In Reply to: Secret Garden Inn Gazumpers Plus posted by luisevance on Friday, 7. August 2009 at 22:03 Bali Time:
really not at all surprised by what is going on all over Kuta and Legian and even Ubud and Sanur in terms of price hikes and cruddy rooms being on offer.
Firstly there are massess of people trying to fit into one tiny part of Bali- 3/4's of the island is empty of tourists. It is those areas you should be heading to if you want decent rooms at cheaper prices-
secondly every 5th person on this forum promotes the same places over and over again- the owners keep getting requests for accommodation over and over again and either think they are doing the right thing or dont give a sh** anyway because they have plenty of bookings anyway and they know there are hundreds more people trying to cram into the one area (go back to point one).
Honestly people explore more options. Bali is tiny- most of us from Aus. drive further to visit relatives in a day than we would drive to get to the other side of Bali. all along the east and north coast there are great places to stay - with great facilities and places to visit at minimal cost. On the North coast there are numerous places which would beat the dumps of Kuta hands down.
some examples
candi dasa -rooms 60-150000 with access to Beach and swimming pool
out of ubud( 10 minutes walk) losmen with swimming pool in rice terraces 70,0000
Tittagannga- losmen with access to sultans swimming pool - family suite (slept 7 of us) 200,000 per night
Lovina -swimming pool , ac , 80,000 per night
these figures are for rooms not per person and all come with breakfast- not Buffet but pancakes, jaffles, fruit salad and tea/coffee
I know that many will say that they want the Kuta type holiday with the numerous restaurants etc, etc please don't think I am criticising that - what I am saying is that if you want that then what is happening with prices and accommodation you have to live with- if you don't want it then there are other options available