Bali Itinerary Help - also Ubud Hanging Gardens or Four Seasons?
 

Hello,
We are going to Bali for a week in early October. We arrive around 2:30 AM on a Saturday night so I will book a cheap hotel near DPS for this night. After that we will have 7 days/6 nights and I am trying to determine the split between beach & ubud. Personally I am not a huge beach person, I would rather stuff to do, so what do you think about 4 days/3 nights UBUD and the rest in Jimbaran/Seminyak?

Also in Ubud I am considering: the Four Seasons Sayan, Ubud Hanging Gardens and the Viceroy. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

bali beaches are not fab, so i would spend my time around ubud..

look at alam shanti

Checking into a hotel around the airport seems like an unnecessary inconvenience. (Note, the airport isn't actually in the the town of Denpasar which is a about 45 minutes to an hour away. If you want something near the airport look at Jimbaran.)

I would suggest that you go directly to Ubud on arrival. By the time that it takes you get through the airport and drive to Ubud, it will be just about sunrise.

October shouldn't be too busy and the resort should allow you to check in early, but if your room's not available you can have breakfast, go to the pool or have a spa treatment. In other words, arrive!

I've visited all of the Ubud resorts you mention, but I've not stayed at any of them. Among the three I'd choose the 4S because of the setting and design. The service level would be about the same at the 4S and HG, but I'd not put the Viceroy in the same category. The Hanging Gardens has spectacular views but it's quite vertically oriented and is somewhat further from the town of Ubud than the 4S.

My personal favorite in that price range would be Como Shambhala.

4/3 split Ubud/beach sounds good. I like Seminyak beach better than Jimbaran because it's a better walking beach and has access to a lot more restaurants, shops, spas.

Still, the Four Seasons at Jimbaran, is a lovely property. Jimbaran beach is somewhat eroded and rocky, but it's a good swimming beach.

Thanks so much for the advice!
I double checked our flights and we arrive at 1:30 AM. My reasoning for not staying at Ubud is I figured I'd be charged for the night that we arrive and didn't want to spend those prices for just a few hours. Our flight back (to Hong Kong) is a 2:25 AM flight, so it maximizes time I suppose.

Thanks for the advice on the beaches. I had considered the Jimbaran Puri (deal on Orient Epxress hotels) but will look at Seminyak. I hate feeling like I'm captive to a hotel and their overpriced food, so Seminyak sounds like a better choice.

I found a great deal for 3 nights at the Hanging Gardens, but I think Ubud will suit our interests better than the beaches. I like a beach, but i've been spoiled by going to some of the nicest beaches in the world. It sounds like in Bali I'll probably stick to the pools. Knowing that, would a big hotel like the Grand Hyatt be better?

I checked into Como Shambhala...a bit pricier than the others. What about doing the 3 night deal at the Hanging Gardens, 2 nights somewhere else in Ubud, and then 2 nights at a beach hotel?

We live in Hong Kong so lying on the beach isn't that exciting.

The resort may or may not charge you for the night if you arrive around 4:00 a.m. In October you could probably negotiate a half-day rate.

Seminyak has plenty of restaurant choices. Some are very good. I especially like the Legian hotel, but there are many choices. I'd suggest that you also look at private villas. The Laksmana group is a good place to start. Again, there are many choices.

I don't particularly like either Hyatt, and I would choose Seminyak over Nusa Dua. All of the hotels/resorts have good pools. What I like about the Legian are the spacious grounds overlooking the ocean. You get the best of both worlds.

Your 3/2/2 plans sounds good. Bali has a lot to offer.

Thanks - I think we will spend the first night or two at the beach (near the airport). I'm still thinking of an inexpensive place near the airport when we get in as all we need is a bed to sleep in! Or is there a good hotel in Seminyak that is at a lower price point than the ones I mentioned in Ubud? Is there a good large hotel or relatively inexpensive boutique hotel(up to $200 USD) in Seminyak you recommend? And about how long from the airport to Seminyak?
Thanks for the help! I've decided I'd rather spend money on our lodging in Ubud.

The Colony is a good moderately priced, well run choice. It's across the road from the beach, not right on it, but it's well located. It's compact but has a nice pool, lots of charm.

If you want on-the-beach under $200 you'll have to go further South to Legian/Kuta. The Padma is good. There are others and there's a lot of development and renovation in the area, and it's still pretty raucous at night.

In the middle of the night Seminyak would be about 20 to 30 minutes from the airport. Ask your resort to send someone to pick you up.

There aren't many choices that are significantly closer. For budget price range, I'd look at the Sunset Hotel and the Masa Inn. (But ask the Colony first if they'd give you a half-night rate.)

My stay at the Hanging Gardens was one of the highlights of my life (so far). The rooms are wonderful, the property beautiful and peaceful, and the staff amazing. I loved having my own infinity pool. There are no vehicles at all on the property so it's really really peaceful.

I had the hotel arrange a tour for me and took a cooking class. They have lots of things they can arrange. There's a regular shuttle to town. Be sure to stop at the temple across the valley and visit Tchok, your own personal healer.

You might want to look at the Chedi Club. We stayed there last year and will returnthis Dec,. It is ubder stated Balinese elegance at 25% less than the Four Seasons-Sayan that we also liked but not as much as the Chedi. With a butler you are treated very well. The oversized lao infinite lap pool over looking rice fields is lovely. The dining room food is very good and not to pricey. Dinner runs $35-$40 USD oer person Add $7-10 for glass of wine. But in your room is a flask if gin, vodka and scotch all complimentary and in the frig at $2USD cans of tonic and club soda. The breakfast included in the rate is very good and complete. The resort is about 10-15 minutes from Unud-center and they offer shuttles almost on call though a taxi is only $2-$3USD. It muight be a good alternative to be treated like royalty for $365 for 2 persons day. Plung pool villas are $90 or $100 more. The poolis surprizingly large. It is not just a bath tub. But those rooms are $525/day.

Hi,
Thanks for the Chedi Club suggestion. It is actually a bit more expensive than the FS for our dates, but not by too much. I am thinking we have enough time already in Ubud as I booked a 3 night deal at the Hanging Gardens.

Where else in Bali do you all suggest we go that is NOT Jimbaran/Nusa Dua/Seminyak/etc? We enjoy hiking and being somewhat active.

again i will suggest alam shanti

Thanks for the alam shanti suggestion, but we are looking for something elsewhere in Bali, not in Ubud. Maybe the north somewhere?

The 4 Seasons at Ubud looks like a spaceship has landed in the middle of the river-valley! :-) Overpriced, incongruous and nothing really special....apart from the novelty factor. I would suggest the Maya for a more authentic feel and its stunning pool, seemingly suspended over the gorge.
On the beach, I would take Seminyak over Jimbaran; and in Seminyak its The Oberoi, no contest!

What about West Bali and look at Kelapa Retreat. That area is far less expensive and a villa might only be $125 USD/night.But it is 3 hours from Ubud but light years away from Ubud.

Hello Tansmets,

I will visit Bali in early November, and I am asking myself exactly the same question you did regardin Ubud.

Can you please tell me your experience in Hanging Gardens and any other hotel there?

Kind Regards!

Hi,
We wound up staying in the Hanging Gardens. It was crowded a bit below expectations, but we were coming from the fabulous Alila Soori. The Hanging Gardens is a good 25 minutes from Ubud, and they have a hotel service that will drop you off, but I think this ended early in the evening since we took taxis from town back (about $20 USD). Our room was nice at the Hanging Gardens, nothing amazing. However the plunge pool was a really nice temperature which was great as I find many private pools are freezing cold! On the way in and out of Ubud we passed many of the other luxury hotels and in the future I would definitely stay closer to town. The food at the Hanging Gardens is quite overpriced so it's a shame to eat there rather than in the center of Ubud, where there are a lot of great restaurants (where food is 30% of the cost at the hotel). I had an excellent deal on this hotel, maybe $800 for 3 nights including breakfast and massages, so I can't complain....

If you're still looking for a beach destination - and if quiet and secluded is ok - I 100% recommend the Alila Soori.