Bali Help, please
 

Hello,

Would like some information for Bali, please ....... Plan is to travel to Bali (mid May) ..... I know this is sort of last minute. Would like some place nice for my Mum's special birthday. Would like my parents to enjoy their stay there - possibly 3 nights?

Any recommendations? What are the current places that are sought after in Bali?

Thanks in advance,
Hari

Hari,

How wonderful that you want your mother to have a special birthday celebration in Bali.

If you ask more specific questions, I am sure that you will get some good advice here. What is "sought after" by one may not appeal to another, so please ask more narrowly framed questions.

Hari:

As Marya says, Bali has many different faces...some want a beach, nightlight, while some want culture and relaxation, some want to shop, etc etc

....what kind of holiday do you think your Mom would want, and what is your budget?

(Bali has many different types of locations and things to do and see that do not involve a beach)

Some place nice - one of the top tier trendy places ....... they wouldn't venture out too much. So, resort or lodge/service top priority. So would be the food, views from the place etc etc.,

Thanks so much,
Hari

Aman Resorts.

My favorite place is the Legian is in Seminyak but not sure when the current construction project will be completed.

Any of the Laksmana villas in Seminyak are very nice for a family group. Close to everything, not right on the beach.

If they want a seaview, I would suggest Four Seasons Jimbaran or Ayana Jimbaran. If they like inland(culture and nature) I'd suggest Four Seasons Sayan. For a little of both Amankila.

If these are a bit too luxe in price come back and we'll find some more.

If the Aman at $800+ with tax and service is too expensive the Four Seasons-Sayan is 5 star and very lovely and 25% less expensive and the food is very good. I actuallly stayed there twice and thought it was the best on Bali except for The Chedi Club. I would suggest The Chedi but they are small ~20 villas and likely sold out on short notice.
The weather will be perfect.

Hi Hari ... sorry for the delay, just noticed this:

I've stayed at 4 Seasons Sayan and enjoyed it a lot. The entrance to the place is dramatic -- you seem to enter the hotel through the middle of a lily pond. The rooms and bungalows are large and well-appointed, the service is as you'd expect from Four Seasons in Asia, and the food is reliably good. I especially enjoyed sitting in the open-air, thatch-roof, bar during a pelting rain storm. The sounds -- of the rain, of the rushing river, of the monkeys and the birds -- were amazing.

Only caveat is that the resort is quite large with hilly terrain, which could affect people with mobility issues. Transportation by golf carts is available.

I can't compare Sayan to other high-end resorts in Bali, as I'd stayed only at the former.

Dear All,

Thanks for all the feedback. Much appreciative - shall keep you posted with our choice.

Thanks will look into the options - Four Seasons Sayan sounds amazing value compared to the other resorts in Bali.

Regards,
Hari

PS: Hi Don, good to hear from you - Any trips to Africa lately? Was at Mara Plains Camp in Feb and was amongst my best experiences ever! Highly recommend!!!!

Hari: Four Seasons is ok, but it would not be my first choice... and it is definitely NOT considered a good value by Ubud standards. If you want to go that style, I would choose the Maya Ubud. Not too many stairs, huge lovely grounds, and amazing spa next to the rushing river, lovely staff. And reat food, since you say your parents won't want to go out too often.

http://mayaubud.com/

The Fs has been listed on ConteNast's best hotels in S.E. Asia for last last number of years and that is based strictly on travelers input. The same can be said for it's high rating on TripAdvisor.com. Yes, it is not a small resort but all you have to do is make a reservation directly with the specific FS and not the central FS reservation worldwide center and you wkill be dealing with a local hotel person. You can request a Deluxe Room backing up on the river that is not more than 40 meters (<60 yards) from the main lobby and dining rooms but be specific you do not want to be just off thre lobby either.A nice touch is a Jr. Suite but it really is not necessary because the better Deluxe rooms have a sitting area. Though your mum may way want to relax she probably would enjoy a6-7 hour day of touring through the rice fields and other agricultural planting areas. Ubud is just rows ad rows of commercial shops many of which are selling the same items in city center but it is probably worth spending 1 hour visiting that sectionof Ubud. There are a number of finer wood working and a few painters 5-8 miles outside of the center of town. A guide through that the FS will cost ~900-1,000,000RP. for 10 hours. The going rate is 600,000Rp. and you can source several other travelers in this forum have used before but it is not a big dollar savings.

Mid-May is rather last-minute!! As a fellow-Indian, I think you may be very comfortable at The Oberoi. Beautiful hotel, beachfront, quiet, classy, peaceful....with great Indian (and gourmet European) food and an Indian GM (lovely guy.) Not cheap but certainly affordable. Book on their website, or better still, email the hotel.
All the best!

What does the fact that the General Manager happen to be of Indian nationality have to do in choosing a hotel??

Everything....if you happen to be Indian yourself! Same culture, same language....in the same way that a French GM would be a plus if you're French.
Especially since he is taking his parents; and we Indians tend to look after our own, at home, well into old age....so the GM would probably go the extra mile to make sure they are comfortable.
In any case, the hotel has a civilised, old-world and truly Balinese feel to it....unlike the modern yuppy horrors all around Bali.