I have just come back from a holiday in Bali on Wednesday - and I must say I have lost my Bali bug.
It started off with the All Seasons Resort - I do not like this place at all. They got our accommodation mixed up and wrong and so spent the first afternoon on the phone between my travel agent - wholesaler and the hotel. The hotel started by not believing us or giving us the benefit of the doubt when it came to the accommodation. Four hours later the wholesaler decided to just fork out money for an extra person - which they were going to originally charge us. So now we can finally settle in our room and go to get dinner. The next day the Office Manager did want to see us to apologise for the fact that his staff did not handle the situation correctly and they will waive the room charges. Which was fine - only we grew to dislike the hotel more. The pool closes at 7pm - the pool area was VERY small and slippery, the shower in the rooms were not cleaned properly and were very slippery - I had slipped one evening and fell on my stomach, being pregnant, this was a horrible experience. I found the buffet breakfast to be more 'asian' catered and not enough western food, some people like sweet and sour fish with rice from breaky - I prefer the 'norm', of course, each to their own. I new the hotel was not full of Balinese traditions (which I like) but thought I'd give it a try, but there was NO Balinese Traditions, oh except their offerings each morning. The hotel was incredibly americanised.
The shopping at Kuta Square and Discovery Mall was bliss as always, but I found the market shopping a real chore this time round. I don't know if it is because I was already dis-satisfied with my stay or what. The bartering was not enjoyable and the Balinese are incredibly desperate (the poor loves), but there is no joy in it anymore.
I will still like to return to Bali someday, but I think I will have a reast for a while and see more of Phuket.