Recently returned from a quick trip. Wasn't going to do a JBR but then thought there might be something of use to someone. We are 2 adults and 2 boys - 3 & 6 years.
FLIGHTS: Flew with Virgin. Midday flight out on the Saturday which was great for us as we live in the country. Ate at Red Rooster at the airport so just had snacks on the plane. No video screens for hire on the flight and my DVD player had been left on so was flat so it made for an interesting trip trying to keep the kids busy!
Virgin allow 20k p/p baggage. I had 60k for an orphanage and managed to get our stuff in under the 20k. I think it weighed in at 78k total. The young lad commented on the weight and I explained what most of it was. He did say that had I been over he would have had to charge me regardless of what it was we were taking. I had tried to ring Virgin the day before when I realised how much weight I had but I got the call centre in the Phillipines and they were useless. I did send a fax off to Virgin in Qld telling them what I thought about having to talk to someone over there when I've made a booking with a airline here but no reply. Anyways... lucky I was under the weight and all was fine.
ON ARRIVAL: I had arranged a driver to pick us up and also VIP VOA. Previous reports had said the airport was busy at this time and as we had an early start the next morning I wanted to get to our hotel in Sanur as quickly as possible so the kids could run around and swim before our long trip the next day.
It did appear that we were the only flight arrived at that time but as Virgin seats all the kids up the back of the plane we had ~ 150 people ahead of us so to me it was still worth it. The line was weaved back to where you walk into the arrivals area. Our 'man' was waiting for us at the door as we came through and then escorted us straight thru. He was probably 10-15mins before he came back to us with the completed p/work but our luggage still wasn't through, it took ages! He helped us collect our luggage, through the new scanning/xray area then out to see Murti. Got to meet Dennis C briefly out here and it was nice to put a face to the name. He looked very familiar for some reason but I don't think I've met him before. A big thank you to him for helping organise the VOA as i had trouble getting the email through. Enough has been said on this subject and people have their own opinions on it. To me, it was worth it to us on this occasion. None of the people down our end of the plane had made it through when we left. My 3yr old was extremely cranky and to have to have waited in the line for even 1/2 hr would have been a killer. I don't mind how long I wait when I'm not travelling with kids but I would use the service again depending on flight times etc..
I had arranged a driver before heading over. Found his details after a search on BTF and emailed Made from aussie bemo, he had a 13seater van with a DVD player in it which is why we went with him. We needed a driver the next day to take us to the orphanage and we'd arranged a price for this so I also arranged him to pick us up at the airport and take us to Sanur but hadn't arranged a price for this (just thought I'd wing it!) Driver was there as arranged. Got in quite an old van - no DVD and thought hmmmmm! Turns out this wasn't Made! He rang on the way to our hotel and explained that he'd had to be somewhere else but had sent his friend. This was fine by us, I was really only concerned about the DVD for the long trip the next day. Made met us at the hotel and arrangements were made for the next day. He rang the lady at the orphanage and got a shopping list for us to do the next day. Paid for the transfer from the airport and he didn't disappoint! Very reasonable and only a fraction more than it would have cost in a taxi.
HOTEL: This was our first time to Sanur and we didn't know the area at all. I'd originally booked at the Plaza suites but thought this was too far away so changed to the Segara Village Hotel. It was about the only one on A*rooms that I could find that would allow 2A/2C in the one room. We had a bungalow and we have nothing but great things to say about this hotel. Loved it and the area. It was freshly renovated and had a King bed. We got a rollaway single added for 15US and both kids slept on this. Room was large with a large balcony outside. They are in sets of 3's with 1 on top and 2 on the bottom (some of the bottom one's I/C). We had the 1 on top and it was great. Grounds are lovely, nice pools, table tennis, pool table, nice B/F area. It's right on the beach. I hadn't thought I would like Sanur which is why we thought we'd try it on this 4day trip. If we hated it, it wouldn't be the end of the world! Great selection of restaurants along the beachfront. The beach/market sellers are aggressive so if not interested I would suggest a polite but firm 'no thanks'. I think I may have used: not now or maybe later and they didn't let up. Was the only downside.
ORPHANAGE VISIT: In the month before we left we decided we would organise some donations for an orphanage. Jerryatric (aka Barry & Trish) were extremely helpful with this and as they only live 40mins away from me, allowed us into their home so we could interrogate them with questions - I like to be prepared!) We were going to the orphanage they have been looking after at Amlapura. There are about 32 kids there of varying ages. We were travelling up with another BTF member and his partner after meeting on BTF and emailing.
I gathered quite a bit of stuff together like ~40 books, hats, I bought some wall hangings at Red Dot, clothes, lipsticks (unused), other amenities. Friends and colleagues donated stuff like 40 toothbrushes and lots of tubes of toothpaste - and much more stuff, 60k of it in total!! I'd also done up some little treat bags for the kids. It had been suggested that whilst Kadek would not take money from us, perhaps we could give the kids some pocket money. I did this up in little bags with chuppa chops and the gold chocolate coins, some rp and a little koala. Whilst I would have got a better rate exchanging the rp when I got there I wanted to have it all ready as we were going up first thing the next day after arriving.
Made arrived just before 8am the next morning after collecting our travelling partners in Tuban. We all met, loaded up, then took off. As they were wanting to try Bubi Guling in Ubud (a must do for them!) we'd decided to head up thru Ubud, do the grocery shopping, have the 'pig' then on to Amlapura. This all went to plan. Stopped at a Hardy's not too far out of Sanur and did the grocery shopping. This was quite fun and we definitely couldn't have done it without the help of Made. He was a HUGE help to us in find the stuff etc.. Kadek, the lady who runs the place had requested clocks but we couldn't find these here so they were left till later.
From there we went to Ubud. The shopping hadn't taken as long as I'd thought so we were too early for the 'pig'. We separated and met up about an hour later for the famous Bubi Guling. It certainly was interesting but don't know that I'd hurry back.
From there we went up to Amlapura. It was around 2 hrs from Ubud. We went to Hardy's here for some final things. The Hardy's here was massive with everything you would need. Got the clocks. A colleague had given us $100 to get something for the kids and I wanted to buy sports equipment with that money. Was able to get it all here. Good quality soccer balls and badminton sets. Kadek met us here and with the small change that had been collected at my husband's work we were able to purchase 40 magnum ice-creams to take.
We arrived at about 2pm to all the kids coming out and greeting us. They were all lovely and very well kept and the compound was very clean and tidy. They helped unload the car and then all sat down to enjoy the icecreams. My two were right in the middle of it, the 3yr old sitting in the middle of all the girls of course. A few of the kids kicked around the soccer balls and played badminton. Kadek showed us around and we thought their rooms were very nice and larger than I'd expected. We only stayed about an hour as we didn't want to upset their routine too much.
Kadek was so grateful for our visit and it was a pleasure to do it. Most of the stuff I took was what I had lying around the house anyway and they could benefit much more from it than us.
I'd previously read on here a comment about how "many people do things for orphanages but don't blab about it". I am sure this is very true but I also think that you need to put it out there so people are aware and may choose to also contribute. Without the OP requesting a travel partner to go up I wouldn't have thought about doing it this trip and was very glad we did. My husband was reluctant when I first mentioned it (I think he thought it would be really sad or something) but we were all glad to have gone. A long day out but a good one!
We didn't do much else on the other 2 days of our trip. Hired a driver to take us on a tour around Sanur - didn't take long!!! He dropped us off at Hardy's for 3/4hr - great selection here of just about everything you can imagine. We then stopped off for a drink at Billy's (I think that was it) and the driver joined us.
RESTAURANTS: Tried a few along the beachfront. Benno's - ok. Beach Cafe - very nice, lovely setting. Bonsai - ok. Nothing terrible about anywhere we ate. Power went out a couple of times. Was happening quite a bit in Sanur at that time - almost every night I think. The last night our hotel had the power off for a few hours. We went swimming till it came back on.
The last afternoon there was a large ceremony on the beach at the front of the hotel. This was quite interesting to watch from a distance.
Used our Sanur 'tour driver' to take us to the airport on the Wednesday. Very reasonable. He sent us with his 21yr old son who was 'learning' but it was fine.
Check-in was quick with no problems. We used Dewa lounge (100k per adult, no charge for the kids) to while away our time at the airport. Flight back was fine and uneventful. Made sure I had the DVD player properly charged this time!
We are heading back in Feb for 11n and I am looking at changing the 4n in Ubud to Sanur again but am finding the Segara has gone up quite a bit from before. I would really like to change the 7n we've booked in Legian at the Jayakarta but as this is a private arrangement I don't want to stuff the guy around so if I can find a decent price for the 4n we will at least do that.
Sorry this is so long. For a four day trip I've sure found alot to write about! Any ?'s, please ask.