Bali advice please

[BB-GLACK]

Hi everyone,

I'm starting to plan a trip to bali and hoping to get some advice on where to stay/surf and better times to go. Ive been reading all the previous posts but cant really find my answers. It'll just be me and my girlfriend, we will be going to Beijing first to visit family then to bali for around 9 days, were not definite yet on when we will go, which would be better?, the option is early november or hold of until early next year maybe feb/march/apr..I have been trying to find a spot to stay to suit my level also that is a nice laid back holiday spot. Surf ability wise ive been surfing 2 years, i'm still surfing beaches but hoping to progress and get out on some reefs the next few months, would be looking for decent beach breaks or 'forgiving' reefs, ideally if we could stay in a nice spot with these options close by, my girlfriend doesnt really surf so we want some were thats a nice area too, kuta sounds a bit mental from what ive read, sounds like bangkok with surf so dont think that would really suit us,..Ive read up on nusa lembonga a bit and that sounds great? maybe surf playgrounds? anyone any experience of there or any other options/recommendations?..or if nusa lembonga is good when would be better time to go?..
Thanks a million to all in advance for any help or advice

[jaffa1949]

Hi BB, the prime time for yo to go with your itinerary is probably April although the Bali swell season can start in March if you are lucky and Nusa Lembongan is an option
That early on in the season, things are a little less hectic, if you you choose to go outside of April to October then the right handers start to fire on the Sanur, Nusa Da side it's a bit more up market.

On Nusa Lembongan the surf range including Playgrounds is very tide dependent and is over full coral reef, Playgrounds is a favourite spot of mine, great take off and short punchy ride, the other spots are heavier and a little more current exposed.
There are more resorts every year with a day trip boat coming from Bali so some increase in crowds which lessen before and after the boat.
Another option for the April time is to consider Medewi it is kinder to the newer surfers than Nusa lembongan and still has the Balinese country feel, no shopping though, is the GF comfortable with just sunning at a minor beach stay and it's a good drive away from Kuta
If you want to have day trips into Kuta to shop, I 'd consider Bingin or Dreamland accommodation and surf but be aware that the crowds are even more intense and range from great surfers to struggling beginners.

A really helpful book for all Indonesian beginners is Indo Surf and Lingo gives break details, how to get a good basic conversational Bahasa that you can work on while you fly there. Works wonders.

Hope this helps

[BB-GLACK]

Thanks a million Jaffa, great reply, lots of food for thought there and research to be done, I'd say we will be heading there sometime around the last week of march. Girlfriend will be happy as long as theres a beach to hang out and couple of nice places to get a feed and few beers, dont need luxury just as long as its fairly tourist friendly and dont want too much hassles or partying around and the quieter breaks would definitly be an attraction. Ill look into the medewi and possibly nusa lembongan could be the one, it could work good for us there if I get out for a early morning surf to get in and out ahead of the day trip and then do other stuff for some of the day,..thanks again, great info!

[jaffa1949]

BB If you decide Nusa lembongan then I'd book, either through one of the surf travel agencies and I know some of the Resorts on NL can be booked through in Australia the Bali on a Budget book, have a look where they are on the island there are several that are on the cliff above Playgrounds with pools and GF support mechanisms. There is not much tourist stuff to look at a temple and the caves, but far less hassles about buying stuff, it's the similar out at Medewi

[BB-GLACK]

Thanks a million for the advice, really appreciate it, I think were decided on nl, have been looking at accomodation above playgrounds, coconut resort/playgrounds resort, and some others and they look great and the more I find out about the area it seems perfect for what we would want. Ive sent a few enquires so will post the final decision. Now I just have to surf hard for the next few months to have myself in as good shape and surfing as good as possible for the trip!! Thanks again for your help, BB

[jaffa1949]

Only one thing left to do
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Go there and enjoy

[pjkl]

Hey,

I would recommend to stay in Seminyak for a while, good for wife shopping and get used to the power of Balinese waves with a sand bottom. Then on my opinion the easiest reef breaks around are Balangan and Dreamland. Medewi, the wave is easy but the rock bottom is a bit scary when you are not used to.

[jaffa1949]

Hey,

I would recommend to stay in Seminyak for a while, good for wife shopping and get used to the power of Balinese waves with a sand bottom. Then on my opinion the easiest reef breaks around are Balangan and Dreamland. Medewi, the wave is easy but the rock bottom is a bit scary when you are not used to.

All good advice but my wife won't let me go wife shopping, Terima kasih

[supamaorifella]

Hey bro - me and my girlfriend did the bali thing in 2007. We went in March but had the best waves in April- before the big swells hit. April was perfect, the winds are favourable and it wasn't massively crowded by then. We never booked accom on NL when we went there - just caught the ferry from Sanur. Theres a guy on the ferry usually that runs one of the places to stay. Theres not a lot happening on NL - it was pretty dead when we were there but is defo worth staying 2-3 days at. Start off surfing Playgrounds - theres a floating jetty that the missus can watch you surf from. After you feel comfortable with Playgrounds, Shipwrecks is a further few hundred metres further down - more difficult but you should be alright. Prob best to avoid surfing lacerations for reasons you can work out via the name. There are guys out the front of the hostels with boats to taxi you out to the breaks and will pick you back up again in a hour or two depending how long you want to stay out there. You can paddle out there as well - it's only chest high to head high deep most of the way. Look out for the seaweed farming stakes sticking out just below the surface though. I really recommend the southern bukit peninsula - a must for surfers. Includes Uluwatu, Padang Padang, dreamland and Balangan. we stayed at Dreamland, but it has gone now - big hotel instead but recommend Balangan - my favourite wave to date. Kuta's full on but up in Seminyak 2km north of kuta the hawkers dissipate and is much more friendly, less touristy, nice restaurants etc. Enjoy!! :Junior

[balanganwave]

Hi suggest to go in Balangan any time of the year an sto in the best Bali surf resort Balangan Wave

[surferG]

Hey, I'm not spamming I genuinely stayed here and they were great people so just helping them out by posting this!
I just got back from Bali and went surfing with an awesome camp they were very professional got me amazing waves! knew all the un-crowded spots and all at about half the price of one of the big camps I stayed with last year who really dissapointed me :/
They were honest and got me the best deals unlike some of the expensive western run camps who earn western salaries they are an Indonesian and Western husband and wife who live to surf and they charge a local price too. Groups were kept to a minimum, I in fact had one to one attention so I was pretty happy and they were always giving me tips out in the water. But anyway I will stop blabbering on! I couldn't recommend them anymore really great experience. http://www.balisurfingguideindo.webs.com is their site n I think they do girls specific trips also they have a page on fb called "girls surf trips bali" Cheers

[surf patrol]

SurferG, posting the same thing over and over is spamming. Please see the forum rules. Thanks

[surferG]

I am NOT Spamming.... I am just helping out the guides who are now friends of mine as i believe they are doing a great thing! jeez

[surferG]

I just came across this site today and thought that this is a place to share things like that....

[surferG]

the person above my comments is spamming note* the user name and how they are promoting there camp

[jaffa1949]

Maybe you're not spamming but multiple posting of the same thing is a bit over the top, one post of a good camp or something is enough. You will probably see SP left one contact address.

Talk about all the other things and what beaches you found would round it out to a fair call on Bali.

IMO first five post exactly the same is boring and spamming!

[Luney]

Just bzck from bali -stayed at the chillhouse in changuu and its amazing - have great range of packages and if you do lessons its a maximum of two students per teacher! Food is incredible, everyone who works there so helpfulmand great if your girlfriend doesnt want to surf - have a surf n love pacakge that cates especially! On NL, monkey surf remts boards and lessons for really good value. We made a mistake in accommodation - would re ommed you just get somewhere when you arrive as los of options and you can check out the rooms yourself then... Would love to be going back again...or just never to have left!

[geneoliver]

The best time to travel ti Indonesia is during the dry season, between April and October. Bali has Numerous, Year-round, Attractions to offer: reef snorkeling, diving, surfing, cultural sights, and of course sun tanning on the white-sand beaches.

[yaw]

hey people,
i am thinking of going to nusa lembongan for a pretty big swell (7-8 ft). can anyone tell me how much swell playgrounds can take? i am worried, that 7-8 ft might be to much for playgrounds and it gets messy. the conditions seem to be "perfect" but i couldn't find any useful information on the maximum swell size it can take.

thx in advance

[jaffa1949]

That is the top of the range for Playgrounds and will only working that size on a high tide, the bay is a little protected and yachts moor in deeper water behind the break, there is a boat channel between it and lacerations the right hander, if the boats have gone elsewhere it is maxing . It is a nice wave. I like playgrounds
Shipwrecks will be out of control and the Lombok Strait will be running mega currents.
Size wise though a little less than the Bukit, mega huge, Padang Bai and Candi Dasa, or super mega huge head to the Gilli islands on the north coast of Lombok.
Have fun, watch out for the tourist submarine,. which won't run if surf is big.
Tidak apa apa ombak besar.