JBR Laguna/Nusa Dua and stuff


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Posted by shunnis on Sunday, 23. November 2008 at 21:34 Bali Time:

I won't go into stuff you can get elsewhere - maybe

Taxi from Airport to Nusa Dua - 95,000
Nusa Dua to Kuta for shopping by metered taxi- 65,000/75,000
All taxies in Nusa Dua are supposed to be metered. The others may come in to drop off but can't trawl for pax.

The part of Nusa Dua with the Leguna and about four other resorts is inside a security area with only three main entries. All cars are searched on entry. Each resort has it's own security at the entrance and your car is searched again. This area has its own fire (flash trucks) and local police force (next to the Golf course). Once you enter the secure area the transformation if amazing - it's like entering the botanical gardens. If you go in check out the garbage bins - they are really cool critters. Oh and just outside the checkpoint are some restaurants and standard market stalls for T's etc at standard market prices. Markets and restaurants are also outside the southern checkpoint. They start high but come down real quick when they figure out your not a first timer (if you are read the other posts and start at 10/20,000 for T's and be prepared to walk away - if it is in one place, it's in 200 places.)


Laguna - Fantastic place. Best resort we have ever stayed at. Breaky fantastic, bed fantastic (unlike every other place in Bali we have stayed at), butler service fantastic. The rooms aren't enormous, but are very well set out and VERY well appointed. New sheets every day and bathroom towels are suddenly fresh a couple of times a day. Great pools which go around the entire accommodation wing, very nice beach (hardly any hawkers but no surf), great day beds and enough sun lounges to go around. If you can't get a lagoon access room get a lagoon view room on the southern side. This is also the quiet side of the resort and always had free day beds. Oh, and the pizza for lunch was great. A very good price before the Aussy $ tumbled. I'd probably still stay again as the place impressed me that much. If your going to Bali on a shoestring budget don't go here (in fact don't go to Nusa Dua). But... if your not worried about a room service bill of a couple of a hundred Aus for a week and want to have a REALLY relaxing time in a awesome place, then this is the joint. If you want it they will get it for you. Oh and high tea is a definite freebie from 3 - 4.

Nearby, read easy walking distance, is Bali collection. A mall like bunch of shops in a secured area (yea more security). The main shop is Sogo (DJ's in Bali, but much pricier - same suitcases: Aus $260 in Sogo $580). About 20 restaurants in the mall. Of note Coco's was woeful (bland and tasteless). The others were pretty good with Tropical??? being the standout ( have the seafood platter for two, but beware - be hungry....be very hungry). All the boutiquey shops had inflated prices (my wife assured me that this was the normal 'real' brand name prices - ummm), except the supermarket which was about normal and had a very good selection of stuff. Oh and you can have dinner in a balloon basket 50 meters up if you like (could be untidy after 4 or 5 Bintangs).

Up the road is 'Bumbu' Balinese restaurant (pronounced Boom boom - Don't even think about asking me why). An incredible feed. You want to go to the older one on the Eastern side of the road. There is a new version 200 meters further north on the Western side of Benoa road. Take a cab.

If you want to do serious shopping take a couple of trips to Kuta, Carfour or the Galleria. We went out for shopping and drinking with friends. It's good to get back into Kuta, as you think you miss it, but I definitely had had enough baggering by touts after a couple of hours of Kuta(ing).





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