In Reply to: Planning for Bali! Advice please.. posted by Sal on Thursday, 6. January 2005 at 08:07 Bali Time:
Ubud & Lovina but know nothing about Candi Dasa.
I think THE best place in Ubud that has TV,fridge,Air cond is the Ubud Village in Monkey Forest Rd.I think it is the closest place to central Ubud that has the lot.Decent size pool,swim up bar & breakfast included.Also have wonderful indoor /outdoor bathroom with sunken marble bath - true bliss.Nice private verandah /courtyard with private gate.Say Hello to Dayu & Mr Gus Oka from us & mention BTF & you will hopefully get a better price - you CAN bargain the rate down there.
The drive from Ubud to Lovina is about 3 hours but depends if you stop on the way.We are never in a hurray in Bali - Jam Karet !
Yes - 4 days in Lovina sound pretty good - the Hot springs,Buddhist temple,coffee plantations,botanic gardens,the markets,the lakes,Dolphin tour,snorkelling as well as fitting in a massage or 2 - would be just perfect ! Sounds like you hae already decided on MY favourite place in Lovina/Kalibukbuk - The Rambutan Cottages is THE best .I personally thinks it beats everything else hands down for location,price,friendliness & everything it offers.
Make sure you ask Richard (owner of Rambutan) if you go about the fantastic winery /restaurant in the hills near Lovina ,( brilliant steaks) make a thing out of saying Colleen suggested it.No doubt Richard will have a good laugh if you say that.I won't go into details other than to say I think almost everyone in Lovina heard about our night at the winery.More than a few glasses were drunk that night & certain people had to be literally carried out of the place AND it was NOT me !!! Some people did not get out of bed till 4pm the next day - what a night.
If I can help re any other questions re Lovina or Ubud fire away but hurray because we leave again next Thursday.Send me an email if you like.