Bali or Bust
Jan 2nd, 2008 | 10:29 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
Bali or Bust
After a few weeks of deliberation on the recommendations for all you here and some preliminary research, I've assembled this very rough itinerary for my family (wife, infant son and elderly mother). We plan to go sometime after the Chinese New Year holiday in February.
12 days in Bali and 1-2 days in Singapore or Hong Kong at the end of the trip:
NYC via Singapore (or HK) to Denpasar
1-2 days somewhere in the south, like Nusa Dua (or somewhere not more than a few hours from the airport but not Kuta)
2-3 days Ubud area
Gunug Batar? (the volcano in the north)sounds interesting - is it worth the trip north?
The rest of the time will probably be on a beach somewhere, maybe in the east or north.
Crusinred, please insert your villa recommendations here!
12 days in Bali and 1-2 days in Singapore or Hong Kong at the end of the trip:
NYC via Singapore (or HK) to Denpasar
1-2 days somewhere in the south, like Nusa Dua (or somewhere not more than a few hours from the airport but not Kuta)
2-3 days Ubud area
Gunug Batar? (the volcano in the north)sounds interesting - is it worth the trip north?
The rest of the time will probably be on a beach somewhere, maybe in the east or north.
Crusinred, please insert your villa recommendations here!
Jan 2nd, 2008 | 10:38 AM
#2
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 0
Here you go 
As mentioned at the gtg, I've been saving this list of reasonably priced Bali villas in my favorites folder. All of these are <$250 per night....several are half that price or less!
www.tamuseseh.com (west bali, north of seminyak, walk to beach)
www.awalivilla.com/rates (west bali, north of seminyak)
www.villatujuh.com (a bit more $$$, but has a kiddie pool)
www.albiavilla.com/index.html
www.eastbalivillas.com (off the beaten track, looks amazing for the price)
www.mandaladesa.com (south of Ubud)
www.blancaubud.com (ubud area)
www.balivillaparadise.com (ubud)
www.gayatrivilla.com/english/villapratiwi.html (ubud)
www.villacasis.com (sanur, south bali)
sariamertha.com (north bali, beachfront)
As mentioned at the gtg, I've been saving this list of reasonably priced Bali villas in my favorites folder. All of these are <$250 per night....several are half that price or less!
www.tamuseseh.com (west bali, north of seminyak, walk to beach)
www.awalivilla.com/rates (west bali, north of seminyak)
www.villatujuh.com (a bit more $$$, but has a kiddie pool)
www.albiavilla.com/index.html
www.eastbalivillas.com (off the beaten track, looks amazing for the price)
www.mandaladesa.com (south of Ubud)
www.blancaubud.com (ubud area)
www.balivillaparadise.com (ubud)
www.gayatrivilla.com/english/villapratiwi.html (ubud)
www.villacasis.com (sanur, south bali)
sariamertha.com (north bali, beachfront)
Jan 2nd, 2008 | 03:31 PM
#4
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,844
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Actually, just about all of Bali is not more than a few hours from the airport. Why fly all that way only to stay in a place that could just as well be in Florida? Sanur or even Jimbaran will give you a lot more local flavor.
Gunung Bata is not far from Ubud. You can do it as an easy day trip from there.
Gunung Bata is not far from Ubud. You can do it as an easy day trip from there.
Jan 2nd, 2008 | 05:40 PM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,053
Likes: 0
we loved sanur and will return there this spring/summer....there are hotels at all levels...look on bali sites and you will find listings...
the bali hyatt is old, but quite nice still...it has a fantastic beach and several pools...it is right in town...
hire a driver to take you around....we used putu and will use him again this year with gpanda and our misses...
the bali hyatt is old, but quite nice still...it has a fantastic beach and several pools...it is right in town...
hire a driver to take you around....we used putu and will use him again this year with gpanda and our misses...
Jan 2nd, 2008 | 07:10 PM
#6
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,801
Likes: 0
baaj, Bali is crawling with villas. You should be very careful in making your selection as the range in quality is as wide as the day is long. You need to ask a lot of questions -- location, furnishings, surroundings, maintenance, services, staff, driver. Try to get a personal recommendation from someone who's actually stayed there recently.
As Michael notes most places in Bali are less than an a few hours from the airport. I think Nusa Dua offers a fun resort experience but it is not necessarily a Bali experience. To tell the truth though, none of the beaches in Bali is idea -- you just have to decide what is most important and make trade offs.
For example, do you want a swimming beach? White sand? Sunset? Spectacular cliff view? Nearby shops and restaurants? Seclusion?
You won't get it all, but you can at least concentrate on the elements on the top of your wish list.
My recommendation would be to stay longer in the Ubud area and take a series of day trips -- volcanoes, village hikes, temples, waterfalls, dance performances, art centers. Most of Bali's natural and cultural attractions are reasonably accessible from Ubud and all of the resorts have good guides.
As Michael notes most places in Bali are less than an a few hours from the airport. I think Nusa Dua offers a fun resort experience but it is not necessarily a Bali experience. To tell the truth though, none of the beaches in Bali is idea -- you just have to decide what is most important and make trade offs.
For example, do you want a swimming beach? White sand? Sunset? Spectacular cliff view? Nearby shops and restaurants? Seclusion?
You won't get it all, but you can at least concentrate on the elements on the top of your wish list.
My recommendation would be to stay longer in the Ubud area and take a series of day trips -- volcanoes, village hikes, temples, waterfalls, dance performances, art centers. Most of Bali's natural and cultural attractions are reasonably accessible from Ubud and all of the resorts have good guides.
Jan 11th, 2008 | 06:52 PM
#7
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
baaj
I agree with others, Nusa Dua is really a tourist enclave; Sanur or Seminyak would no doubt be more interesting as a beach location even when you're getting over jet lag. Most flights get in in the morning and if you've slept on the way, staying up till dinner is often the quickest way to aclimate to SE Asia from NY. I'm sure with the baby and your mom, you'll want recovery time.
The trip to the volcano is definitely worth it (the touts are incredibly pushy tho so just keep your head down if you don't want ten carved chess sets). That's where I ended up getting invited to pray with a family who set me up with flower offerings and incense next to them. If you're in Ubud and you leave in the morning, you can be back in Ubud for lunch -- it's not far. Of course, you can spend more time if you want -- but it's quite close.
Have a wonderful time !!
I agree with others, Nusa Dua is really a tourist enclave; Sanur or Seminyak would no doubt be more interesting as a beach location even when you're getting over jet lag. Most flights get in in the morning and if you've slept on the way, staying up till dinner is often the quickest way to aclimate to SE Asia from NY. I'm sure with the baby and your mom, you'll want recovery time.
The trip to the volcano is definitely worth it (the touts are incredibly pushy tho so just keep your head down if you don't want ten carved chess sets). That's where I ended up getting invited to pray with a family who set me up with flower offerings and incense next to them. If you're in Ubud and you leave in the morning, you can be back in Ubud for lunch -- it's not far. Of course, you can spend more time if you want -- but it's quite close.
Have a wonderful time !!
