Bali in late Sept/early Oct
Aug 16th, 2014, 12:38 PM
#1
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Bali in late Sept/early Oct
Hi there folks!
I am just starting to plan out a trip in late September. Was planning to make a trip to Thailand, but realize majority of areas would have rainfall, so making a switch out. Trying to identify some areas which make sense..never been to this part of Asia.
Time - Sep 26-Oct 4.
Interests - R&R, history, good food, nothing adventurous. We like to see & experience local things more than hang out in a beach resort all day (maybe a day or 2 of that is okay).
Budget - Looking for places around $200/nt, so not top end.
Would you recommend Bali or are there other options we should consider as well?
I am just starting to plan out a trip in late September. Was planning to make a trip to Thailand, but realize majority of areas would have rainfall, so making a switch out. Trying to identify some areas which make sense..never been to this part of Asia.
Time - Sep 26-Oct 4.
Interests - R&R, history, good food, nothing adventurous. We like to see & experience local things more than hang out in a beach resort all day (maybe a day or 2 of that is okay).
Budget - Looking for places around $200/nt, so not top end.
Would you recommend Bali or are there other options we should consider as well?
Aug 16th, 2014, 05:56 PM
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Bali is an excellent option for that time of the year. Do the dates you gave include travel time or is that the time you will have on the ground in Asia? It's not a lot of time, so one location is probably best. If you opt for Bali, you could spend time at two different places on Bali - a beach location and an inland location.
Aug 16th, 2014, 07:24 PM
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Bali is a good location for a short trip because you can experience different environments in a small geographic area. The weather is mostly good in late September and the August tourist crush has subsided.
I agree: Two or three nights at the beach and the rest in the Ubud area sounds right. There are lots of choices in ~US$200 range. I like the Colony Hotel in Seminyak Beach. Not right on the beach but quite close and near lots of shops, restaurants, spas.
In Ubud you can either stay right in town or in the surrounding countryside. There are advantages to both, but I like the experience of the countryside. Look at the Komen group and the Alila.
The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival takes place this year from October 1-5 and accommodations in Ubud will be VERY tight during that time. Unless you'd like to attend some of the festival events (highly recommended) you should plan to do Ubud first and the beach second.
I agree: Two or three nights at the beach and the rest in the Ubud area sounds right. There are lots of choices in ~US$200 range. I like the Colony Hotel in Seminyak Beach. Not right on the beach but quite close and near lots of shops, restaurants, spas.
In Ubud you can either stay right in town or in the surrounding countryside. There are advantages to both, but I like the experience of the countryside. Look at the Komen group and the Alila.
The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival takes place this year from October 1-5 and accommodations in Ubud will be VERY tight during that time. Unless you'd like to attend some of the festival events (highly recommended) you should plan to do Ubud first and the beach second.
Aug 16th, 2014, 09:23 PM
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Thanks for the feedback! We will be traveling from India, so not too much time spent on travel. Just moved back to India from the US, so not traveled this part of the world much.
Will read up about Ubud, Seminyak. Any opinions on Kuta, Nusa Dua or other options?
rhkkmk - Weather.com says it rains 15-20 days during this period in Bangkok, Krabi etc., is that not true or it's more like short bursts & hence manageable?
Will read up about Ubud, Seminyak. Any opinions on Kuta, Nusa Dua or other options?
rhkkmk - Weather.com says it rains 15-20 days during this period in Bangkok, Krabi etc., is that not true or it's more like short bursts & hence manageable?
Aug 16th, 2014, 10:29 PM
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Definitely Ubud for the countryside, scenery, culture, exploring small local villages, cultural dancing, good food, cooking classes, and accessibility to the sights north of Ubud. Don't miss Gianyar night market
For your couple of days by the sea, have a look at Sanur as well as the other places mentioned earlier in the thread. It's v.close to the airport, quieter and less hassle than Kuta, and more sheltered. But it's still a popular place.
Nusa Dua is a gated compound of resort hotels and you won't get the feel for Bali there.
If you decide to stay in Kuta or Legian, then stay away from Sunset Road, as the traffic is horrendous.
A visa on arrival costs US$35 (you can pay in other currencies), and there's a 200,000 rupiah departure fee.
For your couple of days by the sea, have a look at Sanur as well as the other places mentioned earlier in the thread. It's v.close to the airport, quieter and less hassle than Kuta, and more sheltered. But it's still a popular place.
Nusa Dua is a gated compound of resort hotels and you won't get the feel for Bali there.
If you decide to stay in Kuta or Legian, then stay away from Sunset Road, as the traffic is horrendous.
A visa on arrival costs US$35 (you can pay in other currencies), and there's a 200,000 rupiah departure fee.
Aug 16th, 2014, 11:00 PM
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No I haven't but you're giving out advices as if you have been to Bali before. My comment re the homestay was to point out that NO A/C in the tropic will be uncomfortable.
Do let the OP know that you haven't been to Bali before and your advices are based on Google searches?
Do let the OP know that you haven't been to Bali before and your advices are based on Google searches?
Aug 17th, 2014, 01:03 AM
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I'll be visiting Bali [and Java], for the first time, from 25 September for a month, and have spent the last two months doing lots of pre-trip homework. I use the the current edition of LP Bali & Lombok as my best friend [but not as a bible], this and other forums, and google.
If I'm happy with the information I've researched I really enjoy sharing it.
The first place I pencilled in as a definite must-see was Ubud, for the countryside, scenery, culture, exploring small local villages, cultural dancing, good food, cooking classes, and accessibility to the sights north of Ubud. Gianyar night market, which is closeby looks great too.
We're staying at the Agung Raka in Ubud from 2-8 October. I didn't know there was a Writers and Readers Festival on while we are there (same time as you), but I've just checked on Booking.com and there's still availability for those dates...
http://www.booking.com/hotel/id/agun..._room=27656804
We're starting our trip with a week in Sanur. It's v.close to the airport, quieter and less hassle than Kuta, and more sheltered. But it's still appears to be a very popular place.
Nusa Dua is a gated compound of resort hotels and you won't get the feel for Bali there.
If you decide to stay in Kuta or Legian, then stay away from Sunset Road, as the traffic is horrendous. It's a mistake I've made, but I can't cancel the hotel, though it's only for 4 nights at the end of our trip.
A visa on arrival costs US$35 (you can pay in other currencies), and there's a 200,000 rupiah departure fee.
Enjoy.
If I'm happy with the information I've researched I really enjoy sharing it.
The first place I pencilled in as a definite must-see was Ubud, for the countryside, scenery, culture, exploring small local villages, cultural dancing, good food, cooking classes, and accessibility to the sights north of Ubud. Gianyar night market, which is closeby looks great too.
We're staying at the Agung Raka in Ubud from 2-8 October. I didn't know there was a Writers and Readers Festival on while we are there (same time as you), but I've just checked on Booking.com and there's still availability for those dates...
http://www.booking.com/hotel/id/agun..._room=27656804
We're starting our trip with a week in Sanur. It's v.close to the airport, quieter and less hassle than Kuta, and more sheltered. But it's still appears to be a very popular place.
Nusa Dua is a gated compound of resort hotels and you won't get the feel for Bali there.
If you decide to stay in Kuta or Legian, then stay away from Sunset Road, as the traffic is horrendous. It's a mistake I've made, but I can't cancel the hotel, though it's only for 4 nights at the end of our trip.
A visa on arrival costs US$35 (you can pay in other currencies), and there's a 200,000 rupiah departure fee.
Enjoy.
Aug 17th, 2014, 01:05 AM
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All of the southern beaches have pluses and minuses -- it really depends on what you're looking for. The eastcoast sunrise beaches -- Sanur and Nusa Dua -- are protected by a reef and are good calm swimming beaches. Sanur is a pleasant lowkey community. Nusa Dua was developed as a tourism enclave and is mostly side by side resorts.
Among the westcoast sunset beaches: Jimbaran has a protected bay and is therefore a good swimming beach. Some Jimbaran resorts are on the cliffside a hundred plus steps from the beach.
Kuta/Legian/Seminyak/Petitenget is a long big-wave beach that stretches about 15 km from end to end. This is a big-wave surfing beach. It's swimmable, but can be a bit rough.
Kuta tends to be high energy party area, Legian a little more sedate, but congested, Seminyak/Petitenget more upscale and sophisticated.
All have a range of accommodation, shops, restaurants and spas. Seminyak/Petitenget have some of the best food. As I said, there are good points and less good points to each. Getting from the east to west sides can be a chore, though, so choose the area where you intend to spend the most time.
Among the westcoast sunset beaches: Jimbaran has a protected bay and is therefore a good swimming beach. Some Jimbaran resorts are on the cliffside a hundred plus steps from the beach.
Kuta/Legian/Seminyak/Petitenget is a long big-wave beach that stretches about 15 km from end to end. This is a big-wave surfing beach. It's swimmable, but can be a bit rough.
Kuta tends to be high energy party area, Legian a little more sedate, but congested, Seminyak/Petitenget more upscale and sophisticated.
All have a range of accommodation, shops, restaurants and spas. Seminyak/Petitenget have some of the best food. As I said, there are good points and less good points to each. Getting from the east to west sides can be a chore, though, so choose the area where you intend to spend the most time.
Aug 17th, 2014, 02:02 AM
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<<<Getting from the east to west sides can be a chore, though, so choose the area where you intend to spend the most time.>>>
From my research I think that means that there is very likely to be a lot of [possibly] slow moving traffic, mainly of the polluting two-wheeled variety.
From my research I think that means that there is very likely to be a lot of [possibly] slow moving traffic, mainly of the polluting two-wheeled variety.
Aug 17th, 2014, 04:39 AM
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Not top end? $200 a night gets 5 stars.
Bali has some real bad tourist ghettos like Phuket.
See youtube videos and make up your own mind.
Thailand is great in low season. You basically changed due to very minor rain prospect. Mostly sunny. It barely rains for 1 hr a day even when it does rain.
Bali is a big time bogan hangout. Enjoy.
Bali has some real bad tourist ghettos like Phuket.
See youtube videos and make up your own mind.
Thailand is great in low season. You basically changed due to very minor rain prospect. Mostly sunny. It barely rains for 1 hr a day even when it does rain.
Bali is a big time bogan hangout. Enjoy.
