Bali, finally !!

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I have a need for a status run, (Sans Mrs GPH) , I could do a +50% SC trip to NZ , but I have already booked 3 trips there and may end up at a conference there as well .
So it turns out Jet* have a Friday frenzy deal which gets me the bulk of my SC's if I fly from BNE on the Dreamliner.
So on impulse booked a seat.
Anyway I digress.
Bali has never attracted me before, i am not into surf culture, excessive drinking and partying, or looking for holiday romance.
So for the "older" first time visitor, what would you recommend I consider?
I am there for a week (7 nights) in mid March 2015 , I hear that there are nice villas / Houses that are inexpensive , but then a nice hotel with a good pool and close to local restaurants has some appeal.
Any tips on what to do, pitfalls to watch out for etc, greatly appreciated.
 
The Laguna in Nusa Dua is fantastic if you get a lagoon access room!!

Don't use money changers ANYWHERE except your hotel, they are very very good with 'altered' calculators and you will get ripped off 100% guaranteed :evil:.

'Meads in Bali' is a great reasonably priced restaurant with good food and will pick you up and take you back to your hotel free... A local for Perth people!

Use 'Hardy's' supermarket for all your snacks, drinks, alcohol,gifts etc.. No haggling, great buys and the taxis will take you there from your hotel and wait for you! ( For hours, if need be!!! ) :cool:
 
GPH,

Highly recommend the W Hotel in Seminyak.

Great pool, good restaurants close by, they have golf buggies that drive u to the end of the driveway, can catch taxi's from there, short distances are not an issue for the taxis.

Buffet breakfast at the W is fantastic, one of the best I have ever had. Ask for a room over/near the breakfast area, its quieter, except for the sounds of the breaking surf.

They also do pickup / drop off at the airport which makes it easy.

And, the JQ Dreamliner is quite nice.

Cheers
BF
 
We stay at the Novotel Benoa Bali, Its showing its age around the edges but its close to Bumbu Bali Restaurant and cooking school which is the best in Bali. The hotel is very affordable and a range of accommodation from rooms to bungalows to villas. As for the money changers if you change $100 each time you can't mess up a conversion by adding two zeroes to the end.
 
Bali doesn't really excite me like it does my Mrs (she and her friends have been going for years), but I have agreed to go back a second time, because it is an awesome place when you get away from all the bogans etc. (Unfortunately you can't avoid them on the plane over and back if you want to go direct. Be prepared for some appalling behaviour.)

Do: Eat at MAMA San for dinner, Sea Circus for lunch.

Don't: Go anywhere near Kuta.
 
Bali doesn't really excite me like it does my Mrs (she and her friends have been going for years), but I have agreed to go back a second time, because it is an awesome place when you get away from all the bogans etc. (Unfortunately you can't avoid them on the plane over and back if you want to go direct. Be prepared for some appalling behaviour.)

Do: Eat at MAMA San for dinner, Sea Circus for lunch.

Don't: Go anywhere near Kuta.

I agree with this. If you stay a little out of the Kuta/Seminyak area in a nice villa you will be closer to the best parts of Bali - which is certainly not in amongst the bogans. The villas normally have drivers you can use and if you have a good one you can take advice from him as far as where to go and what to see and eat. Just make it clear you're not interested in any of the tourist places where many drivers get kick backs. It's a beautiful island with lovely, welcoming and proud people who love to show you around. They will go out of their way for you if you learn a little of their language before you go.

Be careful with money changers - an armed guard is a good indicator of a legit place but still be vigilant

Definitely eat Babi Guling if you like pork - Ibu Oka in Ubud is great for that.
 
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Bali doesn't really excite me like it does my Mrs (she and her friends have been going for years), but I have agreed to go back a second time, because it is an awesome place when you get away from all the bogans etc. (Unfortunately you can't avoid them on the plane over and back if you want to go direct. Be prepared for some appalling behaviour.)

Do: Eat at MAMA San for dinner, Sea Circus for lunch.

Don't: Go anywhere near Kuta.

Flying in J as a status run , so probably only upper middle bogan
 
These comments only reinforce my thoughts that there are many places much higher up the visits list than Bali.

My first and only visit to Bali we were met by soldiers with machine guns who stood menacingly nearby until we left.
 
That's like saying don't come to Adelaide because Davoren Park is the pits.

The Balinese people are lovely. They detest bogan tourists. There's just so much more to Bali than Kuta.
 
All of the above quotes are true. I haven't set foot in Kuta for more than 30 minutes on the last 5 visits. There is far more to the island than Kuta, the balinese are really a beautiful and kind people.
 
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