Hi all,
I'm going to Bali for the first time in April, and I'll be there from the 14th through the 28th. I'm flying from the US west coast (Portland, Oregon), and I have a few basic questions:
Is about US$853 a good price for airfare from a city like Portland to Bali? (Evergreen Airlines, connecting in San Francisco and Taipei.) Total with taxes/fees is US$1038.
Is it a good idea to figure out where I want to stay ahead of time and book all of my hotels before I leave? Especially with the tsunami diverting some potential tourism to Bali and rooms filling up?
Do most hotel rooms have a safe where I can store extra money/valuables? Do I need to be as paranoid about theft as anyplace else in the world?
I'll probably be traveling alone. It's the first time I've spent this much time traveling abroad with no companions. Will there be lots of other Bali visitors in my situation? Is it pretty easy to meet people to do things with? I'm mainly interested in taking surfing lessons (and then tons of subsequent surfing of course!), snorkeling, windsurfing, rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, and touring the island. And just laying on the beach working on my tan, drink in hand.
Since I'm 29 years old, single, and love clubbing here at home (I'm a DJ), I also *definitely* want to check out the nightlife. Any recommendations on good night spots to meet women my age? Any places to avoid? I've heard Paddy's is good... does it have a good male/female ratio? (I'd like to avoid what we call here in the US a 'sausagefest.' :-)
Finally, anybody else gonna be there 14 Apr-28 Apr? Let me know if so, and I'll send you more info on what I'm interested in doing, some pics and basic info about myself, and maybe we can hang out... this whole 'traveling alone' thing is pretty new to me, but I guess that's what 2 months of paid vacation and being single can do! I certainly plan on enjoying it. :-) Looking forward to having some pints with people from all over the world, and who knows, maybe meeting a nice girl as well.
Can't wait ‘til April!
Dave