First time in Bali - hotel recommendations?

[LadyC]

I would head down towards the Seminyak area rather than stay in Ubud. Lots of great restaurants (from the cheap warung to the fine dining) within a couple of km radius and all the accommodation options you can imagine and more.

 

[Daver6]

If you just want to relax and not leave the hotel, I can highly recommenced the Four Seaons in Sayan (near Ubud) if that's within your budget. Look for deals (pay two, stay three). By far the best hotel I've stayed in ever.

 

[Andz]

W Bali - Seminyak. Nusa dua is boring for first time. Kuta and Legion are madness so Seminyka has excellent coffee chops and restaurants. The W is cool.

 

[albatross710]

Should we remain in Ubud (we'll have overnighted there) or head down to the coast? Reading through the thread, I am probably less enamoured by resorts but do want to eat and drink well.

In November last year we found ourselves in a Ubud resort and really enjoyed ourselves. booked two nights and stayed for four. Enjoyed a big breakfast, then lay by the pool (in a shady kabana) for the mornings. Afternoon shuttle to the town of Ubud centre for some entertainment. Selected from a wide variety of food themes for dinner.

The resort is a bit dated,a bit quirky The Mansion Resort Hotel and Spa. I think we paid $100/nite inc breakfast. Mrs Albatross complained about our original room as we were at the extreme rear corner of the property and they upgraded us to a Family Residence for the same price. Staff were friendly and helpful. Drawback is that it's a shuttle to/from town.We would stay here again.

Enjoy your travels.

Alby

 

[Deleted member]

I realise this thread hasn't had much activity for a year, but I don't want to create a new one with the same questions.

Mrs_G and I are travelling through Indonesia from Jakarta, and we finish in Ubud. We are going to stay a few days in Bali before heading home.

I know nothing about Bali. I'm expecting the travel over the previous couple of weeks to take its toll, and so we just want to chill out for a few days.

Should we remain in Ubud (we'll have overnighted there) or head down to the coast? Reading through the thread, I am probably less enamoured by resorts but do want to eat and drink well.

We are travelling through in June. Staying at the Intercontinental.

 

[Eija]

I realise this thread hasn't had much activity for a year, but I don't want to create a new one with the same questions.

Mrs_G and I are travelling through Indonesia from Jakarta, and we finish in Ubud. We are going to stay a few days in Bali before heading home.

I know nothing about Bali. I'm expecting the travel over the previous couple of weeks to take its toll, and so we just want to chill out for a few days.

Should we remain in Ubud (we'll have overnighted there) or head down to the coast? Reading through the thread, I am probably less enamoured by resorts but do want to eat and drink well.

Remain in Ubud..it was also my first trip to Bali and had to decide if I was a Beach Bum or Mountain Man. I chose wisely Padma Resort Ubud it's a serious chill out place. My view every day taken on my iPhone no image enhancing tricks. Heated infinity pool with swim up bar + the rest

 

[jase05]

As very frequent travellers to Bali we nearly always rent a private villa in Legian or Seminyak. Occasionally we will choose an Accor hotel if we need to boost our points or retain status. The Pullman Legian is quite nice

 

[dxwell]

If you're an Accor member, the Pullman Legian is quite nice, but the Royal Beach in Seminyak is wonderful.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In terms of arrivals processing in Bali - is fast track (AUD30 per person) worth it? I understand Australian passports no longer need to get a visa on arrival... does this mean a short queue/processing time for immigration now?

 

[jase05]

In terms of arrivals processing in Bali - is fast track (AUD30 per person) worth it? I understand Australian passports no longer need to get a visa on arrival... does this mean a short queue/processing time for immigration now?

Depends on the time of day obviously but I personally don’t bother with the fast track anymore as I find the immigration pretty painless at DPS most of the time. It’s the baggage collection that is the real PITA and can hold you up for ages so the fast track won’t help with that anyway.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

For arrivals into DPS there is now an 'over 60' channel - it's way way to the far right at immig - same spot as APEC channel - it's a walk up stasrt there as nobody knows about it - just keep heading right not straight ahead where all the sheep flock to.

As for hotels - Double Six Double Six Double Six every time - Nusa Dua is for fossils who want to hide in their resort - Double Six right on beach and right on border Legian and Seminyak - 70sq mtr suites up on 5th or 6th floor cannot be beaten for views - level of accom, food and service SPECTACULAR.

Some restaurants not too far away that you should definitely not miss are Metis, Barbacoa and Boy and Cow

 

[MEL_Traveller]

thanks for the tips!

 

[Pushka]

In terms of arrivals processing in Bali - is fast track (AUD30 per person) worth it? I understand Australian passports no longer need to get a visa on arrival... does this mean a short queue/processing time for immigration now?

Nope. Lines can be dreadful. But they do have a very much shorter ‘seniors’ queue so for the first time we were happy to be senior.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

hi all. Question about departure immigration and security... how long can this take for the midnight bank of departure to Australia? If the flight is at 11pm, are the departure immigration queues anything like those on arrival, or can we say get there at 9.30pm and be comfortably through?

 

[jase05]

hi all. Question about departure immigration and security... how long can this take for the midnight bank of departure to Australia? If the flight is at 11pm, are the departure immigration queues anything like those on arrival, or can we say get there at 9.30pm and be comfortably through?

It’s Indonesia, always allow for the worst.
Has been many times where it’s quick and no fuss but plenty of other times it has taken far longer.

 

[Aeolus]

hi all. Question about departure immigration and security... how long can this take for the midnight bank of departure to Australia? If the flight is at 11pm, are the departure immigration queues anything like those on arrival, or can we say get there at 9.30pm and be comfortably through?

Quite unpredictable but given the current virus fears, I’ll be surprised if DPS immi is busy. Late Jan, I had a 1am flight and left the hotel at 11pm, got to the airport at 11:20pm with checkin bags and I still had plenty of spare time.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

hi all. Question about departure immigration and security... how long can this take for the midnight bank of departure to Australia? If the flight is at 11pm, are the departure immigration queues anything like those on arrival, or can we say get there at 9.30pm and be comfortably through?

Quite unpredictable but given the current virus fears, I’ll be surprised if DPS immi is busy. Late Jan, I had a 1am flight and left the hotel at 11pm, got to the airport at 11:20pm with checkin bags and I still had plenty of spare time.

I'm departing DPS tomorrow night so I'll let you know (may need reminding to post so please quote me in a few days )

We are travelling to the airport from Ubud so unsure of my arrival time at the airport

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks everyone.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

To round this out - arrival fast-track - well and truly worth it I have posted the experience here: Bali - immigration form no longer required? (post 17)

As for departures... the thing I hadn't considered was that airlines seem to have a common check-in in Bali - so all flights are processed through a common set of check-in desks - not flight specific. Whereas in MEL we arrived 90 minutes before departure to find empty desks, in Bali there were still 50 or so pax checking-in for other flights.

There was an internet check-in desk which only had about 5 people in it, and the 'sky-priority' desk was also processing pax from internet check-in. (I'm guessing there's a separate area for premium?)

Jetstar looked the worst - lots of flights and long queues to checkin).

Immigration queues were short - about 10 people in each of the three lines. And they moves quickly.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Took us about 25 minutes to get airside Friday night. Was only one person in front of us at premium check in. Most of the time was spent queueing for passport control. We tried using the egates but our passports were rejected.

Premier Lounge? Blergh.