lquinn

Hi there!
I am hoping I can get some advice on a potential honeymoon to Bali. I live in NYC and we would leave on the 27th of September and return on the 8th. The flight time works out to about 30 hours, it also calls for a 3 leg flight there and gives us about 8.5 days there in Bali, with about 12 days for the total trip when you include the travel time. That is all the time we can take off for.
is that way too short? Will I feel like the time to get there and back is not worth the trip? Or is Bali as amazing as it looks and will make up for that.

Another question I had was that it seems that quite a bit of Bali is covered with hotels, I really want to experience a place that is not completely geared towards tourists. Does Bali feel that way? I want to go somewhere that does not feel like a mass of hotels one after another all along the beach.

Thanks so much for any advice!
L

justshootme

Eight days in Bali gives you enough time to stay in different places and explore the island as well as relax. I don't think that the long flights should stop you from visiting the island for eight days.

Is Bali as amazing as it looks, that really depends on what you are looking for. Beaches in Bali are just so so IMO. However, Bali is not all about the beach. The island does have cultural, historic and scenic sights. Overall, I'd say Bali is commercialized or too commercialized, you can find spots with less tourists in more remote areas of the island like the north or the east. However, I am not sure what the quality of accomodation will be in the lesser visited parts of the island.

marmot

L, you can get from New York to Bali in two legs which makes the trip easier. Check out non-stop flights New York to Seoul, Tokyo or Hong Kong with good connections to Denpasar. If you’re splurging take the Singapore airlines non-stop Newark to Singapore (business class only).

I think you can get a good impression of Bali in eight days. Whether it’s worth it to you really depends on your expectations and what you want to be amazed by.

I happen to greatly enjoy Bali’s beaches, but I would stress that they are not of the pristine white sand and limpid turquoise water variety. The Southern beaches are long, lively, full of activity, in some places big surfer waves and stunning sunsets, in others good swimming beaches with quiet sunrises.

Yes, the beaches are geared toward tourists. Who else goes to the beach for fun? Certainly not the Balinese!Though wherever you are you will see religious ceremonies at the temples -- or even right on the beach.

The resorts, which are all low-rise and often set in beautiful gardens, are some of the best in world in design, ambience and service. There are very good restaurants, spas, shops, clubs – again it’s a lively, upbeat lifestyle. Or you could rent a villa and get pampered in private.

There are some excellent resorts in the less developed parts of Bali, but the beaches themselves are not as nice.

After a few days at the beach you could head up to the Ubud area to experience more of the magical mystery part of Bali. This is the artistic and spiritual center of Bali – where you get arts and crafts, performing arts, religious pageantry -- surrounded by lush rice paddies and rain forests. There are also many many choices in accommodations from basic to luxe with all kinds of activities focusing on culture or nature.

Personally, I like the combination of Ubud and the beach (I like Seminyak beach), but it's a small island and you can easily "commute" from one area to another.

jonbarb709

We have been to Bali 4 times in the last 5 years. We like Sanur and Ubud. We have never been to Seminyak but everything we hear has been good.
I know someone will tell you that you can get a driver from brother, uncle, sister, cousin, but I want someone who I can rely on and is knowledgeable and speaks English and besides being a driver is a guide. We have used Merta each time. He is a certified guide and is an excellent driver. I really like someone to pick me up at the airport rather than me being hounded by someone who wants to take my bags, and drive me somethwhere.
Get a tour guide book, pick out some places that you really want to see.
Email [email protected] - and ask him also for suggestions, tell him what you are looking at. You cannot go wrong. Not sure how you are getting there but Singapore Air has some good deals and so does Asialuxe (sp) they use Cathay Pacific. It is a long trip but Bali is great. We are going back in March 2011.

Gpanda

If you're young, eight days will be plenty. Stay 4 days in Ubud and 4 days at a beach. Sanur or Seminyak are good choices. Do not stay at Nusa Dua. Too sterile.

jonbarb709

Don't count Nusa Dua out because its (sterile) whatever that is. People go to Sanur and stay at the Hyatt, why, because is beautiful, the grounds, the beach, the room. I know you are only spending a few days - Ubud and Nusa Dua would be my choice. We go for about 20 days and we spend 3 at least at Nusa Dua, with the sterile people. Last time we went we stayed 3 in the beginning of our trip because Singapore Air had it as part of the package and we stayed 3 at the end of our trip in Nusa Dua. We also stay in Sanur, Ubud and Candidasa. Its your honeymoon. What ever town you pick as Marmot said, "many choices in accommodations from basic to luxe with all kinds of activities focusing on culture or nature." There are luxury hotels in every town. Whatever you pick it will be great - your going to Bali and its your honeymoon. If you haven't selected your flight yet, look at Singapore Air and Asialux, very good price.

rhkkmk

it is a long trip, but it is worth it.....there is plenty to do there, but honestly it is not touristy really except for kuta, which i would avoid along with nusa dua...

rather than nusa dua i would spend a few days at the pan pacific hotel near tanah lot.....we did recently and it was lovely...

ubud would be great too: look at alam shanti hotel... we have been there twice and love it....gangga room is simply the best with a private pool---worth the extra few $$

kuluk

You've gotten a lot of good advice above. One thing I would like to point out to you, however. Bali is not just a beach island, and it's not touristy in the way that Waikiki or Kaanapali are in Hawaii. In a lot of ways, your experience is going to be affected by where you choose to stay, your activities and your budget. If you can afford one of the 5-star hotels in Jimbaran, for instance, and will mostly be in your hotel and close environs, you will have a lovely luxurious relaxing stay with the incredible services and people that Bali is famous for. If you will be more adventurous and do a lot of sightseeing there are many many unique cultural sights and activities in placs away from the beaches and more into the interior areas around Ubud, for example. And of course you can do a mix of all of that as well. Don't worry about transportation, food, guides or any of that, it's all very easily sorted out on arrival.

Gpanda

Ubud is like an outdoor museum. You should definitely stay there for days. The high end hotels are mostly outside Ubud, e.g., the Four Seasons, but staying in town is better and you can walk around a lot more. Alam Shanti and Komenka have gotten good reviews here.

Orlando_Vic

In Ubud, Komaneka at Monkey Forest http://www.komaneka.com is definitely "honeymoon quality."

On a completely different topic, nothing will spoil a honeymoon like <b>Bali belly</b>. Take some antibiotics with you for severe diarrhea, "just in case". It is much more prevalent than you might realize.

_______________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Kathie

Having some emergency antibiotics is always a good idea, but better yet, prevent what you can. Follow food and water precautions and always wash your hands before you eat anything.

Angie_Lee_2011

Bali is a beautiful place. I spent 4 days there in November 2009 and would go back in a heartbeat..

We stayed in Seminyak which is roughly a 10minutes cab drive from Kuta and roughly 30 minutes from the airport (most hotels or villa's will organise transport for free or a small charge).

We didnt want to stay any where that was going to be over populated or too crowded, also we wanted some where that had our own private pool as we were planning to be hung over during the day and wanted to lie by the pool!

We found a place online called Villa Ke Capi and what a place it was. The villa was beautiful! We had transport from the airport, a 3 bedroom villa which when we arrived they gave us a tour and showed us how everything worked, we had breakfast made daily for us in our kitchen, we had morning and afternoon tea cakes and things brought to our villa..this is just some of the service we were given.

We were able to walk to some great cafes, restaurants and shops around the villa and never had a problem getting transport whether it was a bike or a taxi out the front of the hotel. We also were only a ten minute walk from the beach!

Highly recommend this beautiful villa. You can get 1, 2 or 3 bedroom villas. They are beautiful people and what you see on the internet is exactly what you see once you arrive.

Happy travelling!