My husband and I are in Bali 2nd week Dec. We are at the Ritz for 3 nights for a conf. Then I want to shift to a resort type property (within US$100/night) for 1 night and then I stay back for 2 more nights (within US$50/night) alone to explore the city. Can anyone suggest hotels for our 1 night together - we both enjoy water sports and he has been to Bali before so does not want to sightsee, wants to chill out, as we have only 2 days together I want it to be near the Ritz and airport - and my 2 nights alone - should be central and safe, I want to sightsee and SHOP!?

Sounds like you'll be near Denpasar, around the Kuta/Legian/Nusa Dua area for the conference? Legian or Nusa Dua would both have lots of options for you and your husband to relax - Nusa Dua gets mixed reviews (you can do a search on this board), but with far, far fewer touts to bother you, it is, in my opinion, better than Legian for relaxing at the hotel or on the beach. We stayed at the Melia Bali, which is in your price range and we enjoyed it a lot.

What city do you want to explore when you have your two days? If you're in the Nusa Dua/Kuta/Legian area for the conference & one night, I'd recommend Ubud for your two days.

Yes, I was thinking of Ubud - I will get 2 days in Denpasar while we are at The Ritz and my husband is busy with his conf so would like to move on. My husband leaves around 4 on Sun so at that time I could transfer somewhere. How far is Ubud from Nusa Dua? Any hotel suggestions? Will Ubud fulfil my dual sightseeing and shopping objectives? Would any of the Waka hotels be in our budget and if yes, do you know anything about them? Thanks a ton for replying!

Ubud is a fair drive from Nusa Dua. If you want to sight see and would prefer not to be at a beach, then Ubud would fill the bill. There are lots of options of places to stay in Ubud, which has LOTS of shopping and is closer to areas for sightseeing.

Thanks, Kathie. How much time is "fair drive"? Any hotel recos in Ubud? Any not to be missed shops? Do u have a hotel reco for Nusa Dua?

I expect someone else will have a recommendation for a hotel in Nusa Dua. Personally, I dislike Nusa Dua, so wouldn't stay there if it were free! (Nusa Dua is an exclusively tourist enclave. There was no village there before the resorts came. It feels sterile to me.)

I'd guess it's more than an hour drive from Nusa Dua to Ubud.

There are about a zillion shops in Ubud. Wander around, you'll find something. I've not stayed in Ubud, but there are many lovely options there.

take a look at the bali hyatt...they were advertising $70/nite....it is in sanur, not far from the airport and right on the beach

For your one night with your husband, I would suggest you see what type of rate you can get at the Ritz, as moving for one night seems like more trouble than it is worth. (The Ritz is a beach resort, so I am not sure what you meant above by wanting to go to a "resort type property".) They may be able to offer you a good rate if you stay on after the conference. They also have a great spa.

Driving up to Ubud for one night would not be worth if IMO for your husband, as you really won't get to see much in the short time you have. You need to get outside Ubud to really see the rice paddies and countryside, and with your husband's limited time, I am not sure it is worth it. December also tends to be rainy in Bali, so if it is raining you won't get to see or appreciate the countryside as much. It will take about an hour to get from the Ritz area to Ubud, and about the same to get from Ubud to the airport.

For your shopping trip, I would recommend that you stay in Kuta. There is much more shopping here than in Ubud. While the shopping in Ubud is good, it only has about 2 main streets with shopping, Kuta has miles of it. You will find much the same merchandise in both places, with the exception of artwork by local artists, which you will find more easily in Ubud, if this is what you are interested in, then Ubud may be a better choice.

In Kuta, my favourite hotel is Poppies Cottages, but this is not luxurious, it is more like a very nice 3 star, although their rock pool and winding gardens are the most beautiful in Bali IMHO. This hotel has no beach front, it is behind walled gardens in Kuta. Still, IMHO, a very magical place. It is a quiet haven in hectic Kuta. Check out their website at www.poppiesbali.com. The hotel is showing rates at about $80 which exceeds your $50 budget, but I think is worth it. Your husband might enjoy it also, he can certainly chill out around their pool. You can walk to all the shopping. Poppies is under 30 minutes from the airport.

Thanks, Cicerone, I had seen Poppies on an earlier net search and liked the look of it. At that time I was thinking of moving to Ubud. However, the trip is short and your suggestion very valid. What i meant by resort is something which offers some activities and ambience - staying on at the Ritz is just v. exp plus after 3 nights there I would like to exp something more boutiquey, that is always my pref. in hotels. Do u know anything about the Waka properties?

The Waka group is a step or two down from the Ritz. We stopped at the Ritz but did not stay there. It is a gorgeous property. You might take a look at Maya Ubud Resort in Ubud. It is not quite a boutique hotel (with 100+ units) but might fit the bill in your price range. Because business is down, they frequently upgrade from their standard room to a garden villa. I would avoid Kuta, unless you like being hassled by people trying to sell you stuff. The shopping is great in Ubud and in the surrounding towns, each of which specializes in a certain type of handicraft: silver, paintings, stone carvings, wood carvings etc.

I know that Cicerone likes Poppies in Kuta, but Kuta is filled with adolescent Aussies partying.

I have stayed in Pansea and loved it very much. The seafood restaurants by the beach are also nice and cheap. Great for sunset view too.

We didn't love Kuta much and beware of all those guys trying to lure you into "free" vacation offers.

forgotten to add that Pansea Puri Bali is in Jimbaran, very close to Kuta.

We stayed at the Natur Sindhu in Sanur. The room was large, comfortable with a balcony overlooking lovely gardens and a very attractive pool area. One could walk along the beachfront or into town where there was excellent shopping. I thought the area was charming.

I have stayed at the Tjampuhan Hotel in Ubud. It was quite an experience. It's individual cottages in the jungle and absolutely beautiful. They bring your breakfast to your porch in the morning. I don't remember what we paid but it wasn't expensive. Here's a website with the information:

http://www.ase.net/servlet/DisplayHotel/5040804

You will go crazy diving to Ubud ... there are so many places to stop and see carved stone, carved wood and finally the most beautiful tropical paintings in Ubud. Bring extra empty bags so you have some way of getting all the goodies home.

Hope you have a wonderful time. I envy you, would love to go back again.