Bali

[Blacktouch]

Going to start planning a trip to Bali for February 2019.

Which airlines have any of you used to fly from the UK to Bali before, and any good?

I will be researching airlines via Google as well.

[Andaman!]

I have used Qatar Airways to get to Bali - involves a change in Doha. Their business class is extremely comfortable. February is not the best time to visit Bali - very humid with frequent heavy downpours and lots of rubbish washing up on the beaches. May, June, July much better. In February, Krabi, Phuket, Ko Lipe, Langkawi are a much better bet.

[Blacktouch]

I have used Qatar Airways to get to Bali - involves a change in Doha. Their business class is extremely comfortable. February is not the best time to visit Bali - very humid with frequent heavy downpours and lots of rubbish washing up on the beaches. May, June, July much better. In February, Krabi, Phuket, Ko Lipe, Langkawi are a much better bet.

Due to work commitments, coldest weather period in the UK and February is my usual month for my annual far East travels.

I don't mind the humid or frequent heavy downpours. Nothing new to us.

[Blacktouch]

After doing some research for Bali, there is an annual event which takes place every year during the months of March or April, you may want to avoid if you're thinking of going to the island of Bali.

It's called Nyepi and the following details are:

Nyepi is the Balinese New Year (of the Saka calendar). It takes place in March or April according on the Balinese calendar.

It corresponds to a day of silence, meditation, to refocus and liberate the minds from negative emotions. This silence is also aimed at convincing demons that the island is deserted, so that they will not come back to disturb its inhabitants.

The following rules/custom applies:

During that day, it is strictly forbidden to anyone (Balinese and tourists) to go out on the streets, to set a fire or to turn the lights on, to work and even to entertain themselves for 24 hours starting from 6am. Even the airport is closed for the day (except for medical emergencies)!

Find below the upcoming Nyepi dates in Bali:

• March 17th, 2018 (year 1940 of the Saka calendar)

• March 7th, 2019 (year 1941 of Saka calendar)

• March 23rd, 2020 (year 1942 of Saka calendar)

For further details please Google.

[Blacktouch]

I have used Qatar Airways to get to Bali - involves a change in Doha. Their business class is extremely comfortable. February is not the best time to visit Bali - very humid with frequent heavy downpours and lots of rubbish washing up on the beaches. May, June, July much better. In February, Krabi, Phuket, Ko Lipe, Langkawi are a much better bet.

Andaman, Thanks for your reply and thoughts.

[paulo15]

Emirates is also very good with one change in DXB. But you can be very flexible and go for the best deal and use any number of stop over places. Singapore to SIN and then on to DPS is a good option - 14 hour flight and then a 2 hour hop to Bali, Changi is a great airport to transit. Thai or Eva to Bangkok and then on to Bali with Thai or Air Asia, that's a longer option as it's a 4 hour flight from Bangkok to Bali and you have to change airports if you use Air Asia. Cathay via Hong Kong is good but again a bit longer and finally you could try a transit in KL with Malaysian (they have a business class sale on right now) just three hours from KUL to DPS.

[a447]

Although Bali is a almost consisered another state of Australia, given the numbers who holiday there, very few people seem to know about nyepi. Bali, of course, tends to keep quiet about it so as not to deter the tourists.

I only heard about it because I've got friends who live there full-time, and from other friends who got caught out.

Apparently, there are hefty fines if you go outside your hotel.

You need to find a good hotel with a nice pool area. You can enjoy the day around the pool as long as you keep the noise down. Same with music and TV.

Your best option is to find a guy and have him stay with you on the day. That takes care of your entertainment needs!

[Brad the Impala]

There is always Garuda who have upped their game a lot recently and are now rated 5 Star on Skytrax. http://www.airlinequality.com/airline-reviews/garuda-indonesia/

They have a direct flight to Jakarta, two hour layover, and on to Denpasar. I used to fly with them on the first leg when their flights went via Bangkok to Indonesia, in the days before they upgraded everything. You could get very reasonable business class flights with them then, and the flights were never full, although everything was a bit worn. I was just happy with the extra space.

[Blacktouch]

Although Bali is a almost consisered another state of Australia, given the numbers who holiday there, very few people seem to know about nyepi. Bali, of course, tends to keep quiet about it so as not to deter the tourists.

I only heard about it because I've got friends who live there full-time, and from other friends who got caught out.

Apparently, there are hefty fines if you go outside your hotel.

You need to find a good hotel with a nice pool area. You can enjoy the day around the pool as long as you keep the noise down. Same with music and TV.

Your best option is to find a guy and have him stay with you on the day. That takes care of your entertainment needs!

My travel dates will be in February, so will miss Nyepi.

We would not enjoy being there during Nyepi.

[Blacktouch]

There is always Garuda who have upped their game a lot recently and are now rated 5 Star on Skytrax. http://www.airlinequality.com/airline-reviews/garuda-indonesia/

They have a direct flight to Jakarta, two hour layover, and on to Denpasar. I used to fly with them on the first leg when their flights went via Bangkok to Indonesia, in the days before they upgraded everything. You could get very reasonable business class flights with them then, and the flights were never full, although everything was a bit worn. I was just happy with the extra space.

Thank you kindly for the info.

Garuda has done well to get to 5 stars.

Airlines I will consider will be Qatar, Emirates, Etihad or Garuda.

A colleague at work who has been many times, has kindly informed me the cheapest fares are about 6 to 7 weeks before travel?

He has flown with all those airlines and told me Qatar was the best.

[Andaman!]

There is always Garuda who have upped their game a lot recently and are now rated 5 Star on Skytrax. http://www.airlinequality.com/airline-reviews/garuda-indonesia/.

It would appear they have improved considerably from the days when their UK flights used to stop in Paris or Italy and then Abu Dhabi on route to Jakarta. Seldom on time, people said Garuda stood for Go Another Route Unless Delays Appreciated.

[a447]

Or go Garuda if you want to land early - in the ocean!

[Blacktouch]

Any recommendations for hotels in Bali near all the action and beach please?

Also where one can bring back guests - Joiners!

Nothing to expensive.

[gerefan2]

He has flown with all those airlines and told me Qatar was the best.

Yes Qatar is the best of those, but watch their prices which have risen a lot in the last few years.

[paulo15]

Any recommendations for hotels in Bali near all the action and beach please?

Also where one can bring back guests - Joiners!

Nothing to expensive.

The Primera is close to the bars in Dyana Pura, the Ping is in the same street and closer to the beach. You also have Grandmas and Courtyard Marriot which has an excellent breakfast .

[Blacktouch]

The Primera is close to the bars in Dyana Pura, the Ping is in the same street and closer to the beach. You also have Grandmas and Courtyard Marriot which has an excellent breakfast .

Thank you Paulo15, I've been looking at Grandmas Seminyak. Looks very close to both bars and beach.
I've emailed them to check if they allow guests to visit the rooms.

This is their reply so far:

Grandmas Hotels | Apr 28, 2018 01:33AM CST
Thank you for submitting your request. We have received your request and are working on responding to you as soon as possible. If you have any additional information to add to this case, please reply to this email.

[splinter1949]

HI Blacktouch,
you also could look at Phils Place near by and no problem having a guest stay over

[paulo15]

Hi,
Also you have Bali Ginger Suites just behind Dyana Pura and they certainly have no issue with guests. A bit more expensive though.
I doubt Grandmas will know quite how to respond to your question, I don't think you will have a problem at any of the hotels mentioned though.
Cheers

[a447]

I've stayed at the Bali Ginger suites and Villa a couple of times. It's just one street off the main drag, opposite the gay bars. So convenient and no problem whatsoever with bringing back guests.

I also stayed once at Villa Angelo, a clothing optional gay hotel about 5 minutes walk from the bars.

I like to stay close to the action when I travel. If I find a hot guy, I want to get him into bed as soon as possible!

I'd recommend both.

[Blacktouch]

Thank you all kindly for the recommendations. Much appreciated.

I've had a reply back from hotel Grandmas:

Thank you for your email.

Yes you can bring the friend in the room, but we need ID Card of your friend for secure and safety reason, please give it to Our security/front desk.

Thank you

Sincerely Yours

Made Mastra
Corporate Hotel Manager

[Aux1010]

Hi guys,

has anyone visited Bali in their wet season? Just wondering if the area around Dhyana Pura / the gay bars floods making walking around the area difficult / inconvenient?

Thanks

[Nirish guy]

Yes been there then and without meaning to sound smart but depending on whether it's raining or not yes it can do.

If you mean just walking about the shops in the day time etc when it starts raining then aside from getting wet and a bit dirty maybe the footpaths are still all walkable etc, so when not raining or raining lightly it's fine. But when it starts raining hard ( which it does !) I've also had to stand just inside the doors of Bali Joes bar while watching a motorcycle almost getting washed away down the street from outside the bar in a small flood river that developed ( on the road) seemingly within minutes of the rains starting. Saying that as that happened at around 11pm the bar WAS still open so it was more just a case of going back in and relaxing and have a beer or two more for an hour or so to let the heaviest rains pass and then it was no problem finding a safe way home and walking around was certainly was still an option ( albeit a damp one) but if you're infirm on your feet or whatever then yes I guess you'd want to take a bit of extra care there maybe.

There are of course still many taxi's which sit outside the bars etc and could move you around safely but like everything once it starts raining they do get a bit harder to hail. But in short whilst it can be "wet" it certainly wouldn't stop me from going there if that's when I needed to go.

Actually the only thing that pissed me off about the HEAVY rains in rainy season there was when trying to organise a shag to my room as normally in Bali it's one click online and someone is at your hotel within 15 minutes or less maximum :) however if one speck of rain starts and then that terrible disease that apparently all Asians are born with where they know they'll just melt if they get wet kicks in and so it seems then that they couldn't POSSIBLY go out the door until the rains stop ! But aside from that I wouldn't let it stop you.

[Blacktouch]

We have decided to hire a villa, and I have booked it with Airbnb.

The hotels worked out more expensived that the villa.

As there are three of us going to Bail, it worked out cheaper that 3 rooms in a hotel.

Those hotel wanted over £1000 each per person, per room for 14 nights. The 3 x king size bedrooms villa cost much cheaper, so it's a win win. And we have more privacy etc.

The villa is only 9 minutes drive to the bars (walking 20 minutes) and 15 minutes drive to the beach. The villa is brand new and so nice, we don't mind staying a bit out. And taxis are cheap. Also Uber is there. To good an opportunity to miss.

I thought about staying at The Primera Hotel, but all the Standard and Deluxe rooms don't have fridges in the rooms. Only the Junor Suites.

Primera Hotel Seminyak, Managed by Accorhotels

Dear Sir,

Warmest Greetings From Primera Hotel Seminyak, Managed by Accorhotels...

Thank you for your email,
Kindly we inform you that the fridge only available only at our Junior Suite room.

We hope above information will meet your requirement..

Best Regards,

[Nirish guy]

A villa is a great idea in Bali if as you've said you've enough people to use it - I rented one on my own before and it ended up too much as there were that many guys coming and going I think the locals thought a local drug dealer had moved in or something ! :) Acyually I've stayed in the Primera Hotel there and in that very junior suite you mention, so yeah, maybe best to go the villa route ! lol

[Aux1010]

Yes been there then and without meaning to sound smart but depending on whether it's raining or not yes it can do.

If you mean just walking about the shops in the day time etc when it starts raining then aside from getting wet and a bit dirty maybe the footpaths are still all walkable etc, so when not raining or raining lightly it's fine. But when it starts raining hard ( which it does !) I've also had to stand just inside the doors of Bali Joes bar while watching a motorcycle almost getting washed away down the street from outside the bar in a small flood river that developed ( on the road) seemingly within minutes of the rains starting. Saying that as that happened at around 11pm the bar WAS still open so it was more just a case of going back in and relaxing and have a beer or two more for an hour or so to let the heaviest rains pass and then it was no problem finding a safe way home and walking around was certainly was still an option ( albeit a damp one) but if you're infirm on your feet or whatever then yes I guess you'd want to take a bit of extra care there maybe.

There are of course still many taxi's which sit outside the bars etc and could move you around safely but like everything once it starts raining they do get a bit harder to hail. But in short whilst it can be "wet" it certainly wouldn't stop me from going there if that's when I needed to go.

Actually the only thing that pissed me off about the HEAVY rains in rainy season there was when trying to organise a shag to my room as normally in Bali it's one click online and someone is at your hotel within 15 minutes or less maximum :) however if one speck of rain starts and then that terrible disease that apparently all Asians are born with where they know they'll just melt if they get wet kicks in and so it seems then that they couldn't POSSIBLY go out the door until the rains stop ! But aside from that I wouldn't let it stop you.

Thanks Nirish, haha yes, I realise it was a bit of a subjective / open-ended question!

My main concern is navigating home after a big night on the beers / whisky, and not getting caught-out and possibly having to wade through knee-deep water when co-ordination at that time of the night / morning can be difficult enough already. I had some rather irksome journeys home in the early hours when I was in Bangkok / Phnom Penh last September as a result of some street-flooding and would be keen to avoid / minimise that again if possible. Yes, I guess a taxi would be the simplest solution, but I generally prefer to walk if possible (especially after a few) and often at those times the simplest solutions don't always seem to come to mind so easily!

But yeah, will be going regardless, just wanted to get an idea of what I was possibly in for!

[Nirish guy]

Alas I share your propensity for doing usually the least obvious / smart thing re getting home when drunk, but for sure 100% a taxi is the way to go - complete with as many number of more than friends that you and your Villa sharing friends can get to join you - actually if an nice villa perhaps think even of organising a little pool party for the guys in the afternoons, I attend an organised and pre advertised pool party cum orgy there once where in the end a ton of asian guys turned up ( I'm guessing paid by the organiser) and only myself and I think one or maybe two other bule (white guys) arrived - it was one hell of a night I'll never forget, especially thanks to two Chinese genuine twin brothers ( and several others who joined us) - still makes me toes curl to this day thinking about it and certainly leaves Bangkok etc a mere shadow in Bali's wake that night anyway, Enjoy !

*note to self - time I started thinking about a trip to Bali in July again perhaps ! :)

[a447]

Note to self - definitely time I started thinking about a trip to Bali!

[pong]

for airfares: as Chin. NwYr is mostly also in/around febr, this may push prices way up for all EUR-Asean flights. There simply is no easy rule for when fares ''are lowest/best''-it differs per airline, per season, per class of service. But the diff. will mostly be well under 100 gbp/eur anyway-so just book (from around 4/.5 monthes advance) when they seem best, certainly when your days/travel window is short and fixed. OR if really into the game of saving amap- use skyscanner and set up an alarm for any promotions (maybe airlines open new routes-that usually means low intro-fares).
SQ is also very good and usually does not show up in the normal comparers.

[paulo15]

The villa is only 9 minutes drive to the bars (walking 20 minutes) and 15 minutes drive to the beach. The villa is brand new and so nice, we don't mind staying a bit out. And taxis are cheap. Also Uber is there. To good an opportunity to miss.
[/B][/I]

Just so you know, Uber sold out to Grab a couple of months ago so Uber is not available in Asia since April. Grab works on the same principle and has an app although you may need to wait until you're in Asia to download it (or use a VPN). Bluebird also has an app and they will always use a meter so no hassle with bargaining like with the other 'Blue' taksi. Minimum fare using the app is 30,000.

[Isaanguy]

When my partner and I went to Bali three years ago on three days we used a tour guide and he was brilliant.
He is late 30s or early 40s, fluent in French and English and will plan anything from strenuous hiking trips, tours over several days to one day trips to see the touristy things.
He is gay but very straight so we were very comfortable in his company.

I am new on here so if anyone is interested in contacting him I would have to work out how to send a private message

[Blacktouch]

Just so you know, Uber sold out to Grab a couple of months ago so Uber is not available in Asia since April. Grab works on the same principle and has an app although you may need to wait until you're in Asia to download it (or use a VPN). Bluebird also has an app and they will always use a meter so no hassle with bargaining like with the other 'Blue' taksi. Minimum fare using the app is 30,000.

Thanks for that info. Very helpful to know.