CFW

Can't figure out where to stay in Seminyak - or whether to stay there -- when we go to Bali next year. We're planning on spending several days in Ubud, and in Sanur at the end of the trip for beach time & to do some sightseeing on the East coast, and were planning on spending 3 nights in Seminyak at the beginning of our trip to relax, get adjusted to the time, do some shopping &, of course, eating I just can't quite get a feel for Seminyak, though. I understand the beach is not that nice, and it seems that the restaurants & shops may be more international sleek/trendy/hip than Balinese in style. Not that there is anything wrong with that , but we are more interested in local handicrafts and local cuisine when we travel, which I know we'll find in Ubud. But we also like beach-time and gorgeous ocean-view sunsets.

So, if we do start our trip in Seminyak, we are torn between the following

-- Oberoi (on the beach, beautiful gardens, not as expensive as the Legian & Samaya, which are out of our price range).

-- Villa Bali Asri (looks beautiful with private pool, good price, great reviews on Trip advisor, apparently fairly close to the beach between Sofitel & Oberoi)

-- Dyana Villas (similar, but a bit farther from the beach).

We really want to keep the price under $300.

Help! Just can't decide what to do and am beginning to obsess - Seminyak or not? (probably yes), villa or beach front hotel? If villa, which one? For those who know the area, how are the locations of Villa Bali Asri & Dyana Villas?

Thanks!

MichaelBKK

Just spent a couple nights in Seminyak last week. I like it, because it's the best place in Bali to escape the touts. I stayed at Putu Bali Villas, for the second time. It's a great place a short walk from the beach (and an even shorter walk from Bali Catering). Putu Bali is probably a step below what you're looking for, which is a bit out of my travel budget.

I know the Oberoi, of course, but I can't say the other two ring any bells. The Dyana Villas is probably on Dyana Pura street, which I think of as not-quite Seminyak.

While the restaurants in Seminyak do tend towards the international (as do most of the ones in south Bali) there are some good local foods, including Made's Waroeng. The place may be crawling with tourists, but the food is still fantastic. Had the Soto Madura there again last week, and it was fabulous.

rhkkmk

we have rented villa kipis for a week in may....its too big for the two of you but they have smaller properties....google them and neil will get back to you with some alternatives....he is an aussie who owns several bali properties...

kmkrnn

I just looked at both of those villa sites. They both look lovely, come with breakfast and are not far from restarunts for dinner. I am sure the staff would send out for lunch if asked. If you want to chill at the begining for a few days, why not have the extra space and privicy a villa will givwe you. best of both worlds.

CFW

thanks, Karen. Always good to see you on Fodors now that you have retired! I think we are sort of inclining toward a villa. Though we both just love being right on the beach, we will have that at the Tandjung Sari in Sanur. Michael, I think you're right about the location of Dyana Villas, so that doesn't look like a good choice for us. Have any fodorites stayed at Villa Bali Asri?

marmot

Getting good advance rates in Seminyak is tough. You have to believe that sooner or later the worldwide financial crisis will hit Bali and even now, in August, for close-in reservations you can get good deals. But the irony is that you get no advantage for advance booking. I guess being eternal optimists the Indonesian believe that a few months hence they’ll be at 100% occupancy so why discount now?

I like Seminyak a lot. Is it the real Bali? That’s a difficult question to answer. Bali has been a beach resort destination for 50+ years. The beach areas are multicultural but still very much an authentic part of Bali – whether Seminyak, Kuta or Sanur. Real Balinese live there, worship there and of course work in the resorts, same as in Ubud. Same goes for the expat community, whether they’re surfers, retirees or Eat-Pray-Lovers. Everytime someone from another culture sets foot in Bali the indigenous culture absorbs some of the the alien influence.

I’ve given up describing beaches in Bali as good or bad. The westcoast beaches that stretch for miles from Kuta to Canggu have some nice spots and some rough spots. The resorts, for the most part, keep their beach fronts clean, but the beach does get a lot of traffic. Mostly it’s people like me walking for miles and miles, enjoying the pounding surf, the light at different times of day, the sea creatures in the sand, observing other people (and dogs) doing the same – the good, the bad and the ugly. The sunsets are inspirational.

The restaurants all over Bali are international, which usually means mediocre Western food. Personally, I wouldn’t count Indonesian food as one of the world’s great cuisines so for me having pasta at Talese or grilled fish at Lalucciola or pan-Asian food at Sarong is a plus not a minus. KuDeTa is unabashedly sleek and trendy and one of the most beautiful seaside bars in the world. Maybe for your first few days in Bali, this would be the last thing you want. By the end of your trip you may feel otherwise. For that reason you might prefer to head inland upon arrival.

My first choice would still be a studio suite at the Legian. I’d call the manager directly, tell her what you’ve been offered by the Oberoi and see if you could get a concession.

The Oberoi is one of the oldest properties in the area. It has lovely grounds and the villa configuration is appealing. In my opinion, however, it’s a bit run down at the heels. The Legian has far better housekeeping, equally lovely grounds. It’s a three story block like an apartment building, but I find the architecture unobtrusive and the sea-view balconies indispensable.

If you’re leaning toward a villa then I would gravitate toward the northern part of the beach, toward Petitenget. Second choice would be close to the Oberoi.

Both of the villas you’ve chosen are right in the thick of the shopping/restaurant/club area. Not necessarily a bad area, but it doesn’t sound like what you’re looking for. I’d recommend the Laksmana group complex, but I’ve never stayed there myself. The problem with private villas – even the most luxurious – is that they don’t have private beaches which puts you among the hoi polloi. The beach resorts all have garden areas where you can be on the beach but not really on the beach.

It IS hard to chose a villa on line as they all look stunning. What you can't see on line is what's next door -- a disco, construction, a garbage heap. Most are owned by absent foreigners who turn the property over to local managment services and there's a lot of variation in service. I'd don't personally know Neil the Aussie, but his reputation is that he is reliable and experienced and is likely to be in Bali which is important if you have issues.

CFW

Marmot, Thank you for taking the time to send such a thorough reply with so much information. Yes, that is what we want to avoid- "mediocre western food." We can get that at home! Fresh grilled fish, pan-Asian sound good, and I'm sure we'll find other local places like Made's Wareung that Michael describes. I looked at Laksmana group & they are all 3,4,& 5 bedroom villas -- much too big for just the 2 of us! Villa Kipis where Bob/Karen & the Pandas are staying looks wonderful, but it's also 2 bedroom & from my search on his website it looks like that is the only Villa that Neil has. So, I'm still thinking about Villa Bali Asri, which has a number of villas - three of which are 1 bedroom. It looks like it is just a few meters up the street from Villa Kipis & close to the beach.

marmot

You might also look at the Sofitel. They have villas on the beach that are part of the resort.

I don't know anything about Asri, but from the photos there doesn't seem to be anything not to like. The Yak award is a good sign. I see on the map that it's near the Elysian. Also recommended.

rhkkmk

E you need to send neil an e mail and he will be helpful...he offered us other accomodations as well so i know he has others..