Kuta Beach

It seems that almost all the time, Kuta pops up to the top of the itinerary list when one starts their plan to visit Bali. "If you have not been to Kuta, you have not been to Bali," as the saying goes.

It is often confusing when one mentions the word Kuta. Just try doing a Google search, and it will return at least a hundred different hotels and restaurants. Officially speaking, Google is right. After all, Kuta actually represents the name of a district in Bali, covering a total area of 17.52 km2. But the heart of Kuta - where all excitements are happening, kids are building their sand castle, novices are picking up surfing - stretches only about 1 km long.

The beach line in Kuta district is segmented into three parts - Tuban Beach, Kuta Beach and Legian Beach. So the next time you head your way down to Bali, be sure of where you are going. As its name implies, Kuta Beach is 'central' beach, accessible from Jalan Raya Pantai Kuta. Over the past decades, Kuta Beach has evolved to become the central magnet of Bali. When you enter Jalan Raya Pantai Kuta, the Hard Rock establishment will greet you. Due to its aggressive marketing in places such as Singapore, many first timers who come to Bali for a short 3 Days 2 Nights gateway think that Hard Rock is the best that Bali has to offer. As you go down the street (Jalan Raya Pantai Kuta), you will find Harris followed by Mercure Hotels. Personally, I do think that these three hotels are comparable. The view from Mercure's pool is unbeatable. As you continue walking down the streets, you can find wide variety of eating choices - from Pizza Hut to McDonalds, from Nanxiang Restaurant offering fine Chinese cuisine.The hotels in South Kuta are categorized along the same lines as the rest of Bali and you may find the same assortment of accommodation anywhere that you need to stay. The basic hotels offer budget rooms that aren't fancy, but are always clean and neat and are extremely cheap for those on a really tight budget. Then you may find places that offer moderate accommodation with a few additional facilities like their own cafe and bar. Next are the superior types of places which will be rated by stars, often from 3-5 stars and offer you better views and more personalized service.

Deluxe hotels are 4-5 stars that as you are expecting will be of a much better standard with pretty much all that you need to chill on your holiday without venturing too far. These places will have in-house spas, massages and shopping areas. Then if you want to splash out you can go for pure luxury, these are the top Bali hotels that are all over Bali and South Kuta luxury hotels are a selection of the finest to be found on the island. Everything found in these establishments is 5 stars, the cafes, bars, coffee bars and shops, they offer everything the other hotels have plus a lot more, pampered is a good way to explain how you may feel when staying there.

The bulk of folk who visit Bali will come to go to the white sandy beaches and clear blue seas that are in and around Kuta. Being such a popular destination, you will find many hotels to stay in that offer every type of services and individual packages to suite your wishes. South Kuta was not always a bustling tourist attraction, with restaurants, discotheques, shopping areas and all the conveniences that holiday makers have come to expect when visiting such a lovely island. Not such a long time ago it had been a quiet fishing town with fishing boats lining the beach and simple houses made from bamboo along the shore where now stands all the craft shops, wonderful restaurants, up market bars and clubs.

The bulk of South Kuta hotels have an internet site that you can book your stay through and make the start to your holiday a simple one. Having a hotel booked is especially important if you're traveling a long distance to get to Bali. After arriving an Ngurah airport on one of the long haul Bali flights the very last thing the majority wish to do is go gallivanting around. It's best to head straight from the airport, drop your bags and relax for a couple of hours and get some shut eye.

Having a holiday in Bali will leave your feeling rejuvenated and prepared to take on the real world again. To make sure that your holiday is an agreeable one and not ruined by simply avoidable mishaps, use some common sense and do not forget that you are on holiday this is when folk tend to let their guard down.

Keep your valuables, jewelry and most importantly your visa cards and passport in a secure place. Never leave them abandoned, if your hotel has safes utilize them. Each hotel will charge differently, but it is really worth the extra cost than having to cope with the problems that stem from lost passports and visa cards.

When traveling into the more rural areas you may come across some, how to put it, less than desirable toilet facilities. Always carry a roll of toilet paper with you, even some budget hotels don't have any, and some hand cleaner. If you finish looking round for the handle to flush the toilet and are scratching your head, look left or right next to the bowl. The bucket with the scoop in, that is what you are looking for, scoop the water and flush, all part of the experience.

The majority of the temples in Bali need you to wear a sarong when entering. You can rent one at every temple as you visit, but if you intend to go to many temples, it is a good idea to buy your own when you arrive or bring one from home

If you prefer something that is small on budget but great in taste, there is a food court located right at the center of Jalan Raya Pantai Kuta. You can pick from Chinese seafood to traditional Indonesian to Western dishes. Just be prepared to be aggressively courted by the stall vendors. They will not force you to buy, just politely tell them that you want to first look around before deciding your pick.

As you continue to head down the road, few more decent hotels - Grand Istana Rama, Kuta Seaview Cottages and Kuta Bali Hotel - add to your list of accommodation choices. Choose one of these hotels (along the main street) only if you plan to spend your entire days doing nothing else but hanging out at the Kuta Beach. Otherwise, smaller (but not less descent) hotels or inns offer more budget-friendly alternatives.

The Kuta Beach

Hundreds of Thousands of tourists visit Kuta Beach every year. Absent of any disasters or major disruptions, the beach is crowded throughout the year. This is a place where many Balinese (and even migrants from land as far away as Java and Sumatera) depends on for their living.

What you can do. At Kuta Beach, there is a lot you can do. You can simply bring your own towel or sarong (or buy one if you did not bring one), lay it on the sand and start your sun tanning treatment. If you want something hassle-free, you can rent one of the beach canopies and even the wood or plastic chair (if you prefer not to sit on the sand). If you are a little more adventurous, you can sign up for a surfing lesson that covers a little bit of theory and practical. After all, Kuta Beach used to be one of the favourites surfing destination. Today, due to the crowds, advanced surfers are compelled to look for a greener pasture. Or if you want to know how it feels like to be a Queen of Kuta for a day, you can choose one of the spot under the tree. Sit on the towel or chair. Indulge yourself from head to toe. Hair Braiding costs you between US$2-5, depending on the number of knots you do (and of course your bargaining skills). Tattooing costs you between US$2-3 and it lasts for 2 weeks. Manicure and pedicure costs $5-10 each. Back shoulder or foot reflexology massage costs US$3-5 for 90 minutes each. (Have covered from everything from head to toe? I hope I did not miss out a thing)

After being a Queen Royale and you start feeling hungry, you can try some of the stalls. There is sweet rojak (Javanese Style), nasi padang (Sumatera), nasi uduk (Jakarta), bakso (Obama says it's delicious). When you are thirsty, give Teh Botol (Bottled Iced Tea) a try. But be warned that these stalls do not come with hygiene warranty. So try them at your own risk and if you think that your stomach can cooperate with your taste buds.

Simply sitting by one of the stalls, enjoying gentle touch of sea breezes and watching people of all kinds - age, race, nationality and fashion - would make my day. In the evening, you can sit back, relax and watch the sun disappears from the horizon.

With so much to see, do, try and discover, it is no wonder Kuta is probably one of the most famous beach in World.