Asia - Bali - Location Help Wanted Please!

Am traveling to Indonesia June 2012 and plan on spending 3-4 nights in Bali. Although there's some good info on other FT posts, I was hoping someone with island familiarity could help confirming, in one place, my impression of 3 locations I'm considering staying:

1) Nusa Dua - Touristy beach area good for relaxation, but not a lot of cultural activity. Considering The Bale hotel.

2) Seminyak - High roller "chic" part of the island with shopping, luxury, but beaches less nice than Nusa and also not a lot of cultural content. Considering the Amala.

3) Ubud - Inland and less touristy, a bit of a drive to beach areas, but far more authentic. Considering staying at the Viceroy Bali, which is in the hills outside of Ubud.

Is this impression accurate? Thanks!

Am traveling to Indonesia June 2012 and plan on spending 3-4 nights in Bali. Although there's some good info on other FT posts, I was hoping someone with island familiarity could help confirming, in one place, my impression of 3 locations I'm considering staying:

1) Nusa Dua - Touristy beach area good for relaxation, but not a lot of cultural activity. Considering The Bale hotel.

2) Seminyak - High roller "chic" part of the island with shopping, luxury, but beaches less nice than Nusa and also not a lot of cultural content. Considering the Amala.

3) Ubud - Inland and less touristy, a bit of a drive to beach areas, but far more authentic. Considering staying at the Viceroy Bali, which is in the hills outside of Ubud.

Is this impression accurate? Thanks!

If you're into partying at night, the Kuta/Legian/Seminyak area is right for you.
Nusa Dua is mostly a tourist ghetto with golf courts. Sanur is more laid back and the place to go if you want to scuba dive. To simply experience Bali I'd go to Ubud. But it's not really "less touristy".

Thanks Maluku, that's helpful. I guess more so than authentic, I meant 'cultural' in reference to Ubud. Sanur sounds interesting, but I'm a very amateur diver, so don't really want to plan a trip around it.

tourist ghetto well describes Nusa Dua. Package tours, package experience, preplanned and orderly, no reason to fly to Bali and stay there, imo.

Seminyak is the northern end of a developed south beach area with the higher end hotels, restaraunts, spas and shopping. Legian is more mid range, Kuta is rock bottom backpacker ghetto. Variety of things to do, the beach isn't bad at all except for people watching. Traffics bad most places on Bali these days; getting out of this stretch can be atrocious. For the nightlife, relatively central location, and habit I generally stay somewhere in this stretch.

Sanur is sleepy and popular with an older crowd and/or those not interested in nightlife.

Ubud is the site for cultural tourists. It's quite popular and busy.

Regarding "authentic", my experience is a majority of the Indonesians working in the tourist trade aren't Balinese. They come from all over Indonesia and generally are forced to serve up food and experience that fits what their customers money wants, not what the customer pretends they want.

Depends on your budget, but if you want the beach Amankila is probably the best but pricey. There are some small villages nearby that are very interesting to walk around.

If you want culture go to Ubud. A lot to do there but no beaches.

Nusa Dua is a tourist precinct. However there are local experiences, try the local market on Jalan Bypass between Jalan Pratama and the security checkpoint by the Nusa Dua Gate.

Perfect spot for some lazy relaxing on the beach or poolside.

The Bale is awesome.

Get your real Bali feel at Ubud or Candi Dasa.

Nusa Dua is a tourist precinct. However there are local experiences, try the local market on Jalan Bypass between Jalan Pratama and the security checkpoint by the Nusa Dua Gate.

Perfect spot for some lazy relaxing on the beach or poolside.

The Bale is awesome.

Get your real Bali feel at Ubud or Candi Dasa.

^

In my 8 or so trips to Bali over the last six years, I've never stayed in Nusa Dua. In fact, I've never even set foot in Nusa Dua. The whole concept of a purpose-built resort zone with large western-branded hotels puts me off. I much prefer Ubud and environs, and the Candi Dasa area. Seminyak and Jimbaran are fine, certainly better than downmarket Kuta and artificial Nusa Dua.

I'm sure there are some very nice places in Nusa Dua. And I have no doubt that some deliver excellent service. But it's just not for me. In fact, as I've learned, the first place we stayed in Bali on our first trip, then the Ritz-Carlton now the Ayana Resort, is a very beautiful place and the service and amenities were very nice. But it's just too big for me now. I've learned how much I prefer the smaller places, from which it's easier to get out of the resort atmosphere and interact with Balinese people.

If you want somewhere you will never forget, the Aman Kila. A long drive form the airport but worth it for a unique lifetime experience.

I recommend you check out the Tanah Lot if you want an excursion

The Bale re-opens in May from big refurb, so will be doubly awesome! Also, deals may be had.

I presume you picked the Amala as it is a sister hotel? They are not the same standard (not intended to be), but the Amala is great in it's own right.

I prefer Seminyak area myself, but I have stayed at The Bale, and well, if I wanted to be loved and pampered, I would return in heartbeat!

I havn't seen the Viceroy, but normally stay @ The Chedi Club - the Pool Villas are special.