First time stay at the Puri Raja hotel. Most of the staff are terrific. But if you like noise in the wee small hours of the morning then this is the hotel for you. Apart from that the hotel itself is very nice where the rooms are clean, comfortable and big enough. The gardens are typically well kept Bali gardens and the restaurant is located across the road from the ocean. Having two pools is very handy. I would suggest bring your own towels if you have room in your suit cases.
The balcony areas upstairs and downstairs are adequate in size.
We had a problem with the mini-bar as we always put the contents to one side when we arrive so we can put our own drinks into the small fridge. But when we were leaving they tried to hit us with a bill for the whole mini-bar even though all the original contents were still intact. They backed down when we told the desk clerk we were not happy with their bulls..t.
RESTAURANTS & SHOPPING
The location is okay but you are restricted to only a few close by restaurants. The Corner Restaurant is just 50 metres north of the PR and quite cheap. The Yutz Restaurant is in Werkadura st and has a reasonable price menu aliong with a decent house wine. I would avoid the La Casa opp. the Yutz. Tried it one night and realised why it was not popular. Ate at The Indo (cheap - reasonable) -Padma St, The Breeze (cheap prices)- Garlic Lane, Drops (reasonable - med Prices) - Padma st, The Bamboo Corner - Padma Utara, Bali Brasil - Benesari lane - real cheap eats and good to, Mykonos - Seminyak (best calimari I have ever tasted),La Monde - Padma Utara (cheap) on top of the Loji supermart, The Kuta Night food stalls - Jl Blambangan (best grilled and cheapest fish in Bali). The food stalls at Ramayana - Denpasar and Centro - Tuban should not be missed for cheap Indonesian eats. Most of the good shopping places we found down the end near Padma St. Ramayana Denpasar and Mata Hari - Kuta offered some great mens and womens clothing bargains. DVD's are still the same price although DVD shops were "closed" for a few days.
MONEY CHANGERS
There are a couple of Kodak shops in Werkadura as well as a bank. There are ATMs near the Loji supermarket as well as good money changers opposite the Loji. The shop opposite the PR is honest although her rates are a little lower. The Javanese guy next door selling tee shirts can be a rude little pric when he was heard swearing at a couple of Aussie browsers when they decided that they didn't want to buy a shirt from him.
DRIVERS
Two good drivers outside the Puri Raja. Both good English speaking and easy to get along with. Roy and Ricco.
TOURS
Went on the White water rafting tour after 23 years of going to Bali. It was cheap at AUD$27 each. The rafting was a lot of fun but the 350 stairs upto the restaurant was trying.
2nd last day we went to Lembongan Island. This was real value for money (AUD$70 pp). A good place to "veg" out and the snorkelling and island tour were the highlights. Our boat was full of Japenese tourists who seem to travel together in 100's who all seem to suffer on a missing out syndrome. The trip there and back was easy with only a slight swell.
FUNNIEST MOMENT
Coming home one evening we had to pass a one armed old male beggar who was urinating on the only bush in the street. As we passed he put took his pre-occuppied hand away from the job, held it out and kindly asked for a donation.