Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wow its been 77 days since any updates!

With less than 5 day until xmas we want to wish everyone a wonderful and safe Christmas with their families and friends..

Hopefully 2012 brings bright new things for all and may everyones dreams and wishes come true..

Once its 2012 its no longer "getting married next year".. It will be "Getting married this year!"

200 days to go!

Well, that's until the wedding at least! Even less days until you're on a plane looking forward to touching down in that lovely humid, tropical climate!

Hope all of your plans are coming along and that you are looking forward to this as much as we are. Can't wait to enjoy all that Bali has to offer with you!

Waterbom Park



Lazy River, cruise around at a gentle speed.
Only problem is no drinks allowed...

This famous water park is situated in Kuta, about a 15-20min (traffic dependent) taxi trip from Seminyak. It is a Bali institution and they have added some sensational waterslides in recent times for both little and big kids!

You'll need to bring your own towel and anything you'd normally take to the pool. Lockers are available inside the park and there are plenty of lounges around the pools and slides for you to hang out.



Money is not used in the park, you hand over your cash on entry and this is loaded onto a waterproof bracelet which is then scanned anytime you want to purchase food or beverages. You can reload the bracelet or get a refund at the end of the day.

This is probably one of the more expensive things to do in Bali but compared to amusement parks at home it's really not that bad. Plus it's a super day out!

Here's some great pictures of the park for you;



                                               

                                                          The fantastic kids area, watch out for that bucket at the top though!



The awesome Boomerang and Superbowl (or Toilet as we like to call it!)





And the brand new slide - The Climax. Not for the faint hearted!

Garuda Cheap Flights!

If you haven't booked your flights just yet then here is a great opportunity! I've just checked the Garuda website and return flights for 1 adult are $589.52!

The flights are Saturday 28th April leaving Melbourne at 10:55am and landing in Bali at 1:35pm. Return flight departs Bali at 11:45pm Saturday 5th May arriving in Melbourne at 8:25am Sunday morning.

Considering food, entertainment and drinks (that's Bintang!) are included, this is an amazing price!!!

Get onto Yvonne or go and book yourself by clicking here!

First Timer Tips - Water

For those who haven't been to Bali before be warned: you cannot drink the tap water there.

This means you can't brush your teeth in it, rinse your mouth out or use it for making ice...unless you'd like a few days on the toilet or in bed.

All hotels provide, free of charge, several small bottles of water a day, these are mainly used for brushing your teeth. As for drinking water, it's very cheap from local mini marts. 1.5 Litre bottles can be bought for around 4,500 rupiah, about $0.50.

The water is absolutely fine for bathing in and the hotels we've recommended do an excellent job of keeping the pools clean. The ice used in drinks from bars and restaurants is fine - it used to be a big problem in Bali until the government stepped in an regulated this.

Again, keep your hygiene in mind and you'll survive this trip just fine. Wash your hands often, use a hand sanitiser and only drink bottled water!

First Timer Tips - Safety

Bali is a beautiful place with many amazing people, however as with anytime you travel overseas, it's important to be aware of safety.

• Beach - Kuta to Seminyak Beach can be quite brutal. The beaches can often be closed for periods of time when rips and currents pop up. The waves are quite strong here so swim between the flags where possible.                                                                                      
• Hotel - Every hotel will give you a safety deposit box - whether in your room or at reception. The boxes at reception can only be accessed with your key and the key from the manager. We usually leave our passport and additional cash in here for the duration of the stay and haven't heard of anything going wrong when using these in reputable hotels.




Dodgy Money Changer sign, doesn't say No Commission


• Money - When exchanging money make sure you go into a shop with a 'No Commission' sign only. There have been instances where tourists have walked down small back lanes to exchange their money and it usually ends with them leaving with no money at all. You should NEVER have to pay commission to exchange money and you should NEVER have to walk down dodgy back lanes. The golden rule here - if the exchange rate looks to good to be true it usually is.
• Nightlife - Usual rules apply here same as anywhere when out and about at night. Secure your cash and phone. Always make sure someone knows where you're going. And remember the name of your hotel so the taxi driver knows where to deliver you at the end of a long night, not looking at anyone here...




Where the sign points, see the little
white square at the end of the alley? Mmmm....



In terms of overall security, check Smart Traveller, an Australian Government website for all current warnings and advice. This also has recommendations on health and where to get help should you need it when away. We strongly advise all guests take out travel insurance, this covers you from when you pay the insurance just in case you can't travel for some reason. And lastly, it is recommended to register with the Australian Government when travelling outside the country. This is a 5 minute task but means that you can be contacted should you need to be while you're away.

The Form Guide - Part Three

Well, onto the ring ins!

• John – Veteran Bail performer to go along with frightening drinking capacity. It’s not an ‘if’, but a ‘when’ will he hurt you? Will enjoy taking some of the younger lads for a ride. Can explode out of the blokes at any moment of any day. One of the true stayers that can be devastating to go with. Double diamond Status also.
• Lyn – The woman who can outstrip John Armstrong is one to be feared. Look out when she gets going…. I see dancing and Karaoke.
• David – Rounds out the three seasoned amigos. Another with solid Bali form behind him.
• Pam – With Bernie and Lyn going, Pam will not be far behind. Or maybe in front…. Looking forward to finding out.
• Rel – First of the big jobs, the Matron of Honour. Does this mean you carry Amy home or does she carry you? Expectations are high. Apparently her nose goes numb after one too many, expecting her to entirely misplace it this trip.
• Rick – One of the quiet ones…. But then again, sometimes the quiet ones are the ones to be feared the most…
• Jess and Beth – Double the Callaghan, Quadruple the trouble. Author is always fearful of this combo, especially as I can tell the difference, but then can’t remember which is which….. Apparently can’t wait to confuse the crap out of everyone. Jess has years of Ballarat Uni training to call on, while Beth loves a Champers and is a nurse, we all know they love a drop! 
• Christie – LOOK OUT, the girl is off the leash….. To politely put it, has ditched the hubby and kids at home and will be looking to run amuck on a girl’s trip for the first time in several years…. Wow, look out. 
• Georgie – Bridesmaid. Baby action could see a dent in her usual sterling performance, will need to wait until closer to the date for better judgement. From solid breeding (Murphy family) and is a Nurse. But seriously, we all have kids! Don’t let them hold you back… I won’t be!
• Glenn – Solid participant will keep up with the front runners. Loves a chat when in the game – don’t let him distract you from running your own race.
• Stuey – Groomsman and Bali veteran of several messy trips, expect him to nearly always start towards the back, but don't ever let that false sense of security deceive you, he will always destroy you on the home straight. Amazing staying power that few can ever compete with. One of the greats who is at his peak.  Has shown his recent prowess in Bali by steering the good ship ‘Bounty’ home…. Another who the Author expects to be hurt by. (That’s a fast growing list)
• Neil – Groomsman with exceptional drinking pace. When I say pace, I mean that not one person in this field can compete on his level! Has been known to occasionally stay, but recent form says he will almost always get run down. Well, not run down technically, has already run the race, then lapped the field and retired to the stables before anyone knows what happened.  Another Double Diamond Status warning with this one. Do not go with ever!
• Razor (Tim) – New to Bali but not to drinking, will hold form throughout the week. Expect him to have a beer with breakfast. Every morning. You think I am joking about that. I’m not. Think this might be a good match up for the author at some stage – I challenge you to a duel!!!!!  (insert glove to face slap)
• Anne – Did some of her best work seeing out her 20’s recently. The people of Mt Hotham will attest to that. Can go on cocktails or wine. Don’t worry if you can’t understand her at the end of the night, just pretend she was speaking one of the 4 languages she has in her arsenal.
• Hilly – Will be seeing out his 40’s in fine form. Watch out dance floors – Mr Hill may well be on his way!
• Em – Ahhh, finally someone Ames describes as a pocket rocket! I love pocket rockets as they nearly always drink me under the table…. Dammit. Expecting dancing and singing.
• Gerard – A survivor of the Oktoberfest and Norway trip. By all accounts goes well. Big expectations placed on him by Ames.
• Kate – Another returning from a nine month absence out with general soreness!!!! Goes well first up, but can she go the distance????
• Will – In his day there was no stopping the big fella, a legend of the Geelong nightclub scene envied by Stu Harrison and could be found every weekend on any night, bar hopping his way through the night. But unfortunately as what happens to all true champions, father time eventually catches up with you and you become a shadow of your once glorious self.. Does he have enough in the tank to bring himself up for an occasion like this? Most champions always find more, and don't be surprised  if glimpses of his former self still come to the forefront, although beware the common gardening fertilising that comes with it.
• Amanda – Will need some prep work in the lead up but if up and about will show good form. Another nurse here people – you know the drill.
• Coley – Has Bali’d before with Will and Mick but that was many years and was a much younger man, expecting some sensational dance moves…
• Sara – Strong chance of a couples dance off here if things go the right way. I’m running the book and am already taking large bets on this event. Another nurse, be wary.
• Reece – Does Bali his own way; spends the entire trip drinking, drunk or hung over. “Big man go down!” Wow, what a life! Wonder if his new occupation, or as he likes to call it, being ‘semi-retired’ will hamper him? If found by the pool and quiet, a quiet offer of ‘Fizzy Bubbley’ should awaken the beast..
• Senji – Recent Achilles injury and old age has hampered his preparation, hoping for big things from the Best Man. It’s ok, that’s why they invented the swim up pool bar Senj – no walking required.
• Rach – Another solid performer. May need to get in on the life saving training to save Senji when he falls off his pool bar stool…. Can go on champagne and wine.
• Gede – Our trusted Bali Guide!!! Can’t wait to meet him!
• Ani – Gede’s better half!
• Damo - Danger, Danger, Danger….. Bandit 1 – Heard a whisper that in combo with Shane, Simo and Jasey will go coco banana’s…. Should be awesome!
• Jac – Has raced this track before in 07 when she smashed out of the blocks for an easy BOG performance on the opening night, only to retire hurt for the rest of the trip. Arak is a hell of a drink.
• Simmo - Bandit 2 – Read above. Will strangely not worry about anything that the field is doing and run his own race. Has the owners and punters worried that if let lose in Bali, may never come home. The Vegas like lights, party scene, techno music, may see him be lost forever.. It’s ok… Bali has him now…
• Nazpot – More of the same, small and dangerous.  Is anyone involved in this wedding not a drinker??? Or was that a qualification of being invited? Another who will need to be watched closely.
• Jasey – The Silent bandit, that is until the end of the night, when words are the only indicator that the enormous amount of bourbon he has drunk has had an effect on him. Also one of the strongest stayers in the field. Will run all day and night without a sign of fatigue.

 That's it for now, stay tuned for any last minute tips. Until then, you stay classy San Fransisco!

P.S   There are some exciting awards that will be presented to the best performers of the wedding week at the ‘recovery’ party.

Hang on, does ‘recovery’ mean we stop drinking or drink some more?

I’m confused.

My head hurts.

Pass me another beer.

Categories for these awards will be announced closer to departure time!!! Bagus!

The Form Guide - Part Two

Well the last edition certainly seemed to stir up some contraversy. Let's see how we go with this next edition...
The Hardiman/Bliss contingent

• Bernie – Along with Lyn and Pam should basically be considered an Indonesian resident due to spending about 10 months a year in Bali (It feels like that long because we are not there!) Loves wine. No, No, No, REALLY LOVES WINE. Expect a mixture of laughs and tears, possibly all at once.
• Mick H Snr – Some say this is his Grand Final. Spent 4 years in Canberra inhaling VB schooners, before returning to hurt the younger generation in Victoria. Another super experienced Bali campaigner who’s form in the Munga bar since his return has raised eyebrows, with a number of Judd-like performances. Can go, will travel. One of the great Veteran stayers who is very dangerous. True Double diamond status, only experienced campaigners should tackle.
• Mick H Jnr – The burning question. What will I bring to the table? I will tell you. If it’s breakfast, a bintang. If it’s brunch, a bintang…. You get the idea. In solid training. Will be ready.  
• Zin – Will go hard or go home. No in-between for her. In full flight is an unbelievable performer. If she brings it, will destroy her husband….
• Lisa – Will sample a cocktail and will remember everything from the night before. You’ve been warned...
• Michael C – Another in heavy training, believed to be currently holed up in his brother’s shed. One who truly understands the rigors of a Bali trip.
• Liv – Ballarat Uni…. Enough said.
• Tom – Unknown quantity, may surprise with solid showing.
• Kerry – Must run in the family, loves a wine!!!!! Will enjoy the surroundings.
• Jack – By all accounts, also performing well this pre-season. Interested to see if he can go with the more experienced campaigners….
• Molly – It’s Bali Kez, surely she can have one champers!!!!! 
• Adam – In true Derek Rose style, has literally come from the clouds for this trip. I considered him a doubtful starter when invites went out, but has qualified! Will have had a full summer of Thomson Cricket Club functions behind him, so should be in supreme condition and looking for the championship.
• Sean – HEY HEY HIPPIE!!!!! All aboard. Another fine performer. Has been training hard (non drinking style), will be interested to see if he’s still got form. Will be in it for a long way.
• Clare – May have her hands full trying to control a rampant McGrath. Or maybe it will be the other way around...
• The Hardiman Crew (John, Shauna, Chris, Leanne, Janet, Paul, Tim and Deb…. Maybe others) – Seriously, how good a catholic family are we from!!!!! There are way too many to write about individually. All will enjoy the trip and make themselves known to the barmen at one point or another…. Often…..

The Form Guide - Guest Author

Since getting the invite (thanks guys!), I have been unbelievably excited to combine one of my favourite holiday destination with my favourite thing (outside any sporting event) a wedding! And not just any wedding, my sister’s wedding. But I also have the overriding feeling of being just a little bit afraid.

Some may wonder what I am afraid of? Others already have this feeling and are in severe denial about it. The fact is, I am frightened by the heavy drinking artillery that will be bombarding the Bali coast in the week beginning the 30^th of April 2012. (Only 241 days!  Great iPhone app for that, anyway….)

HAS ANYBODY LOOKED AT WHO IS COMING TO BALI!?!? 

The attendee list reads like a ‘who’s who’ of drinkers. It’s like the All Star game and it’s going to last for up to three weeks! With Ames and Mick’s  help, I’ve decided to put together a little early season form guide about the attendees. Feel free to leave your comments below.

One more important point. My gut feeling is that Grand Final day at Amy and Mick’s this year will be a bit like the Round 24 Geelong v Collingwood game. The top ranked players feeling each other out before the big dance….Be prepared!

Over the next few weeks the full form guide will be revealed. But let's start today with the happy couple and Barry Clan.

Without further ado...The Form Guide

Mick: With true panache and style, is involved in a HEAVY training load at the moment. This is evident after taking Darcy for a walk and being found five hours later holding the bar up at the Petrel hotel. To go along with this, an Oktoberfest/Crazy Norwegian wedding experience has him primed to lead the charge. Has been occasionally known to pull the pin without a moment’s notice, and an off day can see him peak too early and finish dead last. When he's up, among the best. Without pre-empting the match committee’s decision, will be happy to appoint him Captain for the trip!

Ames: The Joel Selwood of this trip (easy Ames, yes I did just compare you to Joel. Please stop drooling on your keyboard). In true Hardiman/Bliss style, will go head first into any bottle of wine/champers/cocktail (I think they make glasses over there that your head will actually fit in!!!!!!). Will be called upon to lead when our courageous captain can go no more… Looking for a massive performance.

The Barry's

• June – The good oil is that June loves a Brandy and Coke. In my eyes that already means she can go. Combined with the fact she has experienced the Bali lifestyle before and knows the conditions better then the Cats know Kardinia Park, big things are expected.
• Steve – Has played this game before. A proven performer, but a query if he will run the trip. Suggested that will lead out the pack and peak too soon. Only time will tell….
• Chez – The true hard nut of the Barry clan. Puts all the Barry boys to shame...Tequila anyone?
• Dave – The first of our Smiling Assassins. Apparently we won’t hear much from him until we hit double figures in Bintang's. I say better late then never.
• Ness – Recent pregnancy could stunt her chances but her return from bub one was absolutely spectacular. (Titanic...)
• Shane – An esteemed member of the Centurion club at the Munga Bar. Also a master of shenanigans. Place these two factors in the powder keg that is Bali and expect fireworks… High expectations from the author….
• Mandz – Will hold her own in this battle. Heard on the down low that she loves a brew.  Heading to the right place for that. Can go when challenged.
• Aunty Julie – Ex Bali local. Will enjoy watching everyone struggle on the Arak. That’s just cruel really!!!!!

Til next time punters!

Hards

Beach bums

The beach is a great place to hang out in Bali and comes with many more options than at home. As you take a leisurely stroll from Seminyak down to Kuta and back, you will be kindly invited to take a seat from the many vendors lining the beach! You may also be asked if you'd like to take home some quality Bali merchandise such as sarongs, paintings, jewellery or carvings. (My favourite is the 'jiggy jig pig') If they don't have anything that interests you simply say 'Tidak' or no thanks. Try to avoid eye contact and don't feel the need to explain yourself. Relax and keep walking - if you look like you've been to Bali 20 times before, they're less likely to bother you.

If you'd like to hang out on a nice sun lounge under an umbrella for the day then expect to pay! Although, as with pretty much everything in Bali, you can barter! Sun lounges are around 15,000 rupiah or about $2. There are also plenty of surf or boogie boards available for hire. If you think you'd like to have one, negotiate a weekly rate, rather than a daily rate.

And of course, there are plenty of kindly balinese guys that will fetch you a cold Bintang (or soft drink) on request!

Jetstar Flight Price Change

Guys, Jetstar over the weekend have adjusted some of their prices for the Bali flight. Basically they have reduced their direct flights a little bit flying out late in the day and arriving in Bali at 10:40pm, while the flight home is the usual overnight you can't avoid. Price right now is $803.68 pp including 15kg checked luggage.

Another option to explore is staying with the same direct flight home but taking advantage of the stop over flight to get to Bali. The schedule right now is fly out of Melbourne at 1:40pm via Darwin, changing planes in Darwin and then flying the last hour and a half arriving in Bali at 8:40pm. Price right now for this option is $729.73pp including 15Kg checked luggage.

You travel however you like, but sometimes to save money we have to look outside the box! 8:)

Check out the flights page for other options on different airlines..

First timer tips - Money

The best way to deal with money in Bali?

Cash. Plain and simple.

Travellers cheques are not as widely accepted as they once were and will get a lower exchange rate. There have been issues with credit card fraud in recent years. (Although it's still safe to use cards in good shops and restaurants.) It is easy to access money via ATMs however the exchange rate is lower and you get stung with international fees from most banks. So cash is king in Bali!

Regulars to Bali will bring their money in good condition $50 notes; the Balinese don't accept ripped or torn notes.
In Seminyak there are several reputable places that will exchange your money. The only way to do this successfully on the streets is to find 'No Commission' exchange places, usually these will be found in kodak shops or bank style shops. There is one on 'eat street' or Laksmana next to Joy Jewellery. (This will make more sense when you're there!) There's also another great shop on Jalan Legian across from the Bintang supermarket.

Best tip for first timers is to go with a Bali regular for your first few trips and learn how it works. The person exchanging your money should always show you the amount of rupiah you will receive on a calculator. They will also count it out for you so that you are satisfied with what you've been given. 

Number one rule when exchanging money?
NEVER give over your cash until you are completely satisfied with the transaction.

Sunset

A great time to hang out at the beach is just before sunset, anytime from 5pm onwards.

All of the Balinese families come down to enjoy their time together, there's plenty of games and activities happening and just near our recommended hotels are a whole heap of beach warungs (local cafes) with comfy beanbags. If you lose people during the day, it's a sure bet that you'll find someone to chat to on a beanbag at sunset.

These pictures are of one of the larger warungs called La Plancha. This place has become pretty popular so you may need to make your way to the beach at 4:30pm to secure a good spot.

You can get beer,wine and soft drink here as well as some nibbles.

As you can see by the photos , it's a pretty difficult way to spend an afternoon.

See you there soon for a drink!

Accommodation #4 - Harmony Hotel

This is a budget option in terms of price but not in terms of value for money. Located in a quiet street just around the corner from Breezes, Puri Saron and Pelangi, the Harmony is a hotel rather than a resort. In that sense it has nice, clean rooms with air conditioning and a fantastic pool area. The rooms have a mini bar and safety deposit box and breakfast is included in your room rate. The main thing it lacks is a pool bar and if you can do without that, you can save yourself a lot!

The web rates are around $50 per night for a standard room however we've seen the local rates get down as low as $30 per night. Several of our friends and parents have stayed here before and have very positive things to say about it. Checking the website it also saysd that kids under 12 stay free!

If you're looking for a way to stay longer without breaking the bank, this is a great option! Regardless of where you stay, you can always have a play day in someone else's pool!!

Check out the website for more details and contact Yvonne for up to date room rates.

http://theharmonyseminyakbali.com/

Accommodation #3 - Puri Saron



The view from Puri Saron to the beach



The Puri Saron is another resort located right on the beach in Seminyak. Only a few hotels down from the Pelangi, this resort has a great family feel to it. It has a similar set up in that the rooms and villas are towards the road side of the hotel with the restaurant, pool and open areas located closest to the beach.



The gardens and rooms at Puri Saron



The costs as far as we can tell are fairly similar to the Pelangi. This is a better option for families with active kids as there are more open, grassy areas than concrete! The pool has a basketball ring and the restaurant where breakfast is served looks fantastic. While no one has stayed here we did walk through the resort and look in the rooms and they looked quite nice. Again, check out the website and chat to Yvonne about the best option for you.



Pool with Pool Bar at Puri Saron





Bali Belly - The Truth

Is it possible to get Bali Belly? Absolutely. You are travelling to a third world country in many respects and as such hygiene habits aren't always followed to the letter. The best ways to avoid this include drinking only bottled water, not eating from the carts on the street and eating in nicer restaurants. A small bottle of hand sanitiser in the hand bag is also a must. The local warungs are usually quite safe but each to their own!

Although not Bali Belly, it is possible to end up a little squeamish on some days and this is usually due to the following;

• You've gone too hard on Arak - the local rice wine that could strip paint and fuel your car for a week. Stick to cocktails that use normal stuff like vodka.
• You've gone mental on fruit juices and fruity cocktails - yeah, 4 litres of fruit juice in a day will do that to you...
• You've tried everything, every day, from the breakfast buffet; fruits, breads, mie goreng, potatoes, eggs, omelettes etc. If this happens to you, try some plainer foods for a day or so and you'll be fine.

Bali - the only place on earth where it's acceptable to discuss your bathroom habits.

Have fun!

Travel Lesson - Check your passport!

On our last flight to Bali we were ready to pull out of Brisbane airport when two young guys had to be removed from the flight. Unfortunately , they had just waited 6 hours for a delayed flight that they weren't allowed to catch.

You see, they had less than 6 months left on their passports until they expired. These days airlines aren't letting you take the risk of flying to a foreign country just to get shoved on the next plane home. They are denying passage to anyone without the appropriate amount of time remaining on your passport.

Now is a great time to double check the expiry dates of your documentation. If it expires between now and December 2012 - it might be a good idea to get a new one. We don't want to leave a man behind!

Accommodation #2 - Breezes



Beautiful Lagoon style pool

Time to look at the next hotel on our list - The Breezes Resort in Seminyak. This resort is located quite close to the Pelangi, as you can see in the Maps page.
The layout of this hotel is fantastic, with plenty of privacy in your room and great access to the pool. This was the best solution in the immediate area for families, with the kid friendly lagoon style pool, kids club and interconnecting family suites.
While we haven't stayed at this resort ourselves, we have toured the facility and have good reports from others who have stayed here.
For those not requiring a family room, there are standard rooms and poolside rooms - these have double doors that open directly out to the pool area.


Poolside Room


The pool bar looks fantastic! Well stocked and plenty of seats for everyone, plus they have permanent umbrellas in the pool for those of us who don't tan too well.

Other facilities include the on site bar and restaurant, tennis court, gym if you're feeling up to it and the on-site spa! And of course the kids club;  let the munchkins be entertained while you kick back and enjoy your holiday.

This is a great resort with some fantastic ratings on all travel sites, we recommend this as a great family option for the week of the wedding.

Stay informed - sign up!

Hi all,

We don't have a schedule for our blog updates but we don't want you to miss out on the important stuff!

If you look to the right of this page, you can enter your email address to be sent the information once we post. This may be particularly handy if you can't access our site on a regular basis but can check your emails.

So sign up and stay informed!

News Article

An interesting story published today on the Herald Sun website for anybody with a few momentst to spare.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/travel/holiday-ideas/sleep-play-rub-the-true-side-of-bali-travellers-should-see/story-e6frfhhf-1226066444667

Accommodation #1 - Pelangi Hotel

Thought we'd give you a bit more information on our number 1 choice in hotels/resorts.

Poolside at the Pelangi

We stayed at the Pelangi on our recent planning trip in April and loved every second. Located in the quieter area of Seminyak, we found that we were close to shops, bars and restaurants while still being right on the beach. The pool here is amazing, with plenty of sun lounges that look directly over the beach. And not one morning (even during peak Easter time) did we struggle to find a lounge - that's impressive!

View from the Sunset Terrace

The rooms are quite nice - King beds, mini bars, TV has 60 channels including movie channels, bath with shower and plenty of storage space. And that was the basic (called 'Superior')room. There are plenty of stairs around, the pool and lobby are located on different levels but the small amount of walking gave us time to work off the food we'd enjoyed!

View from Sunset Terrace down to pool

The on-site restaurant does a great 'all you can eat' breakfast which is included in the cost of your accommodation. Choose from the standards in breads, croissants and cereals, right through to eggs (any and every style, cooked on request), bacon, pancakes, fruit and even Indonesian delicacies like Nasi and Mie Goreng. This should fill you up for the morning at least.

The restaurant is open til late at night and caters to snacks and full meals with a great range of western foods. But if you're feeling adventurous - we highly recommend trying some of the warungs (local restaurants) out the front on the beach; meals are as cheap as $4 for a huge plate and you won't find a better view.

Entrance to Pelangi Hotel

We will be staying here again in May. We've listed the pros and cons as we see them in the Accommodation tab on the site. The only issue we see is that there's probably not an option for a family of 4 as there are no family or inter-connecting rooms. Hence why we've suggested the Breezes resort which is a stone's throw away and is also an amazing place! More on that one to come soon.

 

Booking - UPDATE

Hi all,

Thanks so much for the lovely feedback on your invites. Glad to hear they made it safely to you! Our travel agent has already had emails from many of you looking for indicative costs which is fantastic.

Here's some of the info that I can pass along;

• A superior room at the Pelangi (this is the one we've stayed in previously and is the most basic) has been quoted at $107 per night for 2 people, including breakfast. This is a brilliant group rate, on previous stays we've paid around $120 and all room rates in Bali increase 10%-15% year on year.        
• A superior room at The Breezes Resort costs $138 per room for 2 people including breakfast.             
• A superior interconnecting room which sleeps 4 including breakfast is $247 per night. Additional roll away beds are charged at $45 per night. There are 9 interconnecting rooms, we believe our group would need a maximum of 4 of these.
• Flights for May next year haven't been released by all airlines at the moment. Comparing the cost to flights later this year may not give you an accurate idea.
• Transfers are $12 per person one way. We would recommend not getting transfers. The cost to get a taxi from the airport to the Pelangi is $8 and you can fit 4 people plus luggage in the taxis.

Our advice at this stage is this; if you would like to, lock in your accommodation costs now. These costs will not change as Yvonne has secured group rates based on the hotel's 11/12 rates.

Wait on locking in your flights. All airlines will have plenty of sales between now and December so save yourself some $$$$ and hold off on these. You should easily be able to get an adult return fare for until $900.

Alternately, you could wait to book everything for a few more months, as we are!

If you're a family and looking to stay longer than the wedding week, we're currently looking into cheaper family options in Legian and Kuta. Stay tuned for further information.

The destination before the Destination!

Hi guys!
Glad you've found our little blog. Our intention with this was to create a central location for all information. This means that you won't be receiving a wedding invite that resembles 'War and Peace'!
A quick tour of the site before we start.

• Home - This will continually be updated with new ideas, First Timer Tips, trip updates and answers to any questions you've posed.
• Flights - We'll update this page with any great deals for flights that we find. With 3 airlines to choose from there will be plenty of sales between now and the end of the year. Of course, by going through travel agents, you may be able to score a great Flight/Accommodation package deal!
• Accommodation - This is probably the most pressing element once you decide if you'll be attending. May is NOT peak season and with an early Easter next year (April 6-9), we shouldn't have to deal with crowds. Each of the hotels selected have over 100 rooms so plenty of space for all of us! 
• Our Travel Agent - We've been working closely with a travel agent, Yvonne Shaw. Although located in Noosa Heads, Yvonne has been a big help to us in planning several of our overseas ventures. She is well versed in our wedding plans and ready to help you get a great deal.
• Suggested Itinerary - We've listed the parts of the trip that we know about as well as suggested itineraries for anyone unsure of how to plan their trip. This will be further updated as we go.
• Maps - On this page you'll find maps of Bali! We've also zoomed in to the area where all the recommended hotels are so you can see the proximity between them.
• Links - You can find links for any hotel, airline, restaurant or activity in Bali that we recommend on the site, provided of course that they have a site! We also have links to the well known Bali Travel Forum so you can see what other people are saying about your hotel or flight before you book it.  

While the wedding planning will certainly be enough to keep us busy, we want to make sure that you have what you need to plan your own Bali escape. So please enjoy your planning and as always, contact us on email to let us know if there's anything we've missed. Remember to keep up to date with any changes and updates we make to this site to subscribe by entering your email address in the box on the right. Feel free to comment away on anything you like to talk about as well by pressing the "comment" link on each post.