 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeArticlesDiving DestinationsLearning Scuba DivingMarine LifeMiscellaneousDiscussion GroupsGeneralScuba EquipmentScuba LocationsAustralian ScubaUK ScubaDirectoryScuba Clubs |
Scuba Forum / Scuba Locations / October 2004Wakatobi and Bali
In April 2005 I am heading to Wakatobi (for the non-divers out there it's a dive resort in the Banda Sea). The only flight to Wakatobi picks us up in and returns us to Bali. We will spend only a week at Wakatobi and are looking for some another place to spend time while in the area. Since we have to be in Bali coming and going I was wondering if it is a place worth visiting and a place where one could relax (hopefully no hustle/bustle) as well as have interesting sites to visit. If Bali is nice that would make it easier than flying to some other location. By nice I mean clean, maybe some resorts or areas that are not crowded, welcome Americans, good food, variety of sites (historical or novel) to visit...etc. We will probably not be looking for diving in Bali. I think it will be more along the lines of veg, and short trips of interest followed by good food and drink. A luxury resort would not bother me at all. Any help would be appreciated. > In April 2005 I am heading to Wakatobi (for the non-divers out there it's a > dive resort in the Banda Sea). The only flight to Wakatobi picks us up in [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > think it will be more along the lines of veg, and short trips of interest > followed by good food and drink. A luxury resort would not bother me at all. I don't know anything about resorts, but Bali one of the nicest places on the planet. Maybe if you said a little about your budget people would be able to recommend a place to stay. I usually stay in the $3-$5/night places because they're plenty nice enough - private bungalow with bath, fan, breakfast. From there you can go up, really, as high as you want. miguel  SignatureHit The Road! Photos from 30 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu > > In April 2005 I am heading to Wakatobi (for the non-divers out there it's a > > dive resort in the Banda Sea). The only flight to Wakatobi picks us up in [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > they're plenty nice enough - private bungalow with bath, fan, breakfast. > From there you can go up, really, as high as you want. My apologies, I thought I addressed that when I said "a luxury resort would not bother me at all". I am not looking for budget accommodations in Bali, we'll spend our time in Wakatobi in a bungalow. In terms of pure US dollars, up to 3 or 4 hundred dollars a night for two is the range I hope would get us on a nice quiet property, with privacy and services. And while I am concerned with accommodations I am also concerned that Bali isn't an Asian Vegas or DisneyWorld. I have heard a few different opinions on that point. Some people find it overwhelmingly crowded, loud and commercial while others have said it was relaxingly quiet and private. I am looking for the latter and my wife will be wanting a high level of accommodation and service. And am asking if Bali offers a diverse menu of things to see and do. Hikes, trips etc to ruins, markets, scenic vistas etc. Thanks for your help Miguel! > My apologies, I thought I addressed that when I said "a luxury resort would > not bother me at all". [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > dollars a night for two is the range I hope would get us on a nice quiet > property, with privacy and services. Ok - I'll leave the accommodation question to others as I don't think I can be very helpful. > And while I am concerned with accommodations I am also concerned that Bali > isn't an Asian Vegas or DisneyWorld. I have heard a few different opinions > on that point. Some people find it overwhelmingly crowded, loud and > commercial while others have said it was relaxingly quiet and private. It's both - depends on where you are. There are some areas of dense tourism development, full of hotels and western-food restaurants and people offering tours and transportation to every foreigner they see. Almost all of these areas are in the south, within a few km of the airport. > I am looking for the latter and my wife will be wanting a high level of > accommodation and service. And am asking if Bali offers a diverse menu of > things to see and do. Hikes, trips etc to ruins, markets, scenic vistas etc. All of the above. Not necessarily so many ruins, but many things (particularly temples and related facilities) are still built in the same styles as hundreds of years ago. Here's a typical building on temple grounds: http://travel.u.nu/photo-id-22.php This kind of stuff is everywhere you look, once you're outside of the touristy areas (and it's there too, but you often have to wander down the back alleys to fid it). If you're in a town, you're never more than about a 5 minutes' walk from a temple. In addition to the island-wide holidays, each temple has an annual festival of its own. As you can imagine, with that many temples, you're never very far from a festival. They're beautiful affairs; dozens or hundreds of women in beautiful dresses walking down the road with offerings of fruit piled high atop their heads; men in matching sarongs, sashes, and shirts playing music as they walk along. If you are away from a touristy area you will surely be invited to come along and watch the festivities. Markets are all over the place; personally I enjoy the night market in Gianyar (on the main road through town) which is very friendly and offers a wide sampling of good (but spicy!) food. You can wander as you please through the rice terraces, there are also national parks, rivers, and mountains to hike. You're supposed to hire a guide to climb the volcano, and I have to admit the guide culture at the base of the mountain is pretty annoying. And of course there are the beaches. Surfing, swimming, diving, boat rides, whatever you like. miguel SignatureHit The Road! Photos from 30 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu "I am not looking for budget accommodations in Bali, we'll spend our time in Wakatobi in a bungalow. In terms of pure US dollars, up to 3 or 4 hundred dollars a night for two is the range I hope would get us on a nice quiet property, with privacy and services. Hi Ramone The best place for questions re Bali is the Bali Forum http://www.balitravelforum.com/index.html The people who run the site are in the business of renting villas etc but there is plenty of advice available from regular visitors. A lot of the resorts are in the South as Miguel said, such as the exclusive Nusa Dua area, luxurious but in my opinion sterile. I would opt for a private villa if I were in your price bracket, or a hotel away from Sanur, Nusa Dua etc. There are many in the area of Ubud, which is the centre of arts and culture in the heart of the rice terraces, thronging with tourists now but still a great place to be. Where ever you decide to stay a car and driver-guide will be able to show you magical places, not too far away. Regards Sue www.wright-photo.com Look for the Bali Map. I would second the suggestion to visit http://www.travelforum.org/bali/index.html A very good source for lots of info. If you've got a week in Bali, you might consider visiting a couple of locations. The real touristy area is in the south. At Kuta Beach you'll find a lot of partying but not much of what I think of as the real culture of Bali. Some of the nicer places are in Tanjung Benoa / Nusa Dua. We've stayed at the Aston Bali Spa and it was very nice and way under your budget. We've also stayed at The Oberoi Bali on Seminyak beach and it is probably more along the lines of what you are describing. A very nice property with private accomidations, some with private pools and gardens. We've never stayed there but I have heard that The 4 Seasons is pure luxury. If you get the chance, I would strongly recommend traveling up into the mountains for a couple days in Munduk and a stay at the Puri Lumbung Cultural Hotel. It is set in the middle of ponds and rice fields around 800m above sea level.It is and extremely tranquil area between Lake Bratan / Buyan / Tamblingan and the north coast. Wonderfully isolated area offering traditional rural Balinese culture. Aain this is way under your budget but I can't imagine anyone not falling in love with this place. Hire a driver for most or all of your stay. For $30-$40 a day he will drive you and be your own personal tour guide. We really like Wyan Merta who has a web page at http://www.bali-paradise.com/see-bali/ Very nice dependable guide and a safe driver. JK http://www.mxtravel.com >Subject: Re: Wakatobi and Bali >From: "Sue Wright" suewREMOVE@hotmail.com [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >driver-guide will be able to show you magical places, not too far away. >Regards Sue www.wright-photo.com Look for the Bali Map. Sue and JK, Thanks for the input. That is indeed a great resource, particulalry for one such as me having never visisted Bali before. Once again thanks so much for the assist. > I would second the suggestion to visit > http://www.travelforum.org/bali/index.html A very good source for lots of [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > >driver-guide will be able to show you magical places, not too far away. > >Regards Sue www.wright-photo.com Look for the Bali Map. > In April 2005 I am heading to Wakatobi (for the non-divers out there it's a > dive resort in the Banda Sea). The only flight to Wakatobi picks us up in [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Any help would be appreciated. Hi, a very good place in bali is the amed area on the east coast: it's a very quiet place with a lot of beautiful resort. I was in santai hotel (http://www.santaibali.com) and it was beautiful (very clean, quiet, ...) and for a very reasonable price (about 50-60 $ night with breakfast wich is very expensive for bali). The problem (for me it wasn't a problem...) is that it's a remote area and you need a lot of time to get there in car from airport (about 4 hours...). For diving (you don't plan to dive but diving can be very good in bali...) there is some of the best dive in bali: the liberty wreck, Gili selang, ... In conclusion Bali is a beautiful area (except the south - kuta). best regard, julien www.diveinredsea.com Julien, I want to thank you for your help. That is an area that did not register on my radar and I am thankful you pointed it out. It looks great. Now my problem is that I cannot visit every place and just a week ago I was wondering if there was enough to spend a week exploring :^) > a very good place in bali is the amed area on the east coast: it's a > very quiet place with a lot of beautiful resort. I was in santai hotel [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > julien > www.diveinredsea.com > In April 2005 I am heading to Wakatobi (for the non-divers out there it's a > dive resort in the Banda Sea). The only flight to Wakatobi picks us up in [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Any help would be appreciated. My wife and I went to Wakatobi last year and stayed at the Pansea Puri Bali Hotel while in Bali in a beach bungalow. Here is the web address http://baliwww.com/pansea/. We liked it there very much. If we did a second trip to Bali here are the two other places we would stay. http://www.begawan.com/ , http://www.thebale.com/. Ask Crispin at Wakatobi to hook you up with Radi to give you a tour of some Bali sights while you are there. Gar MacRae > My wife and I went to Wakatobi last year and stayed at the Pansea Puri > Bali Hotel while in Bali in a beach bungalow. Here is the web address [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Wakatobi to hook you up with Radi to give you a tour of some Bali > sights while you are there. Gar MacRae Very nice Gar, thanks for the info. Actually I have been in touch with Crispin to find out if they have yet installed AC in the beach Bungalows...Ha ha (he keeps telling me they don't need it, then later says it would be nice to have it. I keep wondering why it would be nice if it wasn't needed :^) Now I have something else to bug him about. Thanks again! > > My wife and I went to Wakatobi last year and stayed at the Pansea Puri > > Bali Hotel while in Bali in a beach bungalow. Here is the web address [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Thanks again! Ramone; I really don't think air conditioning is necesssary because of tradewinds. We were there in July and it wasn't unbearable. If you have any other question regarding Wakatobi you can e- mail me directly- Gar >> Very nice Gar, thanks for the info. Actually I have been in touch with >> Crispin to find out if they have yet installed AC in the beach [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > have any other question regarding Wakatobi you can e- mail me > directly- Gar I was in Bali just a few weeks ago and I found myself turning off the fan at night because it was too chilly. miguel SignatureHit The Road! Photos from 30 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu > I was in Bali just a few weeks ago and I found myself turning off the fan at > night because it was too chilly. I have sometimes switched off the air con temporarily because I didn't find any knob to ease the blow somewhat. The spinning blades have never caused this though. > In April 2005 I am heading to Wakatobi (for the non-divers out there it's a > dive resort in the Banda Sea). The only flight to Wakatobi picks us up in [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Any help would be appreciated. Ramone,Here is another website for you to browse. Aman resorts has some great places in and around Bali. They are a little pricey but how often to you get to that part of the world. Check out Amanawana. That's my favorite.- Gar Here their website http://www.amanresorts.com/ Hi www.divetheworldindonesia.com should tell you all you need to know about this area > > In April 2005 I am heading to Wakatobi (for the non-divers out there it's a > > dive resort in the Banda Sea). The only flight to Wakatobi picks us up in [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > That's my favorite.- Gar > Here their website http://www.amanresorts.com/ |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.