In Reply to: first time booking on my own posted by shanashbay on Monday, 4. June 2012 at 15:09 Bali Time:
I have been happy with and used wotif, agoda and booking.com.
Agoda takes payment to your credit card prior to travelling and booking.com's policy is you pay the hotel direct during your stay. Advise you check their cancellation policy, as this too can vary from paying for one night prior to cancelling within a certain time frame, to no show no refund and full payment is required.
Recommendations on Hotels in Ubud and Kuta will depend on your comfort preferences and budget. Can range from basic/homestay type accommodation @ $20 per night right through to upmarket style @ 1,300 per night. If you have the time to research, you will get a feel of the type of place you might like to stay at and make use of the wealth of information and reviews in here, on the various booking sites and tripadvisor.
There is much information on travel insurance posted previously if you have the time to search. There are lots of company's which can provide you with travel insurance and I always read the coverage and excess policies. I have never needed to make a claim and have used my credit union's insurance, NRMA, AAMI and Australia Post now has inexpensive travel insurance. Last trip basic cover with Aus Post cost $50 for two weeks included unlimited medical, dental and additional expenses with nil excess.
Also some credit cards include travel insurance when using your card to pay for your flights, it might be worth checking directly with them, just in case.