I'm heading to Bali and Java for two weeks in July. We are using Delta frequent flyer miles to fly from JFK on Singapore airlines to Bali through Singapore. I've tentatively planned my itinerary based on what I've read here and am grateful for all the postings which have been a tremendous help.

3 nights Seminyak - The Legian (or Anantara)
3 nights Borobudur - Amanjiwo
4 nights Ubud - Chedi (or 4 Seasons)
1 nights Singapore - Mandarin Oriental Hotel

I've already booked Putu Arnawa for three days touring while we are in Ubud. I'm conflicted about whether to stay at the Chedi or the Four Seasons. I've heard great things about both. It seems like the Chedi offers more extra services (free laundry, free minibar, afternoon snacks, transfers from the airport). Is the Four Seasons Sayan setting so spectacular that it shouldn't be missed? We are willing to splurge and pay the premium for the Four Seasons, but only want to do so if it is really worth the premium!

Is it better to book hotels now since July is a busy season or do deals and packages come up closer to the time?

Does anyone have pictures or reviews of the new Anantara in Seminyak? I know it is newly built, which is why there isn't much out there on it. I would consider it as an alternative to the Legian if it turns out to be really nice. How far away from the Legian is it?

Any advice or comments would be great!

as most of your day will be away from the hotel, why not go with the cheaper location??

you will love putu by the way...he is very flexible....

i think either he or his father, or both, used to work at the four seasons....you might also ask him for advice

epsteisr, The Anantara is situated on an okay stretch of beach that's very popular with tourists and locals. Consequently it can get a bit honky-tonk. My guess is that after the Anantara opens they'll clean it up and send the hawkers packing, but right now it's just a big construction site.

The building itself looks promising, low rise, big balconies. There's a front row on the beach and back row on the garden. The back may have oblique sea views.

They say they're going to open this month -- we'll see. In December it seemed unlikely. By July they may have the kinks out. It's harder to manage a new place in Indonesia than they may anticipate. The location about 20 minutes along the beach south of the Legian and right next to the Sofitel.

Although I am very fond of the GHM group I think the Chedi Ubud is a bit of a white elephant. They took over the personal estate of a wealthy Indonesian family and poured a lot of dough into renovations. But at the end of the day it's right in the middle of a rice paddy -- no views to speak of and scorchingly hot. The villas are little brick buildings, which again, although they have put a lot of decorating effort and ingenuity into them, structurally they're just design deficient.

I'm not a great fan of the Ubud 4 Seasons -- the public architecture is too overwhelming -- but I have NEVER heard of anyone who didn't have a wonderful stay there, including several of my customers.

The 4 Seasons is located on the Ayung River Valley which offers splendid views and plenty of atmopshere.

Other properties that I'd recommend along the same ridge are the Como Shambhala and the Kayumanis. I always get a suite at the Alila which is to me the best deal and best room in the area, but a lot of people don't like the ambience.

I wouldn't consider July the busy season in Bali(August yes; however it's difficult to predict how the rates are going to play out. They are often not logical.

On your itinerary: I'd suggest that you do Java either before or after Bali so you're not transiting twice. It's a short flight but getting to the airport and waiting for the flights can take up a good part of a day.

In Singapore I wouldn't put the Mandarin in the same category as the other properties you're looking at. Only one night doesn't make much difference, but you do want to end on an upnote. I'd recommend the 4 Seasons or Ritz Carlton.

I guess it really depends on your preferences. I stayed at the Chedi in 06 and loved it. The normal villas are not so private but the pool villas are great. It has 20 villas and even at high occupancy it feels empty, which I like. I like the surroundings but it has a clear disadvantage to those next to the river. I recently stayed at the Kayumanis and as much as I like the Chedi, the Kayumanis is even better. You are close to the river, though most villas have no views, the service is almost aman-worthy and the food was pretty much the best I ever had.

I toured the FS, the villas by the river are really hard to beat, but overall I wasn't that impressed. It is a lot bigger with 60 rooms and although it has a lot of positive reviews, those who have stayed at Amans usually think it is not as good. But you can't go wrong either way, really depends on what you prefer, anyway after Amanjiwo everything is a bit of a letdown.

"anyway after Amanjiwo everything is a bit of a letdown"... O
Unless, of course, you book yourself into one of the Bali Amans. Aman might have a package that combines a Bali stay with a Java stay.

Also, I have a very detailed trip report on this forum from a few years ago that includes the FS Sayan if you'd like to read it. You should be able to search it out. Unfortunately, I'm not good at attaching links to these posts.