Bali: Better experience and time than I ever expected!
Indonesia | May 17 - Jun 1, 2024

Jay
Jay L.
New York, NY | Reviewed on Jun 18, 2024

I want thank Jessica, Janice, Wayan, Oki and Asink enough for making it such a great trip!
Firstly, Jessica for organising my itinerary, took onboard everything I wanted and was patient with me as I decided on what I wanted to do and experience on my trip to Bali, my first time in there!! She was absolutely briliant, as we say in East London the Dog's Bollocks! ( meaning GREAT!!)

Janice my on the ground contact, always checking in on me every so often, making sure I was enjoying my time in Bali and having a great time and experience!!

NOW, Oki and Wayan, my guide and driver. Think I've made mates for life!! same goes for Jessica and Janice! I spent most of the time with these two geezas! Diamond Geezas! Great chats while driving to places and joking me around constantly, with my dark British humor! HA!!

Every place I went was great, time in Ubud, tours of the Hindu temples, waterfalls, experience Sebatu Soul
purification ritual. The best and toughest was Hike to Mount Agung to see the sunrise! Absolutely breathtaking!! Learning about Bamboo construction and visiting the Green Village, as a part-time woodworker, this was especially great to see!!
Cycling tour in Kintamani was great as I got to visit local villages, this felt a little awkward as I felt like the western tourist, gawping... but being of Indian decent I was aware enough to take too many photos.

Lombok was very chill compared to Bali, slower pace which was nice, mount Rinjani was beautiful even though I had to cancel the hike as my legs and knees were a bit messed up from the Agung hike. The Gili Island, were beautiful, did some
snorkeling, my first time!

Coming back to Bali and spending a night in Menjangan, in hotel in the forest was well deserved rest!! Watching the sunset from the Bali Tower from the hotel lobby! Brilliant!! No matter where I was the sunset were just unreal! No building impending the view, just nature, tree, mountains and hills.

My last few days were in Seminyak and a day visit to Nusa Penida Island, again breathtaking views! Waves crashing into cliffs, out of this world but not!! Seminyak is a lot more busier than Ubud, great shops and restaurants. Like any other small city which is also a tourist attractions.

Overall, I had a better time than I ever expected!!! And this alldue to Jessica, Janice, Oki and Wayan! AND all the hotel staff along the way, 5 hotels in all! I'll chat to anyone, more of those peeps! HA!

Hotel Reviews
Adiwana Svarga Loka
Ubud

Great location and staff!! Friendly staff!

Authenticity & Character
overall feel, very welcoming!
Location
Close to main streets on Ubud.
Staff
Friendly, able to answer any questions I had.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Menjangan - CHSE Certified
Pejarakan

Secluded! Away from all the hustle and bustle, tucked away in the forest!! Great for a peaceful, chill getaway

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
IZE Seminyak by LifestyleRetreats
Bali

Amazing staff! Clean, had a gym and pool.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sheraton Senggigi Beach Resort
Lombok

What a location, very close the beach!

Authenticity & Character
Location
What a location, very close the beach! Nightly walks along the beach and having drinks at the hotel bar. Watching the sun set while enjoying it. What I liked the most was there were local and tourist on the beach!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Hike to Mount Agung
Hike to Mount Agung
Indonesia

It was a tough hike and ultimately worth it to watch the sunrise!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Jun 19, 2024

Hi Jay,

Glad to see that you are all well rested and settled back home! Thank you so much for your time to write such a thorough review. Your kind words and appreciation to the whole team made my day and I will pass it on to everyone :)

All in all we are grateful that you had a great time in Bali and Lombok, and we are looking forward to welcoming you back for a proper vacation to relax hahaha! Your energy and warmth is surely missed by the whole team and we wish you all the best in everything you do!!

Warm regards,

Jessica