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Unfortunately I am sitting at work now - first day back

PatowalongaPirate wrote:Unfortunately I am sitting at work now - first day back

If you have the time pirate, it would be great if you could put together a few paragraphs about your trip. Highlights even lowlights, traps for young players etc... Food prices, beers sampled, all that stuff!

Corona Man wrote:

PatowalongaPirate wrote:Unfortunately I am sitting at work now - first day back

If you have the time pirate, it would be great if you could put together a few paragraphs about your trip. Highlights even lowlights, traps for young players etc... Food prices, beers sampled, all that stuff!

Having the time won't be an issue...

Booked for 10 nights in Bali next year at the Mantra Sakala Resort and Beach Club.

http://www.mantra.com.au/indonesia/bali ... each-club/

through :

https://luxuryescapes.com/mantra-sakala ... beach-club

Booney wrote:Booked for 10 nights in Bali next year at the Mantra Sakala Resort and Beach Club.

http://www.mantra.com.au/indonesia/bali ... each-club/

through :

https://luxuryescapes.com/mantra-sakala ... beach-club

I will be interested in your view of Bali Vs Thailand as a destination Boon. I do seem to recall you saying that you doubted that you would ever see Bali.... What changed there?

You're right mate, I did indeed say that.....I also said I don't much care for long flights so it's a little give a little take.

Our first trip, to Thailand last year, was just Mrs Boon and I, this time we are taking little Miss who will be 16 at the time. We figured a "family" holiday before we do another one as Mum and Dad was in order and this special looked pretty good.

Good stuff. We did Phuket (2011) with the entire crew. Son turned 17 when we were there. We figured that was the last hurrah in terms of Family holidays - Griswald style. We did 2013 Thailand as just me & Mrs C. Our 2017 trip is just us as well.... feck the kids! Looking like a 3 weeker next year.... Gold!

Thought we'd take her along for one last "family" trip before we/they go their own way.

Doing a week in Cairns just after Xmas with Master Boon ( 20 ) too. That'll be the last one with all 4 of us, I'd imagine.

What time of year are you doing Bali?

Travel is up until Dec '17, so we'll just keep an eye on flight specials etc.

Booney wrote:Travel is up until Dec '17, so we'll just keep an eye on flight specials etc.

My mate got $130 one way flights for June.
Ridiculously cheap atm, pity it's not a place I want to go.
He's seen $215 return since then and is spewing he booked so early!
You'll be laughing doing it on the fly.

I love Bali and still go regularly but Thailand is so much better. After being to Thailand and Malaysia aswell several times in the last few years we are heading to the Philippines later this year to see what it's like

Wedgie wrote:

Booney wrote:Travel is up until Dec '17, so we'll just keep an eye on flight specials etc.

My mate got $130 one way flights for June.
Ridiculously cheap atm, pity it's not a place I want to go.
He's seen $215 return since then and is spewing he booked so early!
You'll be laughing doing it on the fly.

I got return flights to Phuket for $464 P/P travel dates end of Oct till Nov seriously cant wait

Whilst very happy with Thailand I've gone against my initial thoughts on Bali, I said i'd never go. However, at 40 and having been to Thailand with Mrs Boon last year we thought we'd take Miss, 16 soon, on our next trip. Friends who came with us to Thailand are bringing their Miss, soon 14.

Out eldest, 20, their next two 20 and 18 are on their own for overseas travel. All of us, our 4 and their 5 go to Port Vincent every year around October and we hope the "kids" continue to join us, they like the place as much as we do so we hope "family" holidays ( if 4 days is a holiday ) continue for a while yet.

Just felt before we do another one just us that Miss was worthy of a guernsey and the cost of the special in Bali was too good to refuse. Junior can come if he wants, but he can fund it himself. At 20 he likes the idea of the house to himself for a week!

We're in South Kuta / Nusa Dua, experience in and around there Jim, Corona?

Booney wrote:
We're in South Kuta / Nusa Dua, experience in and around there Jim, Corona?

I've not been to Bali Booney, so I am of no help at all. We have considered it a few times, but circumstances have not panned out. I get the feeling you are either a Bali person OR a Thailand person. When I do get to Bali (note: do, not if) I will need to go with a very open mind, and NOT try to compare it to Thailand. As mentioned, when you return from your Bali holiday I would be interested in your take on both countries as a holiday spot. My little research on Bali, and speaking to those who have gone, suggests Seminyak away from Kuta is a bit better for the, lets say, more mature traveller.

Booney wrote:Booked for 10 nights in Bali next year at the Mantra Sakala Resort and Beach Club.

http://www.mantra.com.au/indonesia/bali ... each-club/

through :

https://luxuryescapes.com/mantra-sakala ... beach-club

I saw that deal, was very close to pulling the trigger on it, but it only had a day left when we first saw it. Will be interested in how you go as it looked pretty good!

Corona Man wrote:

PatowalongaPirate wrote:Unfortunately I am sitting at work now - first day back

If you have the time pirate, it would be great if you could put together a few paragraphs about your trip. Highlights even lowlights, traps for young players etc... Food prices, beers sampled, all that stuff!

Apologies for the delay Corona Man, but I had to shoot off to Europe when I got back for work.

Koh Samui was great fun. The people were very friendly - stock standard for Thailand - and the weather was hot and sunny. A local told me that it hadn't rained for around 2 months. Beer prices still pretty good, I was getting cans of Chang from the mini mart for THB30 which was just over AUD$1 at the time. We rented a car for a couple of days which I can highly recommend. It allowed us the freedom to explore most of the coast line and visit waterfalls, restaurants, and other beaches at our leisure.

Eating wise we had a little gem near our resort called "Phensiri" which served up some of the best local food I've tried in all of Thailand. We also enjoyed our night at "The Rocks" which as the name suggests is perched over a cliff above the ocean. This place is part of the Kanda Residences but you don't have to stay there to enjoy the restaurant.

I found parts of Koh Samui reminded me of being in Phuket, but also at times i was reminded of Krabi. It does however have it's own charm and I can unreservedly recommend it as a relaxing holiday destination.

I have included a pic from our patio for you :

Jim05 wrote:I love Bali and still go regularly but Thailand is so much better. After being to Thailand and Malaysia aswell several times in the last few years we are heading to the Philippines later this year to see what it's like

Ever stayed South Kuta / Nusa Dua then?

Jim05 wrote:I love Bali and still go regularly but Thailand is so much better. After being to Thailand and Malaysia aswell several times in the last few years we are heading to the Philippines later this year to see what it's like

I went to Boracay a couple of years ago and will definitely go back one day. Not a fan of Manila though.

Booney wrote:

Jim05 wrote:I love Bali and still go regularly but Thailand is so much better. After being to Thailand and Malaysia aswell several times in the last few years we are heading to the Philippines later this year to see what it's like

Ever stayed South Kuta / Nusa Dua then?

Normally stay in Seminyak but have stayed in Legian, Kuta and Nusa Dua before aswell as some places further inland.
Have been to Lombok and the Gili islands, they are amazing if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle