Hi there,

Can anyone recommend a nice hotel in Kuta? I was very keen on taking Ramayana Hotel. They require 1 night payment for reservation which was fine with me, actually. However, when I emailed them if there is a room with king size bed, non-smoking and garden view on a certain date in October, they replied to my email saying that this is based on the availability of the room on those dates itself. I mean, can't they actually check now and see if it's readily available? Does that mean that just because I took the "Early-bird" special, or any discounts, I am not entitled to request for a specific room? It's not like I want an upgrade to a suite or something like that.

For the hotel in Kuta, since Ramayana hotel is charging USD 160 (tax and other charges included), that'll be my budget for a 2 night stay in Kuta. Preferably extremely close to the beach or even on the beach. My main concern, of course, is cleanliness. That is the number 1 priority. Secondary priority is not within the town that's noisy.

Can anyone recommend?

Thanks in advance.

just came back from bali...if u looking for villa try this....them serve me well...and resonable price too...in kuta
http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentalR...-Kuta_Bali.html

Good afternoon all frequent Bali visitors!

My wife and I will be visiting Bali for the first time on a 4D3N DIY, staying at Nusa Dua, towards the end of August. Two things I have yet to finalize are the itinerary and driver. I have collected a few itinerary examples and contact details of 10 drivers so far.

My questions are :
- will staying in Nusa Dua impact on cost of drivers?
- will it take a whole day to visit Kintamani and Ubud?

I'm willing to go for quality rather than getting all tired and stressed trying to visit too many places. I would like to visit Ubud and Uluwatu, but can this be done in one day?

Hope to get some answers and advice. Thanks!

where can I get maps on bali on my smartphone?

1. Normally it does affect abit. Coz mostly all the high class hotel resorts are there. Besides that from nusa dua travel upwards to north is really some distance hence they will charge more expensive. But I see alot of driver are based there.

2. Yes if you do not wanna rush, it will take full day or maybe more. Ubud have market, eateries and rice fields. It will take some time to fully cover ubud.

3. UluwAtu and nusa dua is located south so no worries. But travel north towards ubud and kintamani will be problematic due to passing thru the Denpasar and kuta. Might jam abit.

1. Driver cost - Generally no, but given the long travel time, you might reach back your hotel very late. To be nice, give some tips to the driver la.

2. Yes. Kintamani and Ubud can be done in a day.

3. Ulwuwatu and Ubud - can be done in a day (no Kintamani) but will spend quite a lot of time travelling north then south in the evening

There are no impact based on my experience either Benoa, Nusa or Seminyak.

any more villa have special services?
something like Sandi Agung Villa, as recommended.

Thanks very much for your input Mugenz. From my list of drivers, no one seems to be based in Nusa Dua. Would you be so kind as to let me have the contact details of one or two?

Do we have to pass through Kuta on the way up to Ubud? Thanks for advising me to take my time with Ubud - I probably will.

Thanks again!

Thanks tohff7! Seems like there are differing opinions on driver cost - well, I will just have to be prepared for the worst case. Good point about getting back to the hotel late..I would rather avoid that, hence I will not try to do too much in one day.

My tentative plan is to go to Ubud and Kintamani on the second day and then Uluwatu and Jimbaran on the third day.

Do you think I can add in a stop at Sukawati for shopping and still get back to Nusa Dua before 6 pm? Where can I visit first on the third day, as I know that evening is a better time for Uluwatu and dinner at Jimbaran?

Thanks again!

Airport counter and all drivers around that area asking for 90k. If bargain hard away from counter, can get down 10-20. If you are willing to drag your luggage straight out to the outside you might get a local taxi for far less. That's where the street taxi dropped us on the way back.

Many excellent drivers recommended on TripAdvisor.com

Friday crowd at Uluwatu was really heavy. Driver said larger troupe for better show. They kept packing them in after the show started and even the aisles were fully occupied. We went early to take pictures on the cliffs and get a seat but had to endure one hour of burning sunset (not a sunset fan). Latecomers were on plastic chairs with their backs to the sun, perhaps better cause not so cramped between people, and front row views. Neighbours in the stands were steadily swatting mosquitos.

I don't have contact of driver, mine is based in ubud.

In a way, don't really pass thru kuta. But pass by thru the "highway" which during may 2013, there were road works and building tunnels along the road. So my driver detour using kuta road to Go ubud.

From my chat with my driver and experience, ubud got no public taxi. It's all freelance driver so hence most driver rather camp in ubud. Taxi will still drop you to ubud but u won't be able to flag cab in ubud. Most of the time we walk and use resort shuttle so save cost in ubud.

I think you can either choose uluwAtu or jimbaran for sunset. That time in may the sun sets around 6pm. By 7pm already dark like our 9pm in malaysia. Do note on this.

Thank you Mugenz. These are good information and great tips!

1. My driver was Bobby (Arief's friend) and he didn't charge me any extra cost. I reached Bali around 2pm on the 1st day, and that evening we went Uluwatu and Jimbaran. Reached and check-in my hotel in Seminyak around 9pm. The pre-agreed fee was IDR300k for half day, but i gave him IDR400k instead (IDR100k as tips). We agreed on the fee even before i book my hotel, so location doesn't really affect my driver cost.

2. For your third day, you could either relax in the morning and book a driver for a half-day tour to Uluwatu and Jimbaran, which could be nice to re-charge your energy after a long travel the day before. Or you could take a trip slightly north to Tanah Lot.

This is my Itinerary for the moment. (Suggested by Driver mostly)
I'm going for 6D5N. My driver will be picking me from Airport at 1st night. I only engaged with him 2.5 days. Total charges is IDR1,150,000
A lot of places i didnt go, choose to have more relaxing trip

Day 1
Arriving at 11pm.
Check in Hotel straight Best Western Kuta Villa.

Day 2
- Barong dance
- Nusa dua beach
- Lunch (To choose later on)
- Dream land
- Some beaches
- Uluwatu sunset (kecak and fire dance)
- Dinner: Lias Cafe

Day 3
- Royale temple
- Tasik bratan and ulundanu
- Pacung (Lunch at Pacung)
- Tanah lot
- Shopping around krisna atau hawaii
- Dinner: Naughty Nuri

Day 4
- Tirta empul
- Kintamani
- Rice teracce tegallalang
- Lunch: Ibu Oka (Babi guling/ bebek bengil)
- Check in Hotel in UBUD, Villa Arya

Day 5
- Free and Easy

Day 6
- Free and Easy

A short review of my trip in Bali

Day 1
We arrive at airport around 2.30pm and Bobby was already there. Arief was also there to say hi, and also being introduced to John, their apprentice. We are supposed to check-in our hotel in Seminyak, but given the heavy traffic, Bobby suggested that we go visit Pandawa Beach. It is relatively a new beach as the access road is only completed and opened early this year.

After Pandawa Beach, we just went to Uluwatu for sunset and kecak dance before having our dinner in Jimbaran. Reached and checked in hotel in Seminyak around 9pm

Day 2
Nothing out of the ordinary (where we visited Taman Ayun, Bedugul and finally Tanah Lot for sunset), except i went to Jatiluwih after lunch, which is much bigger and and nicer compare to Tegalalang, in my view. After Tanah Lot, we went back to our hotel and have our dinner at Rumours.

Day 3
Visited Goa Gajah, Tirta Empul, Coffee Plantation in the morning and then have lunch in Kintamani. It was around 2pm, the sky is clear luckily and we have clear view of the all 3 mountains . After lunch, we went to Tegalalang, which is ok but i would have skipped it since i already visited Jatiluwih a day before. Ubud market was a bit of disappointment. Going to Naughty Nuri's in Batubelig, there was a road closure and ended up have to make a big detour into Denpasar . The pork ribs and pork chops were very nice though.

I regretted didn't buy some souvenirs from the shops when exiting Tirta Empul. The price there is already quite cheap even without bargaining to start with. For example, my gf was interested in a nice wooden box with carving. It was only IDR20k in Tirta Empul, and i thought i can easily get it cheaper at Ubud market. I was never so wrong. Apart from being hard to find (all store sell almost the same rattan products), the opening price was IDR80k, which i only managed to bargain all the way down to IDR40k. End up didn't buy it

Day 4
Nothing was planned as i want to relax a bit and my flight was 2pm.

In the airport, i encountered a scam by a shop selling souvenirs in the duty-free areas. I wanted to buy a souvenir and the price tag was IDR100k. When u pay for it, they will punch some number in the calculator and show u a new price, supposedly for tax on local products. The "tax-inclusive price" was about IDR142k. I was pissed and asked for a receipt, and reluctantly they wrote me a receipt. While the receipt is being written, i ask the other sales lady about the tax and how much was it. She said it is 35%. Since i can't take their bullshit anymore, i said i don't want to buy and ask them to refund my money.

Thanks so much for the great sharing. I arrive at 6.40 pm so dont think I can anything on my first day, but I have more time on my 4th (last) day as my flight leaves at 5 pm. A few more questions/requests :
- I realised that neither Bobby nor Arief is on my drivers list - may I have their contact details please ?
- what time is the kecak dance at Uluwatu?
- Is Sukawati a better place to do shopping? Is it along the way when I go back to Nusa Dua from Ubud/Kintamani?

This post has been edited by RedSiglap56: Jul 31 2013, 03:00 PM

guys, any recommendation for money exchange in KL?

Just came back from Bali with my friend. We had enjoy our trip to Bali very much. Below are my itineraries (Hope can be a help for those who wish to visit Bali) :



I had hired Gus Ade as my driver and his service was very good. He is very friendly and will bring you to anywhere you want. On Day 5 we when shopping until 11.30PM and the driver did not grumble at all also and still smiling at us. The driver also offer to fetch us to airport for free on the last day as well.

If you are interested in his service you may visit his blog

Wow! one driver just quoted 650K for full day tour, (max 10 hours) per car per day.

Sounds excessive or has the price shot up sky high recently?!