Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Bali Holiday Travel and Accommodation

Here is a short bit of information on Bali holiday adventures. Me and the family has been to Bali 4 times in the last three years and have always had the most exiting time in Bali. We have had some great experiences including some not so pleasing one's also.

One i can think of was when we visited the Bali safari park when my wife, son who was then 3 and my daughter who was 2 were having a photo taken with an orangutan which after were going to view the pictures taken when my little son slipped down the step and tumbled fore head first in to a post his face was absolutely covered in blood, the guide as me if he could pick him up and run to the first aid room with him. So i raced of following the worker of the Bali Safari park with my son and had his head all cleaned up and bandaged. I must say the staff did a great job of trying to look after my son.

We generally stay at the beach resorts which are always friendly and family orientated. The Jayakarta is a favorite as we have now stayed there on two visits to Bali and are planning to stay there for our next trip in 2011. Bali beach accommodation seems to be the preferred selection in my view as this is where i prefer to stay when visiting Bali. There is always friendly people everywhere you look, we have met some of the greatest people who we now call friends and keep in regular contact with.

There is so much Bali holiday accommodation available to choose from. Bali hotels and villas seem to be the most popular by far.

The Bali beach hotels seem to do a roaring trade and are also one of my favorites. When looking for bali holiday accommodation there are a number of factors you should be thinking of :

1. What are you looking to be doing on your holiday? are you looking to be staying in the resort or hotel quite a bit maybe lazing around the pool.
2. Do you like the fast living or do you just intend on taking it easy? There are numerous activities you can be doing in Bali, Surfing, Diving, Doing the slides at Water Bom Park, Visiting Ubud and the monkey forest or mabee having lunch at the volcano whatever the holiday you are on you can find a world of tours and activities.

I also love the beach and sitting down at one of the beach bars in the afternoon for a few quiet ones while the wife gets a pedicure and does a little bargaining and the kids are playing in the sand. You always end up in a group talking about your travels while we all are watching the sun go down.

If you like shopping then there is plenty of supermarket and shopping centres and you won't be able to miss the thousands of stalls selling products, clothing, ornaments and plenty more. I hope to fill you in on the next post.
So next time you are looking t

Monday, December 13, 2010

The Essential and Complete Bali Travel Checklist

The essential and complete Bali travel checklist

Passports, Tickets and Visas

If you carry a Singapore, Malaysian, Philippines, Thai, Vietnam, Chile, HK, Macao, Brunei, Morocco or Peru you will not need a visa to enter Bali.

For all other passport holders you'll need USD$25 on arrival (valid for 30 days, and extendable) to pay for your visa on arrival. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Indonesia, and you must have proof of onward passage (either return or through tickets).

When leaving Bali, you'll have to pay a departure tax of 150,000Rp per person at the airport. You pay this in rupiah not US currency. Put this money aside and don't spend it on shopping!

Pro Tip: If you want to avoid the queues and baggage collecting - use The Bali Concierge airport service for a VIP pickup experience. For USD$50 they will escort you from your arrival gate, handle all the visa stuff and put your bags through immigration - all while you wait at the bar and enjoy snacks.

Travel Insurance

Insurance when traveling anywhere is a must. Especially somewhere like Bali, where you are likely to do outdoor activities, ride scooters and get in the surf. You don't want to be stuck without insurance. We recommend using a reputable insurance company, such as Zuji, who is underwritten by Allianz.

Drugs

Don't even try Indonesia is very strict with drug laws, and even has the death penalty for drug trafficking. There are plain clothes police that also patrol the streets looking for sellers and users. Basically, don't even try - else you'll end up like the Bali 9 or Schapelle Corby.

Credit Cards

Bring em but be careful It's always good to have a credit card with you when traveling, especially for those unexpected expenses. Remember to notify your credit card company that You are on the go, and give them your contact abroad - otherwise they may cancel or suspend your card is suspected of fraud. When using credit cards in Bali, make sure its just trying to legitimate credit card machines - Be wary of devices, "the" fly over and steal the card information. Avoid places that use the old drive type manually copying - any decent site should be an electronic device. Rule of thumb: If you are unsure, just use cash.

Staying healthyand avoiding "Bali Belly"

Indonesia is a developing nation and as such does not have the same level of sanitation and health care standards which we come to expect in developed nations. It's recommended to be vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Flu. It's best to consult your local doctor about vaccinations. The water in Bali is not recommended for drinking, so to avoid the infamous "bali belly" stick to bottled water. If you want to be extra careful, use your bottled water for brushing your teeth as well. Avoid ice in drinks from food stalls and small warungs (eatery). But ice from the convenience store or from a bar should be okay.

Alcohol and Drinks

Alcohol can be quite expensive Other than the locally made Bintang Beer (similar to and owned by Heineken) which is refreshingly Delicious and dirt cheap, and the horrible hangover inducing Arak, most alcohol is very expensive in Bali. This is supposedly because of the tax "moral" as proposed by the Indonesian government. Eg A bottle of Smirnoff vodka and it cost us 500,000 rp (approx USD $ 55). So it's a popular way to bring your own alcohol duty-free. Indonesian law allows up to 1 liter per person, not much. If you get caught for everything and you have to pay restitution or, * ahem *, "end" of something 20000-100000 rp rp and you can get your alcohol.

Locomotion

The best way toget around Bali, if you are not game on driving/riding your own vehicle is taxi and car+driver services. Taxi's are inexpensive (ie a metered taxi for a 45min ride is less than USD$7), see the bottom of this post for Taxi companies. Make sure the taxi is metered and starts at 5,000rp. You can also get car+driver services from about starting from USD$35 for a whole day - it would be recommended to tip the driver at the end of the day.

Mobile Phones and Wifi

Your own phone will probably be able to global roam on Indonesian networks, but it can be very expensive to make and receive calls. The best thing to do is purchase a local prepay sim card (like SimPati or 3) and pop it in your phone - you will then enjoy the low local rates. iPhones and Blackberry work but you'll have to get a SIM card that has internet data. It's easier to stick to the free wifi available at many cafes and bars.

Electricity plugs

In Indonesia they use 220V, 50 Cycle and the plugs are dual round prongs of the European variety. Adapters are available at some hotels OR can be purchased at Matahari's ( supermarket ) for around 35,000 Rp.

Tipping is good karma

Tipping There will sometimes be a service charge tacked onto your restaurant bill. It is not compulsory, but it is good practice to tip your hotel porters, masseuses, maids and any other staff during your stay. It doesn't have to be much - but you will ensure you will be looked after, and it would be greatly appreciated by the staff who only earn the equivalent of a few dollars a day.

Other Stuff

Sunscreen and moisturizer is expensive for some reason in Bali, bring your favorites from home. Condoms in Indonesia are not the best quality, it'd be safer and wiser to bring some of your own. Imodium (diarrhea medication) is worth keeping with you, you can buy them at any pharmacy (called apotik in Indonesian) in case of the infamous "bali belly".

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Bali Travel Information

Bali is just one of 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia and is definitely the most popular island target for holiday makers. All around the world, Bali is recognized as a paradise island with sun drenched beaches, white sand, excellent surf spots, fishing towns, and much more. When you travel to Bali you are not only going to stay in some of the most plush Bali accommodation that is on par with any other spot on earth, but you'll find small towns that have not changed in centuries and it will be as though you stepped back in time.

Balinese people are extremely friendly and will always return a smile and attempt to make you feel as cozy as possible by providing wonderful services when you stay with them. Some places do not allow tipping, but you will always wish to even in the most costly restaurants because of the attention and service you'll receive. The currency that is used in Bali is the IDR (Indonesian Rupiah) and coming from a developed country your money will go a long way.

Manners and respect are vital to the Balinese, so it is important to learn a couple of their customs. Although they are accepting of the westerners ways you will always find that people will be much friendlier if you try to observe there customs, even if you don't get it right, they 'll appreciate your effort.

Some of the most significant ones that will cause offense are; never touch or pat someone on the head, including children as it is considered awfully rude. Taking your shoes off before entering someone's house is a sign of respect. Pointing with your hand is okay, but never point with your foot. When visiting a temple, don't hang any clothing on the temple walls, Balinese people take their religion seriously, always sit lower than holy objects and honored guests at marriages or ceremonies. When doing your washing hang your underwear on the lowest rung and if going for a walk don't walk under a washing line so that underwear is above your head.

Getting to Bali is reasonably straightforward from any country and flights leave daily, though a stopover could be required from some places. There are no Bali visa requirements if you hold a passport of one of the Indonesian countries and most other nationals can get a visa simply. VOA (visas on arrival) are available at the airport when you land and cost between $10 and $25 depending how long you are staying, a $25 visa will give you 30days. Never overstay your visa as the Indonesian countries are very stern when it comes to this.

Before you decide to go to Bali, always be sure to check with your doctor for any shots that you may need. The reason that Bali is a beautiful country is that it is tropical and with the superb foliage and marine life comes some nasty little bugs. You'll be quite safe if you get all your jags before you leave. One thing that you should not do is drink the tap water, and some people advise not to clean your pearly whites with it either. Bottled water is inexpensive and widely available so use it. If you don't you could end up with a thing by the name of Bali Belly and you do not need or want this.

Taking a few cares and following some simple advice will make sure that your vacation is a problem free one and that you can enjoy all that Bali has to offer which is a lot. Given that a holiday is generally short it is important to head this advise how could a bad case of some tropical diseases devastate your holiday and see you in bed for the duration.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

What a luxury travel to Bali Thurs

Bali was "called" Island of the Gods, and many who were there to say that there is something truly magical island. There are many things to see in Bali, from ancient temples of majestic mountains, long sandy beaches and lurid green rice fields. What a family holiday in Bali a honeymoon or that brings you a sure sign that the island is without one.

Bali is a popular tourist destination and receivesa steady flow of tourists from all walks of life. While there are a lot of meals and accommodation in Bali, travelers and the heel should not feel excluded. Bali offers some exotic and luxurious accommodation and activities.

Fun is the key

If you are interested and willing to show off Bali contribute only to see some of the best that this beautiful city has to offer, this is the checklist should be.

LiveLike a king

Here's the good news. Australia you can stay in a luxury hotel in Bali the same price as a midrange hotel for you! Some luxury hotels are worth looking at Amandari, located five minutes from Ubud, Bali Intercontinental Resort and Ayana Resort and Spa Luxury villas in Bali are other alternatives. The villas are very popular among wealthy travelers like them to offer space, privacy and comfort of home. A luxury villa has a pool, without exception,Solarium, semi-open living environment and a fully equipped kitchen. There is also a fantastic holiday for families or for couples seeking a romantic getaway. Villas are becoming increasingly popular and trendy, and can be found all over Bali. You can control these villas before deciding where to stay - Novus Gawan, Villa Atas Ombak and the Mahayana.

Double H - Health and Holidays

Combining health and tourism is an attractive formula for tourists andwhy should not he be? A luxury vacation in Bali is simply not complete without a spa treatment. Bali is known for its technical and tropical spa, traditional massage and holistic healing. There are many spa towns on the island of Bali, and most of the resort and hotel spas have their compounds. Choose between the intimate luxury of a resort of international fame, a modest but no less enjoyable pleasures of a traditional Balinese spa. Or both!

Shop till youDrop

Here's a useful tip, head to Bali with an empty suitcase. Great Western style shopping malls can be found all over Bali and the country is a great place, with summer wear. If you own a new home, it might good idea to buy a boat and furniture from Bali a. When the large shopping malls are not your thing, head to Ubud, where you'll find many beautiful and extravagant shops. Some shops on Bong market PitheCan Thropus, Pusaka, and Pura VidaBiasa.

Sail Away

Why do we eat in Bali, if you can afford to cruise with dinner? There are many travel agencies, this intimate dining experience so be sure to do some research before choosing a job that best suits your needs ... or wants. These cruises usually three hours and offers a good distribution of food and entertainment. They are truly a feast for the eyes and the palate!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Travel to Bali

About Bali

The province of Bali consists of several islands. These islands are Bali, which, of course, the largest of the group and the smaller islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan, Menjangan and Nusa Lembongan Serangan Island and Iceland. The province of Bali consists of several islands. These islands are Bali, which, of course, the largest group and the smaller islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan, Nusa Lembongan and SeranganIsland, Menjangan and Iceland. The island of Bali has an area of 5,632.86 square kilometers with a population of 3,156.392. These averages of 517 inhabitants per km2.

on the south side of the Indonesian island of Bali Ocean

on the western side of Bali, separated by the Strait of Bali, is the province of East Jawa

located on the east side of Lombok island in the Straits of Lombok.

Administratively, Bali Province is dividedin 9 districts (8 regencies and 1 municipality), 51 sub districts, 565 villages and 79 local political districts. Geographically, the province of Bali is 48 80-30'-40 '50 '-80' south latitude and 1140-25'-53 'to 42'-1150-40' east longitude. The relief and topography of Bali, as the main feature of a mountain range that crosses the island from west to east. Of the two mountains are of considerable size: the volcanoes of GunungAgung (3.140 m) and Gunung Batur (1.717 m). In addition to these functions, Bali has four lakes: Lake Beratan (375.6 ha), Lake Buyan (336 ha), Lake Tamblingan (11 ha) and Lake Batur (1607.5). Rivers, the source of these lakes and forests, river in the southern part of the island. These rivers are the River Unda, Petanu River, River Ayung, Pulukan River, Loloan River and many others.

Bali has a tropical climate, influenced by seasonal windschange every six months. There are two seasons: the dry season from April to October and the rainy season from October to April. Temperatures vary from 24.0 ° C to 30.8 ° C. rains over the past five years ranges from a minimum of 893.4 mm, a height of 2,702.6 mm. Humidity 90%, on average, during the rainy season and up to 100% in the dry season, approximately 60%.

Event: Anniversary temple Pura Pasek Gelgel Date: 26.10.2006

Category: Temple Anniversary Location: Marga,Tabanan

Details: Temple Anniversary

Event: Anniversary & Temple Pura Pura Desa Puseh Date: 26.10.2006

Category: Temple Anniversary Location: Sukawati, Gianyar

Details: Temple Anniversary

Event: FIA International Rally and Awards Date: 15.12.2006

Category: Sports City: Pecatu, Badung

Detail: International Award Event and Rally

Find Restaurants in Bali:

[HTTP: / / www.geocities.com /] baliresto

Friday, August 27, 2010

Bali Travel - Top Holiday in Bali, Indonesia Thurs

When in Bali, be sure not to miss this Bali Highlights

Uluwatu Temple, Bali is perched on a cliff on the southern tip, is the most popular of the many Hindu temples scattered throughout the island. Of course, a temple, there is a strict dress code, although sarongs and dresses can be rented at the entrance. Inside the wake clever monkey Tore, handbags and cameras from visitors love.

Tanah Lotthe second most popular of the many Hindu temples scattered throughout the island. The Hindu temple is the sea waves breaking on a rock, which is accessible at low tide surrounded towers. The temple offers a first floor perfect for a breathtaking sunset from April to November.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud is located 20 km north of Denpassar. Discover set the three holy temples in the dense jungle and inhabited by long-tailed macaques (monkeys). They look cute, but notFeed, as with wild animals, no table manners. Keep your assets as they are called to rescue bag!

Beaches - Some of the best surfing beaches in the world can be found on the island on the west side. The east side is a wonderful haven for families, with beautiful white sand beaches and gentle seas. Do not swim in a beach, a red flag when the sand is planted.

surf lessons are taught by different schools of surfingBeginners and advanced on the popular stretch of sand and gentle waves at the beach of Kuta and Legian, Seminyak and intermediates provides a little more challenging with fewer crowds.

Waterbom Park is a water park (slides, pools, tropical garden) a few steps from Kuta Beach, Kuta Square, opposite the Discovery Shopping Mall

Bali Safari and Marine Park, stretching between the Indian, Indonesian and African wildlifeEco-systems. Enjoy driving the water park, amusement park, elephant rides, baby zoo, animal shows and elephant.

Kintamani Volcano Tour is one of the most popular and spectacular sightseeing tours in Bali. Visit the cool mountainous region of Bali, where the main activity in horticulture. The main attraction for visitors to Lake Batur and the spectacular views of the volcanic crater lake in a huge caldera. A climb to the summit ofMount Batur, still an active volcano, which is to see the sunrise until an 'unforgettable experience for the energetic traveler.

Elephant Safari Park is a charming Elephant Sanctuary, where visitors can learn about elephants, elephants and trekking around the park.

White Water Rafting on the Ayung River is a fun and exciting experience when passing through the rain forest, rapids and waterfalls.

Iceland Lembongan Reef Cruiseoffers visitors a full day of water activities Lembongan Bay. The boat takes a huge floating pontoon, where visitors viewed Underwater Marine can experience a water slide, snorkeling, diving, excursions and a dinner buffet village.

Watch the sunset, this is the most beautiful beach view. Kuta sunset is impressive during the December solstice, when the sun is lower, shadows and atmospheric light of a warm orange.

SpaThe treatment is a good way to heal itself and is available in many hotels.

Hot springs are Iceland are at various locations throughout the. Air Panja, check a warm surrounded by a lush garden, is located along the north island, near Lovina.

Balinese cooking class is a great way to experience the lifestyle of Balinese culture and learning about food and cooking. Learn more about herbs and exotic spices used in ceremonies andEveryday Balinese cuisine.

Gulf Coast is popular in several international standard golf courses with stunning mountain view of Bali.

Diving and snorkeling are available from several operators in Bali dive shop runs day trips to many interesting dive sites around Bali, including Pulau Menjangan, which is very popular.

As you can see there is plenty to do in Bali - a visit is not possibleEnough!