In Reply to: here's a wild and crazy idea posted by clovis on Friday, 22. February 2013 at 12:19 Bali Time:
different reasons.
Bali is not my main holiday, it's just something I like to do for a few weeks a year without too much preparation. Book the room , book the flight and the rest takes care of itself. It's a bit like airlines- I have never thought about what's on the menu or what movies are showing - I get on , get comfortable , pray that it's not Captain Kangaroo at the controls, plug the MP3 in and hope I nod off for a few hours.
* I'm not into lazing around a pool these days or lazing on a beach - I guess it has never been a priority for me in Bali because I have lived around beautiful beaches all my life and have been lucky to have a pool for the past 40 years in my homes (not any more)
* I love dining out and trying all cuisines at such great prices. I love local food too.
* I mostly love shopping - ducking in and out of little shops and market stalls, finding all sorts of things for the family ( until retirement my Bali gifts were just that but now I amalgamate them into Christmas & Birthday gifts). I hate shopping at home and do as little as possible
I started out staying in Seminyak and gradually moved south. Legian suits me as I can come and go in safety and walk to many places. I love being able to duck out of the hotel and be in the thick of things - shopping and places to eat.
I love small to medium hotels - I am not interested in villa type accommodation as I would tire of the same company after too long. I enjoy trips on my own and I enjoy having company so long as I don't get dragged into the do everything in a pack mentality.
I love a few days away from the hustle of Legian and often enjoy stays around Bedugal (love the coolness). I also enjoy Nusa Lembongan and the East coast but if I am only there a few weeks I am happy to just use my time shopping, dining and catching up with people.
We did a cruise a couple of years back and I remember watching some folk laze on deck covered in oil all day - I was fascinated but they were enjoying themselves and that was all that counted.
Did I answer your question .... Sorry ... but why fix it if it's not broken ... just inspect a few places and perhaps stay a few places the first few days or the last few days of your holiday. I really think that would the best way to get the feel of an area.