Firstly, thank you to all who contribute positive, informative posts on this forum to assist fellow travellers.
BALI April 2011.
Back Sunday night after 15 nights broken into 2 in Tuban, 3 in Amed and 10 in Sanur.
We flew Air Asia, pre booked meals and 20kg luggage each, easy. Check in was a breeze, VOA and immigration at Denpasar was 30 minutes maximum, easy. A quick 'tidak, terramakasi' to the luggage mafia and we were away. Picked up by Nyoman Adnyana. We took him along a 25 litre esky to help value add his business and he was very happy.
TUBAN
We stayed at the Green Garden Resort and Spa for two nights prior to travelling to Amed and back down to Sanur. The check in process was smooth; staff were friendly and polite during our stay. Our room 301 was spotless and the bed very comfortable. Sleep quality is good and you would not know that the airport is close. Bathroom was very nice but we had no hot water for the two nights, just tepid, which given the climate, was only just ok, a fast shower lol. The pool is very nice and spa / massage area is clean and tidy. Meals at the hotel were very nice, with a good range of breakfast included. We used the hotel as a base to check out other accommodation for future trips and it suited the purpose well, tucked away at the end of the Tuban/Kuta strip, it is quiet. Walking the footpaths in the area is very dangerous, they were the worst we have encountered and felt sorry for people with prams and the elderly. I think the South Kuta business association needs to lift its game in that regard, walking from Kuta Square south is dangerous, then as you get to the road leading to the beach to get to the Green Garden Beach Hotel, it's even worse!
I gather from talking to some other guests that many are repeat customers, I can see the attraction as it is a nice quiet hotel that is far enough from the noise of the Kuta strip, but close enough to enjoy it. The hotel ticks most boxes for us but not all. The beach area is not as good as further up, but again the hotel provides a good base to explore the strip.
We enjoyed our beachside walks from Kuta to Seminyak.
Ate at:
Segara at the Discovery mall. Good food, great view, value for money. Ate here later in the trip also.
Ilcielo Pizza place. Expensive but good service, food and ambience. Free wifi
Stadium Cafe for AFL. Good food and service. Good vibe and reasonable prices.
Green Garden Resorts restaurant. Good food, prices and service.
The road to Amed is much better than last year, road works have progressed well.
AMED
Our second stay at Life in Amed was as good as the first. The check in process is a breeze, with all the staff warm and friendly. We had the same room as last year which is very nice. Pool and gardens are well maintained, as are the rooms. Plenty of hot water (unlike our previous hotel in Tuban), open air shower is nice. We had the bulk of our meals at the hotel and the quality is consistently good. New villas are available next door now for larger groups and look good from the outside. I enjoyed two fishing trips with the locals; 5am sail off from the beach, fantastic fun, a highlight for me. Another was visiting a staff member's home up in the bush and enjoying the vibe of a Kampong. We shared a meal with them and came away better for the experience. Our days were spent relaxing by the pool and walking around the villages. We love the area and the people; the village is so unspoilt and has the real Bali feel for us. Life in Amed is cool, well done Sarah (owner).
Junkong fishing with local. 200,000rph. 3.5hrs of fun and great photo opportunities.
SANUR
Our second stay at the Peneeda View and enjoyed it as much as the first. 10 nights after a week in Tuban and Amed. Check in was easy and we had no problems with staff at all. Our room was again one of the new Beach wing units and is great. Roomy in all aspects and well maintained. Linen changed daily, bins emptied and an addition this year was complimentary toiletries. Food at the hotel is a good standard and a great view over the ocean from the dining area. The hotel was fully booked at the end of the stay but still felt comfy. The dining options in the area are very good with Hardy's up the road for in house supplies. Pool area is tidy, while not deep pools they serve the purpose well. If you want five stars, the Hyatt is next door, but for us, US$100 a night with breakfast at the Peneeda is gold.
Ate at:
Star Bar and Bistro. Good food, service and prices.
Warung Downtown. Great value. Good food and prices. Happy friendly staff.
Laser Sports Bar. Ok vibe, a bit pricy.
Dadaciao Warung and bar. Ate here twice, love it. Value and quality.
Barbs Sports Bar. Ate and drank here a lot. Great value, COLD beer and a nice vibe. Well done Barb and Ian!
Cafe Batu Jimbar. Ate here twice. First class food. Good vibe, service. Value.
Bobbys on the Beach. Overpriced, poor quality/service. Nice view. Try Donald's next door!
Maya on Jalan Sindu. Best smoothies. Free wifi. Value.
Coriander. Good food. Prices are ok.
Sanur Bay Seafood Grill. Nice food. Good value. Good view.
Komilfo (on the beach walk). Nice spot.
Villa Shanti on the beach. Fabulous seafood. Good prices. Fastest service was getting us the bill lol.
Izakaya Bar (on beach walk). Nice food, service and cold beer. A good find.
Peneeda Gelato bar on the street. Yum.
Shopping:
Kapal Laut Jewellery. 485,000rph 1 x earrings and 1 x bangle, Stirling Silver. Nice designs.
Discovery in Kuta. All sorts of souvenirs, plus silverline bandaids, coffee, toiletries (so cheap).
Stalls. Usual singlets, tees 30,000rph, shorts 40-60,000rph.
Cooking Class. Marias cooking class, now based in Legian. She operates out of her house, a small operation with attention to authenticity. We enjoyed learning to make, then eating, 4 dishes for 150,000rph per person. 4 hours.
A very good experience, she speaks good English. I have her contact details if required.
To finalise; we had good weather for most of our stay, which suits our holiday style of walking, eating and drinking the day away. Chuck in some relaxing by the pool, a perfect holiday