My self, husband & 2 daughters aged 14 & 12 have just spent 14 days at the Jayakarta in the private residence owned by Max and Suzanne. I must say I was very impressed with the rooms. I loved the bigger size fridges and the fact when you book you know straight away you have interconnecting rooms. Beats the hassle you receive from some resorts that after a long flight you have to hassle with front reception for inter connecting rooms if one hasn't already been allocated to you.
I must say I do agree with many comments on forum that the pool is quite a long walk from the rooms. I just made sure each night I packed the pool bag with everything we would need for the day. So not that much walking back and forth for us. I was very disappointed with the pool chair saga. I worked out not long into the holiday unless you were down there by 6.45am there was no umbrella's left. It also didn't help that the resort didn't have nearly enough umbrellas and I did hear quite a few complaints about this.
I wasn't impressed with people who did put there towels on the chairs and then not turn up until midday or even later. In the mornings it was quite cloudy with many bursts of sun and where we were sitting you would be in shade by 12pm each day so when the umbrella's we already taken and no one sitting in them I wasn't very happy. At least when I went to get a chair I did sit it in. I will admit I left it for approx 30min around 8am to have some breakfast but then back to the chair to use it for the remainder of the day. Well that's my whinge about the pool chairs.
So many restaurants to choose from.
Breakfast we alternated between: Lanai, Ocean Blue, Tekor and Zanzibar all on the beach road and for the 4 of us the bill would range from 130,000rp to 195,000rp. We were always full and a lot of choice in each menu.
Lunch was mostly by the pool. Although one day whilst out shopping we stopped into La Monde for spring rolls and burger and chicken toasted sandwich so cheap 114,000rp for 4 of us. I believe the food and drinks around the pool at the Jayakarta are just so over priced. I also watched many people go out to the beach to buy there bingtang and then bring it back to drink. My husband complained as well about having to pay 38,000rp for a beer when outside you could get it for 13,000 up to 25,000 at restaurants. They do themselves out of business by what they are charging. Even for a buffet breakfast they were charging 150,000 rp for adult and 75,000 for children. You can understand why unless breakfast is included in you accommodation you wouldn't eat there with so many other choices just up the road.
Dinner we tried many places, La Casa which is opposite Yutz, great food and quite cheap we only tried this place as we couldn't get into Yutz on the night so glad we went as 2 nights later we did get into Yutz and was not all that impressed. La Monde, Billy's, Drops, Poco Loco and we also went up the Canggu to Echo Beach restaurant, Wasn't impressed with the food as being sundy night they were very busy. Soup luke warm and my daughter's spaghetti cold, We went up with 2 other families we were on holidays with so even though the food was disappointing the atmosphere was great and would definatley go again. Also tried Un's and Poppies for the fist time. Loved Un's and hated Poppies. Un's was just a beautiful setting with really good food and well priced. Poppies was overpriced and the food wasn't nice at all. At least now I can say I have tried it but unfortunately I will not be returning to Poppies restaurant. One night after waterbom park we did some shopping in Centro then walked next door to BGH and ate at the Boardwalk restaurant and watch the sunset. Impressed. Also down in Tuban we went to Il Ceilo as last year I just loved this place, still enjoyed my meal but not as much as last year. For the first time ever we tried indonational enjoyed our diner and I can now say at least f have been there as it appears everyone else on the forum has been too. Overall with 3 families you never have a bad night so on the odd occasion I might not have like my meal that much we still had great dinner's as we were in great company
Spent a day on the Bounty pontoon at Nusa Lembogan. I can't recommend this place highly enough, especially if you have a young family and you are travelling with other families. We all had a great day out. Even the adults got into the waterslide and banana boat riding it was so much fun.
Suit and ¾ pants made by Anso from Brisbane Tailors. Happy with end results and he is a very nice guy.
We bought some orchids from the Bali Orchid Garden and had them taken from us in Sydney. My husband not happy at all and has since called customs and been told they shouldn't have been confiscated and they would have been ok. We had certificate of Authenticity but the guy in Sydney said they were in soil and it actually wasn't soil. Oh well now we have to go back next year to buy new bottle.
Visited the Rip Curl & Billabong factory on bypass road, daughter brought some T Shirts and Single tops for bargin price but not much else in there worth looking at.
Shopping:
Wallets 40,000rp
Dresses 40,000 to 50,000
Sunnies 40,000 to 45,000
Rings on the beach approx 50,000 to 70,000
Cushion covers 3 for 60,000
Brought some really nice silver ware from Talent art shop, Walking down Jl Legian from Padma to Melasti on the left hand side past Silverberry Jewellery store and just before you reach melasti. They have really beautiful stuff. We brought 2 big silver vases, 3 wooden door stops with silver gheko's & dragonfly's on them, Plus a Sea Horse in wooden frame, 2 brass gheko's for our outside entertainment area. All just 700,000rp we thought this was really good.
Also went to Ketut's in Garlic Lane she advised on what to pay and brought a few things from her.
Spa we used was Luna Spa just down the road from Jayakatar. Loved it foot reflexology 60,000rp for 1 hour can't get enough of these.
Overall another great holiday I loved staying up at Legian as some many nice restaurants and shops. My husband and youngest daughter want to go back down tuban area next year for the surfing. At least we get to go back so thats a bonus