Bali

Although all of Bali was beautiful, our favorite spot was the village called Ubud. It was the perfect mix of culture, art, shopping, and restaurants in the middle of rice paddies.

Quick Tips:

Since we stayed at the Nikko Bali, a hotel that was a little far from everything - we cabbed it every night to the next town, called Tanjun Benoa. We ate at a popular restaurant called Bumbu Bali. It was one of the best restaurants on the whole island. And right next door, we ate dessert at the Oasis Hotel, a small boutique hotel that had just opened up. They had a delicious caramel banana with strawberry and mango coulis dessert. And, their regular coffee was espresso. Otherwise, try it with the local Bali coffee.

Best Way To Get Around:

Taxicabs were cheap and honest. If you're new, I suggest taking one with a meter. The blue cabs are more consistent. Once you get the fee-to-distance ratios, you can try bargaining a flat fee. A fifteen-minute cab ride was about 10000 to 15000 rupiahs. From the Nikko Bali to Ubud, it was around 150000 to 170000. It took us about 1 3/4 hours. For long trips, I suggest finding the newest-looking cab. On the way to Ubud, we took this rusty old thing with no air-conditioning. By the time we got there, I was carsick and wasted time getting over it. On the way home, we paid a little more but took a SUV taxi. For those bumpy back roads, it was luxury on wheels.

The accommodations were luxurious. The swimming pool area was not a disappointment. The beach is cut off from hawkers because of its location.

The location was a bit far from restaurants and shopping, but they had a shuttle to the Nusa Dua Galeria and the Kuta Galeria. Also, taking taxis was cheap and easy. Don't get suckered into taking the hotel taxi. They charge a huge amount. I mean HUGE.

The restaurants in the hotel are really expensive. The food is okay, but for that kind of money, it wasn't great. You can get the same if not better outside the hotel.

The hotel was a bit far, but being away from the hawkers was worth it for us.

This was an exotic dining experience. We sat on plush pillows in a garden setting, eating our roast duck platter. The tables were set on small platform huts. Each area had secluded seating for one or two groups of four. It was an indoor/outdoor theme.

This is a top restaurant, serving authentic Balinese cuisine. You can see for yourself at http://www.balifoods.com. Reservations are a must, as the restaurant is very popular. Considering the food is better than what you would get in any major hotel, it is well worth the wait in line.