Ubud is the kind of place it's worthwhile to stay. Ubud is the cultural center and artistic center of Bali. So shopping for arts and crafts is a fine thing to do there. Ubud, traditionally, has been known for paintings.

I expect your "astronomical" rate for New years includes a "gala dinner."

"monsoon99 on Oct 30, 15 at 10:49am
Guenmai: I wish I had heard from you before we finalized our trip. I was already late in booking and had to work quickly. I think your itinerary makes more sense. We will end up spending a couple of days on way to Singapore and a day on the return leg of our trip. "

Oh, well, you'll have the info if you go back to S.E. Asia in the future as it's pretty infectious as most on this forum have probably been going for at least over a decade. Since I'm one who is a Singapore Air fan, I know that I'll be routing my trips through Singapore and ending in Singapore in order to kick back, relax, and eat well before flying home.

The transit hotel e-mailed me some weeks ago and all is in order. I arrive into Terminal 3, from L.A., and then this time will stay in Terminal 3 at the transit hotel. In the past, I've stayed at the transit hotel in the terminal of my ongoing flight. But, this past December, I found out that the sky tram that zips one from one terminal to the other, stops running before 3:30AM and it ended up about a 40-minute walk from Terminal 3 to the Terminal of my ongoing Bangkok flight. The airport has been renovated over the years. So, now I'll stay in Terminal 3 and then when I wake up, the sky tram will be running and will zip me over to Terminal 2 from where my Bangkok flight will leave.

It's good that you got both the Fairmont and the Four Seasons so that you can get a taste of both hotels and areas. While at the Fairmont, try to go to the Peranakan Museum as it's a short walk away. It's just on one of the streets in back of the Chjmes complex area.

The Asian Civilizations Museum is also really good and is directly across from the Fullerton Hotel. Also try some Peranakan food. I love that food and the culture. True Blue is next door to the Peranakan museum although there are plenty of Peranakan restaurants in town. But, you have such a short amount of time there that for convenience at least if you go to the museum, there is food next door.

http://peranakanmuseum.org.sg/

When you get to the Fairmont, in the lower level of the mall that the Fairmont is attached to, there's a supermarket which is very convenient for cold drinks and packaged food. I've been going to that market for years. There's also a food court in that area with the chain places like Subway, etc.. for if you need to pack some snacks or want a quick bite like on your way to the airport as it'll be cheaper to get food there than in the airport. Plus, your room will probably have a fridge. I buy small sandwiches at the supermarket and refrigerate them and then take them to the airport with me the next day.

Happy Travels!

I'm actually in Ubud right now for the wonderful Ubud Writers and Readers Festival. Highly recommended! I'll give you some suggestions next week

The dance performances at the Sultan's Palace (the Kraton) are in an intimate setting and on a small scale but feature some of the best classical dancers in Java, usually 2 or 3 dancers with a small gamelan orchestra. If you're already at the Kraton try to see them.

The Ramayana performances traditionally go on all night and feature dozens of actors and dancers and full gamelan. They enact various episodes from the Hindu epic. I haven't been to the Prambanan adaptation.

The Ramayana production at Prambanam is about two hours of scenes from the full production (which does go on all night as marmot says and is only put on for a limited time each summer). I've seen it twice, once twenty years ago, once two years ago. The production is stunning, with the best dancers, a full gamelan orchestra and fabulous costumes. I've also seen dancing at the kraton, both in Yogya and In Solo. While seeing that dancing is worthwhile, it doesn't hold a candle to the Ramayana production at Prambanam, IMO.

The town of Ubud itself tires me out, especially when it's busy, but then I'm not a big shopper.

There are many arts and crafts shops all over Ubud, in the center of town and radiating in all directions. The shop Threads of Life is a must see for textiles. Jalan Hanoman and Monkey Forest Road form a walkable, shop-able loop.

The country side surrounding Ubud is definitely worth a day trip to see the terraced rice paddies, maybe having lunch in one of the resorts overlooking the Ayung river, maybe a museum or dance performance, maybe a major temple or historical site; it really depends on what you like to do. Try to plan a balance of driving and walking around.

Several people on this board recommend guide named Putu who is helpful in planning itineraries. I don't know him myself, but he appears to have a knack for showing visitors what interests them. You could do a search or start a thread asking how to contact him.

A guide -- whether it's Putu or anyone else -- will be able to take you to the arts and crafts villages for silver, wood carving, mask making, textile weaving -- again, whatever interests you. The guides usually know of temple ceremonies or religious festivals in the area. There's something going on nearly every day.

Your hotel could arrange day or half-day activities like bike rides, rice paddy and village walks, bird watching, mountain trekking.

Some activities I would recommend:
River rafting -- I like Sobek.

Setia Darma House of Masks & Puppets

John Hardy jewelry showroom and factory tour -- Make a reservation. The nearby Five Elements resort is a nice place for lunch -- health oriented raw food only but very good and a beautiful setting.

Dance performances at Ubud Palace -- They start around 7:30. You can buy tickets at the door. Not so good if it rains.

Cooking class in a Balinese village-- This is great fun, you chop and grate and pound then cook and eat -- Bali style. Some include market tours.

Champuan Ridge Walk -- Starts in central Ubud and continues about 2 KMs. It's a level easy walk with very scenic views.

Your hotel could also arrange other Ubud area activities like bike rides, long walks, bird watching, mountain trekking.

ARMA museum offers a great menu of arts and crafts activities
http://www.armabali.com/arma-culture/workshops/