In Reply to: 1st trip to Bali posted by nichusensei on Wednesday, 5. July 2006 at 08:13 Bali Time:
Hi Rose,
I'm just back from Bali myself (first time) and seeing as you're not sure what you want to do there I though you might like some info on some activities.
I'd definitely reccommend white water rafting, we had a great time doing it and there's 4 in each raft so you'd get to meet some others as well. I booked it with a local travel agent Beni benihaan@yahoo.com and it only cost US$25 each and that included transport to / from hotel, rafting and a lovely lunch afterwards. The company was Telaga Waja Rafting. He was very nice and may be able to organise other activities for you if you wish.
Nusa Dua is great for watersports and you can get a good deal if you haggle (we did snorkling, banana boat and jetskiing for a total of US$25 each)
If its beach-bumming you're after I'd reccommend going to Lombok and heading to one of the Gili Islands, they're absolutely divine. although it is a bit of a hassle getting there. Flights to Lombok cost us about US$30 one way and then its about an hour of a taxi ride to the harbour to get the boat to the islands (taxi should cost about US$13 and boat is only US$0.80). Gili Trawangan is the busiest so it may be better if you're alone. thats where we went and we loved it.
As for accomodation in Bali, try contacting this local agent Mida at wahyutur@indosat.net.id she got us lovely accomodation in Ubud (puri padi hotel) for a very good price. also you could wait til you get there and book a hotel in the airport (in the baggage reclaim hall), there's a few desks offering 50% off normal hotel prices.
I hope this helps, give me a shout if you have any other questions
lynn