Well I got back on Tuesday after 8 wonderful days in Bali with my kids 11 & 17. It was my 3rd trip to Bali and will not be my last I am sure.
We flew with Guruda, no problems at all. Nice flight, rice for breakfast soon put us into the Bali frame of mind...Had paid for VIP
VOC so when we arrived we were escorted to a private airconditioned lounge with finger food and drinks whilst a porter collected our suitcases and paid the taxes. Then private driver to the Mandira Beach Resort, Legian.
A lot of mixed reviews on this hotel, so I was definately worried when I arrived if I had made the right decision on accomodation. Luckily I was happy with the hotel. It is somewhat dated, but the rooms were exceptionally clean, the staff wonderfull. Heaps of pool lounges. Lovely food. And I felt not over priced. So I would recommend it.
I used a private driver that was recommended on this forum, Beni Joe, what a wonderful man. Beautiful large, newish car. Only charged 300,000 per day (I would always pay him more, so worth it), he also runs a Tour Stall, so he was able to get me the tours at approx half the list price. We went to waterbom park, safari park, and white water rafting. WOW, this was definately the highlight of our trip. I was so scared. I am not the adventure junkie type, so i was sh@%*!@# my self to start. I think because I was so scared I made the kids sh#% too. But as is the way with holidays, this was the highlight for us all. Soooo much fun. We had a raft to ourselves, on the day we went, there were another 8 rafts full of Japanese tourists, so as far as I was concerned it was for cattle stations, tearing past them at a neck bracking pace, screaming 'Aussie Aussie Aussie' determined to win, for my WW2 pops honour. Came third, not too bad of an effort I thought, considering I am a parking shark at home, you know the sort, drive around for 15 mins at the shops, just to get parking close to the door, so quite an effort from me I would think!!! Nice lunch at the end. Fantastic Day.
If you want to contact Beni Joe, he has a good website, www.baliholidaycheap.multiply.com
or email him direct with any questions, he usually got back to me within a few days. kutabeach@hotmail.com
Tell him Shelley Ball recommended him. If you havent been before he will recommend day trips for you. Or get you the best quote he can for the tours. I prefered to do the tours with him taking me in his car, so I could leave and do other stuff like markets on the way home, rather than waiting for randoms and squishing in a bus.
You can also phone him when in Bali, on your hotel room phone, local call, 361 8606413, or mobile 8786 1133 227.
The Safari Park was a good day also. But I think we chose the hottest day of the holiday to go. So dam hot. The kids had a photo with the baby tiger, orangatang, and lion. Chose to pay there photographer, glad I did, because his photos are so much better than mine.
Waterbom was a bit dissapointing to be honest, only 3 rides open. So we got bored with them, only stayed 3 1/2 hours, usually would stay all day. Still had fun though.
Did lots of shopping, spent far too much money. Beni recommended a bootmaker, got 4 pairs made, really happy with the quality. Came to the hotel a few times for fittings, lovely man. Ask Beni for his details.
Didnt want to come home. So now I am saving up for the next trip.
Any questions, please ask.
Shelley :)