Seminyak

A few miles north of Kuta is Seminyak which is the hippest part of southern Bali. More upmarket than Kuta and home to Bali's best bars, clubs and restaurants with new places opening almost weekly. Creative energy is the phrase that best sums up Seminyak, energy which also extends to the fashion boutiques.

Cool comes at a price, featuring strongly are world class hotels and resorts located next to the beach. Expect prices to be a little higher than Kuta.

Seminyak is a beach on the west coast of southern Bali, just north of Kuta, and just south of Umalas. Seminyak is the most upmarket of the west coast's beaches, with high-end accommodation and mostly high-end restaurants and bars to serve its residents. The atmosphere is more sophisticated and laid-back than Kuta, and the beach in particular is quieter during the day, although this area too is developing fast.

The northern end of Seminyak's Petitenget Beach is administratively a part of Kerobokan, although the actual village of this name is some four kilometers further inland.
Seminyak district is broadly popular as place where the major tourist’ attractions, entertainment spots, thrilling shopping centers, fashionable bars, cozy restaurants, as well as stylish nightlife corners are available. Villas in Seminyak Bali are simply breathtaking and worth staying. In these private havens, the Bali vacation lovers can enjoy the enchanting Seminyak beach, chic boutique shops, shopping centers, cozy beach cafes or restaurants, and the favorable Bali nightlife. After all, villas in Seminyak Bali bring your dreams come to life.

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Bali Travel Tips

The following list has been compiled to help you make the most of your stay in Bali.

Passports and Visas

Bali Visa. Important change to Indonesia’s Visa Policy for Tourists.

Please read carefully as there have been changes to Indonesia visa policy.
(updated December 1st 2006)

General things that you should or shouldn’t do…

Do…

1. change money at a reputable looking location; use your own (or the hotel’s) calculator before changing!

2. put on loads of High Factor Waterproof Sun Cream (especially if you intend to spend a lot of time in the water).

3. drink a lot of bottled water and eat a lot of fresh fruit - do your body a favor.

4. be careful with your belongings at all times. Crime is on the increase and can ruin your holiday. Cases of handbag snatching have been reported, so leave important documents in your hotel safe and wear your bag across your shoulders!

5. try not to step on offerings in the street (walk around them).

6. respect the slow pace of processions when stuck behind one, i.e. don’t honk!

7. haggle when buying (except on price-tagged goods).

8. buy ‘Imodium’ to relieve bouts of Bali belly.

9. have a great holiday!

Don’t …

1. forget to take your passport (or a photocopy of your ID), with you at all times and a copy of Bali Plus!

2. swim outside designated swimming areas on the beach, currents can be very strong. Swim between the red and yellow flags.

3. do drugs! It can carry the death penalty, and there are enough foreigners residing in Bali courtesy of the Govt. prison service!

4. touch people’s heads - it is very offensive to Hindus.

5. enter a temple during menstruation. Sorry Ladies!

6. forget to put salt on your food & drink water - you will probably sweat a lot.
7. worry too much about the ice - it’s government-quality controlled in established bars and restaurants.

8. forget to look and listen while you cross the road. Cars may stop, motorbikes may not!

9. forget to reconfirm your flight 72 hours prior to flying. Airport Departure Tax is: International = Rp. 100,000 Domestic = Rp. 50,000


Countries that do not require a Visa to enter Bali.

* Brunei Darussalam
* Chile
* Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,
* Macao Special Administrative Region,
* Malaysia
* Morocco
* Peru
* Philippines
* Singapore
* Thailand
* Vietnam

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General Information about Bali

Bali is a land that seems to have a magnet at its very heart. It is a feeling that is difficult to understand unless experienced but once visited you are surely compelled to come back and you may even want to stay forever, such is its pull. Maybe its Bali’s beauty, maybe the friendly people, or maybe even the influence from spirits that certainly abide in this place.

Bali goes under many names. Some call it the ‘island of the gods’, others Shangri-La. The ‘last paradise’, the ‘dawning of the world’ and the ‘centre of the universe’ are yet more names for this truly beautiful tropical island inhabited by a remarkably artistic people who have created a dynamic society with unique arts and ceremonies.

Bali is small, just 140 Km by 80 Km and lies between Java, the most highly populated and influential of all the islands, and Lombok, one of the quieter and moderately slower paced islands. Like many islands, Bali has developed a world of its own. It not only captures what is special about Indonesia but also has a uniqueness of its own.

Lying just 8o south of the Equator, Bali can boast a tropical climate with just two seasons a year and an average temperature of around 28o Celsius. It has a whole range of different environments and activities for the tourist, many of which are covered in these homepages.

Economically and culturally, Bali is one of the most important islands of Indonesia. Rice is grown on irrigated, terraced hillsides; other crops include sugar cane, coffee, copra, tobacco, fruits and vegetables. Cattle and hogs are also raised. The Balinese are skilled artisans, particularly in woodcarving and in fashioning objects of tortoiseshell and of gold, silver and other metals. The Balinese are noted for their traditional dance, the distinctive music of the gamelan and for their skills in weaving cloth of gold and silver threads, Songket, as well as for embroidering silk and cotton clothing.

Bali of today is one of the twenty six provinces of the Republic of Indonesia, divided administratively between eight districts that take their names and boundaries from the island’s old Hindu kingdoms.

For any first time visitor to Bali, the first big question is where to stay. The island features a wide array of very different beaches and there are some cultural destinations up on the slopes of the island's volcanos that should also be considered.

Note: Visitors should be aware of the Balinese New Year (Nyepi), which occurs sometime between mid-March and late April. Nyepi is a day of silence, when restaurants are closed, taxis are off the streets, and people are supposed to remain indoors. Note especially that the airport is closed on Nyepi. There are no scheduled arrivals or departures on the day.

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