In Reply to: Heatherbelle are you back yet? posted by Karen B on Thursday, 20. April 2006 at 10:49 Bali Time:
The Bali Shangrila Beach Club was very pleasant. It's off the main road so it's very quiet, right on the beach. It's a small place run by English expats. We had room 15 which is the best (ask for it) - fabulous views of the ocean & little islands from a huge picture window. The decor seemed a bit twee at first - overly elaborate but we soon got used to it and everything was very comfortable. Exacting attention to detail. Everything worked and worked well, except for the electrical things in the kitchenette (microwave, kettle, toaster) - the power was low, took ages for them to do their stuff. The room was well-equipped (apart from coathangers). The staff are delightful and kept on their toes. All rooms face the lovely pool area. There is a rooftop spa and the views are spectacular. Our only complaint was that the restaurant prices were soooo expensive, especially the buffet & suckling pig nights. I avoid buffets like the plague since I got very ill from one at the Oberoi.
Candi Dasa itself is very quiet - a bit like Legian in the early 80s. Altho the main road, where most of the restaurants are located, is busy and noisy with through traffic. We ate often at the German Backery (sic) just around the corner on the road to Tenganan - nice people, good food (bread loaves & rolls, pastries etc) and very cheap. Had pleasant meals at other restaurants, too. It was nice walking and riding (hired a motor bike 50K/day) around the back lanes near BSBC. It was stormy & rainy almost the whole time but in the windows of good weather we did short trips to the traditional village at Tenangan, to Padang Bai, Amlapura & Tunjung. Sometimes we'd just head into the hills - always found something delightful, from fabulous views to ceremonies.
Not a great deal in the way of shopping. For basics like water the big Gemini shop on the main drag is best. BTW, I fell into a ditch watching the Ogah-Ogah parade on Nyepi Eve - gashed my arm. Cleaned it up and didn't worry but the day after Nyepi it was obviously badly infected. Hotel arranged for me to see a Doctor Lin at Dr Arjuna's Clinic - cannot praise her highly enough.
All in all, we very much enjoyed the BSBC & recommend it. It is open to the public, not just time-share owners, and in these quiet times, they are doing special deals. We won't be going back, though, because hubby surfs and there's no surf there. He needed a week to wind down from the stresses of work and it was a great place to relax.
Enjoy :)