In Reply to: Beaches posted by Robert on Wednesday, 11. August 1999 at 05:53 Bali Time:
If you are looking for powder white sand and blue water, this is NOT the place - try elsewhere in Indo. Here's a quick beach run-down:
Kuta/Legian: Can be good surf, often looks a bit grotty
Lovina: Black sand (so water looks dirty), warm, flat
Padangbai: white sand, clear water, full of boats (but there are small nice beaches you can walk to), not too bad
Nusa Lembongan: Covered in seaweed and rubble (except in front of the swishy hotel which has nice whitesand and clear water)
Nusa Penida: not that different to Nusa Lembongan
Candidasa: alright in patches, other places have a lot of concrete in the water to attempt to stop erosion of the sand patches, can disappear at high tide
Some might say this is harsh, but I'm telling it as I see it so as to avoid disappointment. Balinese often build beautiful swimming pools though (not so good on maintenance of older pools and they can't get chlorine levels right).