Hi all,

Heading to bali with my Thai gf in a few months trying to pick the best place to stay... Don't like the sound of Kuta much as it sounds like Phuket on steroids, people trying to pull you into their shops and hawkers trying to sell you steering wheels or a 2nd hand band aid!

Want somewhere with some nice relaxed bars and restaurants but not too dead. Heard some good reports about Nusa Lembongan... Can anyone recommend anywhere else on the island that would be good? Any hotel names too would be great.

Many thanks.

nusa lembongan is a small island off of bali. ive not stayed there, but its not really pumping full of bars. there are a few surfers there and thats about it really. nice for a few nights but that may be all.

sanur is a nicer place which is on the east coast only 20 min from kuta. nice little bars and restaurants along the main street, and if you want a sports bar for a night, head to Arena near mcdonalds.

Legian and Seminyak are just north of Kuta and much nicer.

there are so many hotels to choose from, so you need to give some idea of budget before making recommendations.

Your right...Kuta is worse than Patong in Phuket. Nusa Dua is exclusive but you don't get a feel for the island as most the hotels there are 5 star. Ubud is beautiful but not on the beach. My all time favorite is on the other side called Candi Dasa. Google it. I've stayed several times here and it's beautiful and quiet and has a lovely little town, and depending on where you stay can walk into for dinner. I used to wake up most mornings and go into the center of town where the fishing boats where taking off and they would take me out for several hours for fishing and dolphin watching and snorkeling. I would of course pay for a small party on the beach afterwards which never cost me more than 20USD no charge for going out on the boat.

Is five years I'm going in Bali for my holidays and I stay in Seminyak-Kerobokan (Kuta, then Legian and then Seminyak). Many house or big bungalows or villas for rent at affordable prices. Personally I rent a 2 floors house inside a resort, with 2 swimming pools, maid service, aircon, telephone, tv, kitchen, etc, for the equivalent of about 1200 baht. Smaller house cheaper. But the choice is wide, you can also arrive without booking and then make a search for the place you like more.

Seminyak, is little far from the crowded Kuta, but more quiet, stilish, a lot of good and cheap restaurants and a very interesting shopping. the house I rest has a view on terraced-rice fields, very relaxing, with a lot of birds and a 5 minutes walk to the beach.

PM me if you want the name.

i like Candi Dasa too, flightcrew1, but i suspect that the OP may want some nice beach time too. if thats the case, then Candi Dasa may not be the place for him unfortunately. but for a few days, its a lovely place. the drive up there is pretty, and the locals are very friendly.

of course, Ubud is another nice place, but it CAN be a little cliquey. if its beautiful scenery and a more rural side of things you are after, then Ubud may be the right place.

Nusa Dua IS very 'posh' but still not too far from the 'less posh' places.

Petitenget and Kerobokan are both north of Kuta and Legion and can be very nice as well.

i like Candi Dasa too, flightcrew1, but i suspect that the OP may want some nice beach time too. if thats the case, then Candi Dasa may not be the place for him unfortunately. but for a few days, its a lovely place. the drive up there is pretty, and the locals are very friendly.

of course, Ubud is another nice place, but it CAN be a little cliquey. if its beautiful scenery and a more rural side of things you are after, then Ubud may be the right place.

Nusa Dua IS very 'posh' but still not too far from the 'less posh' places.

Your right Donna, the beach is not best and quite rocky, but for a feel for the island it's quite nice and not that far a drive from Ubud if that is your thing. I've not looked but I've a feeling there are some deals to be had on the island right now.

Ubud is beautiful.

If you want some beach time you can do day trips down to any beach on the island. It's not so big that you can't get anywhere and back easily in a day so you can see all the sights too.