Bali might be a bit more crowded and more expensive because Chinese New year is a big holiday.

Way to go. All of us here support impulse buying. We are rarely disappointed. In fact, recently, we were made aware of great JFK-BKK fares on Singapore Air and RhkKmk and my wife bought tickets within 1/2 hour.

We're hoping we can get good fares on Singapore Air for Bali in May 2010. We'll see.

Such good feedback, here!!

Actually I will arrive in Singapore on the 15th February....! Maybe that's why I was looking at the hotels for those dates and many are already fully booked!!!

I think I'd better book it soon!

Do you think Bali will also get full at that time? They have nothing to do with Chinese year....

Tere, Bali is busy at Lunar New Year because many people from the region, including Indonesian Chinese and expats, go on holiday at that time and Bali is a popular destination.

I know quite a few women who have traveled solo in Bali. I'd say the success rate depended mostly on how comfortable they were operating on their own -- which it sounds like you are.

The only real complaint I heard was that it was hard to find a gathering place where travelers can strike up a conversation. There aren't too many Americans in Bali and although the Australians and Kiwis are very outgoing, the Europeans and Asians tend not to initiate conversation with strangers. The honeymooners are on their own planet.

The Balinese will, of course, love to talk to to you, more than you'd probably desire :) This is partly due to "practicing English" but also from their profound sense of hospitality. If you're by yourself they assume you want to talk to them -- during your massage, the drive, dinner, walk on the beach.

That's a super fare Tere, far better I'd suspect than any budget airlines combo.

For Singapore, I think it is the YWCA that actually have a hotel type property, probably about three star and having noticed it one time when in Singapore, I looked it up on the web and they have top facilities at a good price and also great location, kind of in parkland area down near River and Raffles Hotel.

If you haven't been to Singapore, alcohol is enormously expensive but because weather is always warm, there used to be Kiosks in the Riverside parklands [and if still there] along with food vendors and so you could buy something to eat and get a bottle of beer [not sure on wine] pretty cheap there.
Lots of dining down along the River Quay now, Chinatown and India area too and a few reasonably priced bars about, one I remember in lane alongside Raffles - it had a western [as in cowboys] sounding name, maybe Stock and Barrel!

Bali ought to be low season because of the weather and it might even pay to see what specials you can get on arrival if willing, maybe a 5* at a 3* price or check out on sites like www.asiarooms.com as they usually list specials.

If you are arriving on Feb 15th, i suspect most shops and restaurants are closed. I believe they usually closed for a minimum of three days for the celebration. To make sure, you can start a fresh topic so someone in the region can respond to you. It's good to know what to expect.

Bushranger, I have been looking at the 5* hotels in Bali and didn't find any cheap specials for February... In fact , they are quite expensive!

Maybe they will put the specials later...

Singapore Airlines has Singapore stopover holidays, with hotel + transfers + atractions entries but they only have a few nice hotels to choose from. Do you think it's worth booking with them?

Two days ago they had the Traders for 70 euros on that package and yesterday it was already at 114 euros, so I don't know whether to book or to wait...

I would jump on it!
Does it make such a difference whether the destination is more remote from home?
See it as a "baptism of fire" ;-)
Enjoy yourself!

SV

Regarding the rates - Feb is not peak season anymore (Australians and Europeans will be back from their NYE holidays) - I would gamble and wait.
The credit crunch will definately have a further impact as time goes by - at least for the next 18 - 24 months at least. And that will "help".

Good luck!

SV

I would wait to book Bali hotels. I expect prices will come down.

The Singapore Air stopovers are worthwhile if they have great hotel rates. If not, book on your own. Hotel transfers are easy and reasonable, and I never find I get value from the "attractions" entries (they usually don't seem very attractive to me).

For comparison purposes, take a look at a good hotel booking site like agoda.com Usually tax and service and often, breakfast are included in the agoda rates.

I hate to add confusion to the issue but I would not wait till the last minute to book the Bali hotel. Reasons being again Chinese New Year is a big holiday and Feb is winter in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Bali being sun and beach and way cheaper and close by is like Mexico to the American and the Canadians in the Christmas season.

That said, i think you can always find some type of accommodation in Bali, it just may not be your ideal kind of place with the best price that's all.

I would book a hotel now at a refundable rate and then rebook later if the prices drop.

Two alternatives there Tere, wait and see or book now!
But what you said yourself - you're unlikely to see specials marketed until much later this year.
Much agree with Spassvogel and Kathie for Bali but if Singapore looks tight and there's a special, grab it.

Bali will be busy the week of CNY, i.e., February 13-21 and many resorts will apply high seasons rates. I enigma of reserving in Bali is that the earlier you book the more you pay. I think that is especially true this year. Because reservations for European summer/Australian winter were confirmed and mostly paid for months ago, Bali hasn't yet felt the full affect of the global recession and downturn in travel. They will, but my guess is that it will just cause them to jack up prices during peak travel periods like Idul Fitri, Christmas, CNY and Easter.

I would book now, but with a later confirmation/cancellation date and I wouldn't agree to early payment.

Thank you so much for your input. I will book only if it's not prepaid, there are still many months to go and I don't like to pay for hotels so much in advance.

If , in the meantime , rates drop, I will cancel and make other reservations.

I think you are right Marmot. Bali maybe didn't feel the crisis yet. I even emailed the Kupu Kupu Barong because they have a luxury package for 7 nights for 2 in their two properties for $1.990 and asked them if they could price it for a single person and the reply was that I would pay the same , get 2 massages instead of 1, 2 dinners instead of 1....

Tere, how generous of them! Do they expect you to eat both dinners simultaneously?

I'd suggest that you try the Uma or the Alila.