Uluwatu Sanur or Jimbaran

[Yogamuminahottent]

So flights are booked and Ubud is a definite on our locations to stay. Can't decide on the following:-

Beach area to stay at (want chilled but def tween aged kids around for dd11yrs to play with)

Hotel in Ubud - don't want to end up mozzie fodder!

Hubbie def wants to surf so will prob end up in Ulus or Padang Padang. Are 3 locations too much for 11 nights?

Cheers

What sort of hotel are you after in Ubud? Bali traditional or more modern? Budget per night? What do you want to do in Ubud? Do you need to be near Yogaworks?
If dh surfs have you thought about Medewi breaks? Dreamland on the bukit?There are some good places to stay down those coasts but not 5* type places at Medewi. If you tell me what sort of place you're looking for (international standard/flashpacker/trad Bali etc) I can probably help. Also worth thinking about getting the boat over to Nusa Lembongan for the surf scene there. Some good hotels too.
I use Sanur as a first and last night base, it's too busy and touristy for my taste, if I were going to stay somewhere that busy I'd probably choose Seminyak.
I'm rambling. Tell me what you like and I'll send you some links!

Oh, and when are you going?

ok, thanks Gonnagle - budget varies dependent on how long we are going to stay. So 3 or 4 nights in Ubud probably I've been looking at anything from the Chedi to Uma by Como and Komaneka group. It doesn't have to be 5* if it is clean, well kept and mozzie free but at some point i do want a bit of luxury!

He's a bit of a surf snob and always tends to go to Uluwatu to surf but some of the places look ropey (especially the place he normally stays which he says is great) and then the others really expensive so thinking maybe away from there.

I want some yoga - as the name suggests! (as does dd but she'll be more concerned about making friends!) and activity wise i think we will do most of that when in Ubud, a balinese dance, visiting rice paddies, visit to the Green School, visit to Tellangang etc. Def want to do some shopping, particular interiors stuff - carvings etc, naice ones though, not tourist tat - that's where my snobbery comes in!

Def need to be by the sea at some point and would prefer white sand!

we are not stopping over so can't work out what we should do on arrival as no idea where our body clocks will be at, especially after the jet lag dh and dd had going to Florida last year!

Don't think i can persuade either of them to get a boat over to Nusa so we'll skip that one.

I am having the wrangle of Sanur/Semiyak but having been to Seminyak in 2001 when it was nice and not over developed not sure i want to shatter that memory iykwim!

Going end of May. You sound very expert on Bali so hoping you can ease my over obsessing mind!

The end of May is a good time for weather, the rainy season finishes in April so the trees will be green, lots of wild flowers etc.

Uluwatu is an expensive area to stay in, some amazing hotels (like Alila, which is fantastic) or ropey surf joints. You could look at a villa but they're mega bucks too. I'd stay away and travel over personally, although the traffic can be pretty hideous.
Although it does have the white sand I'm not a Nusa Dua fan, it's a big tourist enclave where Balinese aren't allowed unless they work there. Massive international hotels, could be anywhere in the world.
No white sand at Seminyak, which is hideously busy these days, and the development has spread right up the coast. I do really like the W at Seminyak if you were looking for big hotel luxury there and it's not as expensive as some, particularly if you join Starwood's SPG loyalty for the perks.

I'm a bit more of a midrange girl, we've stayed at the Alam group in Ubud quite a bit. They're absolutely beautiful and feel so very Bali. I particularly love Alam Shanti. Also check Bambu Indah in Ubud - just beautiful.

Get your husband to have a look at the Medewi surf breaks in Negara (EastBali), they're a lot quieter than Uluwatu and you could look at Puri Dajuma Cottages. They're beautiful, very Balinese and not expensive.Or go budget with Medewi bay retreat.

Also consider a quick flight (if you have time) to Lombok. The surfing off Kuta beach Lombok is world class, it's flipping paradise too. And it has white sand!

Keep it coming, I love a Bali planning mission!

we've got 11 nights (not inc travel) so if you fancy suggesting an itinerary that may help me decide on whee to go & how long to stay at each! thanks

If I had 11 nights I would probably split as follows
4 nights Ubud
5 nights surf destination
2 nights hotel near airport (I hate doing a long land transfer before a long flight, it's so soul sapping!)

How you choose the hotels depends on budget. If you went over to Kuta, Lombok for the surf jaunt your money would go a lot further and easily cover the cost of the flights, which are dirt cheap.
Personally I would go mid-range for Ubud, there's so much there and you don't need to spend massive amounts for a beautiful setting. I don't know when you last went to Ubud but it has got really really busy in the day(lots and lots of coach trips, you can barely move by the grand palace at lunch time) and the traffic is really bad. We stay in NyuhKuning and go into the centre in the evening, missing the crowds. Campuhan is another good place to stay with a walk into town.
Surfy bit…..is it still Uluwatu all the way?
Hotel near airport. Jimberan? Never actually stayed here but visited quite a bit, it's a lovely beach.
Or if you weren't staying in Uluwatu for surfy bit you could do the last two nights here on a splurge? (Alila????)
Seminyak? NOT Kuta for me, it's hell on earth. Paradise lost.
Sanur? We love Tandjung Sari, one of the first hotels in Sanur, very chilled out. Or Gangsa by Kayumanis - lovely too. Sanur has a reputation as being a bit boring but it's lovely walking the coastal path in the morning. Or hire bikes and potter up and down the coast. It is very touristy though, not really Bali.

So many choices…...

I love planning! (even someone else's holiday, someone I've never met!)

4 days Bambu Indah or Alam Shanti/Alam Jiwa (Although Bambu isn't walking distance)
5 days Novotel Kuta Lombok or Puri Dajuma cottages Medewi
2 days Tandjung Sari Sanur

Not expensive, quintessentially Balinese throughout, slightly off the beaten track (except Sanur)
That would be my pick

Tell me if I'm heading in the right direction.

Thanks Gon. I really appreciate your help.

yes - kind of. I was faffing around about where to go first - you think straight to Ubud to acclimatise?

Surf area will depend on dh. he's been away this week so will check with him on weekend. I think Uluwatu/Padang Padang/Bingin will be his preference rather than Medewi. I keep looking at the Ayana as a little bit of luxury down that way but it is quite isolated. Is it far from Jimbaran?

Still cannot get my head around Sanur or Seminyak - i do want to shop and for some reason my head is telling me Seminyak will have more options - so long as i can stand the busy streets.

We're getting int he right direction but i want to drain you of more info ;)

Shopping is definitely better in Seminyak, by a country mile. If shopping is your primary concern then go for Seminyak every time. And Ubud was far busier than Seminyak when I was there in May last year. I really couldn't believe how much busier Ubud had got.
What about Seminyak/Ubud/Ayana? 4/4/3? Or 3/4/4 if the funds are there?

The Ayana is absolutely stunning. If it's within budget then do it! Get to Rock bar for your sunset early though, it gets super busy with people visiting in the evening. I frankly wouldn't care that much about going into Jimberan if I was staying here, but it's only ten minutes in a taxi. And it's nice and close to the airport, and saving the luxury for last is always a good idea, you don't want to feel that faint disappointment when you move to a new hotel.

Where are you looking at in Ubud?

Mayhalf term! sooooo excited and nervous at the same time.

yes that's what I've been worrying about - the crusendo to a disappointing hotel at the end! a few people have said how much busier Ubid is now - wondering if we'll enjoy it if it's that busy!

Any idea what the mozzies are like at different places - dd and i get eaten alive even when people tell there are none around!

any thoughts on Canggu?

Canggu is expat land. Lots and lots of villas, slowly swallowing up the rice paddys. It's Seminyak but with more long term residents if you like. The beach is similar to Seminyak too, not the best for swimming, great for long walks and admiring the view. There is great food across the whole Seminyak/Canggu belt and of course in Ubud.
I really would pick a hotel away from Monkey Forest Road/the Grand Palace area. I can't stress how busy it was when we were there in May. There are so many nice places to stay on the fringes, we go to Nyuh Kuning because you can walk through (or round in my case - I don't trust the monkeys!) the monkey forest and be at the bottom of Monkey Forest Road in no time at all.
Difficult to predict the mossies, they are anywhere around stagnant water. Remember the dengue risk - deet all day long. I always put a tiny drop of tea tree oil (I mean single drop!) on the surface of any stagnant water around our villa/room. The larvae can't use their snorkels to breathe if you disturb the water tension and it kills them all. Result! That said, the only times I have been really badly bitten was staying in Sanur and I also got bitten to bits in Ubud market! Any mangroves will be riddled with the buggers, but I don't think you'll be near any on this trip.
Which hotels are on your short list at the moment other than the Ayana?

If you're into your food subscribe to BaliEats by an aussie guy called Gerry. He's obsessive about food and basically goes around eating and blogging about it. It makes me drool and dream of sunshine in rubbish rainy Birmingham

WHat about Lovina i the north? Black sand beach...

I like the north of the island best of all. Pemuteran is gorgeous, Lovina, and Amed on the east coast is lovely lovely lovely. No surf to speak of really though, and op's dh is all about the surf I think.

OK thanks - i'm not a fan of monkeys so that makes sense. I like the idea of the Komaneka so i guess the Bisma would be a better option. For some reason i have in my head the bigger hotels would deal with mossies better than the smaller ones but that is possibly an ignorant assumption! I do like the look of the ones you posted and it would maybe give us more spending cash! As you can tell i've got a little obsessed with the whole mossie thing!

If we had longer i'd definitely head up north but there's so much to squeeze in already and it would be really mean for us to go all the way to Bali and dh not get a chance to surf - Wales has great surf but not often the kind you can do in boardies!

Not fussed on being beach front in Seminyak/Canngu if shopping & eating is the order of the day though i do have a soft spot for being near La Luciola as we stayed in that area on our honeymoon in 2002!

Ah sunny Birmingham - was there before Xmas - it was a grey as Swansea ca be but really enjoyed the food and cocktails! ;)

I don't think size of hotel makes much of a difference tbh, most hotels fog once a week anyway. Have a look around the smaller hotels online, there are so many places to stay in Ubud and they are so beautiful. Don't discount a private villa either, Ubud is full of them and the service you get is just above and beyond. We spent a month in a villa just outside Ubud when dd was 5 months old. It was wonderful
Potato Head is just up from La Lucciola (great honeymoon spot!) too so you must give that a go. W is next door to potato head, about a 5 minute beach stroll from La L!

thanks Gon - i've looked at some amazing villas today but dh worried dd will be gutted to not be around other kids. don't get me wrong she loves being with us and is a really good girl but she's very used to going on holiday and making friends. I've also seen some fantastic Ayurvedic places but again, she'd be bored rigid!

Seems like i am on the merry-go-round of indecision at the moment

I like that merry-go-round, examining all the endless possibilities and getting excited.
It would only be four day in a villa though, why don't you show her them online and see what she says? Particularly if it was sandwiched between two hotels. How old is she?

She'll have just turned 11. Someone else has also suggested the Alaya - sounds nice, cheaper than Komaneka and next to yoga barn to feed my yoga addiction! So many choices! Merry-go rounds just get me grumpy dizzy! Don't get me wrong I'm very grateful to get to go but too much choice! I have a driver in mind though! Better mail him in case he gets book then I'm back on the merry go round of drivers!

The Alaya looks lovely and I do like Jn.Hanoman, it has its of interesting little shops on it. And it is indeed a very short walk to Yoga Barn! And to Siam Sally, which is a pretty good thai restaurant with live music once a week (and a fantastic happy hour!). Don't bother with the dirty duck though, I've never rated it although I love bebek betutu.

Thanks for all your help Gon. We ended up booking Wapa di Ume as Alaya said they could only get a third bed in by blocking the wardrobe and walkway of the room. Not my idea of fun after a 16hr flight!

Next onto deciding that remainder of the trip. DH def wants to surf Bukit so trying to decide if we should bother with Seminyak.

Waka di Ume is meant to be lovely.
Have fun planning the rest of your trip, Seminyak is a fantastic shopping destination…….

I'm sure this is a bit late now but have you seen mu-bali.com? Could solve your affordable/Uluwatu dilemma!