Arriving Bali at Midnight/Where to Stay?
 

I will be arriving in Bali at the bewitching hour of 00:05 from Seoul (end of March). My destination is Ubud; however, I'm unsure whether it would be best to stay "the night" near the airport and then make the trek to Ubud later in the day, or if there would be a taxi service to take me to a private guesthouse/small boutique hotel in Ubud at that early in the morning. I have yet to decide on a place to stay in Ubud - so many choices.

At this point my thoughts are to stay near the airport and am considering the Ecolodge in Jimbaran and possibly stay the day and another night before the trip to Ubud.

Your thoughts/suggestions?

Many thanks!

i am arriving on the same flt in may....i plan to have the hotel pick me up at that time and drive me to ubud...

there really aren't any "airport hotels" at denespar...

are you staying overnite in seoul? we have a res at the hyatt. do you plan any activities for the day layover if you are affected by it??

It only take slightly over an hour in daylight, so maybe 2 hours at night through them winding narrow roads with no light.

No, not overnighting in Seoul, heading straight to Denpasar. I haven't yet decided on any hotel in Ubud but most seem to offer airport transfers yet I know it's not safe to assume anything. Once I decide, I will enquire ... that will determine whether I overnight in Jimbaran or near the airport. My issue is I really don't want to check in and out within a 10 hour period if I can help it. It's not a matter of cost; it's that I want to get to the final destination. (My husband and I went to Tonga in September and we had to spend the night in Auckland, then a night on Tongatapu before we reached our final destination of Vava'u. Though we were able to sightsee at each stop, packing and unpacking and waiting at the airport was tiring ... we're not 20 anymore.) If necessary I'll sit on the hood with my headlamp and shine the way. :-)

Thanks for the replies.

We will be taking the same flight too. Our plan is to head directly to our hotel that night. I imagine taxis, etc. are very familiar with flight arrivals and heading to your hotel at that hour shouldn't be that unusual. Check in, drop the bags, go to sleep and wake up in Bali.

the only thing i would say about heading directly to the hotel by taxi is that if the hotel is not big, and many are not, the taxi driver might not know exactly where it is and at that hour it is not easy to find someone to ask.....that happened to us the last time and it was daylight which made things much easier...

my ny flight requires a stop over in seoul (incheon) for 24 hours....i'm delighted actually....

Mrs.T, Once you choose your Ubud resort I'd suggest that you let them take care of the transportation. They'll have a vested interest in getting you there and will be reliable.

Late night arrivals in Bali are fairly common. The resort will send a driver who will be standing outside the airport with a sign with your name on it. After that all you need to do is relax in the back seat for about an hour, check in to to your room, get some sleep and voila, you wake up in Bali!

In many cases transport is included in the room rate. If not, ask.

Taxis are available and you may save a few rupiah by doing it yourself, but why incur the extra anxiety. I wouldn't entertain the idea of staying one night near the airport. The most you'll "save" would be half an hour and it's so much nicer to get all the logistics over with on arrival.

Yes, when booking your Ubud hotel arrange for a car to pick you up on arrival, and add the charge to your bill - you don't want to be hunting up a cab at that time of the night or getting rupiah to pay a driver on the spot. If you don't encounter any delays in arrival and/or clearing the terminal you should be at your hotel by 02:30 (memory hazy but I think the drive would be somewhere between 60 and 90 minutes at that hour).

Good morning Mrs. Theo

I would like to inform you about yr traveling to Bali,
usely when arrive at midnight than direct to the hotel is not problem if you have hotel already. But following yr email you dont have hotel yet cause of that you can book the neares hotel fr airport like in kuta or jimbaran just ten minute fr airport. the day after you go to Ubud or other place to look for the hotel with the taxi driver. If you dont mind I manage your traveling during stay In Bali, firstly I book the hotel, Pick up at thye airport and after day looking around the hotel you need. I appreciate if you will informed your need. Thank you

Best regards

Balitravesltour

Agree with NeilOz - let your hotel take care of it. You'll be in your bed by 2:30 or so.

A useful forum for Bali is www.balitravelforum.com

It's a lively, active forum and I've always found the information accurate & up to date. Of course, opinions will vary, as on any forum. Bali is a very popular destination for Australians and Europeans,and you could do worse than ask for Ubud accommodation recommendations there.

As recommended my friend and I have arranged with the B&B to have a driver pick us up upon our arrival. Though we will be a tad weary from the trip, we felt it best to get to our destination. I've booked a a couple of hours at a spa later in the day so we should "melt" right into the atmosphere.

Thank you to all who weighed in. The days are dwindling.