Wow, thanks for sharing.

Bali
 

When I was there in Nov, we took every single cab ride with uber and all trips went well.

Ok this is also good to know. I do not like their cabs. All the cabs we took were the bluebird ones, some drivers were honest while others just wanted to rip you off.

From the airport it's not too bad now as they have a flat rate voucher which you need to buy. Note though that the flat rate voucher from the domestic terminal is cheaper than from the international terminal :)

Why would that be? Are you sure? I have been to the new airport in Bali but where is the domestic terminal?

It's the same, but on the more domestic side there is a second counter and writing in bahasa is a different rate to the international exit voucher counter.

I was in Bali also in December and have been riding with ubers and I had not encountered major issue, other than 1 pick up that the driver never show up and cannot contact him.

In my last trip (in Feb) the situation was very different. Like I said, I encountered many apps problems, then the driver cancel the request. I even have situation that the driver picked me up and he said he cannot start the trip and end up negotiating a private arrangement (and he over charged me actually).

Not to mention that the last incident going to airport and the driver never show up, after waiting for around 20 minutes, even the apps said he will come in 15 min drop to 1 min.

It may be just my bad luck that the apps was not stable at that time.

I stayed at the Pullman for three days and totally hated the location in Kuta beach. Upon walking on the street in front of the hotel, within 10 minutes three people asked me if I want to buy drugs. Every ten meters someone would ask me if I want "transport". Heck, even when I was just crossing the street with a towel under my arm, obviously going to the beach, I couldn't escape the "transport" offers. Everything in Kuta Beach is geared towards cheap tourist action: small stalls selling garbage, tattoo shops and seedy bars.

This property is the dump. I stayed there on my first visit and hated it. Sent a huge complain letter and got the total cost refunded. Incompetent staff and terrible rooms.

Seriously? What issues did you have with the hotel?

I found the hotel actually quite nice. It's just the Kuta Beach location that's terrible.

Sometimes they put trainee staffs in charge during weekend. Did you stay there during weekend?

This was a Front Office Manager. Please read my review on Tripadvisor. Ill see if I can find it and I'll post it here.

I found it. After that stay we only stay at the IC Bali.

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Rev...gian_Bali.html

Which review is yours?

I have stayed in the hotel twice. I would not say this is the best hotel in Kuta not to mention Bali, but I found the hotel is OK.

Service may be just OK or even below average. My first stay I was Gold so they upgraded me to Deluxe room and my second stay I was Platinum and they upgraded me to 1 bed room suit.

The Service Ambassador took my picture when I was checkin saying it was used so that the staffs can recognized me (as Platinum member). But I do not think the staff recognize me at all. They even have to ask my room number during breakfast. Well not really think it is important for them to recognize me anyway, so not really a big deal to me.

If you compare Pullman to IC then it is not fair comparison as they are in different league :)

Well Kuta is tourist destination. Of course people will try to sell. Just ignore them and they will not bother you. I never encounter people approach me and try to sell drugs to me ever this is quite a surprise to me that they openly do it as now Indonesia is rather strict on drugs.

What you mean by "small stalls selling garbage"

Kuta is more like crowded place. You can find anything in one place. (public) Beach , shop (from low to high end), food (from cheap to rather expensive food).

I personally think hotel like Pullman (which has nice pool upstair) which you can see the beach and my favorite hotel just next door are ideal hotel if you want to relax and want to still enjoy the happening Kuta.

If you want to relax and privacy, Nusa Dua/Jimbaran probably the better choice as ti is an exclusive area which also means less convenience.

In between you can stay in Seminyak which many think is a balnce betwen busy Kuta and quit Nusa Dua/Jimbaran

I'd like to try the Kuta Heritage hotel, it seems to have the best reviews on Tripadvisor.
The only thing I like about Kuta is the wide variety of restaurants and stores. When we stayed at the IC we had to cab all the way as there is nothing around the IC at night, but then the IC is all about relaxing, which we liked. And yes they did remember me as I have been there 3 times and the staff addressed me by name. But remember not everyone will remember your name. :)