Fiona
thanks for the information on cleanliness in Sanur.

We're used to Goa and Sri Lanka where it seems to be the practice to heap rubbish at the side of the road and set fire to it when the pile is big enough, so that wouldn't bother us too much.

As it's quite a while since we stayed at the Bali Hyatt, my memory is a bit vague but I agree that the grounds were lovely.

I can't remember thinking that the buildings were ugly, we thought the open-air reception building was lovely.
Pete:
The '3 squares' are the accommodation buildings, I think it's a low rise hotel.

The furniture in the rooms was stunning - massive bed, real hardwood fittings, even in the bathroom.

Polly

Polly
I can imagine the inside would be nice but personally we did not like the look the outside of it. However, that is not to say we would not stay there. The grounds were really lovely as well.
Re rubbish- I just can't remember a problem( so there can't have been one )
Have you had a look at the Bali photo gallery. The summer 2005 ones are mine and you will see the beach at Sanur.

Polly, Geri and Fions - Thank you for the comments.

Haven't been on the forum for a couple of days so sorry for not thanking you earlier.

The comment re Santrian Club sunbeds is very helpful - as is the comment regarding shade!!

I guess some more thinking has to be done. Just don't like the look of the buildings at the Hyatt.................

Peter

We stayed in a Club Room at the Puri Santrian last year and I have to say the sun bed situation did not seem to be a great deal better around the club pool. Many of the sunbeds seemed to be taken quite early as it is very easy to step out of your ground floor apartment and slip your towel on a bed. Around the main pool beds in the shade were still available at about 10 o'clock but some people did move them on to the beach. If its a good bed on the beach you're after (especially if you like a parasol) you'll need to be up early (before 7am!). If you are coming back from a day out the pool seemed to empty quite early on so you should have somewhere to put your towel. At the end of the day if you can't beat them join them. Set an alarm, put your towel out and then go back to bed (or not)! The days are short in Bali so we made the most of it!

Pete
whichever hotel you decide on, I'm sure you'll enjoy Sanur.

We're looking forward to going back (after a gap of 4 years) this September.

Polly

Hi Polly,

We havent been to Bali since 2002 (we were there at the time of the bombings - were you there at the same time?). We intend to be in Bali last week Sept / first week October for Janet's birthday.

We fancy a change from Nusa Dua and had originally intended the Hyatt. After reading posts from various members the Puri Santrian began to look appealing.

I notice that you mention the Grand Bali Beach - does this compare favourably and do you book directly? (It looks good on the web).

Thanks

Peter

What is the best time of year to go considering we like it nice and warm.

I would say nytime between April and October, possibly November as well.

Thanks Fiona

Hi Pete
we were in Bali in October 2002 but we flew home on the monday before the bombings.

It was such a shock because Bali really did seem to us like Paradise.
Although not in any way comparable to the experiences of people who were actually caught up in the bombs, the last 3 years must have been so hard for the locals who depend on tourism because even when we were there pre-bombings, it seemed so quiet with not many tourists at all.

We go on the 4th September for 3 weeks, so we'll possibly pass you coming in as we depart.

We have booked for the Grand Bali Beach (for the 3th time).
We booked with Kuoni, flying with Malaysia Airlines(they're good).
We've paid for 10 nights accommodation and are getting 10 nights free.
Kuoni don't seem to do much discount but we got a quote from them by phone (their travel consultants are very good) and took it into Co-op Travel who contacted Kuoni and got exactly the same information as we did - they even gave the Co-op the same booking number as they'd given us!
Co-op knocked £60 off the Kuoni quote, so we got the same holiday cheaper by booking through a 3rd party instead of direct.
We also got a complimentary dinner at the hotel for booking early.

The GBB has Tower rooms, (I think) 3 garden wings on 2 floors and also some bungalows scattered through the grounds.
We stayed in the Garden wing last time and it had just been refurbished so was very nice.
The sunbed situation (as seems so in a lot of Bali hotels) can be a bit of a pain.
It's located at one end of Sanur so is not central but that doesn't bother us.

Regards
Polly

I agree with Fiona, Oct is a very good month, we were there in oct 2002 4 days into our holiday when the bombs went off. Bali was a desperate place afterwards, we stayed for another 3 weeks, and our hotel was like a scene from `The Shinning`, all the staff went, it was just us two and a lovely couple from Austria. Very strange and equally very sad memories indeed.

I was going to go back at xmas 2 years ago, but i was honestly shocked at the price the hotel was charging, he even commented in his e-mail that it was almost empty, and was still charging premium rates, even though the staff still get paid the same.

We now go to Vietnam for xmas and the new year, much cheaper, even though i would like to return to Bali and see it at it`s best some day.

Polly,

Thanks for the response and info. I have found the hotel in the Kuoni brochure.

We will be travelling via Singapore, which rules out Malaysia Airlines - I anticipate that we will travel Singapore Airlines - which doesn't seem to feature as an option in the Kuoni brochure, although they would, perhaps, offer it if pushed.

The reviews on tripadvisor dot com are rather mixed for the Grand Bali Beach so we still have a lot of thinking to do. The room offer does look appealing though............................... We located the hotel on Google Earth (what a help that is), and the layout looks good. It is not possible to see the tower from the satellite shot - hope that it doesn't look too much out of place.

We're tempted to wait and see if Singapore Airlines run the same offer in Sept / Oct as they did in 2006 - fly to Singapore and get a free flight anywhere in SE Asia.

We anticipate getting to Bali 23 / 24 September so we will probably pass one another, as you say.

We are very keen to go back to Bali as we were saddened, not only by the loss of life but also by the loss of livelihood of many of the local people.

Pinkie - I guess that both Polly and I will be able to give you an update on Bali in October. You will then be able to make your mind up about returning. Would love to hear more about Vietnam..... We are thinking of Taiwan / Vietnam in 2008. http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=792781 - more to look forward to, perhaps

Still - only 4weeks, 5days, 17hours and 15 minutes to our Goa flight though

Peter

Peter
We've read the mixed reviews on GBB too, but based our decision to return on actual previous experience.

only 4weeks, 5days, 17hours and 15 minutes to our Goa flight though

We fly to Goa on 24th February, sounds like the same time as you.

Polly

PeteB & pollycat, what a strange coincidence, i`m flying to Goa on the 1st March not far off 4 weeks. I think all of us should be in Goa the same time, why not all meet up for a drink and discuss Bali & Vietnam then?

Polly / Pinkie - We fly on 25th (Monarch) from Gatwick - please don't tell me my calculations were wrong!

Re. the hotel Polly, yes I totally agree - your previous experience is the most important thing and bad reviews are frequently posted by people with a particular bee in their bonnet who have been upset by something initially trivial.

Janet and I will be staying at Bogmalo (hopefully for peace and quiet).

Where are you both staying? I am sure that we could arrange something. The weekly meet-up places are not near our hotel.

As we are off topic (only slightly as we will be discussing the Far East after all), I will also look out on the Goa forum - Polly seems to be pretty active there (always helpful too, I may add).

Peter

Hi Pete, we`re staying in Colva, so it`s not that far way. We fly out on the 1st March.

Pinkie - Hi
Have spoken to Janet and she doesn't want to tie down any particular dates until after we arrive. Will you have internet access when you are there?

Polly - The beach at GBB looks good on Google earth. Is it better than at the Hyatt and Puri S?

The three hotels have positive features and some negatives. Gosh we are really thinking about them all now.



Peter

Hi Pete & Pinkie

We fly to Goa on 24th Feb (Monarch, too).
We're staying in Candolim and will proably not be going South this year.
We are thinking about spending a few days in Mumbai this time.

Pete, to be honest, I can't exactly remember what the beach at GBB is like and I don't have any digital photos to check it out.
I think Fiona may be able to give you a better answer as she's been more recently than me.

I hope you both enjoy Goa - have you been before?

Polly

to keep this on topic I suggest you use the pm facility for Goa chat or the Goa forum chat thread.