Researching my trip to Bali...need advice

[Leejnd]

I'm planning on a trip to Bali later this year. I'm going with my Mom, who is a non-diver, although she's quite active and will happily find things to occupy herself on the days I'm diving. However, that means that I need to find places to stay that are good both for diving for me, and for land-based things for her (such as shopping, temple tours or whatever).

I'm trying to do my homework -- I've got the Rough Guide, plus I'm doing a lot of searches in here, so I'll try not to ask a bunch of elementary questions that have already been covered in detail here.

We'll be there for about two-and-a-half weeks, so I'm planning on a three-pronged approach -- a week at a resort-type place (Sanur, Nusa Dua, Kuta...not sure yet), a week at a place where I can do a lot of diving, and a few days in Ubud to finish it off.

So my primary questions at this point have to do with that middle part. I originally was planning on Tulamben, but I'm gathering from what I've read that there's not much to do there if you're not a diver. So now I'm looking at either Candi Dasa or Padang Bai. Any recommendations on one over the other? How about access to diving -- is one better than the other? Are there places that you would recommend over those two, where I can find great diving and my Mom won't be bored out of her skull?

What kind of dive trips can I expect from either of those locations? Will the boat trips be long? Is there any shore diving? One of the things that attracted me to Tulamben was the fact that you can dive right off the beach...can you do that anywhere else? I'd like to get in as many dives as possible without spending a fortune, y'know?

And another question that is causing me some concern. I'm going to be solo, since Mom doesn't dive, but I certainly don't want to DIVE solo. Have any of you gone there on your own? Did you have any trouble finding dive buddies? Do the DM's on boat trips help in that regard?

I'd appreciate any help y'all can give me! Thanks!

 

[TravelSimone]

I'm planning on a trip to Bali later this year. I'm going with my Mom, who is a non-diver, although she's quite active and will happily find things to occupy herself on the days I'm diving. However, that means that I need to find places to stay that are good both for diving for me, and for land-based things for her (such as shopping, temple tours or whatever).

-snip-

So my primary questions at this point have to do with that middle part. I originally was planning on Tulamben, but I'm gathering from what I've read that there's not much to do there if you're not a diver. So now I'm looking at either Candi Dasa or Padang Bai. Any recommendations on one over the other? How about access to diving -- is one better than the other? Are there places that you would recommend over those two, where I can find great diving and my Mom won't be bored out of her skull?

What kind of dive trips can I expect from either of those locations? Will the boat trips be long? Is there any shore diving? One of the things that attracted me to Tulamben was the fact that you can dive right off the beach...can you do that anywhere else? I'd like to get in as many dives as possible without spending a fortune, y'know?

And another question that is causing me some concern. I'm going to be solo, since Mom doesn't dive, but I certainly don't want to DIVE solo. Have any of you gone there on your own? Did you have any trouble finding dive buddies? Do the DM's on boat trips help in that regard?

I'd appreciate any help y'all can give me! Thanks!

When this year are you planning on going? Have you ever been to Bali? How adventurous is your mother? My husband has been working in Bali and I have spent a lot of time there over the past few years. My parents came over for a visit last summer, so I have particular experience in dealing with parents in Bali.

As you noted, one of the main problems that you will have is that the best locations for diving are not the best in terms of shopping or other activities for your mother.

Padang Bali is probably better in terms of dive locations than is Candi Dasa, though the two "towns" are not too far apart. Most dive shops will pick you up from either location. A fair amount of dives you will do from either location will be closer to Nusa Lembongan/ Penida (which are great locations to dive, but the water is a little colder- I needed a full 5mm). The dives to Nusa Lembongan/Penida will have a fairly healthy boat ride, but other than staying on Nusa Lembongan, you don't have much of a choice in terms of shortening those boat trips. Candi Dasa has some nicer places to stay than Padang Bai (my personal favorite is Kubu Bali). BUT... other than June through September, most places outside of Kuta or Nusa Dua will be dead. It is quite shocking how few tourists are in Bali these days. Even in July, the resorts in Nusa Dua don't seem to be more than 25% full.

I don't think either Candi Dasa or Padang Bai is going to provide your mother with much to do. You can walk from one end of Candi Dasa to the other in 10 minutes.

Another thing that you can do is to sign your mother up for some "tours". Depending upon how adventurous she is, I highly recommend the bike ride down from the volcano. I sent my parents on that trip, and they still talk about it. A lot of these tour type activities will provide pick-up and drop off, and this seems to be true no matter where you are staying.

You might also consider heading up to the Northwest corner of Bali and dive Menjangan. You can stay at the Mimpi resort, and they offer day hiking activities and also provide spa services. Your mother wouldn't be occupied by shopping, but she would have something to do. Mimpi will also pick you up and drop you off as part of their package price. My husband and I will be up there in a few weeks.

I have been diving in the Nusa Lemobongan/Penida area and was solo, and the DM just buddied up with me. No problem.

As a side note, taxis are inexpensive and a safe (aside from the crazy Bali traffic) mode of travel. I take taxis all the time when I am in Bali. My method of choosing a taxi tends to be which one looks newer and might have better A/C.

If you are interested in the bike ride, PM me and I can give you my "guide's" information.

 

[Leejnd]

Wow, great information! Thank you! This gives me some more ideas of things to look at.

My Mom is pretty adventurous for a 70-yr-old. I've been dragging her all around the world in the past few years, and she's loving it. She goes to the gym every day so she's in great shape. Not sure about the bicycle tour, tho...that might be beyond her abilities. But she loves hiking, nature walks, and LOVES historical and cultural tours and things like that. So your suggestion to find tours for her is a good one. Once I pick a spot, I'll try to get her set up with tours in the area.

We're looking at October. Wish we could go sooner, but I can't -- I've got too many other trips scheduled before then. So I take it it'll be pretty quiet, then? Hmmm...not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing!

I'll definitely look into the Mimpi resort. I hadn't done much research into that area of Bali, figuring it was too remote and far from everything else...how's the diving there compare with the diving I would be doing at the other locations?

Thanks for all the tips!

 

[TravelSimone]

If you can swing it, you should really try to go earlier in October. The humidity starts to rise dramatically near the end of October.

Yes, Bali should be relatively dead in October. It is a shame.

My parents are in their 60's and not in great shape (though they are not obese or anything like that). They survived the bike ride. Most of it is downhill with only a couple of uphill pushes. My mother just got off her bike and walked it up the hill. I have sent a lot of people on this ride and everyone tells me it is one of the best things they have ever done. The trip takes you through areas of Bali that you will never get to see otherwise. You might want to go on it with your mother.

I recently wrote a really long email full of Bali tips for some friends of mine who were traveling there this past January. PM me if you would like me to send this to you. It is full of helpful information.

 

[TravelSimone]

One more thing... if she is interested in cooking, you can sign her up for a cooking class. There is a good one in Nusa Dua and another one in Ubud.

 

[Diver Dennis]

In Ubud we stay at Kajane, on of the best places I've ever stayed and VERY reasonable. Big villas with private pools overlooking the jungle. Impeccable service.

 

[Leejnd]

Well now that you've described the bike ride, she might very well be interested...I'll do some research on it. I'll also see about going in early October. We should be able to swing that -- the key thing is that my kids will be back in school. We might even be able to move it up to late September.

Dennis, thanks for that...I'll check it out. It seems that EVERY place is very reasonable in Bali these days! It's a shame that tourism is still suffering there.