My husband and I will be visiting Bali for the first time in May, we are so excited! I do have a couple of questions - we are coming into DPS on a late flight (10:30p) after spending a few days in Tokyo, are we going to have any problem doing the visa on arrival at that late hour?

Also, we have booked 4 nights at the Elysian villas Seminyak and 4 nights at Uma Ubud...we still have one more night to play with and/or we could shift things around. My question is - are we playing it too safe and "touristy"? Should we get off the beaten path a little more - if so, where? We've considered going up to Permutan/Menjangan island overnight or maybe Nusa Lembongan or Canggu? But we really have no idea - what do you think?

Thanks!!

There will be no problem getting a visa or a taxi at that hour. Believe me, they know when the international flights land!

Personally, I wouldn't move hotels for one night. You can get anywhere on Bali via a car and driver for a day trip, so you can have the opportunity to visit less-touristed parts of the island.

Teebug-RhkaKnk and I will be in Bali in late May and early June. What are your exact dates? Perhaps we could have a mini-GTG.

i think two location is perfect....last time i was there (5 days) i stayed in the south all the time and made day trips up north and to ubud....that worked fine....important however to have a car and driver which i would arrange in advance.....many of us like putu ([email protected])

i think your plans are perfect....just add on one more day at the end....

lets have a mini GTG one day??

tee, Immigration will be open to service the incoming flights.

Seminyak is by definition touristy --- it's a beach resort afterall -- but the area is lively and offers a lot of distractions: restaurants, spas, shops, clubs. I've never been to the Elysian so will look forward to hearing your opinion.

I've never stayed at the Uma either but I'm very fond of their restaurant. The will be able to arrange any kind of non-touristy, real-Bali type of activity that you could possibly imagine. Village festivals, processions, masked dance, rituals, temple tours -- it's all happening all the time. Just express what you're interested in and someone will find it for you.

In addition to cultural/religious events there are all the nature-related activities, like rafting, birding, mountain climbing, trekking visiting volcanoes, caves, terraced rice paddies.

I would only go to North Bali if you are interested in diving or snorkling, which are both quite good. You could do this as a daytrip from Ubud, but it's a long day.

No reason at all to go to Canggu which is really an expatriate suburb of Seminyak. I haven't been to Nusa Lembongan, so can't comment. My advice would be to plan another night in Ubud and push your comfort level by trying an excursion that sounds exotic.

A few my favorite off the beaten track ideas:

The Kecak dance that's performed by Janganan village, about half an hour from Ubud town.

The puppet museum in Kubu Bingin in Tengkulak Tengah near Ubud. One man's extraordinary collection of puppets and masks.

The Kulkul School, a complete campus constructed of futuristic bamboo architecture.

And if you have some leftover cash, visit the John Hardy jewelry showroom.

Bali isn't THAT big. I wouldn't move for 1 night. Happy Travels!