Eating in Nusa Dua

The Nusa Dua complex has many international restaurants (with international prices) in the five star hotels. A 7-course French meal at the chic Semeru Rotisserie in the Putri Bali costs $55/person. All hotels hold theme buffet dinners featuring Balinese dance for $30-$40/person. The Galeria area offers Spanish, Indonesian, Balinese, Italian, Korean, Thai, Swiss-German, Chinese, Japanese, and Western cuisines. Try Warung Bali to taste some local flavor, Sendok Restaurant for a variety of international dishes and Escargot for French cuisine. For fresh spicy seafood, try the Jala-Jala restaurant in the new Nikko Bali hotel. For excellent Japanese food including sushi and teppanyaki, the Matsuri Japanese Restaurant, next to the Galleria Shopping Complex, is a must.

For cheaper food and more natural surroundings, head for the village of Bualu just outside the resort. Outside the main gate to the right is the big Lotus Garden (free transportation in Nusa Dua area) restaurant which serves fesh, homemade pasta, grilled seafood and steaks. If you like spicy West Sumatran food, try Mega Meriah Padang on JI. Bypass Ngurah Rai. The best price-quality deal, though, is the Ulam Restaurant, just outside the gate facing the Hilton. The specialty is the seafood basket for $8 per person. It's a favorite haunt of ministers and celebrities. Kuta's popular Poco Loco Mexican food has opened a branch at JI. Pantai Mengiat. Also on JI. Pantai Mengiat is the Nyoman Beer Garden with its extensive international menu, featuring great pasta and fresh seafood.

Finally, if you decide to go native and eat for a dollar, there's a sate stall near the main entrance, or try the bakso Solo (meatball soup) at the night market in front of the local movie theater.

Bali - Tanjung Benoa

Tanjung Benoa is the natural northern continuation of Nusa Dua, with the white sand beach stretching the length of the coast. It is a booming resort, popular with water sports enthusiasts.

The Tanjung Benoa area has an increasing number of good restaurants. Near the peninsula tip, the sumptuous Beluga Watersport Complex is a hull shaped restaurant renowned for its rijsttafel, only $10/person. The beach side Rai restaurant features lobster and fresh fish grilled to perfection. For good European fare and pizza, dine at Novotel Benoa. At the southern end, across from Club Mad (and a favorite of its staff), is the Casanova Italian restaurant. For Indonesian food, Bambu Indah has a good reputation among locals. More upscale but excellent quality is Pasar Senggol, nightly at Grand Hyatt Bali. For $37, all you can eat of a variety of Indonesian fare from vendor carts and stalls, plus an excellent dance performance. Tanjung Benoa Café Jl. Padma #216. Enjoy Indonesian, Chinese and European cuisine and the romantic atmosphere.

Tanjung Benoa Activities

Facilities are available at reasonable rates in over 10 locations. The following is a rough price guide. Canoes: $6/hour. Deep-sea fishing: $50-$75. Scuba Diving: $34-$85 for certified divers, $55 (boat dive). Snorkeling around Nusa Dua: $10. Day trips to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan: cost $60/boat. Banana boats, water scooters, water skiing, jet skis, wave runners, windsurfers, and parasailing are also available.

Although the Nusa Dua / Tanjung Benoa area does not compare to Kuta or Denpasar for choice, you can find a wide range of products in a much smaller area. Prices are fair.

Set inside the Nusa Dua resort, the Galeria Shopping Complex has textiles and handicrafts, including leather, batik, woodcarving, and paintings. Galeria has expanded and improved with greenery and lively kiosks selling crafts and fast foods. A new games center entertains youngsters and the island's largest music outlet is here. Keris Gallery is an up-market department store. There's also a Duty Free Shop, a Tragia supermarket, a huge branded jeans warehouse and numerous international restaurants.

Another shopping area is near the main Tragia supermarket on JI. Bypass Ngurah Rai. There are a number of leather shops where you can bargain for custom-made leather jackets for as little as $120. Most of the other stuff on sale is the same as that found in all the main tourist areas, minus the chic of some of the Legian and Sanur shops. The Tragia supermarket itself is a good place to buy souvenirs for a fixed, higher price, but minus the hassles. For an excellent and wide selection of local wood furniture, visit Tuahta Furniture, JI. Pratama 100X, Tanjung Benoa. They will also help with shipping if something large catches your eye.

Tanjung Benoa Night Life

Nusa Dua is a resort for short stays, conventioneers and families who generally don't go out. If they do, it's either to Jimbaran or Kuta. There are a few nightspots in the resort, however: Bali Hilton's Octopus Fun Pub with live music from 7 pm-10 pm and karaoke until 2 am; live bands and big screen video at Grand Hyatt's Lila Cita, 6 pm-2 am; or Quinn's Pub at the Sheraton Laguna with music from 9 pm; for an elegant night out, Club Tabuh at Nusa Dua Beach Hotel has a nightly band alternately featuring jazz, Caribbean and Top 40 music from 9 pm-1 am. In Tanjung Benoa, try Grand Mirage Resort's Cool Bar with karaoke and dancing 9 pm-midnight, or Hemingway's Piano Bar for after-dinner drinks and piano with vocals, 6 pm-midnight.Nusa Dua's Amphitheater frequently sponsors cultural performances from across the archipelago and often has international performing artists appearing.

Banks and Money Changers. Both available at Galleria or outside the main gate to Nusa Dua. Medical Service. The BTDC Clinic, across from Nusa Dua Galleria, and the Nusa Dua Clinic, across from Bali Royal in Tanjung Benoa are both open 24-hours.

Telecommunications. Wartels are located at the BPLP/STP Hotel & Tourism Institute in Nusa Dua, Phone 7771165 and behind the Police in Tanjung Benoa, Phone 773648. Both open 8 am-11 pm.

Postal Service. Most hotels will post letters for guests. The Nusa Dua post office is outside the resort's main gate. Hours: Mon-Sat 8 am-8 pm, Sun 8 am-noon, holidays 8 am-2 pm.