HNR one
Disclaimer - if you don't like the way I write and the details that I record please don't read my posts. As all future HNR/JBR will follow a similar theme.
We are three - Dad (just this side of 50), Me (just that side of 40) and son of 16. We've been coming to Bali for years and like to do a few 'different' things while we're here. Both of my boys are over 6 foot so feel somewhat short when around them. Son has a recently (in the last 3 months) been diagnosed with 'gluten issues' (he more gluten intolerant than allergic so if he has gluten it's not life threaten but he's laid up with a really sore gut for a few hours the next day so we try to avoid-but he's also 16 so it's his choice and sometimes he chooses gluten) so this is our first trip gluten free for him. I emailed all of our hotels before arrival to alert them to the gluten allergy issues and all hotels responded that it would not be an issue for them.
Dad usually has seafood at least twice a day and a few beers with each meal. Three eating unless otherwise stated.
Our trip is broken up into sections:
First 6 nights in Kuta
Second 3 nights in Tanjung Benoa
Third 4 nights in Pemuteran (which is where I sit looking out over Java while I type this to you and the wind has picked up so it's blowing a gale but apart from that it's a glorious day!)
Fourth final 17 nights in Sanur - our second home in Bali........
This is the first trip that I have totally booked myself without travel agents - always used agents in the past as I was really worried if the sh*t hits the fan what do you do............ring travel agent.
We flew up from Perth (June 30th) after a long year of counting down. We always fly Garuda and of course no issues with flight or check in etc. We were off the plane promptly and through immigration and collected our bags and to customs. We went to the red channel as I had gluten free food for our son. The customs Gentlemen asked what was in the boxes and I said food for the boy. Waved us on. Out of the airport with-in 30 minutes of landing and at our hotel those town houses in Kuta for the next 6 nights.
We've not stayed here before although we have stayed last year at the AP Suites and really enjoyed the position, in Kuta, very central to Poppies 1 & 2 which we always enjoy.
We had alerted the town houses that we would be arriving early but our room wasn't ready till 1400 - they emailed us that they would try to help with an early check in - obviously not possible that day.
Thoughts on those town houses in Kuta - would we stay there again - probably not. Only because when we come to Bali we don't plan to spend our holiday with Australians if we did we've stay closer to home. Staff reckon that 90% of guest are Aussies at the moment. I don't care how beautiful your body is but I do not need to see it at breakfast neither does anyone else. I found it offensive that grown men walked around at breakfast with no shirt on. And they were past their use by date in the tummy department..................
The two pools are cold and the larger lap pool is freezing as it barely gets any sun. I find that the signs that say no swimming before 1000 are annoying what happens if you're an earlier riser and you want to do a few laps before breakfast. If you survive the freezing pool it's not an option. Anyway moving on - there are barely any sun beds. And sadly the positioning of the hotel and it's grounds means that there is very little sun to get anyway!
We stayed in Stage 2 and had requested a minimal amount of stairs (hubby's knees) and we had the lift and the only time the lift didn't work was when there was a power cut the first night we were here. I was also very surprised that there wasn't even emergency lighting in the town houses in any of the apartments so you were in total darkness unless you opened the door. Hall ways had lights.
Our apartment was fine apart from the couches looking a little bit tired. There are also signs that say do not remove the mini bar from the fridge and staff won't come and remove it (I asked) so if you did want to actually use the fridge for a lot of your own stuff you are very limited. Most places are happy for you to remove their stock and you to replace on departure.
Ok now on to some of the positives. It's cheap for two bedrooms and two bathrooms and the apartments are quite roomy. Position is fabulous as I said earlier. There is plenty of hot water and the pressure in the showers was great. For some reason we had two shower heads. Didn't work that out and the bathroom is a good design in that the floors tend to stay clear of water BUT for some reason the design on the master bedroom was 'interesting' if I sat on the loo my toes were within an inch of the wall and they boys couldn't stand where they were supposed to stand as the wall was too close for aiming straight so we tended to use the second bathroom which although was smaller had a far better design.
There isn't any complimentary water at the town houses and when I asked I was told by reception that you can drink the tap water. Well those that have been reading the BTF lately know that this started a huge debate BUT needless to say we only drank bottle water as we could not get this confirmed officially while at the town houses.
The staffs were great and extremely helpful although no one mentioned our allergy issues at any stage. Son was unable to eat anything off the set breakfast menu so he had to order a-la-cart every morning but would have been nice to be acknowledged as we had made the effort to make the staff aware before arriving. Would have thought better from an Australian owned establishment. But that aside.
Used Evas laundry which I have used for a couple of years now and as always the service was fabulous UNTIL the day we were leaving. I always collected our laundry about 0830 each morning after breakfast. Well on our last day I went at 0830 and it wasn't even started to be ironed. She said you come back in 30 minutes so 30 minutes later I sent hubby down to collect it and she told him that I had already collected it. So I went to collect it and again it hadn't even been started. I explained that our Driver was collecting us (again) at 1000 and that I needed my laundry. I went back a third time (for me - fourth all up) and it still wasn't done so I folded what was left and took it with me to our next stop. Very disappointed to say the least no idea what happened..............
Day one Rate on street (posted if I changed money) when we changed money Rp 9500
Taxis 135,000 (includes tips)
Porters in Hotel 40,000
Sim cards 35,000
Phone credit 210,000
Food & drink & toiletries supplies Carrefour 443,620
Lunch La Walon
Gluten free option Chicken hot plate
Dinner Mamas
Gluten free option Sausages and chips
Beach massage 100,000
Food & drinks total for the day 675,000 (includes all tipping)
Shoes from Rip Curl 349,000
NB from July 1st Carrefour went plastic bag free....................
Day two
Up early but breakfast at certain town houses doesn't start till 0800 which again was a revelation to me considering the number of small kids staying there. Off to Ramanyana for me - shoe shopping and Dad and Mr 16 of to Remo............incidentally out room wasn't serviced when we got back at 1700 so I rang and they came and did it them. If I hadn't rung?????
Day Two Rate on street when we changed money Rp 9575
Taxis 110,00 (includes tips)
Food & drink supplies Ramanyana 97,910
Lunch Kuta Steak House
Gluten free option Pork chop and chips
Dinner Sendok Restaurant
Gluten free option Mixed grilled kebab
Food & drinks total for the day 785,000 (includes all tipping)
Shoes from Ramanyana (2 trainers & 1 thong) 736,950
Pedicure and Manicure on the beach 100,000
Matahari Shorts Mr 16 Rp 89,900
Antibiotics & anti-inflammatories Hubby 140,00
DVD's 40,000
Hopefully this is helpful to someone and more later if I can be bothered.
Thanks for reading this far................