In Reply to: How busy is Bali really? posted by mitch0z on Monday, 29. December 2008 at 06:01 Bali Time:
that they can't get accomm - we leave next week (high season) and have had no trouble at all even at KP which is a very popular hotel.
Restaurants from all accounts are nearly empty - according to many JBRs. The Balinese are saying it is very quiet and begging us to come over (but...to be honest in the 30 years I have been visiting they have always cried poor :)
Planes leaving Oz with rows of vacant seats...mmmm !
My only explanation for the wildly different views on "Bali busyness"
is that lots of people are travelling to Bali but they must all be staying in villas, up in the mountains and in big hotels and not venturing out because of the security thing.
Must admit that I don't want to sit in an empty restaurant with no atmosphere and wondering how fresh the food is due to poor turnover .
You could have a point about more local tourists too.I do know that a lot of Ozzies who normally go to Bali have chosen to go to Phuket this time because of the price hikes ans security warnings.
Would like to see the stats and nationality of visitors - that may explain it all.