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Kuta - BaliBeach * Surfing * Snorkeling and diving * Restaurants * Nightclubs/bars * Money Changers * Wi-Fi Internet access * Kuta Accommodation - Hotels, resorts and guesthouses
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Places of interest in Bali
Other Indonesian locations
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Kuta is the main
tourist destination in Bali. With white sandy beaches, a good selection of
shopping, great restaurants and night life. A taxi from the airport to
Kuta is a fixed price of 50,000Rp and takes around 15 minutes. Kuta beach, Legian Beach and Seminyak are perfect places to learn to surf. You will find many Balinese men on the beach to rent a surf board and give you lessons. It can cost up to 100,000Rp to rent a board and lessons of around an hour, less just to hire a surf board. Snorkeling and Diving near Kuta There are no coral reefs directly off Kuta beach though you can do an easy day trip to many of the islands off the coast of Bali with excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. Nusa Lembongan has a few good snorkeling and dive sites and well as some good surfing spots. For transfers across to Nusa Lembongan as well as boat trips to do some snorkeling and diving check out Bali Hai Cruises. There is also good snorkeling off Sanur beach. There are plenty of travel agencies within Kuta that arrange these boat trips as well as PADI certified dive shops which rent out all the equipment. For the best snorkeling and diving in Bali head to the north-west coast and visit Pulau Menjangan part of the West Bali National Park. There is also some great spots for snorkeling and scuba diving on Lombok, Sulawesi and Sumatra. For organised boat cruises around Kuta as well as Lombok, Komodo National Park check out Realadventures with prices starting from US$80. They also have PADI certified instructors for scuba dive courses.
Poppies Lane II Poppies Lane II in the centre of Kuta has almost everything you need shopping wise. DVD and book shops, internet cafes, bars restaurants and all the t-shirts, shorts, sandals and sunglasses you could possible want. Massage and Health Spas in Kuta Febri's Spa located in South Kuta offering Balinese massage, body scrubs, body mask, head and scalp massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, facial plus more. Packages start from US$35. www.greenbali.com/febris_spa_main.html Bounty Salon and Spa located right next to the Bounty Hotel on Poppies Lane II. Hairdressing, cut, blow-dry, colouring, high-lights, straightening (womens cut 75,000Rp, mens cut 60,000Rp), body treatments from 95,000Rp, cream baths from 115,000Rp, manicure, pedicure and foot reflexology from 75,000Rp, body waxing from 60,000Rp, traditional Balinese massage from 95,000Rp Tailored clothing In Kuta there are plenty of tailors who can make really good men and women's tailored suits, pants, shirts and jackets. Kuta Karnival Each year in October Bali's most famous village - Kuta, holds it's own carnival. On display is Balinese traditional dancing, games and contests to take part in. www.kutakarnival.com
There are some great quality restaurants serving Balinese food as well as other Asian cuisine and Western food.
Kori Restaurant and Bar serves modern
international cuisine - seafood, succulent grills. Set in a beautiful
Balinese setting. A good selection of International wines are available.
Located on Poppies Lane II. Ph: +62 361 258 605.
www.korirestaurant.co.id Kori Restaurant
Ketupat Restaurant is located just off Legian Road in Kuta. It is tucked away behind a building with just a sign out the front pointing the way. With a great Balinese garden with pool they serve Indonesian cuisine from all regions of Indonesia including Bali, Java and Sumatra. Very romantic setting. Ph: +62 361 754 209 or 767 278
Ketupat Restaurant Made's Warung serving Indonesian, Balinese, Japanese and Western food. Located just along from the Hard Rock Cafe. www.madeswarung.com Izakaya Ueno Japanese Restaurant is a basic looking restaurant though serves great Japanese food including sushi and sashimi. Really good cheap prices. Located at Jl. Raya Puputan 144B Kuta (Poppies Lane II). There is an entrance on Poppies Lane as well as on Legian Road just across from the Memorial for the bomb blast victims. You have to walk through another restaurant/bar to get to the stairs to go upstairs. Ph: 0361 244 587. Nasi Pecel Bu Tinuk located on Jl. Raya Kuta next to Kimia Farma pharmacy serves excellent and cheap, home cooked Indonesian cuisine. www.nasipecelbutinuk.baliklik.com Sarong Restaurant described as Bali's newest uuber-groovy restaurant servicing a mixture of modern Asian food including Sumatran chicken and tandoori. www.sarongbali.com Seafood Restaurants A short 15 minute trip out of Kuta will take you to Jimbaran Bay. The beach at Jimbaran Bay is lined with around 50 seafood restaurants with their tables and chairs setup on the beach over looking the water - great for watching the sunset. You need to negotiate your prices first so best to walk along and check the prices of the seafood before sitting down. Check out the hotels in Jimbaran. You can grab a drink pretty much anywhere in Bali, and we are talking with alcohol. Though if you are looking for some alcohol fueled nightlight, dancing/music then you have to check out these places: Sky Garden Nightclub has 3 levels with dance music and a separate hip-hop music room on the very top level. A small Bintang beer costs 25,000Rp. There is no entrance fee and on Monday nights they have a promotion for 50,000Rp for as much beer as you can drink until 10pm. Each night they have fire dancers performing on stage. Each level has a large TV screen playing videos to match the music. Bounty Discotheque - Pirates Dance Party, located just next door to Paddy's Bar on Jln Legian.
Paddy's Club is still going strong. With a new location, not far from where it used to be on Jalan Legian organising some great party nights. www.paddyspubbali.com
Ocean Beach Club close to the Hard Rock Cafe, at the top end of Kuta Beach. A good selection of drinks, cocktails and regular entertainment including dancing shows, acrobatics, fire acts and a good selection of meals available, Indonesian and Western. M Bar Go is one of the newest late night venues in Kuta. Located just across the road from the old Sari Club on Jalan Legian. www.myspace.com/mbargo Billy's Bar in Garlic Lane at Legian Beach close to Legian Beach Hotel. Click here to read about the Bali Bar girls - Kupu Kupu malam (night butterflies) Be very careful while changing money at the small money change offices. They have various tricks for short changing you. I've experienced 2 of the tricks they use. Usually these small money changers display a very good exchange rate out the front of their office, sometimes better than the international exchange rate. The first trick they use is a dodgy calculator which has been tampered with to give you wrong calculations in their favour. I experienced this in one office. I walked in and had already calculated how much it should be to exchange A$50. They calculated it on the calculator and it came out less. I used their calculator and it came out the same as their result. I then pulled out my mobile phone, used the calculator and showed them the correct amount. They said their calculator must be faulty and then pulled out another calculator which displayed the correct amount. They were reluctant to them exchange money for me until I mention the Tourist Police and they then exchanged my money at a very good exchange rate. The second trick is just a slide of hand trick. They count the money in their hands rather than on the counter. After counting the first few hundred thousand Rupiah they fold that over and hide it in one of their hands and continue counting the rest. You would not notice this if you were standing in front of them. I watched a friend exchange money and I was standing further down the counter and had a side view and saw him fold the money. When I told him I saw it he pleaded ignorance until again I mentioned the Tourist Police. Drugs in Bali Drugs are a big no-no in Indonesia. There are big penalties for being caught with even the smallest amount of marijuana, hash, ecstasy or any other drug. For larger amounts Indonesia does have the death penalty - by shooting! Yes there are many people who may offer you some weed or hash or ecstasy when you are on your holiday though there are lots of dangers that go along with it. There are many guys on the roads of Kuta selling Ephidrine on the streets which is similar to speed. These are freely available in Indonesia as a dieting drug. There are lots of stories of being ripped off by being given a plastic bag full of dandelion leaf that looks very similar to hemp leaf or talcum powder that looks like cocaine. There are also more serious stories of being given the real thing and then the police turn up to your hotel room to arrest you after being dobbed in to the police by the person that sold it to you. Yes they get a bribe from the police and their drugs back to them so they can sell it to the next tourist! Good business in their minds!
Last updated 10th December 2009 |
Surfing in Kuta How to get there and away Bali's International and Domestic airport, called Ngurah Rai, located just outside of Denpasar and 10 minutes by taxi to Kuta. Check out our main Bali webpage for airlines and flight details Sailing and Cruise Ships There are various sailing and cruises you can choose from that visit the neighbouring islands of Lombok, Komodo and the Gili Islands. Sea Safari Cruises have a replica Buginese schooner that do 2, 4 or 6 night cruises leaving from Benoa harbour in Bali and visiting Lombok, Komodo and Sumbawa. See their itinerary for a 6 night cruise. Bounty Cruises have sunset dinner cruises at US$49 per person starting at 6pm and finishing at 8.30pm, this includes return hotel transfers to the jetty. Also available is a full day cruise starting at 10am and finishing at around 4pm. Price is US$95 per person including return hotel transfer, monring tea, buffet lunch. Activities include village tour, 44m water slide off the boat, snorkeling, banana boat ride and canoeing. Komodo Dancer is a cruise boat which offers 7 or 11 night cruises out of Bali to cruise around Komodo Island for diving on the best reefs. www.sunrise-divers.com There are plenty of Internet cafes in Kuta with desktop computers. Many of these will allow you to plug your laptop computer into their network for high speed internet access or they offer wireless (Wi-Fi) internet access. Charges are around 10,000 (US$0.85) - 12,000Rp per hour. Internet connections are generally slower than other parts of the world so you have to be patient. Some still use dial-up connections so ask before you sit down and start using it. Many hotels in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak have Wi-Fi internet access in the hotels though depending on which room you get you may only be able to access in the public areas like foyers, restaurants and cafe. The rooms on the top floors of hotels will not receive the wireless signal. Many restaurants, bars and cafes are now offering free Wi-Fi internet access in Kuta if you sit down and buy something. Some will need to give you a userid and password to access the net. If the place is busy expect the connection to be really slow so often better just to go to an internet cafe and pay the charges there for a faster connection.
Accommodation / Hotels in Kuta The following are hotels in Kuta Bali with current 2009 prices and contact details: Losmen Arthawan is probably the cheapest accommodation in Kuta. A decent hotel with basic rooms with fan, bathroom with shower. Prices start from 40,000Rp (US$4) per night including breakfast. For pictures, contact details and reviews click here. Losmen Cempaka is a budget/backpacker hotel with basic rooms. Room prices start from 60,000Rp (US$6) per night. For pictures contact details and hotel reviews click here. Bali Manik Beach Inn is a budget hotel with basic rooms with ceiling fans. In a great location with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars close by. 10 minutes walk to the beach. All rooms prices are 80,000Rp per night (US$8). For pictures, contact details and hotel reviews click here. Bali Dwipa Guest House has rooms from 80,000Rp per night. Just 10 minutes away from Kuta Beach. For pictures, contact details and hotel reviews click here. Beneyasa I Beach Inn is a budget hotel with swimming pool with room prices starting from 90,000Rp per night (US$9). For pictures, contact details and hotel reviews click here.
Beneyasa I Beach Inn
Tanjung Bali Inn located in the heart of Kuta on Poppies Lane II with
swimming pool. Room prices from 100,000Rp per night (US$10).
For pictures, prices and hotel reviews for the Tanjung Bali Inn click
here. Tanjung Bali Inn
Taman Mekar Beach Inn located just off Poppies Lane II. Basic accommodation with no swimming pool. All rooms have fan. All room prices are 150,000Rp (US$15). For pictures, contact details and hotel reviews click here.
Dua Dara Inn (1 review) is located right on Poppies Lane II at the top end close to Legian Road. Budget accommodation with swimming pool. Room prices start from 150,000Rp (US$15) per night For pictures, contact details and hotel reviews click here.
Bali Sandat Inn 2 a budget hotel with swimming pool. 10 minutes walk down to Kuta Beach. Basic rooms with either fan or air-conditioning. Room prices from 121,000 Rp (US$12) per night. For pictures, prices, contact details and hotel reviews click here.
Gora Beach Inn is a really nice budget hotel with swimming pool in the heart of Kuta close to shops, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and internet cafes. Room prices start from 134,000Rp (US$13). For pictures, contact details and reviews click here.
Gora Beach Inn Pool
Hotel Palm Gardens Taman Nyiur a budget hotel in the centre of Kuta just 10 minutes walk to the beach. Room prices from 150,000Rp (US$15) per night. For pictures, contact details and hotel reviews for Hotel Palm Garden click here.
Balita Inn Hotel is located just off Poppies Lane II with a swimming pool. Room prices start from 250,000Rp (US$25) per night. For pictures, contact details and hotel reviews click here.
Taman Sari Cottages located right on Poppies Lane II at the top end close to Legian St. With swimming pool, rooms prices are 300,000Rp per night (US$30). For pictures, contact details and hotel reviews click here. Champlung Mas Hotel located in central Kuta with swimming pool. Rooms prices start from US$32 (internet special) www.champlunglegian.com Barong Hotel Kuta (1 review) 300m from Kuta beach with 2 swimming pools and swim up bar and wireless internet hotspot accessible in the rooms. Room prices from US$45 including breakfast. For pictures, prices and hotel reviews for Hotel Barong click here.
Hotel Barong Ida Hotel 57 room budget hotel with swimming pool. Rooms from US$45 (internet special) www.idahotelbali.com The Oasis Kuta located in the heart of Kuta, 5 minutes from Kuta beach. With swimming pool and spa treatments. Room prices start from US$47 per night. www.theoasiskuta.com Green Garden Hotel small family run hotel located close to south Kuta beach. Prices start at US$50 per night. www.greenbali.com/main_hotel.html Aneka Beach Hotel from US$55 nett. www.anekahotels.com Bakungsari Cottages located within Kuta town, 15 minutes walk to the beach. Room prices from US$61 per night. bakungsari.com Bounty Hotel (1 review) is about a 10 minute walk down to Kuta beach with many shops and restaurants close by. Has 2 great swimming pools each with a swim up bar. This hotel does attract a younger party crowd. Prices are from US$70 per night (internet special). For photos, 2009 room prices, contact details and Bounty hotel reviews click here. One of the pools at Bounty Hotel
Febri's Hotel a new 3 star 67 room hotel located in South Kuta or Tuban area. Prices start from US$70 per night. www.greenbali.com/febris_hotel_main.html Kuta Lagoon Resort 64 room hotel and private villas with swimming pool. Room prices from US$70 per night. www.kutalagoonresort.com The Jayakarta Bali prices from US$74 per night www.jayakartahotelsresorts.com Mecure Kuta Hotel located in the centre of Kuta right across from the beach and close to shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Free Wi-fi wireless Internet access. Prices start from around US$78. www.mercurekutabali.com Bali Garden Hotel is a 4 star hotel located right on Kuta Beach. Room rates from US$98 per night www.baligardenhotel.com Ramayana Resort & Spa located in the heart of Kuta, just across from the Kuta Art Market and a few minutes walk to the beach. Room rates from US$ minimum 3 nights stay during the high season June - Sept. Room prices from US$100 per night. www.ramayanahotel.com
Kuta Seaview Cottage an 82 room hotel located right across the road from Kuta beach. Minumum 3 nights stay during the high season June - Sept. Room rates from US$388+ www.kutaseaviewhotel.com
Accommodation/Hotels close to Kuta
The Rani Hotel & Spa - Benoa
The Oasis Boutique Beach Resort - Benoa
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