Our Budget
I had budgeted on spending AU$100 per day, which was to include my shopping, lunch and dinner for me and the 2 bottomless pits, and incidentals (water, drinks, taxi's, massages etc) This proved to be more than adequate and I even came home with Rupiah for the next trip :) On top of this I had AU$50 for a driver to do a day trip. My older 2 kids gave the boys $200 between them and they decided that a day out at the Bali Safari and Marine park and a 'posh' dinner on our last night would be a great way to spend this money. The boy's Dad also gave them spending money as an early Xmas present, so they got to learn all about bargaining to get the best value out of their $$ (as opposed to mine), they did quite well at this I should mention (with only a little help from Mum)
Total cost of our holiday for 3 during peak school holiday time.....
Airfares: $ 942.60
Includes a meal each way, seat selection and 15kg baggage each on the way home
Accommodation
and Visas $ 463.80
changed into $US at home and includes fee (Gotta luv the Aussie $ at the moment)
Daily Budget $ 900.00
First and last days were only part days
Day Tour $ 50.00
My Cost $2356.40
Which is approx $785 each for 8 nights, all food , a day tour, incidentals and the Mum's spending $$
Safari Park & $ 200.00
Last nights Dinner
Boys Spending $ 400.00
And they bought a whole summer wardrobe each! Numerous trendy caps and belts, and even shouted lunch one day at their insistence :)
Grand Total $2956.49
Under $1000 each with absolutely everything covered for 8 nights during school holidays ............ I think that is awesome!!
Restaurants
I have learnt a whole lot about Bali restaurants this trip...... My future rule is never to judge a book by it's cover. Thanks to recommendations from forumites I have discovered the pleasure of little Warungs........ I have been missing out over the last 15 years by only going to 'Westernised' eateries...... and will never make that mistake again :) There are hidden gems everywhere that cost next to nothing to eat like a king in :) We didn't eat in the same place twice, as much as we would have liked to, we wanted to try a different place each meal......... I am a huge seafood fan and ate as much as I could while there :)
The places we ate at.....
Indonational....one of Mr 17's faves from last time and Mr 14 was desperate to try the garlic crab... this was our first night dinner so had rupiah to spare...... 1 x lumpia,and 1x chook wings to share... garlic crab, pork ribs and seafood platter and 6 drinks RP 401,000
Warung Brasil....Great food and soooooo cheap! Have to wonder about the promos for magic mushies tho LOL...........Boys had a chicken and a pork satay and Nasi Campur for me, a drink each for a grand total of RP70,000
Gong Corner.....3 mains, 3 soft drinks and a large Bintang RP 135,000...... great value
Bamboo Corner....Sister to Gong Corner... same great value :)
Legian Snacks....3 entree, 3 mains 4 soft drinks and 2 bintangs RP 190,000 another great cheapie
Porchetta.....I luv the soto ayam here and we went there just for my fix! Boys had a main each RP 181,000 including 6 drinks
Westin Resort Nusa Dua...See wedding comments... Return taxi RP160,000
Strawberry Stop.....Went there on our day tour, cant remember the price paid, we all had mie goreng, but cheap and much better quality, though restricted menu than the usual overpriced buffets you get on tours, the strawberry milkshakes are awesome!
JD27.....Another great find..... I had seafood (again :) cant remember what the boys had but they loved it and were full :) 3 x entrees and 3 x mains + 4 softies and 2 bintangs RP190,000
Wayan and Friends.....A fave of mine from previous trips. The boys loved their meals but one of my satay sticks tasted 'Off' My only disappointing meal, apart from the Safari Park. 2 mains, 3 softies RP150,000
Warung Pama......The best value, delicious meal of our trip! RP115,000 for 3 water, 2 softies and a large bintang plus a great seafood platter for me and more than enough of yummy stuff on the boys plates...... Great Bali food......
Warung Wulan/Cita.....Not sure of the name of this place........ sign out the front says Wulan and Menu's say Cita?? Food was good RP81,000 for 3 lunches and 3 softies
Garlic Lane Restaurant.....I went here on my last trip in Feb and was impressed, so after a day of cheap shopping and with money to spare we went here for dinner. Mr14 and I shared their Bali platter for RP100,000 and the big bloke had a pizza, 4 softies and 2 bintangs can't remember the cost but great value
Uma Restaurant Safari and Marine Park
Probably the most disappointing meal of our trip...... We all had 'Steak' sandwiches, and to find the steak was a mission...... LOL...... my only venture to red meat in 9 days ended in disapointment, but hey I'm more than happy to eat seafood instead......LOL Lunch and drinks came to RP192,000 and then we got mocktails to finish...... can't remember how much they were...
Smiling Frog.....We saw this little gem on day 4 and had decided we wanted to eat there, and made it the destination for the 'Big Posh Last Supper' What a great choice! The service was second to none and the food fabulous! Again I had the seafood platter and it was THE BEST I had eaten all trip (and that's saying something because all the others were great:) We all had an entree (my soto ayam wasn't quite on a par with Porchetta's but was still tasty) and the boys luved their Lumpia and main courses. Cost for meal and 4 softies 2 bintangs RP404,000. Ary, our waiter, has just started his own business selling DVDs in the restaurant and has a great deal... buy 5 get 3 freebies which is better than most shops, needless to say the boys spent most of the last of their rupiah here :) Ary also told us that he has recently bought a car and does daytrips for RP400,000. I will probably give him a go next time I am there because he has great English and is a really nice bloke trying hard to better his lot in life.
This is getting long again, so will continue with the rest either tomorrow or the next day...... for those who are interested....... Am happy to answer any questions regarding restaurants./ hotel etc