Need Info: Bali, Indonesia

[Pinoy]

I need some inputs coz I am planning to take my family -- wife and teen age daughter -- to Bali sometime next year. Looking at a DIY trip lasting 5 days 4 nights, and flying through Jetstar/Valuair.

Questions:
1. Hotel Location: Kuta, Legian or Nusa Dua?
2. Any recommendation on affordable hotel to stay? Looking at SGD 100 per night max.
3. How far is Kuta from the airport? Is it easy to pick up a transpo to and from the airport?
4. I suppose it's best to change SGD to Rupiah in Singapore?
5. What to do in Bali? Not really that keen in the night life/bars. Any snorkelling tour or Island hopping tour to recommend (similar to the ones offered in Phuket)?

I don't have much info about Bali at this point so any inputs/feedbacks/suggestions would really be appreciated (the idea to take my family to Bali is something I cooked up only in the past 2 hours).

Thanks in advance.

:Later,

 

[night86mare]

what do you plan to do?

kuta and legian are beach areas, you have photo opportunities if that is your priority, but they will be limited to beach scenes, relatively narrow streets and a mixture of locals and tourists. nusa dua is more upmarket from what i remember.

you can consider all those little roadside hostels/hotels, they are affordable, most are clean, and well-run. better to spend the money on other things like shopping and entertainment and massage, if you ask me, but different people have different priorities.

what does your family like to do? do you have kids?

 

[diver-hloc]

I need some inputs coz I am planning to take my family -- wife and teen age daughter -- to Bali sometime next year. Looking at a DIY trip lasting 5 days 4 nights, and flying through Jetstar/Valuair.

Questions:
1. Hotel Location: Kuta, Legian or Nusa Dua?
2. Any recommendation on affordable hotel to stay? Looking at SGD 100 per night max.
3. How far is Kuta from the airport? Is it easy to pick up a transpo to and from the airport?
4. I suppose it's best to change SGD to Rupiah in Singapore?
5. What to do in Bali? Not really that keen in the night life/bars. Any snorkelling tour or Island hopping tour to recommend (similar to the ones offered in Phuket)?

I don't have much info about Bali at this point so any inputs/feedbacks/suggestions would really be appreciated (the idea to take my family to Bali is something I cooked up only in the past 2 hours).

Thanks in advance.

:Later,

Hi.... my 2 cents worth.... :bsmilie:

1) Suggest you stay in Kuta - Why -
* Easy to move around for 1st timer (like Patong of phuket)
* Plenty of Shopping (Good for Wife + Teen)
* Good local + tourist mix

2) Sorry.... can't help you there.... as my hotel is mostly 'settle' by the tour agent....

3) Kuta is quite near from the airport.... 20-30mins (depend on traffic). Taxi is cheap and easily found.... just look for 'Meter Taxi' or if you could bargain well, 'Pirate Taxi' also can.

4) Personally.... I just change enough to 'survive' for a day or two.... bring extra SGD to change when needed. I found the exchange rate better there then here. :bsmilie:

5) Plenty !! Day Tour is everywhere..... just go to the front of the Hotel and look for Tour Brochure (safer since its from regsiter Bali tour agency). They have everything from inland tour to Scuba Diving / Snorkelling..... Buget for all kind. Staying away from AngMor pubbing group would be good.... since (touch wood) if there is any 'Bomb Blast'.... it would most likely be around areas where large group of AngMor would gather. :sweat:

Suggest you take difference day tour to difference area of the island. The mountain is cool and have lakes on top. The middle land is full of honest to god Rice Fields.... they make good photos with the open landscape.

Goodluck on your trip :thumbsup:

 

[aryanto]

My info is 20+ yrs old.
Legian is a designated nude beach portion of kuta, whether that is still the case after major events happening recently in Indonesia or not, you should check with your travel agents. Nude does not mean you will find those like in baywatch, but more like beached whales kind and wrinkled are more the majority.
Kuta is black sand beach (dont think hawaii). It is famous for people to learn surfing cos the waves is not too tough. Kuta will give you sunset shot.

Nusa dua was a developed beach much like east coast or sentosa. There is no locals live there like some 30 yrs ago, it is a deserted rocky beach which is developed into a resort during Suharto era. It is very nice some 10 years ago, whether it is still nice or not I wont know.
Nusa dua is white sand, and the feel is more like club med if not wrong (I would not be surprised if there is club med there)

If you want more natural white sand beach I suggest you go for sanur. Unfortunately sanur give you sunrise (opposit part of the island). Sanur is in between kuta and nusa dua.

Why do you go for beach anyway? If you like culture I suggest you check ubud. It is like living in a village that has hundreds of art gallery and the artist farm or the farmers are very artistic. The terraced rice field make a good photo esp if the rice are still growing (not yet harvested, which should be the case around this time.)

If you like mountains & crater lake, go to batur. There is nice photo can be taken in the morning mist and sunset too over there. If you like history go to klungkung.

Check out small operated hotel by family who has extra rooms in the temple. You can have many photo shots of the temple surrounding albeit it is small sometimes rundown which add to the charm, or if you are unlucky you get a totally new renovated temple, that looks well... very clean and has no charm (to me anyway).

 

[Pinoy]

Many thanks for the input. As mentioned in my post, I really don't have much idea about what to do in Bali. I only know that I need to get myself and my family a break that's why I'm considering taking them there. We've been to Phuket, Macau and HK before so Bali is perhaps the only regional place that's appealing for us (specially after seeing the lovely sunset pics here in CS). Photography will take a backseat if this plan of mine goes through. Priority is for us to enjoy, relax and have fun.

If Kuta is the Patong of Bali, then I guess that is where we should be staying. I've had a look at AsiaRooms and AsiaTravel and there's quite a number of hotels that is within our budget. Guess just have to pick one that's convenient and relatively affordable. Might even consider "upgrading" to Hard Rock Hotel Bali if the cost justifies it.

:Later,

 

[kirkchua79]

just don go for the elephant ride. v ex. bali more bout cultural stuffs and surf boarding. scuba diving with the molas molas. http://www.baliguide.com/ but jetstar/value air arrival oso in the night?? tanah lot is a nice place for sunsets pics

 

[aryanto]

just don go for the elephant ride. v ex. bali more bout cultural stuffs and surf boarding. scuba diving with the molas molas. http://www.baliguide.com/ but jetstar/value air arrival oso in the night?? tanah lot is a nice place for sunsets pics

Yes tanah lot if super extra nice for sunset but you will probably have to elbow other photographer for vantage point.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=tanah+lot

I did not know that there are elephant in Bali, seriously. It must have been imported, thus expensive. From what I learn in geography (of Indonesia) elephants can only be found in Sumatra island and has long extinct in Java and Bali.

 

[kirkchua79]

the elephants shld b from on loan from some conservation prog i think. near to some river with white water rafting. quite small trek only. S$100 per head like kena chop

 

[Pinoy]

just don go for the elephant ride. v ex. bali more bout cultural stuffs and surf boarding. scuba diving with the molas molas. http://www.baliguide.com/ but jetstar/value air arrival oso in the night?? tanah lot is a nice place for sunsets pics

Have done elephant ride in Phuket before... not gonna do it again ( bumpy ride can cause back pain :bsmilie: ).

Yeah. Late flight sched. 1st night is considered "wasted" coz arrival in Bali is only at 11pm+.

:Later,

 

[karel]

1. Hotel Location: Kuta, Legian or Nusa Dua?
2. Any recommendation on affordable hotel to stay? Looking at SGD 100 per night max.
3. How far is Kuta from the airport? Is it easy to pick up a transpo to and from the airport?
4. I suppose it's best to change SGD to Rupiah in Singapore?
5. What to do in Bali? Not really that keen in the night life/bars. Any snorkelling tour or Island hopping tour to recommend (similar to the ones offered in Phuket)?

1.Kuta and Legian are very close ... Nusa Dua is quite far (oh about 30 minutes drive) but has luxury atmosphere. The water is calm, compared to Kuta.
2.No idea, because my family has a small house there.
3.the Airport is in Kuta area, maybe about 10 minutes drive (counting traffic) Transportation is veryeasy, lots of taxy. I suggest you rent a car with driver with daily rate
4.No idea
5.Depend on what you and your family like ... for culture, go to Ubud

 

[foxwagon]

Questions:
1. Hotel Location: Kuta, Legian or Nusa Dua?
2. Any recommendation on affordable hotel to stay? Looking at SGD 100 per night max.
3. How far is Kuta from the airport? Is it easy to pick up a transpo to and from the airport?
4. I suppose it's best to change SGD to Rupiah in Singapore?
5. What to do in Bali? Not really that keen in the night life/bars. Any snorkelling tour or Island hopping tour to recommend (similar to the ones offered in Phuket)?

Kamunstaka.
1- Can consider Kuta (like Orchard Rd) or Sanur (more quiet).
2- Can check through Asiarooms.com
3- Kuta is about 20mins, Sanur 30mins away from airport. There are fixed price taxis counters at the airport.
4- Yes. Bali money changers are known to scam tourists, as even advised by the Bali dive operators I regularly go with. Change either in SGP or within Bali, at the hotels you are staying, or at this chain of money changers called PT Kuta Central. Count your money before you leave.
5- Plenty to do in Bali. Every hotel would have some information counters that can book day trips for you.
Have fun. Many of us started with the most advertised (esp after the 1st Bali bomb) SIA/Garuda Hard Rock Hotel package including flights, accommodation, airport transfers for the ease. Once you get to know the place better, can book everything else by your own.

 

[chanxj]

I found the rate there better than SG also. The going rate of car with driver is abt 50usd a day for a toyota innova. Sry don't know abt hotel as I stayed at my friends homestay. This info was when i visited in feb this year.

 

[diver-hloc]

Like everywhere else......

Check your exchange money carefully before leaving the money exchange place. Don't change $300-400 SGD at one go... since counting your large number of Rupiah (in many many zero) does at times, make counting a headache.

I only change a hundred or two at any one time.... if need be, just change again later. And don't ever change money with someone standing on the road side..... do it at some money changer at some shop or store.

Local would try to cheat blur blur tourist no matter where you are..... Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines & even Singapore. Don't worry too much.

 

[tommyna]

Hi,

I am new here and from Jakarta, Indonesia. Just want to share my two cents

1. Hotel Location: Kuta, Legian or Nusa Dua?
Kuta.

2. Any recommendation on affordable hotel to stay? Looking at SGD 100 per night max.
Try Harris Hotel Bali in Kuta, it's affordable, at around SGD100. There are two Harris Hotel, one near the Airport (not this one), the other is in Kuta area and located 200 meter from the Kuta road side.

3. How far is Kuta from the airport? Is it easy to pick up a transpo to and from the airport?
It's near, like from City Hall to Orchard. Hotel usually provide you with pick up service at an extra cost or Taxi is available at the airport and it will cost you around IDR50,000 to IDR75,000 or around SGD10.00. Once you are in Bali, other than the airport taxi, if you want to use taxi, use only a taxi that belong to Bluebird Group. There are also rental car with drivers at around IDR250,000 per day

4. I suppose it's best to change SGD to Rupiah in Singapore?
I do not know about this, but once you are in Bali and if you want to do some SGD to IDR change, I agree with the suggestion to do it in small amount, max SGD100 to SGD200 and do it only in an authorized money changer.

5. What to do in Bali? Not really that keen in the night life/bars. Any snorkelling tour or Island hopping tour to recommend (similar to the ones offered in Phuket)?
Agree, for culture go to Ubud, it's a 1 to 1,5 hour ride from Kuta. For not serious snorkelling, I would recommend the trip to Nusa Lembongan/Nusa Penida, a day tour with a lot of activities will cost you around IDR500,000 which will include meal and other water activities like banana boat etc.

Regards,

 

[kirkchua79]

i stayed @ mercure .v near to the sea. 10 steps can touch the sand alrdy from the hotel :bsmilie: http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-3713-mercure-kuta-bali/index.shtml

 

[Pinoy]

1st step cleared. That is, booking of tickets with Jetstar/Valuair. Kind of quite miffed though coz just today, Jetstar/Valuair launched a new promo that turns out to be $22 per head cheaper than last week's promo. Tough luck eh. :cry: :bsmilie:

Next step will be hotel selection. Have made up my mind that it's gonna be in Kuta as you guys recommend. Will check up the hotel names provided. Again, thanks for the info.

BTW, there seems to be white water rafting activity in Bali. Haven't really done that and I'm quite keen to give it a try. Wonder if it's safe to bring along my cam considering that it's water based activity. Anybody knows?

:Later,

 

[diver-hloc]

5. What to do in Bali? Not really that keen in the night life/bars. Any snorkelling tour or Island hopping tour to recommend (similar to the ones offered in Phuket)?
Agree, for culture go to Ubud, it's a 1 to 1,5 hour ride from Kuta. For not serious snorkelling, I would recommend the trip to Nusa Lembongan/Nusa Penida, a day tour with a lot of activities will cost you around IDR500,000 which will include meal and other water activities like banana boat etc.

Regards,

Hahaha..... Good place for snorkelling :thumbsup:

Except the Water is freezing cold :sweat:

 

[diver-hloc]

BTW, there seems to be white water rafting activity in Bali. Haven't really done that and I'm quite keen to give it a try. Wonder if it's safe to bring along my cam considering that it's water based activity. Anybody knows?

:Later,

Water & Camera...... Water & Camera...... :think:

TS..... what do you think ?? :bsmilie:

Unless you are talking about a PnS camera inside a U/W casing..... I don't think its advisiable to bring along your 40D for rafting...... again, unless you are saying taking photos from the shore...... Anyway, once you hit rough water.... do you even think you could keep your camera safe ?? What happen if the boat capsize ?? :sweat:

 

[night86mare]

BTW, there seems to be white water rafting activity in Bali. Haven't really done that and I'm quite keen to give it a try. Wonder if it's safe to bring along my cam considering that it's water based activity. Anybody knows?

:Later,

dragonboating, maybe, but certainly not white water rafting.

 

[Pinoy]

Water & Camera...... Water & Camera...... :think:

TS..... what do you think ?? :bsmilie:

Unless you are talking about a PnS camera inside a U/W casing..... I don't think its advisiable to bring along your 40D for rafting...... again, unless you are saying taking photos from the shore...... Anyway, once you hit rough water.... do you even think you could keep your camera safe ?? What happen if the boat capsize ?? :sweat:

:bsmilie:

Actually, I was thinking more of bringing along DSLR to the site *but* not onboard the raft. And then my PnS onboard. No UW casing though.

Also was wondering whether there's an arrangement for items that one shouldn't bring onboard to be collected downstream.

:Later,