Bali, A World Away, A World Apart

Exploring the world sometimes means taking long flights.  In the case of exploring the exotic island of Bali, it was well worth it.  Singapore Airlines (SQ) made it all worthwhile; an 18-hour flight to Singapore turned into a magic carpet ride.  Business Class exceeded even my expectations in comfort, service, dining, lounges, and passenger enjoyment.  SQ is a well-oiled machine and touches big and small were not overlooked. I actually looked forward to the 15-hour return flight from SIN.   It did not disappoint.

Of course, Bali was the objective; namely, a stellar travel conference on Asia bespoke travel called Further East.  It had been awhile since I had been to Bali so I booked flights several days in advance of the conference.  I landed at the modern  Ngurah Rai International Airport and was taken to Ubud in the hills for a three-day stay. The Viceroy Bali was my home in a beautiful suite complete with a spectacular view and private pool.  This Viceroy is privately owned and not part of the larger well known Viceroy Group. This one is owned by a house proud Australian family. Every detail was perfect, down to the executive chef from Belgium who seamlessly combined Asian and European dishes.  The detail to remember here is that it is built on a hillside.  It is a bit hilly but walking or the electric buggies are always an option.

The town of Ubud is well worth a visit with easy shopping and cultural opportunities.  Handicrafts with art and many teak wood products make this a shopper’s paradise.  Bargaining is expected most places.  The local currency is the Indonesian Rupiah. With 1 Million Rupiah worth about $63.00, pretty much everyone can be a millionaire in Bali.  Credit cards are accepted in many places but local currency is best for local shopping and for taxis.  In Ubud I  saw shops but also native dancers and temples.

After three days there, I was driven to the Andaz Bali in Sanur along the coast.  Here I had a one-bedroom suite with a nice garden view.  The grounds were very pastural and calming.  It was a low rise property along the beach with a full all you can eat cooked to order breakfast.  There was also a very nice seafood restaurant.  A bonus here is that The Andaz Bali is just next door to the Hyatt Regency Bali which have the same owner and Hyatt affiliation.  It is an easy and a pleasant walk between the two and more choices of dining and bars.  Signing privileges work both ways; meaning you can stay at one resort, and still be allowed to sign for dinner at the restaurant next door.

After a few days, I moved to my conference hotel, The Desa Potato Head Resort in Seminyak.  Although I was at conference meetings during the day, next door, I could see Potato Head was very popular as a beach club and younger vibe with plenty of bar and pool space which was packed in the afternoons.  Bali is known for pools more than the beaches which are often rough with currents. The suite was mostly wood with a very nice oceanfront view even with a hammock. During the conference I had one-on-one appointments with selected and unique lodging and local operators across Asia.  This current information will be useful in the future for client trip planning.   Those face to face connections are invaluable.

I also had the opportunity to personally visit The W Bali which was very comfortable on the beach, the peaceful and elegant Amandari in the Ubud area, and the legendary Four Seasons Resort Jimbaran Bay.  The latter is one one of the most beautiful waterfront pieces of land I have ever seen.

Bali is extraordinary in so many respects with exotic towns, intense shopping opportunities, culture, temples, impressive service and a wide variety of dining options. The value for money is there as well. There is also mild and favorable weather most of the year.

Think of Bali, your adventure awaits.  Let us make your dreams a reality.