DAY 6 - Saturday - move to Seminyak
Its moving day - time to leave the Novotel and head into Seminyak to be closer to the shopping, eating and the airport. We enjoy a last breakfast, and although checkout time isn't till 12, we arrange Driver #1 Kadek to pick us up at 10am so we can do some early shopping and a few stops on the way before we get to The Haven in Seminyak.
First stop is a money changer in Jl Pratama. Totally official looking - like a mini bank. We've been told by our driver that most of the money changers in Benoa aren't as shifty as the ones where all the tourists are in Kuta, but we are still careful. Rate is something like 9960 which is fantastic.
Cashed up, we head to the Jengala Ceramic Factory showroom (pronounced by locals as Keramik). We love this place, but I believe there is an outlet in Seminyak with cheaper stock so that is a must do for next trip. We buy some Housewarming gifts for our friends and direct Kadek to the next stop.
At Discovery Shopping Centre in Kuta, we drive straight to the underground parking and are dropped at the bottom of the escalator. Its a fantastic way to totally avoid Kuta which is becoming less and less attractive to us each trip, sadly. Either we are getting older or it is getting worse, or a little of both. We hit the large DVD shop, Sogo for great bargain shirts and makeup and a few other bits and pieces.
Hotel #2 The Haven
Kadek is waiting at the bottom of the escalators and we head off to the Haven about 1.30. Check-in time is 2pm so we leave our bags and have lunch at their restaurant overlooking Jl Raya Legian / Seminyak. This is probably my most average meal of the trip.. a chicken burger. Kadek again orders the Vanilla Milkshake and is curious about the oil and vinegar on our table, which of course he would never have seen given he doesn't frequent Italian restaurants! Back to reception but our room still isn't ready.... another half hour wait. Getting a bit hot and cranky by now, and Kadek offers to go and speed them up.... its about 3.15 before they find us a room thats ready, on the ground floor as requested.
I'm not sure what kind of room we will actually end up with as we got a great discount by booking within 2 weeks of staying and are paying about $94 per night all inclusive. The room is right at the back of the hotel, which is fine, and it is AMAZING. It's actually 2 rooms - or a suite, two balconies with full size daybeds, lounge with 2 couches and kitchen with full size fridge, stereo, extra tv etc. The ceramics are all from Jengala and the decor is lovely, clean and modern. I don't know how we swung this room but it is fantastic. One of the 4 pools is right outside our balcony, and breakfast is also served at this end of the hotel rather than hiking all the way back to the restaurant at the front.
We settle in, unpack and i collect all the free amazing toiletries on offer - 2 new toothbrushes and toothpaste each day, shavers and cream and the usual shampoo etc.
We have a quick swim, and the water here is a little cooler than at the Novotel because the pools don't get a full day of sun. Its really the only downside to this hotel - the location is great, prices are fantastic, facilities are just fine and the other hotel guests are all very quiet and keep to themselves. There don't appear to be any kids here at all.
In the evening we grab a bluebird taxi and head back to Kuta just to see what the new Beachwalk complex has to offer - its huge, very modern and spacious but honestly, there are few shops where you can just pop in and grab a bargain. They are mostly upmarket where you would make a larger purchase, so we look around and then head down the road to a restaurant that R has selected.
Rosso Vino turns out to be a great pick. Its cool (as in aircon), staff are amazing, and the food is delicious. Somehow the waiter here can tell we come to Bali often - despite our mostly white skin.
We get a taxi back, asking him to stop at Tommy's Leather in Seminyak on the way... he drops us off at the door, we find that its closing, and we hail the exact same driver to take us back to the Haven. He thinks this is absolutely hilarious - he's dropped us off, done a u turn, and got us back again. As others have commented, Tommy's really doesn't seem to chase business too much - they are closed on Sundays, and well before 8pm in the evening. I guess its good for them that they have more business than they really need.
Part 6 still to come.....