Hi,

I'm going to be in Bali this July and need a few recommendations on:

- Where to stay? (Somewhere not too pricey, but slightly above average)
- Where do dive? (I'm a new diver but PADI certified)
- What to do? (We're there for 4 days; looking for rest and relaxation)

I know these are pretty generic questions, but I've never been before and could use the recommendation.

Any and all help, advice, and tips would be great, so let me know! Thanks!

Bali is an interesting spot, accommodation wise it depends what you want. If you are young need alcohol and parties, you go to Kuta. Old and love massages food and doing nothing, they go to Sanur. First timers scared of Asians go to Nusa Dua, whilst rich and prepared to flaunt it will go to Jimbarin
The best diving locations are up the coast, away from everyone, and in little villages like amed.
What else to do, depends on where you are, but Ubud and the mountain, the volcano and the craft villages spring to mind. You will love Bali, there is so much culture to see, the old palaces, the dances and the music, alongside surf sand bikinis and good times
Give us a clue to what you like?

I believe the two major jumping-off points for diving are on the east coast around the airport (forget what that harbor is called) and a couple hours up the east coast in a cove around the village of Pedangbai. From the latter, day trips and more go to the Gili Islands, a famed diving spot. There are a couple of hotels of decent quality but not too expensive in the town of Candi Dasa, a little further up the coast from Pedangbai.

Nusa Dua is for first timers scared of Asians .............
Read a lot of biased ignorant comments about Nusa Dua but that takes the cake!!!!!!!
I own property in the Nusa Dua area and visit many times, mix well with the
Balinese and do a lot of charity work in Nusa Dua and Tangjung Benoa.
Also know many others who do the same

There is diving all over Bali. The wreck off Tulamben on the north end is a great dive. They usually do a two-pack, one on the wreck and then another local dive that's pretty bland. Be sure to specify you want two dives on the wreck.

I'm a divemaster and haven't been impressed with the safety of diving shops up in Tulamben - are they really certified divermasters or did they just tag along with their buddy for awhile and learn it?

Since you're certified it isn't a big deal (technically you are competent to dive on your own), but I wouldn't recommend anyone you're with doing those 'discovery' dives unless the instructor is a westerner.

Also good diving on Nusa Lembongan (mantas and mula's in season). Gili diving is very overrated.

Peace,
Ryan

...sorry I offended you, but most first timers don't buy property in Nusa dua, they go to the gated hotel compounds,
but,
If you live in Ubud they say you are artistic, gay and trying to get on the Royal familly party list, and I am not gay or artistic

Bali is interesting - I wasn't a fan at first, but once you get over the traffic and the touts it's quite a nice spot. It's cheap to eat out, so when we were there we ate out most nights.

We decided to stay at in Seminyak which is close to the action but isn't run to the ground with bogan aussies like Kuta. Theres some good boutique shops around Seminyak and overall we really like the area. Avoid Denpasar and Kuta. I've been told that Nusa Dua is nice if you want to escape the crowds and do nothing, but it's a haul to get anywhere to do shopping etc. And you dont want to have to travel far in the Bali traffic! lol

We rented a 3 bedroom villa (Villa Martine) and it worked out to be quite a good deal.

I wrote a review of it on my blog which can be found here.

Most people I know like to get private villas due to the cost savings and the extra room and privacy you get.

We just stayed 4 days in Seminyak and we stayed at the W there. Very nice property with the average rate around $350 USD night, but we received a Star Friend rate for half of that. There are plenty of places around there to eat that are a fraction of what the resort charges, and they are very easy to reach.

Here is a crap video I made of our room:

http://youtu.be/SEKBKqlle3M

We used these people to do the Ubud-Batur Volcano Tour

http://www.bali-day-trip.com/

Cost was 350kRP. A taxi driver offered to give us a full day tour of what we wanted to do, and charged us 300k, which was nicer. He also had a personality which helped.