Aceman, no need for visa, and i’ve never been asked for proof of cash when entring Bali.
For last-minute Bali accomm deals:
The places you’re mentioning Hobart are all rather HIGH end lodging. And Sanur isn’t the best place in Bali.
If you don’t mind black sand, try Amed. It’s lovely.
If you want crowds, pubs, discos, and shopping, stay in Kuta/Legian
If you want luxury resorts, Sanur.
If you want even more luxury, and Japanese tourists, Nusa Dua.
Tanah Lot is no biggie, just a touristy temple.
If you want diving, you’re on the right island.
I often use asiatravel.com for hotel bookings in SE Asia
http://www.asiatravel.com/bali.html
Hey Fredrick Bimmel, what’s wrong with a little luxury? To each his own. My back packing days are over with. Amed is way over there in the middle of nowhere. However, I still might stay in Amed next time though as it looks interesting. Can you recommend a place to stay?
See what I said Aceman, you will be getting loads of info in this thread. Now we just need someone to put up a post recommending the Hard Rock Hotel and you will really see the posts in this thread increase, or if someone said that UBUD is over rated that would help as well to increase the posts. 
The Hard Rock Hotel is great!!
Just kidding, Hobart…actually if you’ve got the balls just mince into the Hard Rock Hotel’s swimming pool which is great. GF and i did a couple of years ago and we had a fine time.
[quote=“Hobart”]Hey Fredrick Bimmel, what’s wrong with a little luxury? To each his own.
[/quote]
Nothing, seeing as the entire island is luxurious and you’d have to find some hole in a volcano to be ‘roughing it’ in Bali.
Why spend US $100 a night on some trumped up Taiwanese tourist resort. I go to places like Bali to get away from the Taiwanese, myself.
Comparatively, you can spend a fraction of that and still have luxury, meet fantastic locals who aren’t only there to kiss your ass, and still have most of your budget left over to buy tons of silver and gold jewelry in Celuk.
Ubud is beautiful. It’s great food and shopping and uh, rice paddies, which I’ve had my lifetime fill of…But it’s not the beach.
Does hotel location in Bali really matter that much? I’ve never been there so I wouldn’t know, but I’ve heard that the cabs are dirt cheap and you can get anywhere for like $3…is that true? How long does it take to get from say the nicest beach to the shopping/touristy/bar/crowd area by cab?
Actually, i don’t rate the beaches in Bali that highly but i’m not a beach person; i’m sure that Fredericka or Hobart can help you with beach info (i do love Kuta Beach which is dirty and crowded but a great place to sit, drink beer and people watch)
I love Bali for the people, the food, the countryside and, yes, the affordability. You can hire a car and driver for the day for a very good price (i seem to remember US$5 a day but might be wrong)
Opps spoke too soon. Indonesia just changed the laws on March 31!?
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2003/04/10/201571
My guess it that they want to make an extra US$35 per person and are wagering people will still go to Bali and other places in Indonesia. Kind of sucks in my opinion, but I am guessing that they are right and they might just make a lot of extra money from this. Hopefully they spread it around the populace some.
“The remaining 37 countries that were formerly allowed free-visas, will in six months time to obliged to pay US$35 for tourist visas, which will be good for only 30 days, non-extendable, government sources said.”
It says in “six months time” which mean that it won’t affect me, hopefully.
I just read this article in The Age. It seems Lombok’s tourism industry is haemorrhaging even more than Bali’s. I went to Lombok about seven years ago. It was much more undeveloped than Bali. They might have built a few more hotels since I last went there, but if you went there now you could probably have the whole place to yourself! I’m sure the hotel owners and others in the tourist business will be very happy to see you.
The Gili Islands are pretty, laid back places where you can do a bit of snorkelling and laze around on the beach. There was a fairly tame party scene when I went there, but I imagine if you went there now it might be very quiet. If you are a bit more adventurous you can climb the 3726m Mount Rinjani, an active volcano. You can fly to Lombok from Denpasar or take a ferry from Padangbai.
For some more info see: Lonely Planet - Destination Lombok
Hi guys: looking for the following: good beaches for swimming, snorkelling spots, recommended bungalows that should include AC/fridge/hot water bathroom with toilet and shower, go go bars (for the gf of course!), best clothing/vcd/cd shops, driver?, tips for avoiding Bali belly, and night spots for dancing.
Recent prices for the above would help aswell.
I have just returned from Bali.
Spent a week there with the girlfriend who has been a Bali “regular” for the last ten years. This was her first time back for a year.
She has quite a few Balinese friends there–artists, cafe-owners, etc.
She said it was comparativly empty compared to her previous few trips. Her local friends confirmed this.
For partying, the low numbers cut into the fun…
But for surfing, diving, shopping and relaxing it was great.
I gotta get back to itching my peeling skin so if you need more specific info just ask.
Stevieboy, there’s a very good Bali forum where you can find up-to-date info. They are also a very friendly bunch who offer plenty of advice for specific questions:
[quote=“Muffin”]For partying, the low numbers cut into the fun…
But for surfing, diving, shopping and relaxing it was great.
I gotta get back to itching my peeling skin so if you need more specific info just ask.[/quote]
Going to Bali soon. I can surf there? Excellent, I’ve always wanted to surf. Wolf made a nice post with many a good tip. Anything else I should know?
So how did that back thing turn out? Any pictures?
Miltown.
Indeed you can rent a board in Bali and there’s surf to be had. Good old Kuta’s
http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/Asia/Indonesia/Bali/kuta_beach/ not bad if you’re new to surfing. Watch the inshore currents and rips. Many a poor swimmer and a few good ones have drowned there.
There were boards for hire at Uluwatu
http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/Asia/Indonesia/Bali/Uluwatu/ years ago but this is a reef break and better dealt with by people who know what they’re doing. Same with Padang Padang.
http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/Asia/Indonesia/Bali/Padang-Padang/
Here’s a URL for more Indonesian surf info. http://www.indosurf.com.au
Nice pics eh?
HG
Air Paradise is now flying Bali-Taipei… 
You know, Blueface old friend., I’m starting to despise you. Damn to just sit yourself down there and think. nah, I like it here. I’m staying.
I only hope I can one day emmulate your freedom to chose so effciently. No I rephrase that. You are the model for my future freedom of movement.
Bastard!
All the bestest.
HG
Edit:
just checked that link . . . my head is reeling. I’m planning to return to Oz for Chrissie . . . so . . . I . . could . . take this here Paradise from Taipei to Bali and connect on to Sydney, yeah? Excellent. Might catch you at the old milkbar with the droogies yet!
[quote=“Huang Guang Chen”]
just checked that link . . . my head is reeling. I’m planning to return to Oz for Chrissie . . . so . . . I . . could . . take this here Paradise from Taipei to Bali and connect on to Sydney, yeah? Excellent. Might catch you at the old milkbar with the droogies yet![/quote]
Excellent idea! Come on down. Today I was sitting in Billy’s Bar on Jl. Sahadewa knocking down shots of Bundaberg Rum chased with icy, cold Bintang. A tear came to my eye when I thought of all of you in Taipei…NOT! 
Blueface,
Apa kebar? Enjoy the Bintang and the excellent satay–and the nasi goreng and the weather.
Have fun in Bali. BTW, did you fly Paradise Air from Taipei to Denpassar?