After studying this forum for the month prior to leaving for Bali and not posting any questions I thought the least I could do was write a JBR as I know you all love to read them (as do I).
Flew with Garuda at 6.15pm Sat 23 Feb from Perth with partner (7th trip to Bali), myself (5th trip) and our 7yr old daughter (2nd trip). Flight was only about 30% full and left Perth on time and arrived in Bali about 20min before scheduled time. Had a nice meal on the plane and good service. Got through the airport and we were in a taxi (from the counter) within 30min. Arrived at the Westin Resort Nusa Dua 25 min later.
Very tight security going into the entrance to Nusa Dua as well as into our hotel gates and also at the lobby of the hotel. Walking around Nusa Dua day and night you felt very safe. The hotel was fantastic and could not fault it in any way. It was immaculate, well staffed and maintained.
Check in was very fast. When you arrive you are greeted and seated in lounge area and don't move until you are taken to your room. A selection of free drinks are available when you arrive and are free to have at anytime during your stay (as well as yummy lollies).
We stayed in a garden view room on the 3rd floor not far from the pools. The room was of a very high standard (not overly big) but big enough. The bed was massive, it was about the size of 2 double beds put together and the most comfortable I have ever slept in while on holidays. They advertise them as 'Heavenly Beds' and they really are.
The room was serviced twice a day, once in the morning for a big clean and everything replaced and then beds turned down, bins emptied and fresh towels and shampoo, soap etc. in the evening.
The breakfast was the best I have ever had. They would have about 6 chefs in the center of the breakfast area cooking everything fresh as you ordered it. The selection was huge. I will list just a few things Pancakes, Waffles, Crepes, French Toast (all made to order with about a 1 minute wait), Eggs in any way (again made fresh to order) either a beef, fish or chicken cooked fresh. Then there is all the things in the warmers like bacon, sausages, hash browns, pasta, baked beans, steamed rice, fried rice, noodles.
Every fruit, every salad item, cheese, about 7 different types of bread, yukult type drink in 3 flavours, juice and fresh squeezed juice, 8 different types of cereal, full cream and low fat milk, chocolate milk. Then there was the japanese selection of food and then all the cakes, pastries, muffins, and doughnuts. This would be about half of what is to offer.
The pool areas are great, a fresh water pool and a chlorinated pool, little kids pool and a medium depth pool area with a great water side. The slide has an employee at the top the whole time the slide is open (from 9am till 6pm).
They also have the best kids club I have seen (all free). Huge kids play room with every sort of activity you could imagine, a big outdoor play area with swings, trampoline, climbing wall as well as rabbits to play with and feed. Tv's, video games, 2 pool tables (in another area of the hotel). The kids club has 2 or more staff in at one time to care and keep kids busy for hours.
Around the hotel in every tree there are squirrels which you can feed. Great entrainment for the kids. Very friendly and eat out of your hand.
We ate most our evening meals at the hotel restaurant on the beach. The quality was very high and the price was very reasonable (for a hotel). They also have a great selection of kids meals also very reasonable priced (most expensive was about $6.00 Aus). The kids also receive a drink bottle when you arrive and it can be filled at any place in the hotel free of charge (cool drink, juice or water). This can also be used at the Laguna Resort next door as well as booking up any food from the Laguna (owned by the same company) to your bill at the Westin.
Did all the usual things, lots of walking, shopping, but the highlight was the Safari Park. Well worth the visit. Spent 4.5 hours there (could have well been all day especially if you have kids). Cost just over $80 for the 3 of us.
Had our photo's taken with the baby orangoutangs (they are just like real babies/ toddlers) they liked to play with my hair and the tags on my clothes and a little teddy that one of them had.
Also had photo's with the white tiger (yes, a tad 'sedated' perhaps..), baby lion (my favorite) and elephants. Animals looked happy and well taken care of in as much of a natural environment as could be. Lots of shops to buy souvenirs at very reasonable prices.
Great water play area for the kids (and adults too), merry go round and two other rides. You can see that they are still doing more things in the area, like some kind of racing track.
Took the free shuttle from hotel into Kuta a few times for shopping, Matahari, Discovery etc. Went to Carefour which was very good (yes don't forget your toilet paper). I like it better than Matahari's as it is a bit smaller and less overwhelming with the amount of merchandise. Went to Geneva which I found not as cheap as the last trip to bali 3 years ago, but certainly a lot more organized than on last visit and not as hot in there. (and they have a lift there too now !)
Around Nusa Dua went to Bali collection, reasonable prices but more than in Kuta. Sogo, supermarket, surfer girl as well as many other shops and lots of restaurants, all which are very busy of an evening.
A great shop down the road on the way to Kuta(about 2 min in a taxi from the Westin) is Hardy's. Its like a mini Matahari and seems to cater mostly for locals. It is on 2 levels with clothing, shoes etc. on the top floor. Bottom floor is lots of wooden things and all the other usual stuff.
There is also a big supermarket on the bottom floor. All very cheap for souvenirs and snacks. All the same things as the supermarket at Matahari's but cheaper.
They have a time zone kids area. A couple of dollars gets you many tokens and you are guaranteed to win something - just have a pocket to carry all the tickets around ! Lots of locals of an evening time too.
Just be wary if you need to go to the toilet !!!!!!!!!
You don't sit and you don't flush, need I say any more ?
Went to Nusa Dua markets. Had a good selection, also went to Legian markets and could not wait to get away from there. Got hassled so much, grabbed by the arm to go and look in the stalls. Even our 7 year old was pulled into shops. Very overwhelming for her. The worst I have experience in all of my 5 trips to Bali.
Went to the surf factor outlets on the Nusa Dua by pass road (went here last time too) There is two next to each other. Got some great buys and really good prices.
Weather was good with rain during the night twice and on one morning until about 11am and rained on the morning we left, which I was told by a staff member at the kids club days before that if it rains when you leave it means that Bali is crying because you are leaving.
Spent lots of time relaxing by the pool as our daughter loves to swim.
All hotel guests where invited by the manager to a free cocktail party for a hour with no cocktails!!! but plenty of red and white wine, cool drinks for the kids and plenty of food.
The manager made his way around talking to each of the guests as well as other staff from administration. They did indeed seem to be interested in what we had to say and weren't just making conversation because they had to ! I think we drank about 5 glasses of wine each in that hour (as wine is very expensive in Bali)...
Did the raspberry cordial (strong) topped up with raspberry juice every morning (I have done this every time in Bali and never been sick). Neither myself or partner got sick but our daughter woke up vomiting on the second last night for about 4 hours which I put down to too much sun and very hot weather the day before.
Checked out of the hotel at 10am 3rd March made our way to the airport. Very slow check in as the plane was very full. We had a baggage allowance of 60 kilo at our weighin and our bags were 60.4 (just made it).
Left Bali on time and arrived in perth at 5.15pm. Had an average meal on the plane but the service was good as expected for a budget airline with no complaints and would fly again with Garuda.
On the way back was a crying/screaming toddler in front of us the last 30 min before landing. It was not the toddler that bothered us, as having a child too I know what its like and they can not say about the pain in their ears (which I can also relate to as I suffer with ear pain on descending), it was the mother constantly telling the child "ok that's enough", "stop it now" as well as other things. I could hardly hear the child cry as my ears were so blocked but I could hear the mother loud and clear.
All in all a wonderful trip and can not wait to go back again.
Hope someone can benefit from my JBR as I did from reading all of your JBR's
Bye for now
kapkap