SanDiego1K

The Chedi Club in Ubud is really special.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...-amankila.html

Oops, I see the beach is a requirement. Ubud is out (though, seriously, look at those pictures. It's sublime.) For a beach, consider the St Regis Bali.

9Benua

My friend recommend this Nihiwatu - Sumba island It's 50 mins flight from Bali.

RustyC

Nusa Dua is probably what you want. It's the cloistered beach area with the more expensive high-end places.

IMO the biggest problem in Kuta isn't the other visitors, but all the aggressive hawkers and others trying to eke out a living. You see them in a few other places as well, but Kuta is the epicenter.

I've always told people who say they like Australians that they have to go out on the town around Kuta before they can say that, but really if you went to college and saw frat parties it's nothing that new. And all that is much more easily avoided than the hawkers.

Ubud is much better generally, but no beach. Sanur has a beach but gets too much spillover from Kuta. Nusa Dua is likely your place.

BadgerBoi

I think someone else already mentioned Seminyak, that's where I'd recommend. We stayed in a great villa there, it's quieter than Kuta but not too quiet - no revolting 20 year old Aussies or middle-aged American or European man-boob types, and some very nice Balinese restaurants. Close to Kuta if you know the area, but without the horrors. Just a 20 minute cab ride (or a 10 minute walk ) away.

If I can find the name of the villa we stayed at I'll PM a link to you.

Annalisa12

Thanks!

I agree, I don't want it so quiet but I do want to see some local stuff.

AspiringWorldTraveler

Jumping in on this thread, thanks for all the suggestions (for my lurker self). Was considering Alilah Uluwatu, Kubu Villas, St. Regis. Ideally looking for a place on the beach, with private pool, and butler, prefer not to pay the $800 USD the St. Regis requires for this type of room. Wife loves the beach, I'm a sucker for pools, we both love luxurious places. This is for our honeymoon so we will be splurging. Hoping 5 days in one portion of Island (Seminyak, Ubud, Nusa Dua) and 2 more in another of the above three portions to relax before flying home to NY through Hong Kong. Any experience at the Hanging Gardens Ubud?

Thanks!

Astrophsx

I'd check out this trip report. Not the hanging gardens, but will give you an idea of ubud.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...ila-chedi.html

SQTraveller

If you want to avoid the drunken 20 year olds, avoid Kuta.
If you want to avoid drunken everyone else, avoid Seminyak. HA!

I have stayed in Seminyak and my impression is that those who used to go to Kuta as backpackers, now go to Seminyak as they have a bit of money.

For some quiet I would stay in the Nusa Dua area -- St Regis has been mentioned and it is a really well run chain. If you see some of my food reviews, you can see that I've eaten at the St Regis in Singapore
Brasserie Les Saveurs and Yan Tingl and was really impressed with the experience. You really pay for it, but if the Bali hotel is as good as the Singapore one, I think you can say it will be a good experience.

I would also consider the Mulia Hotel, which is also in the Nusa Dua area, just not in the Nusa Dua complex.
They have villas as well. And the hotel fronts onto the beach.

Dieuwer

Where would you stay in Seminyak if you like beachfront but Oberoi/Legian is too expensive?

number_6

East coast of Bali, which is quite remote and much less developed (fishing villages are still the prime local employment). About 3 hour drive from airport now (used to be 6, road is improved). I prefer Amed, but start at Candidasa (more touristy and maybe more what most expect). Mix of small hotels, B&B and villa accomodation at all price points but generally 1/4 the Seminyak price. Just don't expect shopping malls or traffic jams or wall to wall bars

Annalisa12

I'm happy to pay for quality. I looked at the Oberoi and Legian.

My husband has now decided he doesn't want to go to Bali. Looks like we are going to Hong Kong and Singapore. He wants to somehow get to Cambodia too.

I've got everything in the memory bank tho.

Thanks all.

TOMFORD

Definitely avoid the W if you want to avoid drunken idiots. And I'm not just talking about W in Bali. I think you'll find many drunken people in beach resorts. If you want to avoid them, stay in Ubud, where you'll be annoyed by hipsters instead.

Jaimito Cartero

I like Singapore, but find it a bit sterile for my taste.

Dieuwer

Those are $400 and $500/night for my dates. No thanks.

Annalisa12

Been there before. Just going to relax for a few days and maybe a bit of shopping.