Bali-Nusa dua
 

hello.We are looking to travel to bali September or October 2002. We are four adults looking to go all inclusive in the Nasa Dua area on Bali.As we normally go to the carribean this destination is a first for us,any comments would be appreciated ,thanks

Beautiful hotels, but 11,000 miles from the USA, it will take a week to recover from Jetlag.<BR><BR>People are mixed on Bali, interesting but VERY third world.

Sorry forgot to say,we live in the UK .<BR>thanks.Alan

Best to look for packages - they can get quite expensive over there although your pound will definitely go much farther than our Canadian dollar. Try sheraton nusa Dua indah hotel - fantastic location - good for first timers - safe, clean, all the hotels on the nusa dua strip are connected at the back through a cemented walkway alongside the beach - grounds are well kept......most restaurants will send a taxi to pick you up and return you to your hotel - free of charge - do tip - theses guys don't earn much even a 2 US dollars is worth alot to them. have fun - bring lots of T-shirt - you are gonna sweat big time!!! We ran out of clothes so quickly - laundry at the hotel costs an arm and a leg - overall the best trip we ever made to Asia - have an awesome time

I love Bali. Yes, it's in a third world country, but the people are very warm and the culture is very rich. Personally, I don't like Nusa Dua. It's an isolated toursit enclave and doesn't give you a flavor of Bali. There are beautiful (and luxurious) places to stay in other areas. My personal favorite is the Bali Haytt in Sanur. Sanur is a Balinese village, with a nice beach and is closer to other places you may want to visit (like Ubud). If you put together your own itinerary, it is quite inexpensive. For instance, I think I paid $125 a night for the Regency Club at the bali Hyatt. The hotels in Nusa Dua are much more expensive. Some people will recommend places to saty in Ubud that are lovely as well. If you are anxiouis about going to a third world country, you'll hardly feel it in Nusa Dua. Otherwise, you might want to consider another area to stay in.

Kathie: I am with you. I also love the Hyatt in Sanur. It has one of the most beautiful gardens. I do think as well Nusa Dua is too artificial, nothing genuine. Just luxury hotels complexes. You are not even aware that you are in Bali.

Hi Alan,<BR>I hava been in Bali 8 times, the first time was 21 years ago the last 1 year.<BR>Do not expect the same kind of holiday you have in a AI in the Carribean, it will be nothing like it.<BR>When you never have been to the far east Nuda Dua is a good choice , I stayed there my self last time for one week and one week at Kuta Hardrock hotel.<BR>I will never return to stay in Kuta, it used to be my favorite place on Bali but it changed to much and not for the good.<BR>When you go don't take an allinclusive hotel, a nice hotel with breakfast is better <BR>In your hotel dinner will be more expencife but yust outside the gate of Nusa Dua you have many nice, cheaper restaurants and if you like Kuta is not far for yust something to eat or shopping.<BR>The hotel I realy like is not the Sheraton Nusa Indah but the Sheraton Lagunait makes you feel like in heaven. <BR>The Nusa Indah is for large groups having conferences.<BR>You will have a great time as long as you know this is not the Carribean but Indonesia in the Orient !!!!<BR>have a graet stay, Hans.

Hans,<BR><BR>We are going back there in March but was thinking about the Sheraton Laguna instead - yes we loved the sheraton Indah but was wondering about Laguna - what do they have there that S. Indah is lacking - please advise so I can book the best place possible - thank you Hans - also do you know anything about The Chedi in Ubud? thanks

Hi,<BR>The Laguna is smaller and much more beautiful, the garden and pools are realy very nice. <BR>Everybody give's you the feeling they are just there for helping you.<BR> Unlike the Indah the Laguna<BR>is from the luxury collection of Starwood, each room having a butler but only there if you want him.<BR>All the other hotels in Nusa Dua are a lot bigger with many tourists, the Laguna is more a boutique hotel and by far the most beautiful hotel on the beach of Nusa Dua , even nicer then the Grand Hyatt.<BR>I never stayed the night in Ubud so I can not help you about hotels over there.

Hi Hans! It sounds like you are an experienced Bali traveller, so might I ask you: my husband and I are VERY much looking forward to a long-planned trip to Bali (from the US) during the first 2 weeks in March. All travel books have said that while this season may have rain, it occurs for about 2 hours and is gone. However, we just found a website or 2 that make it sound like it could be DREADFULLY rainy all through March. Do you or your friends have any experience during this time of year? We would consider postponing for a couple of weeks if it would be a Monsoon vacation... Thank you

March is in the rainy season, our summer month's are dry, but you never know what kind of a weather you will have.<BR>Like anywhere else the seasons are not really fixed anymore you can have very nice weather and if you change your stay for a few weeks, nobody knows when you are lucky to have the best weather.<BR>So all the best Luck and hav a nice stay.<BR>hans.<BR>

About Ubud...I live in Ubud and have never stayed at the Chedi of course but the reputation at the Chedi is that the rooms are very small. It's situated about 6 kilommeters out of Ubud but only a few minutes by their shuttle. However, there are many other wonderful hotels much closer to Ubud along the rivers, with spectacular scenery. You might do a search for hotels located along the Ayung or Wos rivers, or in the areas Campuhan, Sayan, Sanggingan or Kedewaton for a great array of hotels. <BR><BR>I agree, The Sheraton Lagoon is wonderful, I used to go there to escape from my life in Jakarta. But...it's not very Balinese. I agree Sanur is a good place for peopel who don't want to get too Asian, as it's very western oriented. Ubud is much more the center of Balinse culture on the island, as the major temples and famous dance troops are in Ubud and surrounding areas. <BR><BR>A word about all-inclusive. While it might sound very inexpensive because of the food that is included...food at very good restaurants in Bali is VERY inexpensive anyway. If you opt for all inclusive you will have to come back to the hotels for meals and wont' be able to venture very far away for day trips to the attractions in other parts of Bali. The areas to the south are quite crowded traffic wise and you may be spending a lot of time in the car. <BR><BR>Another caveat: Do not get on any tour busses! No matter how cheap it may seem, you will pay dearly for it by wasting your vacation time. They will only take you to the worst tourist areas and to high-priced commission shops where you will be a sitting duck. <BR><BR>The Balinese culture is amazing. The Balinese in our area (Ubud) really live their culture in everyday ways, unlike the westernised Balinese in the south areas. I hope you will take some time to go to Ubud and experience some of the temple ceremonies, dances, arts and shopping.

Topping for troy (Nusa Dua info).

Stayed at Melia Bali at Nusa Dua some years ago and just loved it. Beaches weren't as good as what I expected. People everywhere selling stuff and guards along the walk ways behind the hotels to make sure that they keep their distance. Swam in the pool mostly as the water didn't look that appealing. Shopping was good. Will go back to other places next time (like Langkawi in Malaysia - by far better beaches). Costs in Bali are in US dollars.

Hi Hans,since you been in bali,and know so much about it,please can you help me on this one,Im doing mu daughter honeymoon and we narrow it down to the hyatt bali 6 days and melia in nusa dua 6 days,you think is the best choice,I can get for her??Ireally want them to have a good time and also,know that we did the right choice..tks

I'm not Hans, but I would recommend the Bali Hyatt (Not the Grand Hyatt at Nusa Dua) at Sanur beach. It has a beautiful, award-winning garden, two pools, and is a lovely property. If you can, get them a Regency Club room (extra amenities and services, breakfast and evening cocktails and hors d'ouvres). I much prefer the Sanur area to Nusa Dua, which is pretty sterile for my tastes. Sanur is also closer to the places they will want to go on Bali. I always spend my whole time at Sanur, and take day trips to other places.

Wanted to top this because from what I can see there hasn't been a post about Nusa Dua in quite a while and I was wondering what it is like now? There is a Courtyard Marriott Hotel opening up in 2011 supposedly and we were thinking about honeymooning there next July.
Is it pretty much the same? I would assume since this hotel is just opening up, it's not the only one...

Nusa Dua is a soulless resort. Nothing Balinese about it. Sanur is a quiet beach with very nice hotels, a pleasant beach pathway and real commerce in the form of shpos and restaurants. Nusa Dua has only contained malls. It is lifeless. We stayed there for three nights after four in Danur and felt as if we had been robbed. One of the best things about Bali is the people. In Nusa Dua, you will not get a sense of thier spirit. In Sanur, you will. Bob and I got our hair cut in Sanur and had a wonderful time. Skip ND and see Sanur, It is quiet and relaxed, but a part of Bali.

kalikana, there have, indeed been many posts about Nusa Dua since 2002. However, you would have needed to check the advanced search box asking for replies to be searched, not just titles.

As Andy says, Nusa Dua was developed as a high-end tourist enclave. It is far from many things you'll want to see and do, and really is without Balinese flavor. I consider it the place to stay for people who don't want to be in Bali. The only other place I recommend that people not stay is Kuta beach. It is the party beach for young people, mostly Aussie adolescents, so is full of loud, drunken people... not my idea of a vacation.

Most people who go to Bali split their time between a beach location (Sanur is also my favorite) and an inland area near Ubud. You might want to consider this.

Kathie, good call about the search box! Lesson learned, thanks :)
I was afraid you'd say that. Too good to be true that I might be able to use our rewards points to experience Bali. Oh well...will have to visit in another way in the future! Thanks again!