We flew out of Coolangatta on the 25th August with Air Asia bound for 28 days in Bali and Vietnam .
All hotels and flights were booked on line.
It was the first time we have flow Air Asia and they did not disappoint. After 8 hours flying we landed at LCCT in KL and off to the Tune Hotel for the night.
We had booked a total of three stays at the Tune (Gold Coast to KL, Bali back to KL and Ho Chi Minh city to KL). As you walk out of LCCT you can see the Tune Hotel approx. 700 metres across the car park, you have a choice of walking around to the Domestic arrival terminal(50 metres) and catching a Tune courtesy bus which run about every 20 minutes for 1 Ringgit or a 10 minute walk.
As a transit hotel we found the Tune very convenient, clean and cheap. The rooms are very small with a double bed, air con, fan and en suite (no TV) for Aus$37 a couple per night. The hotel has ATM, 24 hr Cafe, licensed restaurant, lifts, wifi , a 7eleven shop and for an overnight stay we had no problems, but do avoid the rooms over the main street, they can be a bit noisy.
Headed off for the three hour flight to Bali the next morning, and drama!
On returning from the toilet I discovered that my you beaut, brand new, daddy cool Polaroid sunnies that I had hanging from the neck of my shirt were missing, so I hailed a passing hostie (by god they're pretty) and complained that I had lost my sunnies, she replied 'do you think someone steal', I replied no' I think I drop on floor of plane or on toilet floor', she said 'maybe still on top of your head papa!', apparently I had pushed the sunnies up onto my head, needless to say by the time all the surrounding passengers finished laughing I sheepishly thanked the hostie for finding my sunnies.
We finally landed in Bali around 2 pm, 30 minutes through VOA (great improvements here) and back home to the Masa Inn.
Although we got the Air Asia flight at a very good price and saved around $400 between the two of us, after flying 11 hours in two days I would prefer to pay the extra and fly direct.
I was somewhat restricted this trip with a painful Achilles' Tendonitis (naturally it was caused through sprint training, lol), so my usual brisk walking around Kuta and Legian was down to a waddling limp and with the chaotic traffic, catching a cab was getting a real pain, we didn't feel like spend half our holiday sitting in traffic jams.
In the 14 days in Bali we spent most of our time around Poppies1, the beach front ,and Kuta. I wont go through a restaurant list other than to say we ate at most places around us including Poppies and a visit to The Pantai Restaurant which unfortunately have taken spirits and wines off the alchohol list and only have 3 types of beer (no Bintang).
At the Masa Inn we caught up with Tinggading (Joan and John), Sir Fin (Jon) and Moccha (Gaye and Keith) who we also met in Sanur at Ducks Nutz one Sunday afternoon when we looked up Bloodyron.
I was supposed to catch up with the phantom, but unfortunately I still owe him several Bintangs and Max was supposed to drop a pressie into me at the Masa , I am but still waiting. It was probably only a Karl Marx book or 'how to stuff up a country quickly' by Goff Whitlam, so don't worry about it Max :).
We were quite surprised to see how quickly all the development along Jalang Pantai (kuta beach road) is progressing, six months since we were last there and the pace at which they are demolishing the old resorts and building new ones is quite staggering. I know that Bali is really feeling growing pains but these developments have to be a big plus for this area.
VIETNAM:
I know this is a Bali forum, but some members of BTF have asked me to just give a quick rundown on our trip, so I will not dwell on Vietnam too much.
Two weeks past pretty quick and on the 9th September we flew out from Bali to KL, overnight at the Tune again and then onto Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and a connecting flight to Nha Trang (Can Ranh Airport).
The domestic airport is only 200-300 metres from the International airport and we had no problems at either.
Nha Trang is 30 minutes drive from Can Ranh airport and hotel drivers met us (4 people $15), buses and taxis are available. We stayed at the Light Hotel in a Deluxe room ($53), panoramic ocean views over Nha Trang bay, and could not fault the place.
Stayed 6 nights and then flew to Danang and another 30 minutes drive to Hoi An, and the Southern Hotel ($53). The hotel was clean, quiet , comfortable and 5 minutes from the centre of town by free shuttle bus. We loved Hoi An, a very old , boutique type town.
I have no problem recommending either hotel.
We researched through BTF members, Trip Advisor etc and booked through booking (dot) com and paid for accommodation on arrival or departure.
Atm's everywhere or you can change money at foreign exchange outlets, shops, hotels etc. Just make sure you have a fair idea of the exchange rate, we had no problems with money changers.
We found the people both friendly and polite and the whole place gearing up for tourism.
Flew internally with Vietnam Airlines, cheap reliable and comfortable, booked on line!
A great holiday!
If you want further information, or see photos contact me on' ghools@exemail.comau.' and I will send you an email with the Picasa link which has already downloaded the photos.
Hoolz