Hi, We are in the final stages of planning our late August/Sept trip. We are taking a week cruise from Flores to Bali (Komodo, Lombok, Gilis, etc), so will see lots of flora/fauna and beaches with snorkeling/diving etc. We have 3 nights both before and after the cruise. The 3 nights after the cruise we plan to stay in Ubud. But what about the 3 days before the trip? As we are already doing fabulous beaches, and what makes Bali special/unique is the culture, do we go ahead and stay in Ubud also before the cruise ? Or stay in Jimabaran or Sanur to be closer to the airport since our flight is at 7am to Flores ?

Any help really appreciated!

Actually, I kind of like the beach in Sanur, but it's 30 to 45 minutes from the airport, so it wouldn't be my first choice for a 7:00 am flight. Jimbaran would be a really good option. Actually, depending on where you stay in Jimbaran there may not be much of a beach. Stay there, check out the Kecek dance at Uluwatu Temple one night. Get over your jet lag.

Depends on whether you want a few more days to relax on the beach or to sightsee. What appeals to you? Bali does have alot of cultural and historic sights, depending on what you want to see two days (a three night stay in Ubud will give you two full touring days), may not be enough.

I hired a car and driver to see/do as much as possible during my short trip to Bali. The driver was good, he spoke good English and was a former tour guide, he is very knowledgeable and guided and drove me around the island for four days. I will look up his email address and contact information if you'd like. Let me know if you want me to post this.

i think sanur would be a wonderful suggestion....i think the airport is less than 30 minutes?? bali hyatt is a good choice or the conrad at benoa is really fabulous imo...

I think wonderland is the only decent beach in bali. Bali is a marketing product, its beaches are not very nice, and most people go there from Australia to party, so avoid Kuta. I would also not waste my time with the Gili Islands, as the beaches there are not very nice. Lombok has much better beaches and much less infrastructure.

Three days in Ubud is not a very long time, so I vote for staying in Ubud twice. First time, relax, get massages every day esp the mandi lulur, do the river rafting, see a couple of temples and watch some dance and gamelan performances. After your cruise, come back to Ubud and use it as a base for drives into the countryside to see ride field views and mountains, lakes etc. Ubud is one hour from the airport, and for a 7 am flight you have to be at airport at 6. You can also look at Jimbaran area for luxury near the beach/airport.

I don't think that there's a big difference in resort to airport time from any of the southern beach areas -- Sanur, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Seminyak. Since you'll be traveling domestically the check in process is simpler, especially early morning.

Each of the beach areas has its own supporters and detractors. None is really pristine, though each has positives. Personally I like Seminyak because I think it offers a good range of activities and facilities -- and I like the big waves and sunsets.

You might want to consider spending your initial three days in a villa -- which is a whole 'nother type of Balinese cultural experience. There are villas (which are really just houses with walled gardens and private pools) in all of the beach areas, though very few are actually on the beach. With a villa you get an attendent staff there to serve your every whim, a private and luxurious space and the tropical Bali-style indoors/outdoors life style.

What appeals most to us is to see what is unique to Bali. We actually own a beach condo in Akumal, Mexico so we get fabulous views carribean style. To make us sound more spoiled, we have our own pool in Dallas and we like meeting other people, so I don't think we would appreciate a private villa compound.

Jimbaran sounds interesting because of the cliffs, but in checking prices it seems to be more expensive than other places. To be honest, I just cannot imagine spending more than $450 a night for a hotel/room/villa/etc. So it appears that most of the boutique type hotels are out of our price point. ????? Does Ubud just have more options of boutique style hotels?

Many of the newer, small properties in South Bali (like Alila Ulu Watu or Kayumanis Jimbaran) are villa complexes which is what makes them pricy. There are definitely less expensive places on or near all of the beaches.

Where are you thinking of staying in Ubud? Maybe we can find something in the same ambience. Or maybe if you're leaning toward Ubud or East Bali you should just resign yourself to getting up at 5:00 for your flight. Morning is beautiful in Bali.

South Bali is definitely a beach resort atmosphere, though. It still has Balinese elements and I would say it qualifies as what is unique to Bali, but it's more sea and entertainment focused whereas the Ubud area is more nature and culture.

Personally I like the Legian in Seminyak, for the views, the gardens, and the access to restaurants and shops. I think Seminyak and Sanur are a lot livelier than Jimbaran and Ulu Watu, but a lot of people like the clifftop views.

End August into September is high season in Bali so you're definitely at a disadvantage for negotiating rates, but you should always try.

Sorry, I should have said getting up at 4:00 and leaving at 5:00 from Ubud. That 7 a.m. flight is really a challenge on a vacation, but that's going to be true wherever you stay the night before.

Yes, Ubud does have a lot of "villas" in different price ranges. But the teriminology is overused here. Many villas are really just bungalows. And even if a villa has walls around it, doesn't mean you are cut off from people.

And, yes, all the hotels in Ubud are boutique style, in many price ranges. In my mind, Ubud has more of what makes Bali unique, the arts, temples, traditional culture, but everyone has their own opinions.