month in Indonesia you should not miss Central Java and tthe temples referred to and possible Mt. Bromo in East Java. If you want a mountanous region East Java offers that.

Ladouca

Kuluk when you say "then to Bali minimum one week, two if possible" can you please be more specific? Where to stay how long what to do? You suggest roughly a total of 34 days which I think can work. WE arrive in Bangkok on Sept 28th would like to be in loas on Nov 1st and then need to arrive in Yangon on Nov 10th to Dec 2nd travelling back home on Dec 5th Bangkok to Canada. If you can suggest accomodations as well that would be very helpful. Thanks again.

kuluk

Sorry about the 34 days...your visa will only give you 29 days (they count arrival as one day) so I over-counted.

The plan for Bali that you posted was for 15 days, so I wanted to keep with your plan, and what I was suggesting was that you NOT cut any time out of your Bali portion.

I always suggest people stay at least 5 days in Ubud...my college roomate came for 3 weeks and she did lots every day and still didn't see or do all she wanted...she did rafting, long walks along river and rice fields and forest, Bird Park, took painting, batik and dance lessons, saw gamelan and dance performances, shopped (although she normally hates shopping), saw a few temples and ate out a few times.

Aside from Ubud, I would do 3 or 4 days in Pemuteran to explore the West Bali National Park (Bali Barat) and dive Menjangan and to hike in the forest. Then possibly 3 or 4 days in Amed or Tumlamben for relaxing, possibly 3 days in Sanut for laid back but touristy beach. Nusa Penida also has very good snorkeling and diving and it's easily accessible from Sanur. Munduk/Bedugul/Sanda are all nice areas in the cooler mountains but in October it could get more rainy and foggy as it's the start of the wet hot season.

For hotel recommendations it all depends on your budget. What looks fine to me has sometimes proved to be "scary" for other people...(in the 10 to 30 dollar category.)If you give a budget range and what you are looking for (Is having a fridge in the room absolutely necessary?) it will help us give you specific suggestions.

I'm currently planning a few weeks trip to Myanmar in October so I know what you're going through!

marmot

Ladouca, When you come into Indonesia you will get a 30 day visa. Once you are here you can get an extension for another 30 days. Depending on where you are, you may be able to get a 60 day tourist visa before you leave. Check with the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate in your home country.

I think Kuluk has given you some good advice. My month would be roughly 1 week Java (Yogyakarta & Bromo), 1.5 to 2 weeks Bali, 1 to 1.5 weeks somewhere else. The somewhere else could be Flores or could be another island, like Sulawesi.

In Bali, I'd be more inclined toward Seminyak than Sanur.

Ladouca

Kuluk no a fridge is not something I can't live without! A range would be from 50 - 150 depending on the area of course. I would pay 150 in Ubud but don't expect to pay that in Flores. If there is something comfortable and clean at 30 in Flores then all the better. Your suggestions are quite interesting and I will look into getting a 60 day visa before leaving to take advantage of the 34 days.

marmot

You can also get a visa extension in Bali. The cost is about $US50 to $70. Another option is to overstay and pay a fine at the airport on departure. This is commonly done and would cost less than the extension. For 1 to 7 days it's a fairly simple procedure.

kuluk

Ladouca, New hotels pop up all the time and the bungalow that used to be charming can sport cement extensions, so I hesitate to recommend hotels that I haven't been to in a while. I will be in Flores, Timor and Sumba in July but not around Komodo unfortunately. I do normally recommend Sea World in Maumere if you go to the Eastern part of Flores, keeping my fingers crossed if it hasn't changed..it's one of the oldies but goodies. You will have to stay in different hotels in each area so as not to have to backtrack for 5 hours each day...and acommodation is fairly basic but liveable. Those kinds of places it's best to just turn up and check out each room individually, as rooms can be quite different even within one spot. In October you will have no problems at all finding vacancies.

Ubud has a really huge array of accomodation, even just $50 or so will get you a bungalow with garden and pool and possibly AC but usually no fridge (Ubud Bungalow or Anom Cottage for example) As you go higher up the food chain of course amenities and so on get better and better... If you do go up to 150 you could get in-house restaurants, satellite tv and so forth...Personally I like the Maya or Komaneka Bisma for outside downtown Ubud. For in-town, look at Cinta. I know a lot of the posters here like places in Nyuh Kuning village, and there are just so many choices for Ubud it's like being a kid in a candy store really!

In Pemuteran I like Taman Sari, and am leaving tomorrow for a 3 day mini-holiday there..yippee! Can't wait! I usually take the long meandering way there, stopping for fruits, plants, flowers, tamarillo shakes, and mountain views...then one full day snorkeling off the boat at Menjangan, one day lazy massages, snorkelling from the beach, and then one day leisurely drive home..