In Reply to: What's your top tips-Bali first timer posted by Earthgirl on Friday, 10. April 2009 at 10:56 Bali Time:
Just got back from my first time in Bali (and loved, loved, loved it!). I would highly recommend white water rafting (we did Telaga Waja (sp?)) and loved it! Monkey forest and visiting Ubud, we did this in a whole day with visiting the volcano which was good.
Have dinner at Jimbaran Bay at sunset, it's beautiful.
Watersports @ Nusa Dua was fun - we did parasailing and banana boat (careful on how much you pay cause they're not long activities) we just paid on the beach once we got down there.
If you have the time visit Gili Trawangan off Lombok, we spent 3 nights there and could barely stand to leave, it has great snorkelling and diving and lots of great places to stay and eat.
Stayed right in Kuta so couldn't comment on food/shopping in Seminyak but if you head to Kuta avoid The Balcony Bar - we were served raw chicken and stone cold meals :( don't worry tho, only bad meal we got in 2 weeks away.
Good advice about not shopping in the first few days, it's true that they can spot you a mile away. The ones near your hotel will know exactly where you're staying and how long you've been there. Don't tell them when you're leaving as prices go up on your last day too (or they'll try at least)
Get massages!!! They're so cheap over there (hotel had hour massages for 5,000Rp) and I regret not getting more.
Enjoy your trip!