In Reply to: Bali Virgin! posted by sarah_bali on Friday, 7. January 2011 at 15:33 Bali Time:
Hi Sarah,
one thing to remember about peoples opinions on a place is that just because 20 people say the place is great dosn't mean you are going to like it!
I've been to Samui and Bali and the key differences In my opinion are the culture and the architecture.
Bali has the most amazing feel about it with beautiful gardens, statues, houses, water features etc it's a very beautiful place, which isn't to say that there aren't ugly things or places :)
Legian and Kuta are crazy busy but generally with a good vibe I found that Ubud has also become very busy but I love it up there and would reccommend you stay for a night or two.
There's much more to do on Bali than Samui,
Bali is way more beautiful,
Bali is generally cheaper.
There are far more shops in Bali and the shopping is better than Samui but not as good as mainland Thailand, In Bali you tend to have shop after shop selling the same stuff but you also have the big stores that Samui lacks.
Samui has nicer beaches but I dont think they are any cleaner!
The places I ate in Samui had better food than the places I ate last trip to Bali.
Bali has a way about her that I've not experienced anywhere else it's a place that you truely yearn to go back too almost as soon as you leave.
I didn't enjoy my latest trip to Bali because It's the first time I've been when it's been busy and I found the hustle and bustle a bit much, I left saying I wouldn't go back, but now 7 months on I would go back in a heartbeat!
Just to finish ever since we started taking hand sanitiser with us and used it before eating anything none of us has been sick I think it's a key ingredient on your packing list and I would never go without it now.