Bali — from 10 up to 1500 Euros per night

(armin fischer/t&t)
Bali is an island of huge differences, you can experience the waves of the ocean as well as the peaks of the mountains, the sources of the rich Balinese culture as well as the adventures of river rafting or bungee jumping. And one million things more. But you can experience the diversity of Bali in an second way too: by choosing your accomodation. You can spend your nights in luxury palace-like hotels as well as in small low-budget losmen. The range you pay per night can be between 1500 Euro and 10 Euro per night. Both can be an unforgettable experience.

(all pictures: Four Seasons Resort Bali; armin fischer/t&t)

Here i show you two of my favourite stops in Bali, both are unique.

#1 – 1500 Euro-Stop: Four seasons resort at Jimbaran Bay
The four Seasons resort is located on a hill at Jimbaran, overlooking one of Balis most charming beaches. It´s not a beton-like hotel-complex, but a ensemble of almost 150 private Villas, each of them with the full hotel facilities, private pool and intimate garden. These Villas come in different sizes, from the smallest One-Bedroom Villa up to the Four Bedroom Residence Villa, the prices range from 680 USD to 2950 USD per night. On the wide area of the hotel you find: 9 restaurants, a cooking school, a 34-Meter pool, sports center with tennis, fitness, gym, sauna and plunge pool, a library, an art gallery … and more!
One of the highlights is the Four Seasons Resort Spa, famous for the lulur treatments, and choosen by Time Magazins as “Treatment of the year”. Ladies favourites though, but also men can melt away under the well trained fingers and hands of the massage specialists. Newest creation: The Sodashi Vanilla Body Bliss, a 90-minutes drive-you-to-heaven apricot-vanilla-sandalwood booster for 125 USD.


First impression: The lobby of the Four seasons mightbe one of Balis most stunning views. Its an open, bale-style building, with an never-ending view, straight into the endless ocean. The clever construction with the smooth shiney floor and ad-infinitum view gives you the feeling, you are drifting on a cloud high above the deep blue sea. That impression is true. In Four Seasons you really can drift away. Perfect place for a honeymoon, folks.
Contact/book Four Seasons Resort, Jimbaran:
+62-361-701 010
www.fourseasons.com/jimbaranbay

#2 – 10 Euro-Stop: Acha Surf Warung, Lembongan Island
After we over-exceeded our budget in Four Seasons, we had to come down to earth again. Next stop is not less romantic and charming, but the prize is a bit different: here you can spend a night for about 10 Euro (remember: breakfast not included!).
Werdi is a great surferguy. Anyway he is not ‘famous’ in the scene, because he never joined the big surf competitions around the world. Remember that it takes huge amounts of money to get to all that famous surf spots, and even if you have a sponsor, you have to bring a lots of cash in your own wallet. Thats the reason, why Werdi stayed in Lembongan Island, enjoyed the waves and the girls and was happy. – Until one day, close before his 30th birthday: He decided, to settle and become more serious. He married a charming Balinese girl, opened a small beachfront-warung on the land of his parents, and became father of his first daughter.



Around his warung all the other guys already made a good business with the tourists. They had built up small hotels and losmen, frequently visited, because Lembongan is an interesting side-step for many Bali-travellers and surfers as well. So Werdi asked his father to renovate and re-built the private house which is located directly a the beach and change it into a small guesthouse with 3 rooms. His father was sceptical, but at least he agreed. Werdi went to the bank and asked for a loan, a huge amount for a small local business. But at least he convinced the bankers too. A few month later he opened, next door to his „Surf Warung” his Losmen. Its all very basic and simple. The bathroom is outside, in another building, the shower is in the garden in front of the house. But everything is neat and clean. Last year i was one of the first guests in Werdis place, and since then it has rarely been one day not rented out. No wonder, because the price is really fair. And on top you can enjoy the fantastic cooking-qualities of Werdis wife in the next-door Warung. Or you can play a little bit with Acha, the namegiver of the place, Werdis 5 year old daughter, at the beach.

Update: Last stop at Werdis place at the newyearsday, first January 2010: He is doing a second, final renovation of the rooms. Building in-room bathrooms and improving the furniture. Werdis place will be rented out again kira-kira End of March or beginning of April 2010.
Contact/book Acha Surf Warung and losmen:
+62-81338-347 623
www.lembonganisland.net/acha-surf-warung