Need advice - I have two weeks, starting Monday for a trip

[surffirst]

Hi Everyone!

My situation:

Out of nowhere, I now have two weeks for a surf trip starting this Monday, June 16th until ~ July 1st. I live in California and can either stay here, and go down to Trestles/San O or buy a plane ticket to somewhere else.

My preference is to travel outside California to find some great waves as it looks like the California and Hawaii are going to be flat. I'm an intermediate surfer that can handle an oversize day at most breaks and come home with a smile on my face. My wife will be traveling with me and she enjoys yoga, surfing in whitewater, sunbathing a ton, and snorkeling.

Budget: ~$5k-6k for two but would love to spend less

Right now I'm thinking of Bali (I've never been to Asia before so it seems a bit intimidating, but it's dry season + waves which means my wife can work on the tan while I surf) looks like plane tickets will be around $1,700 each and thinking of just heading straight to Uluwatu and setting home base there.

Other options I'm thinking about - Nicaragua, Mexico, or another suggestion but I have no experience with either.

I've read through some of the threads and everyone here seems very helpful. I greatly appreciate your time and I'll post pics wherever we end up.

Where would you guys recommend going to?
If Bali, where should we stay? where should I surf other than Uluwatu?
Any other must do's?

Thank you!

[jaffa1949]

If you want to stay in Bali then the Bukit peninsula is where all the action is.
Uluwatu is overpopulated by everybody with a classic Indonesian dream, the wave is great and the crowd huge and rabid with everyone from very capable to absolute clueless beginners!
Other choices, Balangan, Dreamland, Bingin.
You could look at nusa Lembongan a short ferry trip across an arm of the Lombok strait!.

Indonesian deserves a little more than last minute thoughts as there is so much on offer!
Including lots of Yoga schools.

Google some of the home stays around the Bukit peninsula, see how you go .

You could also head west from Kuta to Medewi and Balian, there is lots advice in this forum about where to go.
You are going to learn a lot about where you are in the surfing food chain
I recommend Peter Neely's book Indo Surf and Lingo as an aid for first timers...... Has places, advice, vouchers and language lessons, learn from it and grow a genuine and permanent smile it could be fun!

[dtc]

Costa rica?

Bali isn't the unspoiled paradise you may think. Parts of it still are; parts of it very much aren't.

[surffirst]

Thank you Jaffa1949 & dtc. I will do more research and go from there!

[surfman1000]

1) Scan all of your important documents i.e. Passport, tickets, visa and insurance details and then e-mail them to yourself. This way if it really does Pete Tong you can still access your documents to get you home.

2) When budgeting for surf holidays don’t forget getting to and from the UK airport. This can be one of the expensive parts of your trip and can be easily overlooked.

3) The best way to score good waves is time. The longer you stay the bigger your chance of scoring those dream sessions.

4) Travel light. You can buy pretty much everything abroad and for a lot cheaper.

5) Check in early! The check-in person is in a better mood. They can’t claim the baggage hull is full and you can try and get an exit aisle seat (extra room).

6) When you turn up at the check in desk with your coffin full of boards you don’t want them to weigh it. This could turn out more expensive then them just charging per unit. A good one is too claim that the board bag is far too wet (helps if it is!) and would break the electronic scales. Hooking your foot under the bag to ease the weight off the scales works as well.

7) You can also claim that a triple board bag has only got "one" board in it. If you have a padlock on the case, it is far too much hassle and time for you to find key and open it up!

Another old favourite is too pick an "older" lady/man before you queue, throw in a bit of harmless flirting and bingo. No board charges!

9) Ask for a "special" meal when you book your flight as on most flights this guarantees being served first. Fear not, you don’t need to go the full Veggie options just ask for an extra bread roll or low salt option.

10) On scheduled flights if you are feeling a little peckish ask the cabin crew for an extra meal. Unlike chartered flights where each person is allocated a meal long before take off, scheduled flights always have a few kicking around. It pays to ask with a smile!

11) When you arrive make friends with the locals; it is the best way to find out about where and when to surf the local breaks. Be friendly and open.

12) When going to a poor surf country bring stickers, pens, and pencils for the local kid’s. It doesn’t take up much space in your luggage and your be a hit with the local kid’s. In turn when they grow older their view on visiting surfers is a positive one.

13) Surfing is life but it’s not the only thing in it. If it goes flat or you’re surfed out, go exploring!

So there you go a few pointers. Thanks to Emma Skinner, Feral Ben, Steveo, Lee Ryan, Tom Crawford, John Hibbard and Will Blair.