There's Kuta, for backpackers, Sanur for the elderly, Ubud for old hippies, Nusa Dua for package tourists, and Seminyak for those who know that Bali is a place to have fun. So here's the skinny on Seminyak
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Our living room at Akara Villas
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I'm surprised, so little about Bali on this site. Yet it consistently gets voted Best Island Holiday year after year.
Seminyak used to be where the (substantial) expat community shopped, dined, played and stayed. But now it's been discovered by the discerning tourist crowd. Those who want the whole Bali spiritual package, the ceremonies, the dances, the temples, etc, overlaid with great nightlife and food and sexy beaches.
The suburb (it's not really a city in its own right, technically it's part of Kuta but a good 10 kilometers (6 miles) up the west coast) centres around Oberoi Street, named for the hotel at the beach end. Actually technically the street is called Laksaman Street, but it's known by one and all as Oberoi, or, more recently, as Eat Street. That's because a good many of the regions best restaurants are located along its length. All the cuisines of the world are represented here, and many are surprisingly good.
We always stay at Akara Villas, which is just a short stroll away from the restaurant strip (and an even shorter trot to really popular places like Hu'u Bar and currently the best restaurant in the south, Sarong.
But for me, the best part of staying at Akara Villas is how close the beach is. There's a wonderful temple right there, called Petitenget, a bit of a lagoon, and then a great sweep of beach, all the way as far as the eye can see to the north west, and right round to the airport to the south.
There are some pretty decent beach breaks for surfers, and plenty of nice swimming.
The last time we stayed at Akara Villas we were two couples so we took the two bedroom option. There's a nice tropical garden and pool, and the living room throws itself open, which adds to the feeling of space. The whole place is really comfortable.
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| Favourite spots: |
Trattoria 1 and 2 are hugely popular Italian restaurants
Soho, the 24 diner
Mykonos, Greek.
Ultimo
KuDeTa (for the young and the beautiful)
Sarong, really the hot ticket this season
The Living Room, famous but getting tired
Bodyworks, Spa to die for
Warisan, fine dining
The Legian. 5-star hotel with great bars and restaurants
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| What's really great: |
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Planting the paddy fields
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Hanging out.
Akara Villas can organise you a rental car or rental motorbike.
Ask your Akara butler about diving. At Tulamben to the north east is a sunken cargo ship which is Bali's best dive.
Akara is connected with another villa called Alumbrera which is further up the coast amid rice fields. Stay a night or two there to experience rural Bali. Ask the Akara staff.
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| Sights: |
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The wreck at Tulamben is Bali's best dive in my opinion
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Not a lot of sight-seeing right in Seminyak, it's wall to wall boutiques, bars, cafes and eateries, but further north on Pettitenget Street where Akara Villas is located are some areas of working rice fields. The soil is so fertile they get three harvests a year I'm told.
Seminyak is also very close to the mountains in the center of the island. Everywhere is Bali is an easy drive and most places you can do as a day trip.
Get your Akara butler to arrange a self-drive car (or one with a driver if the controlled chaos of Balinese driving does not appeal.
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| Accommodations: |
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As I've said, we have stayed at Akara Villas on several occasions and can't fault them, so see no reason to go anywhere else. For what they are, the Akara Villas are extremely good value, even in the high season.
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| Restaurants: |
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Yum, suckling pig. A pretty decent portion with veg and rice $2
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Mentioned before.
Round the Akara are just so many places you are spoiled for choice.
It's our experience that a walk up and down and then choose one of the most popular places pretty well always works.
There's got to be a reason why a restaurant is empty between 7 and 8 at night isn't there?
Ask your Akara butler for suggestions about local food if you feel like going Balinese. Babi Guling (roast suckling pig) is Bali's number one donation to world cuisine.
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| Other recommendations: |
The gili islands off the coast of Lombok, the neighbouring island to the east are an easy two hour trip by fast boat and worth a night or two. Great diving and snorkeling.
Get your Akara staff to arrange a trip to the huge traditional market in Denpasar, the island's capital city. It's only a 30 minute drive from Akara.
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Published on Monday September 28th, 2009
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Thu, Oct 01 2009 - 08:21 AM
 by carnavalet
| a very nice report with great pictures, especially the wreck picture |
Tue, Sep 29 2009 - 02:26 PM
by krisek
| Nice first report, actually. I am not sure if I agree with the assessment of Sanur, though... Me being 30+ when visiting Bali a couple of years ago :) And easy drive in Bali, eh? I don't think so. I really like your pictures, particularly the one with the rice planting! It is very interesting to read about Bali from your perspective. It would make it slightly better if you could provide a little more of your own experience why you picked 'those' spots are favourite, apart from KuDeTa, for which you gave your reason hehe - which was also for the rich, when I visited, may I add. If you added a little more narrative for Accommodation, Sights, Favourites and Nightlife with photos, it would be a 5* report! Thank you very much indeed for sharing, and welcome to Globosapiens!! |
Tue, Sep 29 2009 - 11:39 AM
 by esfahani
| reminds me to book a flight ticket and return one day |
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