JBR - 1st time to Bali

We have just arrived home after our first trip to Bali. I thought I would write a JBR to share our trip.

Hotels

We spent our first 7 nights at Kuta Lagoon Resort %26amp; Villas on the edge of Kuta/Legian. We really wanted a pool access room but they were all booked so we had our own pool villa (for very little extra cost). KLR is advertised as a 2/3 star hotel and we thought it was pretty good for it’s rating. Our villa was lovely, staff friendly, breakfast adequate, good location. The villa’s pool was a good size but the sun loungers needed upgrading. The hotel only has about 80 rooms and we found it to be a bit quiet. Lots of older people seem to stay here.

We then moved to Seminyak and stayed at The Dusun, for our last 2 nights. The Dusun is in a good location, within walking distance of some great eating places, although the staff will drive you if you don’t feel like walking. We wanted a bit of luxury and privacy and that’s exactly what we got. Our villa was spacious, absolutely gorgous and the staff very knowledgeable and friendly. The private pool in our villa was large, deep and surrounded by tropical gardens and two sun loungers with an umbrella. Breakfast was good. Overall, this was a beautiful place to stay and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

I will post full reports about the hotels on TA soon, if anyone is interested.

Places to Eat/Not to Eat

Indo-National - We had lunch here one day and the food was ok but the service was pretty terrible.

Warung 96 - Some people we met on the street suggested this place to us. It was very cheap, the food was wonderful (their wood-fired pizza is the absolute best) and the staff great.

Bali Rasi - Ate here our first night. The mie goreng was really nice but the nasi goreng was dry and pretty ordinary. Not sure if I would recommend.

Billy’s - We spent a few nights here. The staff is what make this place. They are friendly, happy and enjoy having a dance and a joke with you. The food is yummy and the cocktails good (easy to rack up a bill if you are drinking them all night, trust me I know). There is usually a band playing most nights and they were pretty good although it gave everyone a laugh when they didn’t know all the words in English.

On the Beach - Great setting, overlooking the beach. Good food, good staff.

Ultimo - Beautiful restaurant, very busy. Food scrumptious, staff attentive, really great experience. Not cheap (well compared to restaurants in Kuta) but definitely not expensive either.

Rumors - Food was absolutely wonderful. Staff super friendly, quick, and efficient. Similar to Ultimo, with regards to price.

Shopping

Bought great shoes at Matahari for about $10aus per pair. There were heaps more that were a lot more expensive but I was bargain hunting.

Shell, bead and wooden necklaces were great. We went into places that had literally 100’s to choose from. We also bought freshwater pearls cheaply.

Little dresses were as cheap as chips and these are what I bought and wore during the day as they were lovely and cool. Be aware that there will always be someone saying “you buy 1 more dress like yours, very cheap”.

When we got sick of bartering and haggling we went to visit Ketut (who is just the sweetest lady) and bought from her. She has set prices in her shop and it was great to be able to just browse, try things on and work out what you really liked without the pressure.

Hubby had a suit made and I had a jacket and 2 pairs of pants made at Brisbane Tailors. Wasn’t as cheap as I have heard from some other people but we were happy with the price so it’s all good. Yusef was great and we were really happy with his service, workmanship and the end product.

Massages/Spas

Secret Garden – expensive, compared to some other places. My hubby had his best massage here. Staff good. Relaxing place.

Angelina’s – we got to know the staff here and the girls are just so sweet. My hubby loved it here because the girls were friendly and always on for a chat. They taught us some Balinese phrases and my husband thought it was quite funny learning that his name in Balinese is “Zero”. The girls work long hours and only get home to see their kids once a month, yet they are always smiling and happy.

Bodyworks – expensive by Bali standards. I had my best massage here. Hubby still can’t get over how the girls all think that a big man (he is 6ft 3in) must have a strong massage. He was forever saying “softer please”. I had a bit of trouble with getting exactly what I wanted – for my manicure and hair crème bath here but overall the place was really good.

Tours/Things to do

We didn’t do too much of this, as we really wanted to relax and do pretty much nothing.

*We did a bike tour with “Bintang”. We visited a coffee plantation (which was really interesting but no way was I testing their Luwak coffee – for those who don’t know - it is made out of beans that come out of the excretement of a mongoose). Then up to Kintamani, where our ride started. The bikes were in ok condition and helmets were provided. The ride was pretty much all downhill (and I mean “ride your brakes” downhill) which suited me just fine. There were only a couple of hills, which weren’t too bad. We rode through rice paddies and villages where the locals lived. We stopped at a local house and went inside their compound to have a look around. We learnt lots of interesting stuff about the real Balinese way of life. One of my favourite things about the tour was that all the local children obviously know that the tour takes place at the same time daily and they all run out into the street to say “hello” to you as you ride past. They all put out their hands to have you give them a “high 5”. The day finished with a yummy lunch. We really enjoyed this day.

*One day we hired a scooter, which we thought was great fun. Hubby loved that he could scoot past everyone, not having to worry about the “you come in please”. I would call the roads and traffic “organised chaos” but everyone seems so courteous (some people over here could take a leaf out of the Balinese books).

*If you are a bakery person then you must go to “Bread Talk” in Discovery. Their stuff was so yummy (my favourite was the bread and butter pudding).

*Have drinks at any one of the beach restaurants/bars, watching the beautiful sunset.

What We Liked the Most

Easy - the friendly Balinese people. From the taxi driver who proudly told us all about his children to the girls at Angelina to the staff at restaurants to well – everyone, the people were just lovely.

The yummy food, that was just so cheap, was also great.

Just a wonderful place to relax, eat, shop and have fun.

Would We Go Back

Hell, yeah!

I just wanted to say thankyou to everyone on the forum for the invaluable information which helped to make our holiday a fantastic one.

Cheers NJay (Ness)

JBR - 1st time to Bali

Hi NJay

Many thanks for your interesting JBR - it is always great to read a 1st timer%26#39;s point of view. Once again the message that comes out loud and clear is just how wonderful the Balinese people are - thanks for that.

When are you going back for more?

Cheers

JBR - 1st time to Bali

Hi NJay,

Yes thanks for your positively glowing report, sounds like you had a lovely relaxing time, we are off at easter and can%26#39;t wait, so good to know Bali is still how we remember it. Sue

Thanks Ness for the great report. So glad you have fallen in love with Bali like all of us here on this forum. Yes it%26#39;s a special place and yes, it%26#39;s the beautiful people that make it so special. Also the food, the scenery, the amazing and interesting culture, the shops, the spas, the beaches, the ..... well everything! Have you got your next trip planned? I am off again in October for my 10th trip and can%26#39;t wait!!!!

Thanks, glad you enjoyed your holiday. Can you pls give the addresses of Warung 96 and Angelinas. Thanks.

thank you for your report. i enjoyed reading it. one trip to bali is never enough! sounds like you had a great time. the balinese are always a high light of my trips. i have made so many good friends over the years.

Hi Ness

Thanks for your report, I enjoyed reading it.

Just wanted to ask about your stay at KLR. My partner and I are booked in there for two weeks in early June in a Pool Access Room. I have noticed quite a few people that say they have also booked pool access rooms and find they are not available when they arrive. Just worried that this could happen to us too.We have booked through a TA but wondering if I should email the hotel myself to check this out?

Regards Sandra.

Hi NJay, really enjoyed your trip report, very educational. Don%26#39;t try the cheese rolls in Bread Talk; you think ';Ah, it%26#39;s cheese, it%26#39;s savoury';, but it fools you and you bite into a sickly sweet cheesy concoction. Rest of the stuff looked nice though.

Cheers.

Thanks heaps ness for the report... Im going to bali at the end of may and all the info that i get from peoples reports i know is going to help me alot! So thanks heaps for going to the effort to write one!

9 weeks to go....

ahhhh the excitement is overwhelming :)

Thanks for your well written trip report, Ness, which I found really interesting and informative.

I%26#39;m glad you enjoyed Bali - we%26#39;re off for our third trip in a couple of weeks and are looking forward to trying a few places of the places you mention.

It sounds like you struck a nice balance between relaxation and activity, which I think is the key to a good holiday.

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the positive feedback.

Ilab - started saving my pennies for the next trip already. We have 2 teenage daughters and I know that they would absolutely love Bali, so hopefully we will make the next trip a family one.

Liccylaccy - Don%26#39;t have an actual address for Warung 96 but here are some directions: If you head towards the beach on Poppies 2, look out for Hotel Barong. There is a laneway directly opposite from Hotel Barong and if you head down that laneway Warung 96 is on the left hand side. Angelina%26#39;s has 2 outlets on Jalan Raya Legian and they are only about 5mins walk apart (they often bring staff from one to the other depending on which is busy). We went to both but our favourite was the one that is closer to Kuta - shop no. 220 (the other being towards the Legian end). If you go please say a special hello to Petrie and tell everyone that Zero (Noel) and Vanessa say hi.

Sandra - I probably should have been clearer in my post. We actually knew before we left that a pool access room wasn%26#39;t available - they didn%26#39;t spring it on us when we got there. The pool access rooms are very popular and seem to be always booked out. Hopefully your booking will be fine. I%26#39;m sure you will enjoy your stay, the staff are lovely. We only ate once in the hotel (other than breakfast) and that was because it was included in our package. I%26#39;m not sure that I would recommend eating there when there are so many great restaurants outside the hotel. If you would like any other info, just let me know.

Noodleboy - Ah, the cheese bread, it wasn%26#39;t me that got caught, but my husband (LOL). Very tricky! I am a sweet tooth but not sure about the savoury/sweet mixture either. Think I%26#39;ll just stick to my bread and butter pudding.

Cheers NJay