Bali - 3 weeks in August
 

After a failed attempt in 2007, we're finally off to Bali this August. FIRST TIME. Tickets are booked and paid so this is it! :-)

The wife (37) and I (39) We land in Singapore at dawn on 3 August and take off from Singapore late on 22 August.

I guess we'd stay a two or three days in Singapore (a while back KimJapan had said the FS was the only place to stay, is that still the case?) and then take an AirAsia flight to Denpasar.

I'd like to stay in 3 locations, Ubud, somewhere on the south coast (sanur or seminyak/legian) and then either north or east coast Bali OR Lombok. Somehow feel I can't be bothered to add the additional hassle of moving to Lombok but perhpas i'm overreacting (:-)))

Would 4 nights Sanur or Seminyak, 5 nights Ubud and 4 nights north/east or Lombok seem like a good breakdown?

A few months ago had read a few repeated reports of a newish place in Ubud but can't fid it again... Pita Maha looks nice and wonder whether the cheaper prices of the Alam Shanti or Alam Indah mean they are really not as nice?

Any suggestions for hotels in those three locations, we are more for quiet places with nearby restaurant options rather than bars/nightlife types...
At the end I wonder wether we should fly back to Singapore just to catch our flight back to Europe or whether we should use it as a decompression chamber and spend a day or two there again.. Or take a day to go to Melacca or Bintan (but then again Bintan might be a waste of time after Bali??)

Am really looking forward to this and as tickets were just booked today am starting to look into various mountain climbs and other trekking options... (best not forget my walking shoes!)

hi b.c.////

i love alam shanti and will return there next spring for a couple of days...i doubt you can get a res at this late date, but try....we thought the place was worth twice the cost..., but it is slightly out of town but they provide free transport...

all of the upscale places are really nice i feel...

sanur...we also love it there....we had the family bungalow and will have it again at tandjung sari....great location...

the bali hyatt at sanur is good too but the rooms are a bit old, but perhaps they have revamped them....the grounds, beach, pools etc are fabulous...

lombok is really nice....the qunci villas are fabulous... very different from bali....we spent 4 nites there and it was just perfect....#5 is a nice villa..
they also have a new property right next door...the food at QV is outstanding and reasonable...

I think it sounds like a reasonable plan. I agree with Ubud and Sanur and I, too, would encourage you to consider Lombok. We visited Lombok as a day trip from Bali in 1999 and really liked it. We went back in 2004 and stayed at Qunci Villas. I've been recommending them ever since. You can look at our photos if that might help in your decision - www.marlandc.com

Thanks Katie, Thanks RHKKMK

am increasingly getting hooked on the Lombok idea, also as I see Silk air fly direct from Lombok to Singapore! How does one get from Bali to Lobok? Boat?

RHKKMK, did you ever stay or see at Alam Shanti's sister hotel on Gili, the Alam Gili? Are the Gili islands maybe too small to spend 4 days on them?

Any views on Singapore hotels? And/or whether adding on Bintan or Melacca makes any sense (meaning cut time out of our time on bali/lombok)

Thanks again

SilkAir one way from Lombon to Singapore is $600 and not even the right days hahahaha

get me back to airAsia :-))

There are about hourly flights between Bali and Lombok. The tickets are cheap (as opposed to the Silk Air ticket!).

I would not recommend Bintan - I've actually never heard anyone say anything good about it. The Gilis are tiny, and the people I've talked to who stayed there wouldn't recommend it (maybe an overnight, but that's it).

Melacca is perhaps worth a couple of days... but if it were me (and it isn't) and I wanted another place that would be a short flight, I'd head for Penang - not for the beach, but for historic Georgetown. The E&O Hotel is there, a fabulous place worth the trip all by itself, you are right in the middle of old town and right in the middle of the world-famous hawker food. If it sounds at all interesting to you, tak a look at my trip report (click on my name and you'll see a list of my trip reports). Also, there are lots of Penang photos to tempt you on our photo site.

My favorite hotel in Singapore is the Fairmont. I love the location - right above an MRT stop and across the street from Raffles Hotel and Chjimes. I don't think one can ever go wrong choosing a Four Seasons, but I don't like the location.

THanks Kathie

not so keen on internal flights on indonesian carriers as every single airline registered in Indonesia was safety-blacklisted by both the FAA and the EU in 2008... will look into boat practicalities.

Just been checking the Fairmont and it looks great.

Am rapidly giving up on the Bintan idea... :-)

I second the Alam Shanti. We found it to be magical. A walk into town through the Monkey Forest is great. Don't know if anything will be available, but try.

Thanks Gpanda! Have written to them and await reply

Any other Sanur suggestions? Place like the Legian and such look stunning but well over our planned budget... :-)

The boat trip between Bali and Lombok can be rather rough, and it doesn't always run. Actually, Indonesian ferries are more dangerous than their airlines.

In Sanur, I've stayed at the Bali Hyatt a number of times. It's an old property. I always stay in the Regency Club, which gives you nice benefits (breakfast, evening cocktails and canapes in the lovely Club). The grounds of the hotel are gorgeous and have won many awards. The only question I'd have (since I haven't been there for years) is whether the rooms have been recently updated. Usually, the prices are very good.

the airline we used from bali to lombok was maperti of some similar name... qunci booked it for us.....not cheap...maybe $120 r.t. US.... 15-20 minute flight...

i looked at the gili place but thought maybe it was toooo rustic for us....no a/c as i remember and remote to get to...

if AS offers you a different hotel of theirs, make sure your room will have a/c....some only have fans...

Aarggh! mail from Alam this morning "Very sorry, all rooms at Alam Properties are fully booked above dates including rooms at Alam Shanti" :-(

In Ubud, ahs anyone stayed at Pita Maha or Maya Ubud? or eslewhere?

thanks

Kathie thanks again for the Sanur tips

I've stayed at the Uma Ubud and quite like it. Sister hotel to the more grand, but 1/2 hour out of town, Como Shamabala estate. About a five minutes walk to the Mozaic restaurant.

http://www.uma.ubud.como.bz/Default.aspx

yikes there all full! (Uma, Pita-Maha, the Alams...)

Maya Ubud has space, has anyone been there?

August is high season in Bali which is why it may be difficult to get reservations. Take a look at the Komaneka properties. We're planning our first trip to Bali next July or August, and they have received good reviews.

thanks CFW Komaneka (all three properties) also full!

might bring a tent! :-)

how about seeking help from a TA like bali discovery tours...??

are you using a driver like putu or someone else?? if so ask for their assistance....

We have booked into the Kajane Mua for our next trip. Have not been there yet , but if you look on this sight and trip advisor it gets some good reviews. It is at the end of town(Ubud), but set back on a rice patty...but then every thing in Ubud is set on the edge of a rice patt. Good luck

> are you using a driver like putu or someone else??

that's a point... had'nt got round to the driver issue yet. I guess it's good to have a driver for a few days around Ubud (assume hotels can arrange transfer from one place to next). Any suggestions? Is Putu on email?

You can also try Kupu Kupu Barong and the villas at the ARMA resort - both are a short ride from town (different directions) and very nice properties. There is usually a discount package on Luxury Link for KKB and you can check the ARMA site for special pricing.

[email protected]

Wow, thanks, the Kupu Kupu Barong looks nice and not all that expensive (comparatively....). I see they also have a beach resort in Tuban and wonder if anyone has been there (or is too near Kuta??)

Putu can be reached at [email protected] and [email protected] . those are the two addresses we use. Good luck.

Looks like things will be as follows:

6-11 August Alila Manggis (near CandiDasa)
11-16 August Maya Ubud or Alila Ubud
16-20 August Intercontinental Resort Semyniak

Do you think this is appropriate breakdown of available time?

Still unsure of where to book in Ubud but so many places are full.

A little unhappy about the Intercontinental Resort in Semyniak as not keen on big huge resort but with IC ambassador card will get upgrade to club and everywhere else in Semyniak is either too expensive or full or nowhere near the beach. Had also found a room at Tadjung Sari in Sanur but have read so many contrasting reports about Sanur and its beach (have never set foot on Bali) that concerned...

:-)

brussels, I like the Alila group and have stayed at their resort in Ubud many times since they opened 14 years ago. The architecture is contemporary and you either love it or hate it, but the public areas --grounds, pool, restaurant, spa -- are really nice. The view is the same one that you get for twice the price at the Aman or Como. The food is very good -- albeit pricy for Bali -- and the overall aesthetic is serene.

I'm not a fan of the Maya as they seem to cater to big Asian tourgroups, but I have to tell you honestly a lot of people don't like the Alila either. The current manager is competent, but they've had some that took their eyes off the biz.

I've never stayed at the Alila Manggis but I've been there several times and have stayed at the Aman nextdoor. Nice grounds, excellent restaurant. East Bali has a lot of cultural attraction, but the beach is just so so. Five days may be too long.

Unless something's happened that I'm not aware of the only Intercontintal is in Jimbaran. Jimbaran Bay is a nice swimming beach and people like the seaside BBQ restaurants. The I-Con is an older property but has nice grounds. Jimbaran is somewhat out of the way. Some restaurants & shops, but not as many choices as Sanur or Seminyak.

For something in the same price range in Seminyak you might look at the Sofitel -- excellent location, good beach, nice grounds, stylish clientele.

Marmot, thanks for tips

Sorry yes I did, of course, mean the IC Jimbaran. What are your views on Sanur... I know some here rate it highly but elsewhere i read that the beach is not so nice and the town a bit rundown... ? My concern had been that the IC is such a huge place that you might end up feeling like you could be anywhere (bali, yucatan or hawaii...) but maybe i'm wrong

Thanks again

Sanur is a nice swimming beach and there are lots of shops and restaurants in the area. This was one of the first beaches to be developed in Bali (along with Kuta) and therefore many of the properties are 15-20 years old.

Personally I prefer Seminyak. I like the sunsets, the shops, the restaurants. I like the long beach with the dramatic surf. I'd choose the Sofitel over the I-Con based on location.

Sofitel Seminyak "We are sorry, but this hotel is not available" (from 3 to 26 august!!)

:-) :-)

Other choices in the area: Anantara, Samaya, Oberoi, Elysian.
A little farther south, Padma.

Growing increasingly harrassed with the South... might skip it completely and swap it with 4 or 5 days in the north at "Spa Village Resort Tembok" which is an all inclusive SLH and looks excellent!
that would make it Manggis-Tembok-Ubud
so no south-coast at all!

OK, one thing is booked!

http://www.spavillage.com/tembokbali/index.htm


now on to find somewhere in Ubud for 5 nights and decide whether we do 4 nights in Manggis or 2 Manggis and 2 Jimabaran/Seminyak...

:-) :-) thanks again for numerous tips and advice!

i don't see anything to dislike about sanur....its a real town...it has restaurants and shops and lots of hotels....the beaches i have visited at the north, mid and south ends of the town are uniformly nice...

if your source is TA, i usually disregard most of what is said there...

brussels, It seems Bali is going to have a very good July/August: What global recession?

I think you need to determine what it is you want from the beach portion of your visit. If it's peace, quiet and solitude you may want to re-consider Lombok. If it's a lively social atmosphere with nearby shops and restaurants, then Sanur is a good choice, I think better than Jimbaran.

I wouldn't know where to put Alila Manggis in between those two. It's isolated, but the beach isn't particularly nice. The resort itself is pleasant and the area is interesting, but I don't see it as a must-go destination.

Spa Village in Tembok is a new one for me. I hope you get there so that you can give us a report.

We recently stayed at Kajane Mua - the staff is extremely friendly (too much so for my taste - as in I found myself sprinting by them at times to avoid having to have a lengthy conversation). We felt the property to not be worth the expense, particularly when there were so many other great places for half (or less) the cost.

One more note on Kajane - the villas are not really villas. They are suite-sized hotel rooms with outdoor living areas. This was a big surprise to us and a big inconvenience as the wireless only worked outside in Loji Gagga. I now completely understand earlier comments about lack of seating - all the seats are outside where it is warm and muggy.

Before anyone asks, trip report is being worked on.

I have flown on a lot of Indon carriers and am still here to respond. I would avoid Adam air for sure, but let's see now...how about Air France and their peto tubes and their crashing in Toronto a few yrs ago blaming a runway that was too short - never mind that the pilot landed half way down it in the rain, or Singapore air a few yrs ago wasting a big jet and a lot of lives? I have ferried to Lombok many times, & used the Jetboat and all were fine. Silk air is way too expensive - just fly from Denpasar - and even enjoy an old DC-3 - which I loved.

our flights to lombok were on regular jets...

Looking foward to the Spa Village in Tembok. It is a SLH and is run by the same group that run Pangkor Laut and Tanjong Jara in Malaysia so I hope it will be good. It is extremely isolated (they do full board only) so I guess that after that we probably won't be needing Manggis any more!!

I think after Tembok we'll go to Ubud and from there to some southern beach location..

Putu is only available the last three days we're on Bali by which time we'll have been to Ubud and around as well as up north/volcanos etc. Should we still consider calling upon his services? Where could/should he take us to from wherever we're staying in the South?

thanks
bc

The Alila Manggis is lovely, I stayed there less than a month ago. The Italian chef is terrific and the Sri Lankan GM very helpful; he can probably set you up with a guide/driver. I think its location is perfect for much of the south and east.
I think Merpati has cheaper air than you mentioned. I can't find my tickets or vouchers but
I booked thru Treavelindo.com in Jakarta and they had better rates than I could get on any site in the USA. Qunici Villas was great but likely full. Next door is there pool villas and on the hill above, their super lux villas; maybe they can offer a deal on the pricier accommodations.
In Ubud I've stayed at KayuManis and KupuKupu Barong, both wonderful. I'd get on as many waiting lists as will have you; last minute cancellations are rampant in the current economy and tourism climate. The man who led my walking tour in Ubud might be available for guiding; his name is Darta, phone is 62 361 975 487. Wayan (Hiddenbali.com or [email protected]) might be free and if not,ask him if Gusti from his village is free; he knows the Ubud area well. Keep us posted.

If you end up staying at the Alila -- Ubud or Manggis -- Sangputu is a very good guide both for culture and for nature.

so:

3-6 August, three nights in Singapore at the FS

6-11 August five nights, full board, at Spa Village Resort Tembok Bali on the north coast http://www.spavillage.com/tembokbali/index.htm
11-16 August five nights b&b at Royal Pita Maha in Ubud http://www.royalpitamaha-bali.com/index.php
16-20 August four nights b&b at the Alila Manggis on the east coast http://www.alilahotels.com/Manggis

20-22 August, two nights in Singapore at the IC

There goes it... in touch now with Putu about two or maybe three full days with him during our stay. Any tips for Ubud AND Singapore are welcome (for restruants and day spas)

thanks again
bc