we are thinking about going to bali for our honeymoon in march and a friend recently told me bali is very touristy and a "past" destination just hyped up by the industry. we're interested in staying at the jimbaran bay four seasons. does anyone thinkit is too built up and has lost it's charm in this area? we prefer place off the beaten path, and culturally rich. thanks.

i strenuously disagree that bali is too touristy! you would be hard pressed to find another place in the whole world that has such a rich culture combined with profound natural beauty. bali is a big island. most of the tourist development is concentrated on the southern tip in kuta, nusa dua and sanur. get away from that area and you will find what you're looking for. arts: superlative dance, temple ceremonies, architecture, music, drama, mask making, painting, sculpture. nature: scuba diving, treking, volcanoes, rafting, bird watching. the four seasons and the aman resorts are world renowned and justly so. (they're not the real bali, but wonderful anyway.) my personal favorite is a suite -- which is really one big room with a wrap around balcony -- overlooking the river value at the chedi in ubud.

Lori, <BR>I found the beaches in Bali (we stayed in Nusa Dua) to be unimpressive, even umpleasant, owing to the extreme tidal changes that limited swimming to certain "windows of oppotunity", but the rest of Bali is magnificent. I would not return for a beach vacation, but would definitely go back for the rest (most) of the island.

Bali can be the most amazing experience of your life. If you want to go off the beaten path try Hotel Tugu. www.tuguhotels.com Locally owned by an antique collector --it's a spectacular spot with wonderful rooms -- both plunge pool & terrace rooms. The staff could not be friendlier and the hotel was extremely quiet. In fact, we went to the beach one day and were the only people on it as far as we could see. The sea is rough, however there's a lovely pool to cool off in. Though we didn't stay at Jimbaran Bay, I've heard very mixed reviews. However, the Four Seasons Sayan is undoubtedly the best hotel we've ever experienced -- including the Aman Resorts. We booked the Tugu from the States for a couple of nights and then negotiated at Sayan -- we got a villa with plunge pool for under $250 a night. We then returned to Tugu for a couple of nights and renegotiated that down to $150 for a suite with plunge pool. Definitely negotiate all rates -- you can get deep discounts due to the problems in other areas of Indonesia. If you want any more info, feel free to e-mail.

Balie is absolutely amazing. It definitely has some touristy areas (such as Kuta), but for the most part it is just stunning. The Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay is amazing. You'll probably be tempted to never leave the resort because it is so beautiful. I stayed there last July and it was amazing. Of course, you can't escape Starbucks or McDonalds, both of which Bali has. But you'll never find an island whose residents are happier, and I highly recommend honeymooning there.

Is it not rainy season in March ?

thankyou all so much...your advice and recommendations were just what we were looking for!!

Hubby & I just returned from Bali (& hong kong & Thailand) Monday 5/9/01. We've been married 33 yrs. The 4 Seasons has a beach/river package with jambarian and sayan resorts. The combination is worth the packing - but you don't have to...they'll do it for you. Never thought I'd like someone packing and unpacking my things....but once you try it, you'll love it. They actually take photos of your closet and drawers so the clothes in both hotels are set up the same. Ubud was wonderful for art work, if you decide to go e-mail us & we'll recommend a guide and driver. in Sayan ask for villa 13,14,15,16...you'll never forget it. We stayed 5 days in each resort...want us to come and show you around????

I am geting married next March, and was thinking about Bali for our honeymoon as well. I look at the Four Seasons website on a daily basis. How do you negotiate the rates? Also, does anyone know of any package travel/airfare deals leaving from California? Any info would be great!

If I had to do my Bali vacation over again, I would stay at the 4 seasons for 2/3 of the time that I would be there, and spend 1/3 of the time at the very posh Aman resort in the mountains. We did stay at the Ritz Carlton right next to the 4 Seasons in Jimbaran Bay, both places were very non touristy, and secluded from the main tourist area. We actually caught the taxi into town for 3 days in a row, just to have something to do, needless to say, we were not on our honeymoon. Bali beaches are not the greatest I've seen, Hawaii, and even California beaches are better, but the culture, and the mountains(which was the highlight for me), with it's rice fields, and beautiful rivers(rafting is a must) made up for the lack. Jimbaran(don't expect to swim into the ocean at this spot) especially is not at all touristy,this part of Bali is very exclusive and very very quiet. I have found that even the real touristy area of Bali is lot less touristy than say Hawaii, Cancun or the carribean. Find the very busy message board for Balivillas, it helped me with lot of the research I did. Email me if you have any questions.