In Reply to: Rex from this forum posted by shaddup on Thursday, 21. June 2007 at 16:27 Bali Time:
we have enjoyed are Amed - we stayed at the Blue Moon, but it is situated above the road, and there is a steep hill to the sea, so I would prefer to stay at one of the small places either on the beach or just above, and away from the road. One place we checked out is the Dancing Dragon, situated below the road - the pool is by the water, and you could swim directly from the rocks, which is better for snorkelling than going in from a beach. We also stayed in Permuteran twice, the scenery is spectacular, quite different from the rest of Bali, very dramatic with steep cliffs and rugged terrain behind the sea. The area is great for snorkelling and we found Menjangan Island the best of all.
You can have a day trip by boat to Menjangan from one of the three hotels which are situated close together. Very quiet,no taxis and no hawkers at all. Probably best if you have your own transport, but if you have a reliable driver you can contact by cell phone then you will be fine, otherwise you could be ripped off and find that the "transport" is an old bummer and you will be charged the earth.
Another place worth a visit is Sanda, a mountain sanctuary close to Pupuan and on the way to Lovina or Permuteran. This was a coffee plantation, and was developed into a resort by a Danish/Australian couple, who invite you to have pre dinner drinks with them - so there is a great personal touch. We loved the place, and especially the lounge dining area.