My wife and I spent Nov.2-23 at the Aston Bali in Tanjung Benoa.The Aston is a great mid price hotel with friendly staff,a great breakfast buffet,a superb pool and nice beach frontage.We had pre-booked a couple of activities and a driver\guide through the internet using the forum and other sources for references.All worked out really well.I can confirm the high recommendations for Wayan Sujana's bike tour and Dewa Parwita for the bali Eco adventure.
The highlight for us however were the services we received from Wayan Mardana(Mardy).When you contact Mardy he will set up an appointment with you when you arrive in Bali to develop your own itinerary or he has a number of places he'll recommend to see the real Bali.We used him for 5 days two which he suggested to the north and east of Bali were wonderful and 3 we designed which included shopping stops,The Bali Bird Park,The Bali Safari Park,WW rafting and sunset at Uluwatu.In addition Mardy invited us to attend a wedding ceremony(his cousin's)and a supper at his home where we were spectacularly entertained by a traditional dance performance by his 9 year old son.Mardy possesses excellent English skills and a passionate knowledge of Bali's culture and geography.He describes himself as Bali's best driver and we are inclined to agree.
Mardy can be booked at mardana45@hotmail.com and feel free to say that you were referred by Brian and Sharon.He is particularly accessible to Nusa Dua and Benoa visiters but has drivers capable of serving all of Bali.
We enjoyed several restaurants in the vicinity of the Aston including Bambu Bali,Coco's,Juking Seafood Restaurant,Casa Luna,La Scala and Luna Bonita.
Shopping highlights were purchasing bedroom quilt covers and curtains from St.Isidor(Mardy knows how to find it)teak chairs from Suraya furniture gallery in Ubud,tailor made leather sandals and a skirt from Bimo Bali Collection(acrossfromtheAston),the fixed price shops,Jeny"s and Toot Sie's at the Sinhu Beach Market and nice women's fashions from Hot Summer Nights(a couple of blocks to the left from the Aston.
All in all we had a fabulous vacation and truly enjoyed the fantastic humour and spirit of the Balinese people who remain remarkably positive in the face of stiff economic challenges.
We did manage to distribute two large suitcases of school supplies,children's books and toys,hats for men and gift bags for ladies to various schools and individuals.I really think the hats were as highly valued and appreciated as tips.
I hope you will find this helpful and I encourage you to support individual Bali entrepreneurs such as we've recommended over the more formal and expensive bus tours which contain foreign ownership.