Going to Bali.... any tips

[Beanie]

I'm thinking of going to a surf resort in the Mentawais for their 11days, and then staying in BALI for a week or two on the way back home to Australia.
The Mentawais is expensive to fly to, and the resort itself is not cheap (for me).

Can anyone suggest even a particular HOTEL (or area) in Bali to stay at while I'm there. There seem to be alot of hotels in different areas and I'd like to be near the waves, but what area is best.
In BALI, do you walk to the surf spots, do you carry money for transport to and out the waves, how do you keep your money/belongings/hotel key etc. safe while you surf. Never been overseas and I have no idea right now.

[dtc]

Most of the surf in Bali is 'around' Kuta - by 'around' I mean within an hour or so driving. So if you stay anywhere from Seminyak around to Nusa Dua then you can easily find a taxi (or motorbike with surf rack) to take you to a surf spot. Kuta is the cheapest, probably, but its pretty tacky - mostly bars, market stalls and massage parlours (the real massage kind, although the other kind is there as well) - if you are Australian you will have heard all about Kuta. Other than Kuta beach, or if you are staying right next to a break, you will need transport but transport is everywhere and not too expensive. The traffic is chaos, so dont try to drive/ride yourself; and it take a bit of time to get anywhere because of the traffic (and the roads are not always great).

It might be worth hiring a guide for a few days - they arent that expensive and can show you all the spots. Or just read up and tell a taxi guy to take you where you want to go.

Bali is all about tourism, its pretty safe. They understand surfing and cater for it; although its not a 'surfing island' but a beach island (most visitors are not there to surf). Lots of places have lockers or there is a bar/cafe where you can leave your stuff while surfing.

Where to stay depends on what you want - cheap with lots of bars and clubs etc (Kuta), quieter with not that much to to but maybe closer to the surf(Jimbaran Bay), upmarket (Nusa Dua), a mix but further away (Seminyak).

[jaffa1949]

Hi Beanie, a suggestion that may help, is the Puri Raja Hotel on Jalan Padma Utara ( that's the street), it is right on the beach with a surf break in front, you leave your key at the front desk when you surf.
Billy, (I Wayan. Arya Suardana) is a surf guide and drive to surf service based in the front of the hotel email billyssuardana@yahoo.com if you book a hotel they will often arrange a pickup guy with a sign for you at the airport.
Since you are coming from Australia, go to a travel agent and pick up a book ,Bali on any Budget covers lots of hotels and gives their prices! Do yourself a favour too get, Indo surf and lingo ( the book ) read up on how to the plane it will help a lot. This also has places to stay.
I found booking the hotels before eases you into Bali without the initial hassles at the airport.

Where are you staying in the Mentawaiis?

[Beanie]

Where are you staying in the Mentawaiis?

I was thinking Kandui, Macaronis, or Botik resorts. Haven't booked anything yet.

[jaffa1949]

Where are you staying in the Mentawaiis?

I was thinking Kandui, Macaronis, or Botik resorts. Haven't booked anything yet.

You might be pushing it to get in with leaving the booking to this late , I can recommend Kandui resort, stayed there, but know it can be booked as can the others, Botik accesses the same waves as Kandui about 25 - 30 spots around the playgrounds area .
Macaronis different locale but epic waves. Go through someone like Atoll or World Surfaris or the Surf Travel Company, takes some of the adventure out of it but as a newbie well it may help.
How capable are you and what is your normal home break?

[Beanie]

Where are you staying in the Mentawaiis?

Go through someone like Atoll or World Surfaris or the Surf Travel Company, takes some of the adventure out of it but as a newbie well it may help.
How capable are you and what is your normal home break?

Do you know if Macaronis gives you daily transport out to the breaks with a surf guide or does that cost extra when you're there. I couldn't work it out from reading their website.

I'm very capable although i've no experience with barrels. Whenever a wave barrels I usually turn into the face of the wave and pierce through out the back to safety. Or maybe that's just the close outs. The beach breaks in Sydney aren't hollow or perfect barrels. That's my excuse.
Although cos i'm usually on a fast fish board, it usually puts me out on the shoulder of the wave cos the board's so fast. But I'm taking 3 regular shortboards on the trip.

Jaffa, did you mean that those travel companies give you some kind of extra assistance as opposed to just booking the resort yourself? Dont the resort people meet you at the airport and look after you from there.

Botik seems the cheapest and nice but I don't think it's got a break just out the front to watch as you wind down for day which is always nice, whereas kandui and macaronis I think they have a surf break out the front to watch.

[jaffa1949]

Well Beanie let me give you a little more information.
Kandui has 5 breaks directly in front of the resort, 4 Bobs, John Candies ( AKA A frames) Karangbat lefts and rights and occasionally snake island.You are taken out to these by a dinghy and when you want to come in you wave your board in the air and they pick you up Kandui also accesses up to 30 other breaks around the area at the furthest 30 minute rides to the break the boat stays with you at these breaks.\They vary from full barrel thons Rifles ( righthander) and Kandui ( lefts) fot which you need to bring your A game...There are also death slabs (Your call) and mellow waves around in the 30.
Botik also accesses these breaks. All boat trips to breaks are inclusive.
Macaronis also tranfers you by boat inclusively to various breaks.
Yes resort reps meet you at various points of transfer in the journey , but why not ask the resort or travel companies yourself.

to get to any of the resorts you are interested in, fly to Jakarta then to Padang then what ever arrangements the resort has in place comes from there, they usually have a rep in Padang.
That about covers it and if you can't get barreled in Indo you ain't never gunna get barreled
When were you planning to go?

[Beanie]

When were you planning to go?

August/sept
The flights seem to be about $1500-2000 return. The resorts around $2500-3000 and there's speedboat transfers to the resort around $300.
All up that could be about $5000 for 11 days.

[jaffa1949]

Sound about right, think who you are flying with , Garuda may be cheaper to Jakarta .

[IMinCA]

About flights, does Air Asia fly from Aus? They were a lot cheaper than Garuda.

[jaffa1949]

Yes Air Asia flies from Australia, possibility of board carrying issues