Bella_Bluebell

24Lisa - saw your post requesting info re. hotels in the north. We stayed before in Amed up on the north east coast nr Tulamben at a lovely hotel called the Santai. It was run by a British lady and her Balinese partner - http://www.santaibali.com/

Very peaceful and quiet and lovely food - no MSN! There is great diving and snorkelling nearby but the sand is black so quite a different experience to the norm. The drive there is beautiful.

KimJapan

Just a note about the Santai in Amed...it has recently changed management. The previous manager now operates a 4 room place nearby called Anda Amed. www.andaamedresort.com It looks lovely, as well.

Ericka

24Lisa,

Maybe you could talk your husband into splurging (yikes!) once more on an Aman. The Amankila is spectacular and is in the lightly populated Eastern part of Bali (only an hour by car from the airport). The Amanjunkies consider Amankila and Amanjiwo to be the two best Aman properties in the world. Of course, then you would be ruined for other hotels altogether.

Seriously, I'm so glad you are still planning to go. We visited Bali after the 2002 bombing and the people were so grateful to have us. Indonesian people in general are very warm and kind. Tragedies like this affect them greatly.

It sounds like you are on the right path - choosing a small hotel in an out of the way location.

JohnFitz

All excellent advice . I have travelled many times to Indonesia and Bali / Lombok over the last 25 years and my abiding impression is of a people who are kind , generous in spirit and gentle . This applies to Hindu and Muslim .It is the ugly zealots who cause problems .
I stayed last year at The Legian Suites and it is superb.Best concierge , big suites all in soft celadon green and coconut parquet floors with terraces overlooking the garden to the surf with all the creature comforts like thick towels , fab toileties etc. I also recommend a lovely villa owned by Australians at a small village called Canggu on a river near Tanah Lot called Villa Kembali. It has 4/5 large bedrooms ( we only needed 2 and they charged us a flat rate in 2002 of A$150 each ).You have the run of the place with a lovely pool and charming helpful staff .It is about 30 minutes in the villa car with driver into Seminyak etc to dine or they cook what you want at cost and serve it .Masseur comes in if you want or the driver will take you touring and you pay petrol and a small fee to driver . After the 2002 bombings a good friend who is a travel agent and who found this place started a fund to continue English language classes at the village school as so many of the locals were adversely affected by the economic downturn .We continue to fund it .My point is that these are lovely people and this village of Canggu is a very safe place to stay in my experience if you want to be out of 'hotspots'.Have a look at www.bali-paradise.com/ and when in click on Canngu and type in Villa Kembali in the search section and look or just google it .This could give you what you want - lovely , peaceful and safe but close enough to go and do other things .
And may I also say that I am new to this site and my impression over the last 6 months is that Gloria is the doyenne of Asian travel .She always gives sensible , balanced and unprejudiced advice .You are safe acting on it .Salute Gloria !

littledot78

hermm check this resort website if its similar to beaches in bali.. www.antulang.com

JohnFitz

littledot , Bali beaches are nothing like this as the sand , save where there is an outer reef , is largely a mix of white and dark because of the volcanic eruptions as recently as the early 1960's . Bali is certainly not the spot for blinding white sand .The Antulang resort looks very nice although the small bungalows have a monkish quality to them in terms of size and decor.I tend to overlook /forget the lovely beaches and water of the Philipines which is wrong as it offers a good alternative for beach , shops etc . Like everywhere now they have had their share of troubles especially in the South where it is believed terrorists are trained .

24Lisa

Ericka, great suggestion. That is something I have been considering but my budget really can't stretch quite that far unless they are discounting their rates. I emailed them yesterday to see what the current rates are. I just can't see them giving any kind of reduced rate but it doesn't hurt to try.

marmot

The Legian itself is a secure place. I would (and will) consider staying there. What I would avoid -- and this applies no matter where you stay in Bali -- would be the crowded, touristy shops and restaurants in Kuta and Seminyak. The rooms, grounds, pool and beach overlook of the Legian are really lovely. You could chill there for a few days and not feel too claustrophobic.

I'm not sure about the upscale restaurants, like KuDeTa or LaLucciola. The security is good for the approach from the road, but I'd check out what they've done to screen guests arriving from the beach.

I would think that anywhere in Ubud or up the eastcoast or northcoast would be fine. If the Amankila is too pricy, the Alila Manggis is a good choice.

I usually endorse Bali wholeheartedly, but this time feels different. I think what is significant about this situation is that the bombers were on foot instead of in cars/trucks. It is almost impossible to prevent pedestrian suicide bombers in crowded public areas, like a beach, shopping mall, train station.

Borobudur is also a tough call. Because it is a Buddhist monument it has been targeted in the past, but recently the central Java area has not been hit by terrorists. You should know however that this area is the center for Islamic extremism. There are sometimes demonstrations on the streets. People get fairly irrational during Ramadhan.

I would consider the Amanjiwo secure.

I still feel that the chance of being adversely affected by tourism any where in Indonesia is low; however, you have to think about your comfort level. No one wants to be looking over his shoulder on holiday. Ironically, although I live in Jakarta I was in Madrid at the time of the bombing!

I'm going to go ahead with my personal plans for Bali in November (Amankila and Legian); however, I'm considering cancelling a corporate event that I had planned for later in the month. I will continue to take customers to Amanjiwo but not until after Ramadhan.

PS A good approach with the Aman is to give them the rate you're willing to pay and number of nights and see what they say. Just remember to figure in the 21% tax.

24Lisa

So I emailed Amankila and they are willing to give us the Ocean View room for the price of the Garden View (which is still $650+21%tax per night) so I emailed them back with the rate I am willing to pay, so we'll see.

Is there enought to do/places to eat in the area around Amankila for 5 nights?

Thanks again, you guys have all been so helpful.

Craig

If you have arranged for a car and driver (such as Putu, often referred to on this forum) you will have enough to do from the Amankila. The east side of Bali is quite scenic but you may want to tour elsewhere as well. As for restaurants, you may be out of luck but probably won't do too badly (except for the cost) at your hotel.

BillT

24Lisa:
$780/night!!! Yikes this has to be one of those places where if you have to ask what the rate is you can't afford it. Call me crazy but I find it hard to believe that any hotel room is worth that price!
If you are "The Donald" then maybe yes.

glorialf

Bill-- again you and I agree. Although if I could afford those prices maybe I'd feel differently.

chinesefan

Hi Lisa,

I think now is the safest time to go Bali because they don't bomb again so soon and security will be tight.
Prices may be cheaper too.

While there, try not to stay out at a busy place where they can plant a bomb easily. The beach and yout Hotel(inside) or door sightseeing places will be safer.

rouse696

I would still go to Bali but not stay in the populated Kuta region. Nusa Dua has many 4 & 5 star hotels and is quiet. Many people like staying in Ubud in the hillside. Check out the island of Lombok which is a 25 minute flight from Bali.

JohnFitz

When I was there last year I drove to the coast and Amankila. Friends staying there who are very well travelled adored and raved about it .But as far as what is around it goes the beach has been eroded / washed away over the years because the coral reef was for a long time blasted and used to make walls . I was quite underwhelmed by it .The Bale at Nusa Dua was really lovely but I have not been back there since 2002 .Architecturally I describe it as Frank Lloyd Wright meets Bali .Each of the 17 suites has a plunge pool .Not on the beach but with views .Wonderful attention to detail including superlative security ( you don't get past reception without clearance ).A friend staying there left his glasses on the reception desk at checkout and at the airport was tapped on the shoulder by staff who had been sent to the airport to catch him before he boarded in order to return the glasses . A few days there would be very restful and luxe.