SE Asia beach in May/June

[MAN Flyer]

Any hotel recommendations? I was thinking a couple of nights at the IC, and then to one of those mega-resorts on the beach. I'm over the Grand Hyatt, so how to choose between the Laguna, Conrad, etc?

Do you have status with any of the major chains ?. That could make a difference.

I've stayed at the Conrad four and five times and am a big fan, as long as there is not one of the large Indian Weddings on there as it then beomes a bit manic.

I've also stayed at the Westin and Laguna (they are next door to each other) and they are ok but not as good as the Conrad IMHO. The Conrad benefits from having Bumbu Bali close by as well. The St Regis is down the bottom past the GH in Benoa and while I haven't stayed there I have eaten there and it looks a very nice place. Same with the IC.

The problem is the rates at these places can fluctuate wildly at times.

[kt74]

Nusa Dua itself is very sterile, but some of the Hotels down there are excellent. Not sure about the beach being that clean but it's a couple of years since I was there. It's quite an interesting walk up and down it as you pass all the resorts that you can call in for something to eat/drink as you wish. It's not the most spectacular beach you'll ever see though...

Why not thinking about Seminyak ?. That and Ubud are my favourite parts of Bali.

I know Nusa Dua is sterile! I'm celebrating a big birthday (ugh), and I want to close to the beach (cleanliness is relative!) and be far away from humanity

Any hotel recommendations? I was thinking a couple of nights at the IC, and then to one of those mega-resorts on the beach. I'm over the Grand Hyatt, so how to choose between the Laguna, Conrad, etc?

[MAN Flyer]

Next question...

Jimbaran or Nusa Dua?

I know Nusa Dua is a sterile tourist enclave, and you could quite possibly be in Cancun without the loud Americans... But you can also wander for miles on a beach that's clean-as-a-whistle. Like!

Any thoughts? Go!

Nusa Dua itself is very sterile, but some of the Hotels down there are excellent. Not sure about the beach being that clean but it's a couple of years since I was there. It's quite an interesting walk up and down it as you pass all the resorts that you can call in for something to eat/drink as you wish. It's not the most spectacular beach you'll ever see though...

Why not thinking about Seminyak ?. That and Ubud are my favourite parts of Bali.

[Kyo]

Definitely enjoyed Nusa Dua more but Jimbaran's IC is hard to beat

[kt74]

Bali will be in the dry season - perfect for surfing. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g2...hen.To.Go.html

OK, Bali booked. Excellent CX sale ex-LHR - sub-£2k to DPS (J, obviously - book by next week, but very limited availability, cheaper through agents than direct)

Next question...

Jimbaran or Nusa Dua?

I know Nusa Dua is a sterile tourist enclave, and you could quite possibly be in Cancun without the loud Americans... But you can also wander for miles on a beach that's clean-as-a-whistle. Like!

Any thoughts? Go!

[Kyo]

This time, it's not me who's footing the bill... thus I don't make that decision

[9V-JKL]

4 points is in the middle of nowhere. I'll recommend the Pullman

[Kyo]

4 Points is our choice this trip as we have to do a day trip to Sibu as well on Saturday. So it's only Sunday we have in KCH until 6pm...

Is the cultural village the one in Santubong? Kampung Budaya Santubong? Any seafood kelongs near there?

[calvinoeh]

Thanks for the tip. I am heading there tmrw and have not much of an idea what to do there except for what someone wrote in their TR (which is mostly food related), any suggestions?

It's mostly about the food - seafood, laksa, kolokmee. The cultural village and orang utan sanctuary are ok touristy stuff to do. Take a stroll down the waterfront and "old town".

Where you staying?

[Kyo]

Great you like Kuching (kuching boy here) but please dont come to Kuching for the beaches

Thanks for the tip. I am heading there tmrw and have not much of an idea what to do there except for what someone wrote in their TR (which is mostly food related), any suggestions?

[kt74]

Bali will be in the dry season - perfect for surfing. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g2...hen.To.Go.html

OK, maybe I need to schlep the extra couple of hours east to DPS

[calvinoeh]

I like Kuching. There's plenty of non-beach nature park activities too

Great you like Kuching (kuching boy here) but please dont come to Kuching for the beaches

[CarbonMan]

Oh man, that bad?!

Just google "haze singapore 2013" and look under Images.

So maybe I should think Bali, then? Weather should be nice in May/June, no?

Bali will be in the dry season - perfect for surfing. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g2...hen.To.Go.html

[kt74]

The further you are from the source of the fires, the lower the chance that you'll be affected.

Oh man, that bad?! So maybe I should think Bali, then? Weather should be nice in May/June, no?

There's plenty of non-beach nature park activities too

That's either a blessing or curse, depending on how dirty your mind is

[CarbonMan]

That's cool. No disappointment. So, East coast is haze-free?

There's no telling how strong the wind will blow and how widespread the fires will be. During that period, the prevailing winds will blow from the south to the west. The source of most of the fires are in the eastern side of central Sumatra.

The further you are from the source of the fires, the lower the chance that you'll be affected.