In Reply to: Lots of Advice Needed Fast! posted by Michael on Monday, 12. April 1999 at 11:02 Bali Time:
Some answers to uour quesrions. (We are fro the West Coast, L.A. area, and back from Bali 10 days ago.)
2. Ubud has an aboundance of hotels at all prices. We spent a day surveing the top dozen (are in the business of designing high-end resorts). After looking up Four Seasons($400-600), Amandari($500-1,500), Kupu Kupu Barong, Ibah ($230), etc., we decided to write a thank you note to our agent for recomending Pita Maha. If you want an absolutely exquisite Balinese experience, this is it. The original Tjumphuan Resort is not even close. We payed $235 including tax, etc. but no breakfast for a small villa. Their prices are steep, so we had breakfast at Indus, literary next door, the sister and better Casa Luna restaurant.If you can bargain 2 nights at Pita Maha, I can assure you that your wife will always remember it.( I stayed at some nice hotels, but this is the best).If you want new(1.5 years old), central,quiet and reasonable rooms, we liked Komaneka off Monkey Road (www.baliwww.com/komaneka)
7.Water Garden was recomended also, but I doubt it is worth the trip.
8.Yes, go to Ubud , is only an hour. We came on the same flight, no problem.
9. Best silver designes by far at Hari Umi Silver, Ubud,(fixed price).
General : A lot of people recomend Kintamany, but if you are in Ubud, by the time you reach it, it will be cloudy or rainy.It was both for us. Better spent time is to go to Batukaru temple, nobody there, peacefull and scenic to the max. On the way stop by the Jatiluwith area for rice terrace viewing, a dream. In general do not expect international standards for the drivers you will hire,even the ones recomended by this forum.The price is right and people are nice. If they get lost in small villages or banboo forests, so much the better.
You will have a great time no matter.Need more info, call.