Just back and not yet recovered. Want to thank the Forum people for their help. Because we tended to follow the recommendations from the Forum and Lonely Planet, not much to add.
1. Ate at Miros Restaurant in Ubud. Possibly the most beautiful place we ate at (and there was plenty of competition). Slightly more expensive than most but still under $20 for both of us. Good food but we were spoiled and disappointed that the food was not as good as our favorites in Ubud. My grilled sardines were dry while the fish was not exceptional--but again, we were used to almost uniformly great meals at the restuarants we went to.
2. The famous Room 8 at Bunga Permai in Ubud has a double bed--with a $10 per night for an extra bed. Room 7, also good views has 2 twins. While I agree that the owners were extremely nice, I object an additional charge for juice on the included breakfast especially if paying the $40 per night. Also while maybe petty, I would like milk with my coffee and not powdered creamer--the only I saw thoughout the trip. When we were there, most of the guests were from Holland and were paying approximately $380 pp for 30 days including breakfast AND dinner (although again most beverages were extra). Also warning--- it is a single piece of toast OR the banana pancake (take the pancake) but unless you speak up, you are not given a choice at breakfast--it is not that you starve, there are eggs and a small fruit plate also--but there should be a choice (as well as juice and possibly even seconds). Also do not recommend dinner at Bungai Permai; because my son was not feeling well, we ate there twice rather than taking a cab into Ubud and the prices were only a tiny bit less than the better Ubud restaurants, the portions very small and the food (other than dessert) not very good. On the other hand, we had an "authentic" massage with the local guy they arranged to come for us in the evening(30,000 pp)--actually my son's was probably more authentic than mine Suggest that you have wash done while there--jeans and a tee were about 20 cents.
3. Casa Lucia in Ubud was great--loved the bread, paella and the papaya tart dessert particularly. Day we left we learned that they have another location in the hills(they will take you there from the main restaurant) that is supposed to be even better. Liked the bottom level the best.
4. We chickened and almost always used ATMs--do not know whether that hurt or helped us ratewise--but only trouble we had with them was in the Galleria in Nusa Dua when the machine continued with the transaction even after I cancelled it (because the maximium was too low and I thought I would see if the multiple other ATMs in the had higher limits). Disliked the Galleria, think prices no bargain compared to USA and Bali--reminded me of a Miami shopping center.
5. Bring a flashlight, we had 2 blackouts in 12 days.
6. GO TO LOMBOK. While we did not like the Holiday Inn, we loved Lombok--most wonderful friendly people, fascinating scenes and great crafts. Even the included tour with Bidy Tour was exceptional (although they brought us to the usual vastly--5 to 8 times overpriced--places). Tour guide stopped so that we could photograph sights we passed, did not do the over zealious insistance we experienced on the Bali tours against buying from anyone other than at their designated sites, etc. People waved at us as we passed and the entire Lombok time was a pleasure. I very much enjoyed Bali--but this was what we thought Bali would be like.
7. Asmara Restaurant in Seringiggi is WONDERFUL--as good as anything I have had in New York. My son had the steak with garlic (not on menu but just ask), that he insists was great.
8. Had the brand new Lonely Planet book (just out) so do not understand how their prices could be so far out of line. Otherwise thought the book pretty good.
9. We did not luck out as much as some on our guide/driver. Was not notably impressed with our first guide (who had been highly recommended on the Forum), while nice enough, he did not seem particularly knowledgeable and when asked for his recommendations for shopping brought us to the large tour bus type places.Surprised when in another part of Bali, our (Forum well recommended) hotel urged us not to use a second (also Forum recommended) guide citing "several" complaints they said that they received from people who used him. Best guide we found ourselves in Lombok.