Just myself, partner and his brother (BIL) - 2nd time for BIL, 4th for partner and way too many times for me to add up! A wonderful 16 night break from reality. Haven't been back to Bali for nearly 2 years as last year we rode a motor bike through Laos and Cambodia (which is another story!)
Stayed at Kusnadi for the 2nd time - major mistake here mentioning this hotel - a victim of the BTF, buggar worst luck etc. As of October this year price are going to increase 50%! Would we stay here again - probably yes as it suits us - small property, wonderful caring staff and great location. Rooms are more than adequate as they are clean and cool with a fridge and TV. Breakfast basic but ample.
Flights - Air Asia - crap schedules but cheap, on time and no hassles.
Warning re lost credit cards - BIL somehow lost his wallet and ALL his credit/debit cards including Medicare DL License etc after a rather raucous night at Apache a few nights into the trip. Did the usual search etc and notified VISA banks etc as advised? They delivered to him an emergency Visa Card bout 36 hours later to our hotel. Card was absolutely useless. Could not be used for purchases or ATM withdrawals. Could only be used for cash advances at banks and only at the banks direction. Guess what, no banks in the Legian Seminyak area would give him a cash advance. Luckily for us we had sufficient credit on our cards to help him out or he would have been stuffed. Maybe a word of warning to have alternate cards available hidden in other parts of your luggage. And guess what, on our return even after cancelling the cards found out they had been used in Hardy's Sanur to the tune of about $3500.00.
Shopping - Jaya Pillows again for new day bed cover, cushion covers and new zip on last trips day bed cover. Great service and reasonable prices. Carefour yet again for heaps of toiletries a tenth of the price at home. Boys bought shirts and jeans at Mata Hari, and I bought lots of great clothes for grandson. On recommendations from forum got some great home wares and gifts from Biaritzz instead of Geneva. Bought some lovely glass morrocan lamps in Seminyak. Had lots of alterations and repairs done at lovely little tailor next to Kusnadi cheap as chips and great job (yet again another recommendation from the forum!) The men loved buying jeans then having the hems taken up for about $3 and done in a day!
We all got our hair done by Putu at the Mutiara salon next door- again great service and prices.
Hired a scooter next door to Kusnadi for about $4 a day - had a ball riding out most mornings exploring. Went everywhere form morning markets to Canggu and between, getting lost and discovering new places.
Restaurants: Tried to do the no place twice rule and turned out great as we went to heaps of new places. We are all foodies, love eating out and trying new food, a huge part of our holiday that we look forward to. Duck is my absolutely favourite food so a bit biased! Big issue we found though is that most places we visited the cocktails had no alcohol - sort of resent paying $7 a pop for fruit juice no matter how nice it looks. Not just us complaining but loads of other people around us.
Mozzarella on the Beach -one of only two disappointing meals for me - seafood dish covered in bottled sweet chilli sauce - Yuk and didn't match the description on menu.
Ultimo's - great as always. Can never go past the Duck Ravioli
Bonsai in Sanur - always nice place for a meal on the beach
Ratatouille in Sanur - divine Bebek Betutu - one of my fave meals of the trip
Six Points in Sanur - good range of meals at value prices
Gabah - great value buffet lunch on that particular day
TJ's Mexican - delicious fajitas and the boys loved the ribs!
Boardwalk cafe - nice lunch spot and reasonable prices
Tried one of the new beach bars up past Double Six - tapas style food sitting on bean bags - loved it! Great atmosphere and music, really cheap prices - sorry can't remember name
Warung Asia - A great find - thanks Hillary for that suggestion - cheap yum food, really loved it here.
Lotus Cafe in Ubud - nice lunch
Drops Cafe - love the Bebek Betutu here too - such a nice place to escape the heat at lunchtime
Warung Wali - had the Mud Crab - it was wonderful!
Warung Ocha - fresh tasty food, again reasonable prices
La Lucciola - our favourite breakfast spot - partner had the poached eggs with smoked salmon and declared them a winner. Only thing to spoil it was the young lady at the next table with her feet up on the table smoking away. Then the cringe factor of four Aussies walking in at 10.30 am in the morning wearing boardies with a bintang or a Smirnoff ice in hand already looking half cut.
Echo Beach at Canggu - first time here, had a great night - seafood bbq was fresh and cheap, good range of salads to choose from. Band was terrific and had everyone on the dance floor. As suggested by others need to get here early to get a nice table, avoid the queues and watch the wonderful sunset!
Zanzibar - had breakfast here first morning overlooking the beach - majical!
Blue Ocean - great meals, just strange grey headed Mick Jagger impersonator singer spoilt the music as he couldn't sing for peanuts.
Maccaroni - pretty reliable for a nice lunch out of the heat
Flying Fish at O-c-ean - one of the best meals of the trip! Grilled salmon was to die for, and the men had the seafood platters - for 3 of us with a few glasses of wine and a couple of cocktails bill was less than $120. Best value for a really first class dinner out.
Mannekepis - went on 'Rodger's' recommendation and had the Duck Confit - yes wish I could have broken the once only rule and gone back just for that dish - it was incredible! Had a great salsa band on that night so really enjoyed ourselves.
Potato Head - Wow!!! Went there the day before the Empire of the Sun Concert and watched them setting up the stage! This place is amazing! Had a really great lunch - partner had the Fish and Chips which were some of the best I have ever tasted (that is a big tick of approval coming from a pom!). Location and view are worth the visit alone. Easy enough to get a taxi out of there - we waited a whole 2 minutes until someone else got dropped off.
Biku - went for the wonderful High Tea - haven't done these in years - like being at your Nanna's or Great Aunt's house. We all loved it and was a highlight for us.
Lanai - lovely salads here and on the beach.
Tekor - great food at really reasonable prices. Place was packed with lots of families, no wonder why.
Kusnadi - ate lunch around the pool a few days - really good sates, mie goreng etc at very cheap prices.
Jadi Cafe - Again thanks Hillary for the tip - Absolutely loved the Borneo Fish here and Sri and her family are so nice. Hard place to find now that she has moved, but will always make an effort to go back. The food is really fresh and different.
Tours - found a wonderful new driver Komang, after our driver of many years Gusti passed away last year. Did a two day trip to Lovina as the boys had never been there before? Can't remember the name of the hotel but it was cheap, basic and central at about $20 a night. Included the worst breakfast but had hot water and aircon. Loved the drive up there, visiting Kintamani and Git Git waterfalls. Restuarant's/Cafes in Lovina need giving the big miss. Shocking food, reminded me of 20 years ago in bali. Food served did not match menu description and was crap. Breakfast was cold white sweet toast etc. Yuk all round.
Ubud- why I asked? Spent a day there. A nightmare now with all the tour buses and is so packed. Decided would not go back for a while until the hype has died down.
Tatoos - had a lovely new tattoo done at Ibud Tatoo - all good.
What else to tell? Caught up with lots of old friends from both Bali and Australia, spent some time together as a family and made some new friends. Had lots of laughs, relaxed heaps, lots of massages by the pool at hotel, ate heaps of wonderful food and listed to loads of live music which we don't get a chance to do at home. Everything a holiday should be! Can't wait go back, currently checking schedules and flights for the next adventure!
Thanks to all the forumites for recommendations and suggestions, it really helps to make a holiday special!