To Sanur or Not to Sanur, Help with Itinerary?

Help! My indecisive honey and I are going on our honeymoon to Bali in September. We may be way off base with this itinerary to begin with, but we only have to weeks and we want to spend a few days in Ubud, exploring the cultural epicenter, and then a lot of time relaxing on the beach. Lombok and the Gili Islands really appeal to us. We like the sounds of Sanur but are worried about moving around too often. We want to relax, stay in nice places, be on a honeymoon.

Right now we are flying in at 1 am to Denpasar. We were thinking about going straight to our hotel in Ubud. BTW, has anyone stayed at Bambu Indah? Planning four days in Ubud, then going to Lombok, spending three nights at the Hotel Tugu Lombok (any feedback on that hotel?) before spending two nights on Gili Tarawangan, any suggestions on hotel there?

Then, we were then thinking about gong to Sanur for 2 nights before catching our early am flight out. We’ve heard that the Tandjung Sari is a nice hotel. Is this too much moving around? If we cut anything at this point it would probably be Sanur.

In two weeks I do not think it is too much moving around.

Do you snorkel and dive ? Gili is still popular for that .Not sure any hotels there are very glam / honeymoon style .

I can say that Tandjung Sari is a Bali hotel icon .Built when no one had heard or used the words " Boutique Hotel " .It is very charming but not luxe a la Bulgari .One of the board regulars stayed there last year and liked it very much .Always used to have lovely indonesian food and discreet service .People like Mick Jagger , David Bowie and Queen Beatrice et al have stayed there as well as mere mortals . Nice quiet choice on a white sand beach and gentle water because of the outer reef .

I do not know your other choices of hotels but others may .

I do know that on Lombok many love Qinci Villas as well as the Oberoi .
Sengiggi Beach is not the nicest sand or precinct if that is where Tugu is located .

I loved the Novotel Coralia and its Sasak Villa accomodation , the white sand beach and lovely water .But that was when I was last in Lombok some years ago now . It is 1 hour plus drive from the airport .

As you no doubt know Lombok is Muslim so modest dress outside hotels .More free wheeling in Bali as it is Hindu .

Not stayed on the Gili Isles since 1982 when you got an outrigger canoe over to them .Check trip advisor as I recall reading that hotels , even in recent years , were ordinairy but nonetheless a few days there may be nice as long as you know what to expect .

Look at www.gotolombok.com which is a helpful site .

As for Ubud there are many choices depending on your budget - among the top are Amandari and Four Seasons ( US$400 plus per night ) moving to Alam Shanti and Kajane Mua at (US$200 + )and other modest places around $50 . www.balidiscovery.com or www.balitrips.com are two good sites

Are you interested in dining out at all or night life ? If so then Seminyak is the spot for the best eateries but many perfectly good ones in Sanur .
Look at www.balieats.com which covers Bali and Lombok .

Others will chime in with good ideas I am sure .

We stayed at the TS in Sanur and really liked it. We had a two bedroom, just beyong the pool. Very convenient. It's not 5 star, but very good. We recommend it. A short ride to the airport.

I think you could do everything you want to do in three locations: Ubud, Lombok and south Bali beach. I've never been to Bambu Indah, but I'm familar with the group behind it and I'm sure it will be the real-deal for an authentic eco-friendly experience. Definitely not mainstream tourism so be prepared to be flexible.

Tugu is new to Lombok and I haven't been there or heard much about it, though the group is well known for their properties in Java and Bali. The emphasis is on dramatic Chinese inspired antiques, which to me always seemed a little over the top. Qunci villas are very well reviewed.

The Gili's went through a development phase and then when the money ran out in the late 90's fell into disrepair. Tarawangan is one of the first new wave of investments. In my opinion the area is just run-down and depressing. I'd recommend that you just go with Lombok. You can always make a day trip.

Tanjung Sari is a nice hotel, though I think some of the newer places are nicer. Personally I like Seminyak for access to shops and restaurants -- and sunset -- but Sanur certainly has its fans.

I'd recommend you choose three places. For me it would be Ubud, Lombok and Sanur. The Gili's do not live up to their reputation, as per Marmot's comments. I'd highly recommend the Qunci Villas - small, intimate, lovely setting, lovely staff. The beach there is beautiful.

We really didn't like Sengiggi Beach. I'd avoid it. And while the Novotel Coralia looks lovely (actually, only the villas look lovely), it's located at the hottest point on Lombok. And the beach at the Qunci Villas is better.

I always enjoy the Sanur area of Bali. It's quieter, more laid back than Seminyak, but still with lots of options for dining.

Thank you all for your advice and feel free to keep it coming. It certainly gives me a lot to think about. Although we are spending a little more on accommodations than we might usually, we still appreciate more authentic, boutique style hotels. We are definitely interested in eating out and lower-key night life, temples. etc.

I've heard good things about this place in Sanur...lux, but still has authenticity: http://www.thegangsa.com/
If you like Bambu Indah this place might also be your style www.desaseni.com ....but it is in Canngu, near Seminyak, not in Sanur.

I don't know about the Tugu Lombok (new?) but we loved the one in Bali (also in Canngu like cruisin's reco above).

Gee Kathie that beach at Qinci must be good as my memory of Kuta beach at the Coralia was of a lovely well cared for stretch of blinding hot golden sand .

I loved watching the sand being raked every morning as I breakfasted .It was done by a large wide rake harnessed to a cow whose calf used to trot at her side up and down the beach .When the tide went out you could wade out about 100 metres to lovely rockpools with crystal water and float in them .The traditional Sasak architecture of the place , or at least its adaptation , reminded me of Bali meets Mexico .

I used not to mind the heat and sitting in it when I was younger and foolish ! But it has been a while since I have been and things change and often not for the best .

And Cruisinred those links are very helpful .They both look lovely and intersting properties .I did notice however that The Gangsa is inland and across the Sanur by pass road which would mean a little bit of a walk to get to the beach which bethyb52 might not like .

"Kuta beach at the Coralia was of a lovely well cared for stretch of blinding hot golden sand" My point exactly, John. The beach at the Coralia was blindingly hot, no respite. The beach at Qunci is lovely, has palm trees along the edge in places, is just more hospitable in my opinion. It also has a fabulous view of Mt. Batur.

You might be interested in our photos www.marlandc.com Click on the Lombok section, 2004.

its a lot of moving, but i think you have it down nicely....3 nites at lombok is perfect... 4 nites is a minimum for ubud, imo...hire a driver for at least one day from ubud---putu is fantastic

Kathie, I clicked the link, but could only find your Bali & Lombok photos from '99.

Also, if anyone has any specific recommendations about drivers, etc. Please feel free to contact me via email

How long is the car trip from Denspar to Sanur? How much would a driver charge for a comfortable van or Corolla NOT a group trip though it it took 1 or 2 other couples and we did not have to wait for it to fill up that would be fine as long as the A/C worked 100% We are thinking after a cruise of spending 2 full days in Sanur touring having done so in Ubad an Jimbaram Bay several years ago. Is there enough different destinations to tour for 6 hours a day from sanur to make this detour, rather than returning to the USA, worthwhile. we are not interested in the resort though we would want a 4-5 star hotel/resort for $350/day with breakfast for 2 including tax/service.