Nusa Dua Beach Hotel in Bali
 

We've booked a "package" trip through AsiaLuxe on Singapore Air to Singapore and Bali. The included hotel in Bali is the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel. We gather from past postings on this site that this hotel area is not one of the more favored places to stay. Nonetheless, we have no other choice at this point. If anyone has stayed at Nusa Dua, we'd appreciate any suggestions to help us get a real taste of Bali; for example, day trips to other parts of Bali, nearby "local" restaurants within walking distance, nicer nearby beaches, etc. We'd appreciate any suggestions regarding making the most of Bali from this Nusa Dua Beach location.

its just that ND is a tourist enclave....full of big hotels and a beach and nothing else....sterile....other than that nothing wrong with it...

hire a guide/driver to take you areound bali for a couple of day trips..... we like putu: [email protected]

he is terrific and will make bali come alive for you....his cost is about 400,000 for a full day...cheap

There won't be "local" restaurants within walking distance of Nusa Dua since it is a purpose-built tourist enclave. You may find good places to eat, but they will be pricey and entirely oriented toward tourists.

Do get a car and driver and visit the Ubud area. It's a bit of a drive from Nusa Dua, but well worth it. The distance from central Bali is another problems with Nusa Dua. But since you have no choice, make the best of it, get out and explore, and spend your time at Nusa Dua enjoying the beach.

I have stayed there and it is fine for what it is. Great buffet breakfast. Rooms reasonable for a 3-4 star hotel. Ok beach but poor swimming as it is quite shallow for a long way out to the reef. Hire a guide/driver and you can visit much of the island.

Thanks for the info regarding Nusa Dua. We will take the suggestions of enjoying the beach there, and hire a driver to explore other areas.

In doing more reading, it seems that the lush area close to Ubud would be a refreshing experience. We wondered about the idea of taking a trip to that area and booking an overnight in a hotel outside of the town area. The Komaneka Tanggayuda seems very appealing. Does this seem like a practical/doable thing from Nusa Dua? Or are there other areas equally as desirable?

Another question about Nusa Dua: Even though Balinese restaurants might not be close by, are there any restaurants/stores within walking distance from the resort?

Thanks again for feedback!

there is a mall within the area, but it is my understanding that it is mostly closed down now, but others could tell you...

i don't think walking is possible outside of the complex, but i can't exactly remember, but certainly a taxi is possible....go over to sanur and walk the main street there for instance...

can you take two nights in ubud....you would love it...

look at alam shanti....we love it..

Actually I had exactly the same thought. Leave your things in Nusa Dua and spend a night or two in the Ubud area. Komeneka Tangganuda is a good choice. I haven’t stayed there but I’ve visited and it is beautifully situated. I also like Alam Sari and the Alila.

There are dance performances every night in the town of Ubud and in various locations outside of Ubud. All of the hotels have the performance schedules. Temple ceremonies are variable. You will find them all over Bali even in Nusa Dua!

I don’t find Nusa Dua all that objectionable (though it's not my first choice). It is what it is, which is a string of beach resorts.

There are dozens of resorts up and down the beach and they all have restaurants. You’ll have plenty of choices within walking distance, albeit within the context of the hotels. They all serve Indonesian/Balinese food, plus everything else you could possibly imagine.

Same for shopping and spas. Within the various resorts you'll have lots of options. They all offer dance performances as well and although the setting may not be atmospheric the quality of the dancing can be quite good.

You could easily take a taxi to Sanur, Jimbaran or Seminyak for more choices. Sanur is quite close. Jimabaran and Seminyak a little further, but taxis are inexpensive.

I spend most of my time in Seminyak so that’s what I’m most familiar with. There are tons of good restaurants: I like La Lucciola, Sardine, Sarong. KuDeTa is a Bali landmark, but I think it’s better for drinks than dinner.

Lots of good shopping in Seminyak as well -- mostly contemporary clothing and homewares. For arts and crafts, Ubud is your destination.

Thanks so much for the encouraging suggestions. We are beginning to pursue an overnight (or 2) to the Ubud area. Also, we appreciate marmot's info regarding restaurants and shopping accessible either by walking or taxi. We would like to visit Sanur, Jimbaran, and Seminyak. With this new info, we are becoming more excited about visiting Bali. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Regarding a hotel near Ubud, we're thinking that as long as we can get a room in a beautiful area, we can enjoy the surrounding beauty by walking the area; e.g. the river gorge, etc. Are we right in this?

Yes, definitely. The Ubud area is great for walking -- through the rice paddies, from village to village, up and down the river valley. It helps to have a guide who knows the route and can point out the flora, fauna and local customs, though this is not strictly necessary.

Alam Sari, for example, often sends its guests on a several mile hike from the resort to the town of Ubud.

You basically have two options: stay in or near the town of Ubud or stay outside of Ubud along one of the river valleys. Both are good choices and you will end up in both areas anyway.

The advantage of being in town is that you have easy access to restaurants, shops and cultural events. The advantage to being out of town is that you're surrounded by natural beauty.

Most of the out of town resorts are about a 20 minute drive from Ubud proper.

We're still pursuing the idea of taking a trip to Ubud from our hotel in Nusa Dua. We're wondering what the chances would be of waiting until we get to Bali the third week of January to book a hotel in Ubud, as well as to hire a taxi driver. Also, any ideas of an approximate cost of a taxi from Nusa Dua to Ubud? If things don't work out for an overnight in Ubud, how reasonable is it to do a daytrip to experience the river gorge and the natural beauty around Ubud? If we left Nusa Dua about 7 AM, would that allow enough time to get a taste of the beauty there? We don't have a handle on the length of travel time between Nusa Dua and Ubud. Any thoughts to help us clarify ideas would be appreciated.

Do you mean third week of January 2011 as in next week? Because Bali is quite busy right now and we're running up to Chinese New Year, I suggest booking your resort in advance. Having said that for a night or two you'd be able to find something at the last minute. Finding a driver would be no problem.

A day trip to Ubud is doable from a time and transportation standpoint. You'd most likely retain a car and driver (maybe a guide) by the day. Rates are variable, ~$US80 to 100 depending on time and how much your driver/guide is expected to do for you.

The downside is that day trips often involve too much car time and after a while your eyes glaze over. What you'd miss are the small charming experiences like early morning coffee on the veranda while a procession passes on the opposite bank. Moonlight in the rain forest, listening to the night creatures. Bali, to me, is best in slow motion.

To marmot: Thanks for your replies. Very helpful information. Yes, we are leaving in 2011. . .next week! We are encouraged by your comments that finding a driver will be no problem. In delving into more of the details of our "package" with AsiaLuxe, we realized that Ubud (probably stop in city center only) is included in an all-day tour for our Day 1. Although we're not usually a tour group couple, we're going to use it as an opportunity to get somewhat of an overview. It goes as far as the volcano area and Lake Batur, stopping at several places en route. As you described above, our desire to spend a night in the Ubud area is for those wonderfully peaceful experiences, like coffee on the veranda, beautiful lush surroundings, etc. We're hoping to play our options and work in a stay there.

We have a couple of questions which don't relate to Nusa Dua Beach, but to preparation for our trip. Perhaps we should start another thread? But here goes one: We've read suggestions regarding bringing an anti-biotic prescription as a just-in-case either of us gets hit with "Bali belly". In this regard, is the food/drink in the hotel areas up-to-cleanliness standards? Do you take all the precautions such as no salads, peeling your own fruit, drinking only bottled water, etc. when you're in a hotel? And, in general, do the drivers speak enough English to be helpful guides? Thanks again, in advance, for any ideas.

no problem with eating in most regular hotels or restaurants in bali..

a driver/guide for the day should be about 400-500,000....

When hotel options in Bali were very limited and resorts were still in favour I stayed ,between 1982 and around 1995 ,probably 8 times at Nusa Dua in various hotels .I have stayed all over this coast in a variety of hotels during my 20 ++ trips to the island .

The first hotel built at Nusa Dua was your hotel .The only other was the Bualu which was inland and a training hotel for staff. I stayed at the Nusa Dua Beach in 1984 and subsequently about 6 different hotels at ND .

The Nusa Dua Beach has been refurbished and has a well regarded spa complex .

It is on a lovely beach of white / golden sand and clean water , protected by an outer reef .Although at the change of moon the sea gets wild and pounds over the Nusa Dua ( two islands ).Sure it is all neat ,tidy and to some sterile and unreal . But I rather like lush tropical gardens , not being hassled by hawkers on my walks and the ability to escape the pandemonium that can be Bali .So in my mind ND can offer many positives and really be quite splendid as an oasis or a place to rest if that is what you want to do .

Nusa Dua Village ( just outside the main entrance gate where security checks of cars etc are done since the terrorist troubles / bombs )used to have some good cheap eateries . The Galleria is OK if you want to buy a reasonable quality designer fake and other bits or get an icecream , a meal or have your feet cleaned by toe sucking fish .If you like Golf there is a good course in ND .

The Hotel can arrange an excellent quality car and driver or you just walk into the hotel car park and the drivers will all approach and you can haggle . Pay about US$60 to 80 each for a full day guided car trip to Kintamani etc . Others will likely give a more accurate opinion if I am wrong as I did not use a hotel to arrange my driver last year .Allow 2 days to do two distinct trips .

It is no longer an easy 15 - 30 minute drive from ND to Seminyak or Sanur as the traffic is hellish . But worth going if you want to eat exceptional food at cheap prices or shop a lot.Sanur was the original smart spot to stay in the 70's and into the 80's ( Hyatt / Tanjung Sari) and then fell out of favour . Seminyak is the hot spot for food , shopping , bars etc . Ubud is lovely but become chaotic in the main market area .

Do what my sister and her husband did on their first trip last year to Bali ( and stayed at ND which they loved )and hire your driver and car to do day or half day trips .They can take you in to shop in the afternoon and pre book dinner at Metis or Sarong or Sea Circus in Seminyak at 7.30ish and your driver can wait and after you finish dinner drive you home .Or do a day trip to Ubud , have a wonderful lunch there , visit the water temple and other sights to or from and then stop somewhere nice for dinner on the way back to ND.

Have a look at www.balidiscovery.com and www.balieats.com as starting points for a little information and of coursae this board has a wealth of past reports etc of great value.

I don't worry too much about eating salads, ice, fruit at resorts/hotels/tourist oriented restaurants. I would stick with bottled water though.

Digestive upsets are fairly common in Indonesia and as long as the symptoms are mild I just ride them out without medication.

There are a lot of "bugs" in Indonesia -- bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi -- and it's VERY difficult to get an accurate diagnosis. I don't like to overdo antibiotics unless I'm sure of what I have as they don't help with viruses and parasites.

Drivers generally have enough English to get you where you want to go. For a guide, you should specifically request good English.

we have never had any trouble communicating in bali at all---drivers, clerks, restaurant people, people on the street... this is not an issue...

we do not eat salads in bali... we observe all the unofficial eating rules for SEA in bali, just to be safe and not ruin even one hour of our stay... bottled water for sure!!

Again, thanks to all for the helpful information. As we do more research and planning, we're definitely planning some day excursions from Nusa Dua.

We're planning on a day in the Ubud area, and thinking that maybe it would be best to hire a driver for the day. We want to get out of the city center a bit. . .maybe have lunch at the Four Seasons near there. Does an all-day driver seem best for this?

The Seminyak area seems really appealing to us. Would it be practical to get an early morning taxi from Nusa Dua to Seminyak, spend the day and evening there, and get a return taxi from Seminyak back to Nusa Dua. Do taxis run in the evening? We wouldn't want to be "stuck" with no return transportation available. About how long does it take to go from Nusa Dua to Seminyak? And if we were going for the day, what area of Seminyak would be a good one for us to "settle in" to enjoy the beach and restaurants? Would appreciate any thoughts.

you could do all of that as you suggest, but for ease i would have a driver for the whole day both times.... it should only be about $45 for a full day with a driver...

a taxi driver would do the same for you probably at an hourly rate.... most taxis are good, but some cars have seen better days, so shop around once you are there..... be aware that if you take taxis from nusa dua you probably will be charged a higer rate--why cause they can...

i would hire a driver like putu who is often spoken of here...mybalifriend.com

We thought that Seminyak was a bit closer to Nusa Dua, and wondered what a taxi driver would do all day as we stayed at the beach, ate lunch, enjoyed sunset, maybe early dinner, etc. That's why we thought about just having separate transportation to and from Seminyak. Now we're thinking that it's a bit farther than we thought. Do cab drivers just "hang around" all day waiting. . .or how does that work? Appreciate feedback on this. Thanks!

It wouldn't make sense to me to hire a car and driver for a day just to go to Seminyak and hang around, shop, eat, etc. Seminyak is a well-developed resort area, and you could easily get a taxi back to Nusa Dua.

You will want to hire a driver when you go to Ubud to explore or to visit craft villages or temples, etc. There is a lot to see and do on Bali.

Do you have a guidebook yet? If not, do buy one. There is much, much more to Bali than we can describe here.

It wouldn't make sense to me to hire a car and driver for a day just to go to Seminyak and hang around, shop, eat, etc. Seminyak is a well-developed resort area, and you could easily get a taxi back to Nusa Dua.

You will want to hire a driver when you go to Ubud to explore or to visit craft villages or temples, etc. There is a lot to see and do on Bali.

Do you have a guidebook yet? If not, do buy one. There is much, much more to Bali than we can describe here.

Kathie,

Thanks for feedback! Yes, we are following a few guidebooks. But we're finding that certain practical info is worth checking with actual travelers who've been to Bali. For example, we've read advice that you should take an antibiotic prescription along for the so-called "Bali Belly", just-in-case. That it's difficult to get meds. When we pursued taking an antibiotic Rx, we found out that the just-in-case Rx is very expensive. $$ So we're wondering: Do you or others do this? We're thinking that we might just "take our chances", be careful not to drink the water, and watch where we eat. Any info appreciated.

Seminyak is one area of a long beach that starts at Kuta extends through Legian and Seminyak and continues North for some distance to Canggu.

There are clusters of beach chairs with umbrellas every 100 yards or so. They're a little tacky and overrun with hawkers, but they serve the purpose. There are no showers that I know of which makes a day at the beach followed directly by dinner difficult.

I'd suggest that you start at LaLucciola in Petitengit. It's a great spot for breakfast, brunch or lunch.
Then head South about a 1/4 mile and find a beach chair in the area of the Legian resort. If you like big waves you can rent a body board.

After you've had enough sun and surf, walk North about half a mile to Potato Head beach club. (In the middle is a somewhat seedy area. Just keep walking.)

Potato Head has a restaurant and a big pool that you can use for a fee. So have a swim and a drink.

Then, around fourish walk south again to KuDeTa for sunset. There will be about a hundred people either on the restaurant grounds or on the adjacent beach.

If you're up for dinner, you could stay at KuDeTa or take a taxi to one of the Seminyak restaurants like Sarong, Hu Bar, Sardine. Sea Circus is very close (I haven't been there yet). Metis is also quite good, but a little formal after a day at the beach.

Try to avoid Sundays though as the beach gets overwhelmed by soccer players.

You'll have no problem getting a metered taxi any time day or night. The only reason I'd hire a car by the day or hour to Seminyak would be if you want to shop. The shopping area also extends several miles from Kuta through Petitengit and the shops are fairly spaced out. Walking is not particularly pleasant as it's hot, the sidewalks are pathetic and just crossing the street can be treacherous.

If you do want to get some shopping in, I'd do that first starting in the northern part of Jalan Seminyak around Biasa.

Thanks, marmot, for the great suggestions for planning our day in Seminyak!

For some reason, the end of my post was cut off:

If you do want to get some shopping in, I'd do that first starting in the northern part of Jalan Seminyak around Biasa. Then walk South toward Seminyak. There are shops for several miles -- mostly beach clothes and home wares.

When you're through shopping, take a taxi to La Lucciola. If the driver doesn't know the restaurant ask for Petitengit Temple. La Lucciola is on the other side of the parking lot.

Also, be sure to swim where the flags are posted and the resort life guards can see you.

Marmot, we are so appreciative of the time you took to spell out so many good ideas for our excursion to Seminyak. We feel like you know us, as the things you suggest are just the types of things we would enjoy. . .with great specifics. Thanks again for your help!

Hi

Our family of 4 holidayed In Nusa Dua in early January 2011.
Having read the comments on the site regarding Nusa Dua as sterile/touristy, my family and I were pleasantly surprised by the area. There are lots of restaurants(serving many cuisines),small convenience stores and small boutiques.
The shopping centre is The Bali Collection(mix of upmarket shops,restaurants,banks etc. A shuttle bus runs at scheduled times during the day - pick ups and drop offs from The Bali Collection to the Nusa Dua hotels.
The Nusa Dua beach is fine - my family enjoyed it.
Day trips are a must - most definitely to Ubud(the wealth of arts and crafts are so unique and beautiful)- spend more time here if you can.
We did the usual excursions but it was wonderful as this was our first trip to Bali ie.Tanah Lot, Ulun Danu,Bratan twin lakes, Kintamani tour, Coffee Luwak and spice plantations etc.
I was not brave enough to sample coffee luwak(civet cat coffee but enjoyed the outing nonetheless.
Bali has so much to offer - not just the beaches.
Driving through and viewing the Balinese way of life was so insightful. We did not tire of seeing the Balinese women place beautiful offerings of intricately woven fruit,leaves and flowers at their shrines.
The beautiful rice plantations were so lush and green - we spend time time watching the farmers at work as there is so little mechanisation.
Balinese families praying and bathing at the Spring Temple are images indelibly imprinted on our minds - unforgettable. I could go on but this is beginning to look like a trip report and maybe it is.
Bali is wonderful and I hope you have a wonderful holiday.

"...lush area near Ubud..." maybe 20 years ago. I just returned from Java, Lombok and Bali and I was really disappointed. The vast amount of construction on what had been rice paddies, the immense motor traffic, the loss of huge amounts of trees - esp. the great Banyan trees being cut down wholesale because they damage houses when the annual winds hit old branches, and the terrible decrease in birds. Bali is finished, screwed, yesterday's newspaper. In their desire to produce the same amount of rice with much less land, they have adopted the Thai rice concept of 3x annual harvest using far more toxic chemicals which gets into the water and kills animals and birds. I still love Lombok, but I doubt I will ever return to Bali.

Hi
As first time visitors one simply scratches the surface of the places visited.
I now feel sad reading your insights as the old way of life is surely being eroded by modernity and dangerous farming practices. So sad....

marmot I just saw your suggestions for the day in Seminyak . I heartily endorse them . I ate at Sea Circus last August and it is terrific.Lovely small tasting plates .Went thinking we would just have 3 small plates and had about 8 between us and all delicious .I highly recommend it .

Shopping isgoodalong Jalan Laksmana as welland worth a walk browsing. Commonly called " Eat Street " it bustles at night and is Little Italy .Smart mix of shops . Good during the day for a drink or lunch .

At the far end as you approach the Oberoi there are some excelent " Antique " shops and galleries to look in if interested . Seminyak Square has cafes and a little supermarket . Good bakery for lunch where we had a mini Rijstaffel for about $8 and it was delicious .

Back in June for a week .Can't wait .

anom, I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. merckxx likes to tell people that what they thought was lovely was really awful. No place is the same as it was 20 years ago.

I was first on Bali about 25 years ago. Yes, Bali has changed. Ubud had just gotten electricity a year or so before I was there the first time. Does that mean Bali is destroyed? No. I've been a number of times since, and while Bali has grown and changed, they have retained their unique culture to a remarkable degree.

Hi
Kathie

I feel so much better now...

thanks

We just returned from a wonderful eight days in Bali! Our great experiences were due, in large measure, to the suggestions received on this site, especially from Kathie and Marmot. Thanks so much to both of you! We stayed at the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, as that was part of the "package" offered by Singapore Air. We purchased this Bali/Singapore trip through AsiaLuxe, rep Jennifer, and were very pleased. We agree with the assessment provided above by Anom. The feel at the Nusa Dua was very Balinese. . .the architecture, the staff, the beautifully landscaped gardens with water features and statuary, etc. We hired drivers on four different days to explore the island, and felt that we experienced much of the real life and graciousness of the Balinese people. (Our favorite driver, I Wayan Karsa PH: (0361) 294 632, invited us to his home!) In addition to enjoying various sites, as noted above by Anom, we attended two dance performances, a couple of temple ceremonies, and stopped by a few villages. Having a driver with knowledge of the island enabled us to visit several private art galleries, esp. around Ubud, to experience the wonderful wood sculptures, paintings, etc., and purchase a few for our home. We spent some time in Sanur and checked out the Hyatt, thinking about a return trip. (Since we're Hyatt members, that would be an appealing choice.) We also really liked the beach along the Seminyak stretch, with its crashing waves. That area would also be a location of choice for a return visit. Lunch at LaLuccia's was a fav! KuDeTa was a perfect spot for sunset. . .except that on the particular day we were there, it became overcast around sunset hour. But we did enjoy the atmosphere of KuDeTa. Next time for sunset!

For a future return to Bali, we will search out our best deal at the time. But, given our experience, we would not hesitate to return to Nusa Dua Beach Hotel. It proved to be a relaxing and comfortable "home base", with its daily, delicious buffet breakfast in the garden restaurant, especially given the availability of taxis/shuttle to take advantage of other areas.

tomarkot, So glad to hear that Bali didn't disappoint! That's my ideal Bali tri,: a mix of beach, culture, nature, spiritual, sophisticated and fun.

hi tomarkot

Having a good driver/guide enriches your touring enjoyment and affords a peek into a slice of local life.
We hired a wonderful driver/guide Made Wijaya and were certainly not disappointed.
He navigated his way skillfully through the the horrendous traffic and was always tolerant and patient.

Besides enjoying Ubud for its art and sculpture we also visited a family owned art gallery, Wayan Arnaya in the Giyanyar regency area and likewise made a few purchases.

So pleased to hear that you had a wonderful Bali holiday!
Great that you enjoyed the Nusa Dua location as well.

Nice to read of another convert to its charms .