AIBU that I'm nervous that I booked the wrong country for a holiday...BALI

[Sinalley1]

I usually spend a long time researching. I don't know why I didn't. Two families said they loved Bali - they avoided all the shit areas and went to quiet places. They said it was perfect for their young kids (8 and 6), same age as mine and we're likeminded.

But I've read so much slagging off of Bali since I booked it. We're not going till next year, we've booked some top notch accommodation in off-the-beaten track places - or, shall we say, the quieter places - but I am nervous that it's going to go tits up and we'll be massively disappointed. We haven't done a long haul trip in years.

I realise this is a first world problem. I really do.

I’m Australian. I nearly spat out my tea (true.... I actually have a cup of tea right now) as I thought the awful Aussie comment was funny. I was not offended at all. Bali often does bring out the inner bogan for many Aussies. I do think though attitudes are slowly changing and behaviour is improving, especially with the changes in Alcohol regulation.

You’ll have a great time OP

I've been to Amed, it's beautiful and relaxed, with excellent snorkelling just feet away from the shoreline. Chickens pecking around and other lovely things. Perfect with kids I would say. We went to Ubud for the day, and I wasn't mad about it. It just struck me as a sequence of huge souvenir shops going on for miles. My friend has been there though and quite liked it, so who knows!

We did drive through Kuta and it looked bloody awful, I would be really annoyed to fly all the way there for that. But the north is largely unspoiled. We also went to Pemuteran which was great. but had a rather exclusive feel that I wasn't comfortable with.

Sanur is I reckon the best resort for kids, lots of choice for inexpensive and good restaurants, no hassle, and more low key than Kuta etc. I wasn’t a fan of the beach there as although it was clean the reef meant no waves, it was very shallow til a long way out.

Kuta gets dissed by a lot of people, it’s very busy and full of tourist tat. But a great beach for learner surfers, one of the safer ones on that coast, and I think gets a bit of an unfair rap.

Don’t be put off the monkey forest in Ubud, for my kids it was a real highlight of their trip. And the water park in Kuta, Waterbom is a fantastic day out, great rides, queues ok, super clean and safe, good food. Well worth the trip over from Sanur.

Re: Monkeys, we really enjoyed visiting the monkey park, but I would say be careful not to creep up behind them. I did that inadvertedly, and was hounded away by a screeching female monkey that I had spooked.

Thanks again. I have slightly extended Amed, as I think it will be great. Sanur will be good for a few days.

@Koalablue - I know you didn't mean it, really, but I prob am a holiday snob!