Travelled to Bali with my three kids, 16,15,12 and a few days later my husband and parents arrived. The kids and I left with Virgin from Perth on time and arrived in Bali about 10min early. Flight was about three quarters full. Took round about 20min to clear immigration and customs. Took taxi to Green Garden Hotel in Tuban, a few seconds after arriving at hotel, they had a malfunction with the electricity and all the lights went out, so have to fill in registration card by torchlight. We have a family room, was queen bed with 2 bunks. Was quite a large room, I thought reasonable value staying at the hotel except the three days we were there the power was off more than it was on. Apparently it was a hotel problem and they were trying to fix it.
Did waterbom a couple of times and bit of shopping with the kids. Had a nasty experience with a shop trader down in poppies 2 which put off the kids really wanting to bargain till my husband arrived. Before I left I was chatting with a friend in Norway who was over there last year and she says they will never go back to Bali due to the aggressiveness they found with the shop traders. I've been to Bali quite a few times and this was the first time we've come across it....and it was quite scary.
Was quite hot & humid for the last part of our stay, though I did think at the beginning it wasn't anywhere near as hot as I expected. Had a reasonable about of rain, mainly in the afternoon or evening. One night I think it rained just about all night, and quite a few thunderstorms.
When my husband and parents arrived we moved into Sambawa Villa (a three bedroom villa part of the Andari Villa group). It was beautiful! Three large a/c bedrooms, a large entertainment bale that was great for relaxing and drinking the odd bintang or g&t! Swimming pool only a foot or so away from two of the bedrooms. It seemed to be well maintained. Wayan, our house girl was there from 8am - 4pm and cooked the most amazing breakfasts. My husband who is a little ‘anti social' says now that he wouldn't stay in a hotel again as he doesn't have to make small talk with anyone! He's not really into Bali, but has said he'd come again if we stay in a villa. So on the promise of that we have booked again for next January for my father's 70th birthday, this time we will stay in their premier villa Semara. We had a quick look through it (no guests, due to having maintenance on it), it is also beautiful. Quite a lot bigger compound than Sambawa, possibly the pool also is a little larger.
For the first time in many trips to Bali and Asia, I got what I thought was Bali Belly which lasted days. Got into the Dr yesterday and he says he thinks it maybe Guardia. Have taken a one off course of antibiotics and for the first time in days feel quite human! To top it off I also got bad heat rash in the last few days (in the past I've had mild heat rash) and the itchiness drove me crazy at times. Prickly heat powder & calamine lotion did nothing to ease the itch. Thankfully the doctor has given me some ‘miracle' cream and the rash has just about disappeared.
Trying to book again for the July holidays, but there are no cheap airfares out at the moment, I begrudge paying more than $500 for an airfare these days! This time though it will just be me and the two youngest and they are each wanting to take a friend. We will be back staying budget and hoping to stay around the Tuban area again. So fingers crossed that some cheap airfares will be out soon.