Steven

We would appreciate any comments about the resorts on Bali. Picures in brochures alway look great, but is that how it really is? We're particularly interested in the Four Season resort. Thanks for your help. We planning on going later this year.

Leigh

we stayed at the Sheraton Laguna Nusa Dua - outstanding! They have pools that interconnect sort of like a river, sort of. There are sand beaches (yes sand beaches) in the chloronated pool, waterfalls (smaller type), wonderful cabanas to lounge under when you need to dodge the sun.
There are two Sheratons - make sure it is Laguna.
Hire a car & driver(from the hotel)for the day to take you shopping towards Ubud-then just stop where you feel. bargain hard start with 50%25 then go up to 65%25 max. Great teak patio furniture for about $30 US a chair with arms and the table $300? Great pots too!

Scooby Doo

I've been at Melia Bali Sol. It's great!. There are a lot of restaurants inside and a very big pool. There is also a reserved beach area. Have a nice trip there. Good luck. Don't forget: fly GARUDA it's great

Wein

All resorts at Nusa Dua beach are like what they look like in the brochures with white sandy beaches and blue seas. Nusa Dua Resort, Grand Hyatt, Sheraton and Melia are all very nice.
Hotels at Jimbaran Bay are on a cliff with no sandy beaches.only rocky ones.among them, Four Seasons is nice if u want seclusion. So is the Ritz Carlton and Bali Cliff Hotel.
Make sure u visit other parts such as Ubud and the NOrth for a truer Bali!

peggy

Guess if u are looking at those brochures of Nusa Dua,
they all technically look the same... but 4 seasons
is a really neat place, very secluded... I stayed at the Grand
Hyatt for a couple of days... the hotel was very nice & the
facilities are cool... guess there aren't much differences in all the
Nusa Dua hotels as they are all in the higher-priced region &
many are 4 to 5 star hotels... so, have a great time in Bali !!!

LaRaine & Al

We stay at the Bali Hyatt in Sanur beach. It is an
older hotel but has 36 acres of beautiful gardens.
resturants are great 2 pool and a lovely beach. service is wonderful have at great trip.

bill toliver

Scooby doo needs to do his homework- Garuda has one of the worst saftey records. Avoid Garuda if you can.
Do your own homework on the airlines and you will come to the same conclusion!

Betty

I agree with Bill Toliver except for a different reason - the food on Garuda is horrible and the bath rooms are absolutely FILTHY!!! I avoided drinking anything so I wouldn't have to use them. Luckily for me, we were on shorter flights! Next time, I'll try Singapore Airlines.

Michael

I wholly agrees with Billy and Betty. Ughh...Garuda?
Not ever again. SIA is simply the better choice, but I guess it is a question of individual taste and experiences. All my trips now to South East Asia is with SIA and what can I say except brilliant. Have a fantastic time in Bali and Sheraton Laguna is great.

Zoe

Since you're already planning to splurge megabucks on the Four Seasons, you might want to consider stretching your budget a little bit more, going five -stars and beyond into the ultimate lap of luxury on the island of Bali --- Amanresorts. We stayed at the Amankila(East Bali Beach Resort) and the Amandari(Ubud Village Hillside Resort) over Chinese New Year last February. Sleek, Asiatic modern design of understated elegance, world-class cuisine, soothing spa services,freshwater swimming pools (no chlorine), free chauffer transfer between resorts..., anyways they take great care of you. We're planning to return and do the two other Bali Amans (AmanNusa at Nusa Dua Beach and Amanwana on Moyo Island) this coming Chinese New Year. If it's good enough for Princess Di, I'm sure it can't be too bad for you!
Room Recommendations:
Amankila--Ocean view room(no need for pool villa since the resort has four pools total plus beach)
Amandari--Two-storey Pool Villa (two daybeds downstairs huge enough to accomodate two plus outdoor sunken marble bath)
P.S. Once you've stayed at an Amanresort, you don't want to stay at anywhere else. Hence there is a travel species in the world known as Amanjunkies.
Splurge and enjoy one of the penultimate resorts in the world!

Roberto Armani

SCOOBY DOO, get your HEADCHECKED>.....

I flew Garuda from Melbourne to Rome....

WE GOT DELAYED EVERY FLIGHT... and EVERY single flight was canceled....

I took us 1 week to get there.... I WOULD NEVER fly that dodgy airlane again

Kjell

I stayed at The Four Seasons on Bali earlier this year and found it absolutely wonderful. Extremely friendly staff - and lots of them - and beautiful villas. However, food and drinks there are very expensive, and you have to take a taxi if you want to eat outside the establishment. Please let me know if you need further information.

Kjell B (Norway)

jennifer nacif

steven i defenetly agree the aman resorts are some of the best hotels in the world i would rather stay at the amn than the four seasons and if you want to spend less i would rcomend the oberoi hotel it is less luxurious than the ones mentioned but it is great. i would recomend staying 2or 3 days in ubud ether in the aman or cheaper at the bayan tree the view of the rice fields is superb

Michelle Parfitt

We stayed at the Melia Bali Sol in Nusa Dua - it was great but the whole area is man-made although not at all tacky. You MUST get out into the country and see the real Bali as it is quite spectacular - beautiful, clean and loads of wonderful photo opportunities! If you like rice fields, you are in for a treat!!!!!!!!!!!! On a more serious note though you won't be disappointed - hire a car or get a taxi with a local guide. Have fun! The food, by the way, in the hotel and the nearby Plaza is excellent.

Betty

No-one has mentioned my favourite. Kartika Plaza at Tuban (south of Kuta). I have been to Bali many times and wouldn't stay anywhere else. Probably not as up market as some but excellent food, service etc and great position. Bali is a wonderful place with warm, friendly people. Don't stay around the hotel - get out around the island and I'm sure you will love it as much as I do. Candi Dasa is my favourite spot and also try to get to Lombok.

Belinda

Personally I would recommend The Serai hotel in Manggis, just south of Candi Dasa. It is THE most relaxing stay of your life and the food is unbelievable. It is run by an Australian man and the chef is also Australian and very well known and respected. Avoid the Raddison hotel in Sanur like the plague - bad service and the room were terrible. On the other hand the Radisson Suites were superb! I say forget lombok - stay in Ubud instead in a nice hotel like Kupu Kupu Barong.

I've heard mixed comments about Garuda, but I still would not recommend them as I they are not trained very well on instrument landings as everyone found out recently in Indonesia.