Bali October
 

Hello a friend and I are heading to Bali early October and then over to Lomobok for a few days. We are both single and late 20's and have a few questions. First I hear that a lot of people recommend smaller hotels to stay for a more personal feel are there any that you can recommend? We are hoping to stay Legain area and hopefully with a pool. Second does anyone know what the Gili Islands will be like this time of year? I understand that Lombok has a stronger tie to Islamic religion and it will be during Ramadan that our trip occurs. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!! Thank you

I topped your previous post for you. If you lose a post, just click on your name and a list of your posts will appear.

Begin by deciding where you want to stay in Bali. Most people recommend some time at a beach location and some time in/near Ubud. Also let us kow your price range.

I stayed at the Qunci Villas in Lombok - a lovely spot on a beautiful beach. But it depends on what you are looking for.

Thanks Kathie. I am new to this site and did lose my previous post. We are thinking of staying in one place while in Bali and then hiring a driver to take us on tours (based on what I have read this seems to be the best option). I think that we would prefer to be near to Kuta but not in the busiest district. This is why I was thinking of Legain. Being from Canada when I look at a map of Bali my sense of scale is totally off. I guess my biggest concern about travelling this time of year is Ramadan and things not necessarily in Bali but in Lombok being closed during the day.

Bali is a pretty manageable size. I don't know how much time you have thenre, but if it more than a week, you may want to consider two different locations to stay.

Lombok has better beaches, IMO, but doesn't have the same cultural experiences as Bali. Most people on Lombok are Muslim, and many things in the town will be closed. But the resorts will be business as usual. Things will be MUCH more disrupted during Hari Raya.

Canada, I'd suggest that you look at the Seminyak area in Bali -- that's where you'll find the best restaurants, shops, clubs, spas and some good resorts as well. I'd highly recommend The Legian (which is actually in Seminyak not Legian).
http://www.ghmhotels.com/hotels/hote...p;section=home

If that's too pricey try the Sofitel. There are also zillions of villas within walking distance of the beach if you want something more private.

A couple of nights in the Ubud area is also a good idea as the ambience is very different from the beach and you don't really get the full feeling in day trips.

The last (and only) time I went to the Gilis I was sorely disappointed. I haven't been there in years so you should get more current information, but they're definitely not pristine tropical isles. Lombok has better beaches.

your idea of having a driver will make all the difference in the world....we had putu and he is about your ages and you will like him...he is based in ubud...

you can easily stay anyplace in bali, and get around if you have a driver, on day trips...

i don't think the size of the place makes it any more personal or impersonal quite honestly...labor is very cheap in bali and all the hotels employ tons of people so the ratio is far higher than what you would experience in usa or canada...

Hi,

I was in Bali last October, and stayed in Sanur at a small family owned hotel called Bumas. I would recommened. Very friendly, cheap, and quiet.

I like the smaller hotels...with fewer than 20 room usually...because we can get to know the other guests and the staff members. The staff knows not only that we drink our coffee with milk but no sugar, but also knows our names, what our daughter likes for breakfast, that she left her book in the restaurant the night before, and that I like my massage in the late afternoon for 2 hours :)

I love to hear about the cook's kids, the waiter's 3 cousins in the place across the street, the uncle who is a painter - do you want to look?...It's good fun and it's a nice way to get a glimpse of a lifestyle very different from our own. We have had some of the most interesting conversations and learned so much...I just don't think that this kind of intimate interaction can really take place in the big corporate hotels...at least it hasn't in my experience.

We have found that in this kind of "homelike and friendly" atmosphere, our daughter quickly makes friends with other children, and we parents hang out and sample the local cocktails. Many nights we will all dine together, and on occasion we'll arrange a small group outing/excursion. Meeting other travelers adds a lot to our experience, and we try to stay in places that encourage this sort of friendliness.

Places that advertise absolute privacy, subtle staff, private plunge pool...gorgeous for a honeymoon or a special couples getaway, but not so great those who really want to meet the staff and the other guests and hang out together.

It really all comes down to what you are looking for. Good service will be provided in small and big places, no doubt.

We had exemplary service in the Peninsula Bangkok, but we made no connections with the staff beyond their knowing our names and seat and drink preferences...no chatting with that staff...they are too professional. There is plenty of staff, we were not neglected for even a second and the service was stellar. We loved our stays there, but in a very different way that we love our stays in smaller places. In those places, we feel more like family than guests I suppose.

Decide before even beginning to search what you expect your stay to be like, and then find some places that appeal to you. Then, e-mail them and see how they reply. This has been our method for years now, and we haven't gone dead wrong yet. We ended up at one place recently that was more hotel than we had bargained for, but at the time, the other choices were slim anyway, and we were reasonably happy there anyway. Otherwise, we've been very lucky.