Just a quick report and wanted to inform anyone who is looking for a budget hotel in Kuta about the Ida Hotel where I stayed for 6 nights whilst on Bali.
The Ida is located at Jl. Kahyangan Suci Off Jl. Tegal Wangi.
This hotel is a budget 2 star hotel which I found and booked on rates to go. Also thanks for the recommended review of this hotel from Reiki (hope I got the name right).
What a great little place this was, and value for money is all I can say.
I was pleasantly surprised by my room which on arrival became a free upgrade to the deluxe bungalow.
This bungalow has a private verandah with two balinese carved doors which are intricately painted with bright colours and inside there are 2 queen sized beds with carved posts joining the two beds together, the beds have detailed paintings which go from post to post above the beds. The roof is a high pitched thatch roof. There is a clothes cupboard, a dressing table with mirror, a small fridge and television with indonesian stations.
The back door of the bungalow opens to an outdoor bathroom with a shower, toilet and handbasin with mirror and a garden. It is very clean, as are the rooms.
The rooms are serviced well by room cleaning and the staff here are very hospitable and are lovely people.
Oh...I did have a little guest in the room with me which I discovered on the last day. There was a gecko on the rafters of the roof but I have to say this is the largest gecko that I have ever seen ,it was about the size of a blue tongue lizard. When I first spotted it I thought it was a rat until I took a closer look. Well I thought whew it's only a lizard and it's not going to hurt me and it's my last day ;-) In my 14 times to Bali I have not seen a gecko of this size, probably common? Don't want to put anyone off as I'm a nature lover and I was actually quite amused by it.
The Ida is in close walking distance to the heart of Kuta and is located behind Mataharis. Considering the location there was little noise and it was relaxing once inside the hotels grounds.
There is a deep (small to medium) sized pool with a spa adjoined to it. There were always available sun-loungers to laze around near the pool. There is a restaurant located by the pool which is open for breakfast and closes late at night. Although with so many eating places available nearby within walking distance I did not eat there very much, but enjoyed a drink and chat with the staff. There are safe deposit boxes available at reception.
I stayed here by myself and was fortunate to meet another solo female from England who was staying here. She was fantastic company, whom will be a friend for life I'm sure :-). I somewhat introduced her to the nightlife of Bali which she was shy to experience due to the fact that she was a solo female traveller.
Didn't do any touristy things this time and not much shopping as am looking at the prospect of purchasing a villa. This is not something that I've jumped at as a spur of the moment type thing. My husband and I have been researching and looking for quite some time now. So there will certainly be more trips to Bali on the cards very soon :-).
I did of course manage time to be able to party a few nights while I was there and met some great people whom I will be staying in contact with and I hope to meet them on Bali in the future. One couple I met were also from England and boy did they enjoy their pints of Bintang! They would be finished their pint at the stage that I would be only halfway through my small glass of scotch. Had some great nights with them and late night dinners.
All my purchases while there mostly consisted of food and drinks. I purchased an intricate batik painting which is 1.6M x 80cm and I will have this framed. I got a few little odd nicknacks and 2 balinese puppets for my children.
I enjoyed the chance of travelling solo and now feel safe and confident enough to do so at another time in the future, if I'm lucky enough to get the chance to (I'm hoping).
I particularly would like to take up an offer to stay at a friends homestay in Ubud and experience the balinese homelife and have this chance to do some oil painting works while there, (something I'm seriously considering as a good opportunity to free the mind and let some paints flow :-)).
All in all another great time in Bali shared with good company and Bintangs. Can't wait to return and I look forward to the possibility of purchasing a villa. My husband is in Bali now researching the villa scenario and looking at villas of interest. Fingers crossed that all goes well!
Cheers.