Bali (Part 1)

Trip made in 2011 (6 days) 

[ Seminyak Beach ]

Why

If you don’t like doing much on holidays and just want to relax and lie by the pool, stay in a nice villa and have some nice food, then Bali is the destination for you. Bali is a favourite holiday destination with Australians as it’s the closest place to fly from Australia. So you will see lots of them around especially during the summer holidays. My advice is best to avoid the busy season. 

[ Surfers on Seminyak Beach ]

Generally I tend to be a bit restless but while in Bali, I have learned not to rush and enjoy the present moment instead. It’s difficult not stop for a moment as the villas are just very beautiful. People in Bali are genuinely very nice and that makes a difference too.

There are several islands in Bali and I chose to stay in the upmarket Seminyak which is full of shops and restaurants and there is a very beautiful long beach in front of our villa. Seminyak is full of upscale boutique villas and they are more expensive here. If you want to stay somewhere more secluded with better facilities such as the Conrad or Shangri-la, then Nusa Dua probably is a better choice for you. Security is also maintained high as all these 5-star hotels are ‘gated’. The good news is you pay less for a 5-star hotel here but the bad news is there isn’t much to do on this island and it’s an hour drive to other busier islands. 

We have also stayed in Ubud (part of the film Eat, Pray, Love was set here) for two nights and I much prefer here than Seminyak. There are still shops and nice restaurants in Ubud but it’s not as chaotic as Seminyak. Younger travelers and backpackers prefer to stay in Kota as the nightlife there is better. However it’s not the place to stay in if you want to enjoy a quiet holiday. 

Accommodation

Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa

[ Our room ]

[ Anantara ]

[ View where we had breakfast ]

Pros

• Modern and stylish decorated.
• Really massive room with good amenities – big lounge area, satellite TV, really comfortable XL king size bed, balcony with day bed and Jacuzzi partly overlooking at the sea, spacious bathroom with separate rain shower cubicle and large bath tub, double basins, spa quality toiletries.
• Personal service; staff are friendly.
• Beautiful setting for breakfast overlooking at the sea.
• Small selection but delicious buffet breakfast table and made-to-order for your main course.
• Plenty deck chairs in front of the beach.
• The bar SOS Supper Club on their rooftop is the best place to admire Bali’s sunset.

  

  [ Swimming pool at Anantara]

  

  [ Deck chairs on the beach ]

Cons

• Very small pools.
• No shuttle service to town but lots of taxi parking outside the hotel.
• Quite pricey if not booking with a package.

Nefatari Villas

Pros

• Traditional style villa with your own pool
• Beautiful setting, very clean and quiet
• Great service
• Good breakfast
• Very good value for money
• Best for families
• Cute outdoor bathroom with Jacuzzi bath and separate shower – really hot water!
• Efficient free shuttle service to go around Ubud

  

  [ Our villa ]

  

  [ Beautiful garden in Nefatari ]

  

  [ Pool in villa ]

Cons

• Only one but it’s an ‘extra service’ offered by the hotel. The setting of their spa is very nice but since it’s semi-outdoor, so we were a bit cold and the bath was just lukewarm. It could have been better.

Practical Information

Custom & Entry Visa

We flew with Hong Kong Airlines from Hong Kong to Bali and as we arrived Denpasar at around midnight, there weren’t many people going through custom and it only took us half an hour to come out of the airport. 

HKSAR passport holders do not require entry visa to Bali. Other passport holders check here for visa policy. Entry visa can be obtained on arrival for US$25. 

Travel from/to the airport

Most establishments provide free airport transfer service to and from the airport, so check with the hotel you plan to book.

Travelling around

Most convenient way to get around is by licensed taxi but if you need to go around to more than one place, then it maybe a good idea to hire a MPV. We had hired one for Rp.300,000 for 6 hours and it took us from Seminyak to Ubud and a few sight-seeing spots including the volcano around Ubud.