THEJOCK

I'm looking for thoughts for a trip the last week of October. The two options are Ubud / bali and Siem reap / Phuket. We have been to bali many times including twice this year, but never to Ubud or surrounds. So thinking this time of doing one of manadapa, chedi or uma for 3 nights plus the legian. I am also considering amankila, any thoughts from anyone heading here rather than Ubud? Please bare in mind we will also be travelling with children (though well behaved). The only given in this itinerary is the Legian, we like to be in seminyak so usually stay here. Would be interested to hear if anyone has stayed at the legian after the management change though? Hopefully the service standards are the same.

For Siem reap / Phuket, we will most likely do Phum baiting and point yamu. I know everyone here is amanpuri and trisara fans, but for various reasons we really like point yamu in Phuket.

We probably prefer the Siem reap / Phuket option for this trip, but the big variable in bali's favour is the weather. Bali weather is still pretty good even though it's shoulder season, Phuket in particular, anything can happen. We were there a couple of years back in October and it rained non stop for 3 days, but have also had times with great weather. Having said that, the weather in Bali is a bit crazy this year. We were there a month ago, a time of usually guaranteed endless sun and there was lots of rain!

5khours

So what is the question? Are you looking for a weather prediction for the end of October?

THEJOCK

Looking for opinions based on people's experiences at to whether bali would be significantly better / safer choice, weather wise, this time of year (we have not been to bali around October time). And also opinions on the resorts I mentioned around bali, and therefore whether ubud or amankila might be better pre legian choice

5khours

It's as you describe it. Bali has less rain and better weather in October plus the ocean is still fairly rough in Phuket in October.


If you have never done Ubud, I would do Ubud. Amankila is great but like Legian, it's a beach resort.

Ericka

I love Ubud. But it might be more likely to get rain than the coastal areas. Anyone else have experience with that?

FlyerEC

If you decide on Bali , you can possibly stay Amankila after Legian & do a day trip to Ubud . Ubud is really congested with hordes of ' whoever , besides backpackers .. ' . Then you get woken up by countryside / tropical creatures .
Sandra W & Kila team can suggest a day trip with perhaps dinner at Dari or Mosaic ( no children though )

We are headed to Bali in a couple of weeks , likely only Nusa , no Kila this time . Will see how it goes if swinging by Ubud at all , just the thought of the crowds .. But intend on being in Seminyak .

End October at Siem Reap & Phuket should be alright . If you are fine with heat & humidity , Siem Reap is ok . That Point Yamu pool will be fun for the whole family .

Weather patterns have changed so we shall see how Bali is next month .
We will be in Phuket end September , just remembered !

chinmoylad

Ubud is definitely more likely to receive rain than the coastal areas.

Travel K

Mandapa is fantastic, especially for kids. You didn't say what the ages are, but Mandapa has a kids camp that is educated orientated, which is a bit unique to the area.

Ubud is fantastic. When I visited, it was May, which is dry season. It rained like crazy for about an hour or so every afternoon, then cleared. I hear October is not too bad though from friends who live there. I guess November is when it starts to get a bit more serious about the rain.

Five Star Traveller

^

I also loved Mandapa, and I think it's easily the best property in the RC portfolio right now (certainly a higher level from the other "Reserves"). It might just be my new favorite in Bali, as I've always preferred the jungle resorts in Ubud over the beach ones (not a fan of Bali beaches due to being spoiled by Seychelles, Maldives, etc).

Travel K

I so agree with your comment on jungle over beach. Bali doesn't have the greatest beaches if you compare to the places you mentioned for sure. But the jungle properties are heavenly. Mandapa is a bit unknown, I feel. They treat Virtuoso clients really well, too.

FlyerEC

Amankila is both beach & jungle
Black sand though , but rather private .

On rare occasions no ships in sight only fishing boats .

Sometimes see Wana plane if one looks at right times

chinmoylad

No ships would be incredible.

benjahman

i'm not certain if i'll ever forgive myself for booking Amankila over Legian or some other Bali beach resort. Property is nice and service was fine, but the oil tanker views (Amankila is just up the beach from a Pertamina (state owned oil company) distribution port) really spoiled it for me. Not sure if we were the only couple there but it felt like the place was empty and that turned us off. We enjoy people watching and friendly discussions with other travelers, none of which happened.

Chedi in Ubud and then we should've hit Legian. Next time!

Kagehitokiri

kila and soori are in completely undeveloped areas, unlike basically all others

phuket >
if low season (with complimentary Exclusive) could consider puri
of course surin is on same beach as puri and can be pretty cheap

FlyerEC

Yes , ' RARE ' occasions , no ships , ferries or tankers ..

There will have been other guests . Possibly just out trekking , having private meals scattered on property - beach , beach club , suites , etcetera

Many stay at Amans precisely not to see ( many ) others