Background: Group of 6 in total, myself Sue, hubby Micheal (10th visit to Bali)2 daughters ages 15 Ashlee (5th trip) & 20 Kristie(4th trip), and freinds Mary & George (2nd trip to Bali)
5 of us flew Garuda from Perth on Dec 29, flight only 20 minutes late leaving, uneventful trip, beer kimberley cool like usual so any had one. Flight over was about 3/4 full. Oldest daughter flew with Qantas via Singapore on 1st Jan.
VOA and immigration very speedy, bags easily located and headed through customs. No problems at all.
Arranged for Charlie (ex Bali Aussie) to pick us up from the airport. Taken in 2 cars to our hotel Camplung Mas 50,000rph each car. This is our 4th stay at the Camplung. Nothing much has changed at the hotel except for the removal of the cocktail bar in the front entrance (split in half and relocated to resturant and tour desk. Huge TV that is usually in the resturant was no where to be seen, told got damaged by rain some time ago and still getting fixed. They have made room 74 into a Spa/Massage room. Youngest was the only one that used the massage service, I have a price list if anyone wants it, they were also giving guests 10% off. Noted a couple of the staff have left since our last stay Oct/Nov 04.
We were lucky enough to have rooms 76, 78 & 80 (all next to each other and family rooms). Unfortunately after 4 days room 80 had a bee/hornets nest in the verandah area and made it so unsafe to stay in the room. The girls got moved to room 59 (opposite)had an open air bathroom.
Our room 76 was basic, everything worked but a little disappointed no remote for the TV. Also airconditioner packed up one afternoon but was soon fixed (batteries in remote flat). Our freinds had room 78, they had a few problems, the fridge did'nt work, the water tap fell off in their hand, all fixed immediatley by the trusty engineering dept. All of us at times could hear rats in the ceiling space, at times it sounded like they were having races, once they sprayed the hotel for mosquites the rats eased up. Daughter had a fright one day, went into the outdoor bathroom to find a rat coming out of a plastic bag they stored costmetics in. Engineering to the rescue again and set traps, yougest daughter decided to use her own strategy of filling bath with water hoping to drown them. In all we were very satified with the hotel.
Happy hour is from 5pm - 7pm. Small bingtang 9,000rph, Bali moon cocktails 2 for 1 (mind you the bali moon cocktails were the most expensive I saw in Bali average price 43,500rph each, most places 25,000rph each, basic spirits 22,000rph and premium spirits 30,000rph. Normal bingtang price is 13,500 considerably higher than last year when it was only 10,000rph. The food menu had'nt changed and does lack variety. Between us we sampled quiet a bit, have prices if anyone interested.
Our stay is for 17 days in total.
Like most who have been to Bali several times, we did'nt venture on many trips around the island as we have seen most areas on numerous occasions. This trip was mostly for R & R, shopping, enjoying the cruisine, bingtangs and the indonesian hospitality. Although the Balinese are sad not many tourists come to visit they still manage to have that beautiful smile. Quiet often we were asked about our governments travel warnings.
Our first night was reasonably quiet, spent time around the pool and had tea close by. Our freinds were a little aprehensive with going out at night particularly to crowed places, so we did'nt do as much nightclubbing as usual.
When we arrived the exchange rate was 7125rph per A$.