This being our 25th time to Bali (In the airline industry) and as Bali is well and truly in our blood, of course we loved it yet again. Took husband and two boys 13 & 10 and stayed at Pelangi Hotel. After staying at the Patra Jasa last year my first impressions were "Oh no, its not the Patra", however, after our ten days I would have to say it was one of the best places we have stayed. The staff are truly wonderful and make it very special. Because it is a small hotel it is that much more personable, the pool is wonderful, with an infinite edge looking out to the ocean. The pool bar is small and consequently you get to meet all your fellow travellers over a bintang at the pool, unlike the larger hotels. It was great.
We ate at Kori a couple of times - fantastic as usual. I was very impressed with Trattoria, a little italian restaurant in Jalan Laksmaana - is this place pumping or what!!, very busy, fresh and wonderful pasta dishes, etc. You are greated with a plate of delicious breads and bruchetta complimentary and then finish off with a complimentary chocolate liqueur. The owner came over to chat, the meals were outstanding and very cheap. I recommended this place to everyone at Pelangi and they were all just as impressed.
La Luciola - again, a beautiful meal, prices are definitely on the increase and service, well you just can't fault. Highly recommended.
Took the boys again on the mandatory visit to Bird and Reptile Park which we all again enjoyed very much. We always have lunch at the Bird Park which as always is one of our favourite meals out. The Restaurant is beautiful, overlooking flamingos, etc. Best Thai Beef Salad every had, actually all meals are wonderful and the prices are really cheap.
Geneva Homewares again fantastic - I bought a large wooden CD stacker which holds 50 cd's for $9 Aussie, a hugh decorate wooden boat looking thing for outside table to put floating candles in etc $12. Beautiful silk scarves for $6 each and well as the usual wooden table runners, bowls etc etc. Again, I told everyone staying at Pelangi to go there and they just couldn't believe prices.
Ubud markets - great for picking up throw rugs, cushion covers, etc. I also bought bags of saffron, vanilla beans, tumeric, etc. Soo cheap.
DVD's we bought from Poppies Lane 2, I just couldn't believe how cheap they are - at 10,000rp (we were getting rp7000 per $1) and buy 10 get 3 free, unbelievable. I also bought beautiful king size silk doona cover, pillow cases and cushion covers in a gold and brown from a shop in Seminyak - my best buy by far A$160 total. Looks beautiful.
I mentioned on another post that I got a pair of glasses made up at the new Centro Kartika, huge shopping centre. They read the precription from my sunnies and the total cost including frames $35. I probably would have paid at least $250 in Perth.
The department store is great, I bought items such as Body Shop Body butter for A$11 instead of $25 at home, Clarins lip pencil for $14 instead of $26, etc etc. We had some lunch at the top in the food hall which is great for less than $5 each. Also the foot reflexology across the road is to die for and all my boys had their half hour at 50,000rp each and totally loved it.
The Spa at the Pelangi is great and prices are very comparable to other spas in the area. The facials are great and had my eyebrows plucked, as well.
So if anyone has any doubt about the Pelangi, don't. It is a very relaxing, family orientated, very personable place to stay and I highly recommend it.