Posted by No Name on Friday, 2. October 1998 at 00:57 Bali Time:
I came back from Bali last week and had a pretty good time stayed in Sanur and Nusa Dua was planning to stay in Kuta as well but when I got there made my mind up pretty quick it was not a place I'd like to stay in day visit would be just fine. Main points from my trips
Sanur
Stayed in Grand Bali Beach for 4 Nights 80USD per night plus buffet breakfast for two. This is not a 5 star hotel more 4 star the baths had rust in the three rooms we inspected, the gym is pretty hopeless but overall it is good value for money. Stayed in the tower wing and had a great view. Before I went to Bali there were debates on this forum about rubble in the beaches of Sanur I can confirm that there is rubble once you go 10-15 metres in to the water and it is pretty impossible to walk through the water without shoes unless you have feet made out of stone. I did like Sanur though and would go there again. Taxi from airport to Sanur cost me 25000 rupees
Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua is much cleaner, quiter and more upmarket than Sanur but it can also can be quite boring. It's like a little Eden created for tourists where contact with locals is minimal it is nothing like the real Bali. The beaches are better than Sanur but Sanur is more lively. I stayed at the Putri Bali 80USD room only again it is more 4 star than 5 star with the air conditioning in the rooms very dodgy I made them change my room 3 times because of the AC but even the 3rd rooms AC was crap. Taxi Sanur to Nusa Dua cost 37000 rupees. Other rates I was offered in Nusa Dua was 120USD plus buffet breakfast at the Hilton and 120USD room only at the Grand Hyatt, 200 USD room only at the Melia Bali. Next time I think I might stay at the Grand Hyattm or Hilton.
Kuta
OK for day visits can pick up some good bargains great for shopping but very noisy and crowded
Other Points
1. I keep reading on this forum about advise on getting a good taxi driver. The fact is every taxi without exception in Bali will try to take you for a ride if you let him. Find out waht the cost of a taxi will be trough the hotel (who also try to take you for a ride) and you should be able to get a taxi about 30-40% cheaper outside the hotel gates. Don't worry about trying to find a taxi they come looking for you!
2. Most services provided by the hotel can be bought outside for 30-40 cheaper ie food, taxi, water sports, massage ..etc
3. People can pesster you quite a bit but are friendly
4. The foot massage in the Nusa Dua galleria is quite painful!
5. You can bargain in Sanur but not in the galleria in Nusa Dua
6. Sanur Beach market is a great place to go for a walk if you want to meet the locals and experience a bit of Bali culture but they will try to sell you goods.
Overall me and the wife preffered Sanur to Nusa Dua but if we went again we probably would probably still go to both places