I thought that I'd give a JBR a go. I've been reading the forum for the last couple of years but never been brave enough to post.
Our family (Myself,husband, and four sons -13,15,17 and 19) went to Bali in January.We have been going each year for the last 5 years.This time we stayed at the Barong. We totally recommend this hotel.It is a budget hotel, but the rooms are clean, and it's location suited us. There are 2 pools, one has a 24 hour pool bar. This pool was looking a little bit less than clean by the end of our stay, but no-one got sick. The other pool was great for us old people, and was very clean. The staff were very helpful, and the location is ace. There is an internet cafe, or 7 just outside the hotel, and the choice of a couple of laundries.
Poppies Lane 11 is a great place to be. Places to eat, and shop at your fingertips. We had suits made for the boys, and they felt really special having the clothes made exactly to the style, and fit that they wanted. I had work suits made as well, and will admit that I felt a bit special also, even more so when I added up how little it cost me! We had these made at Liza's in Poppies 11, and they were great, making any alteration that we wanted, no matter how small.
We shopped at Sukawati, Kuta, Legian,Lovina and Ubud, and had a great time everywhere we went.
We had a brilliant day at Taman Rahasia in Ubud. This is paradise on earth! The boys attended a cooking school there. It was in a beautiful outdoor pavillion, and my 3 were the only ones in the class. They had full attention, and spent a great day, cooking and eating, with a swim in between. Whilst they were cooking the 2 younger ones and I went to Ubud for a shop (of course) and then came back to sample their cooking, and laze around the pool. I also took advantage of their spa facilities, and had a balinese massage (heaven) Taman Rahasia is a boutique resort with 8 rooms. We looked at these, and will stay there for a treat next time. This place is run by Elizabeth- a lovely American lady, married to a Balinese man. I could rave about the day for ages(oh, i just did) as it exceeded all expectations.
We ate at a lot of different places, and enjoyed them all. One of the people we went with had a hot dog (god forbid) at McWilliams in Poppies 11, and ended up with Typhus -really sick.
This year there were a lot of new style t shirts, and shorts, and hats. I find that every year that we go I get worse with bargaining, as I think, oh what the hell that was only a dollar or 2 that I was haggling about. With the exchange at 7,000 rp to $1 Aus, my money seemed to go a lot further.
This year I bought wooden lights for my garden, and they look pretty fantastic. I also bought the same old, same old - bead, and shell jewellery, sunglasses, sandstone statues, make-up in Matahari, to name just a few, and it is still great fun.
I bought a large amount of handbags, and the quality is good-particularly my Chanel bowling bag!
My children had a ball. They feel safe in Bali, as do we. We are careful with the places that we go, but let the 19, and 17 year old go to Paddy's of a night. Now that we are back, all that we think about is when can we go again.
Hopefully I haven't bored too many people, but writing about our trip is just another form of daydreaming about paradise.