The white sands
of Kuta are still arguably the best beachfront on Bali. The beach
is much cleaner than just a few years ago, although the vendors
remain annoying. Kuta is not the fishing village it once was:
it is now a booming Pacific resort and its streets are clogged
with tourists and traffic during peak seasons. Legian is a bit
quieter, less crowded, and more suitable for longer stays, although
in many ways it has become an extension of Kuta. Further north,
Seminyak, Petitenget and Canggu offer more tranquility.
Prices in US dollars. AC = Air conditioning. Telephone code is
0361.
ORIENTATION
BALI TOURIST INFORMATION
Bali - Kuta
and Tuban
Kuta proper
is the area delineated by JI. Legian, JI. Pantai Kuta, JI. Melasti,
the beach front drive and the lanes in between, especially Gang
Poppies I and 11. JI. Legian is the commercial hub of Kuta and
the stage of many of its restaurants and nightlife. Most of Kuta's
big beachfront hotels are in southern Kuta, or Tuban, including
the LTI Patra Jasa Bali, Ramada Bintang Bali, Holiday Inn Balihai,
Kartika Plaza, Sol Elite Paradiso, and Bali Dynasty.
Bali - Legian
and Seminyak
Legian and
Seminyak are northern extensions of Kuta proper along JI. Legian
to JI. Basangkasa. Somewhat quieter with cottage-style accommodations,
this is where many of the ex-pat designers and long-stay tourists
live. The biggest hotels are the Bali Imperial, Jayakarta, and
the Bali Padma. There are three ways to reach Legian and Seminyak:
through Kuta and JI ' Melasti, then north; from JI. Imam Bonjol,
turn west on to A Patih Jelantik at the Pertamina gas station;
or from the north via JI. Kerobokan.
Bali - Petitenget
and North
Petitenget,
Berawa, Canggu, and Seseh are new and quieter continuations of
Kuta's beach, easier to reach through Abian Timbul or Denpasar
and Kerobokan than through Kuta, as there are no bemos north from
Legian. Several large hotels are located in this area: the Oberoi
Bali, the Intan Bali Village and The Legian in Petitenget and
the Dewata Beach and Bali Sani Suites in Berawa.
Kuta Beach
also extends to the south, beyond the airport to Jimbaran.
For assistance
with tours and tickets, and information on events, contact the
tourist information offices at JI. Bakungsari, Kuta Phone 751660
ext. 145, Century Plaza Building, JI. Benesari No. 7, Ground Floor,
Legian, Phone 754090, and the Lifeguard Station (Bala Penyelamat
Wisata Tirta), JI. Pantai Kuta, Phone755660. A new Tourism Office
is on JI. Raya Kuta.
Kuta
The airport
taxi counter is outside customs, near "left luggage".
The set fare is Rp20,000 to Kuta, Rp22,500 to Legian, Rp25,000
to Seminyak, and Rp25,000 to Petitenget. Buy a ticket from the
counter for the sedan taxis. Metered taxis operate outside the
airport. Make sure they start the argometer before you take off.
If you want
to take a bemo, you have to walk out to the main road as far as
the impressive white charioteer statue on the corner (about 1.5
km). From there you can flag down a blue bemo van-it will take
you down to "bemo corner" in Kuta for Rp. l,000.
In Kuta itself,
the usual bemo fare-to JI. Kartika Plaza and Tuban to the south
or to A Melasti to the north-is only Rp1000-Rp1,500, although
the driver may ask for more. There are no bemos beyond Legian,
so to get further north you'll have to charter: bargain hard.
There are rent-a-car
and bike agencies on almost every corner in Kuta and "transport?"
is an extremely common touts' call. Bargain the price down and
check the condition of the vehicle. Suzuki Jimnys are fun for
around $10/day. Kijang jeeps go for $15/day. Try Bali Bahagia
Rent Car, JI. Raya Kuta 72X,
Toyota Rent
Car, JI. Raya Airport 99X, Tuban. Motorbikes rent for around $4/day.
The shuttle bus to the Kuta Central Parking area on JI. Kuta Raya
is Rp2000. It makes a circuit through Kuta, where curb-side parking
is no longer allowed, so you must park at the central lot and
shuttle in.
To avoid the hassle of looking for bemos or renting a vehicle,
use the shuttle buses which go to Ubud at 8.30, 10, and 11.30
am, 1, 2.30 and 4 pm and to Candidasa / Padangbai, Kintamani and
Lovina at 9.30 am. Contact CV Ganda Sari Transport, JI. Legian,
or Perama, JI. Legian.
For renting mountain bikes, motor bikes, or push bikes, go to
Chi Chat Rent Car on JI. Pura Bagus Taruna (JI. Rum Jungle) or
to Warung Bamboo, on JI. Arjuna (JI. Double Six). The price is
$1/day or less for longer periods. Always check the bike before
riding away.
