Ah finally.. Here’s the first post of my Bali trip’s series before my memory fails me. This post is all about planning and preparation. I mean, flight, accommodation, and transportation which are the essential and basic stuffs. All was found and booked via internet. I love how internet eases my life; need allergy relief or recipes then just google.

Flight Ticket

Ticket was booked since last year, August 2009 to be exact, for 5 – 10 May 2010. Can’t thank enough for the BIG SALE from Airasia. Return tickets Sibu – Kuala Lumpur for 2 persons = RM116. While return tickets Kuala Lumpur – Bali for 2 persons = RM241 included three 15kg check-in luggages (made a mistake during booking time, supposingly two luggages only). Total RM357, sweet!

But 3 out of 4 flights were re-scheduled to later time (read: delay). Should have listen to Mum, never book night’s flight. -__-”

Note: Recent experience tells that Airasia fare can be super cheap during promo, but the fare can be almost the same with MAS during regular time. Do compare both!

Accommodation

The room was booked a month before the trip. After searching Google, AirasiaGo, TripAdvisor, and other travel review sites upside down, I landed my choice on Taman Ayu Legian, located at Legian street – Kuta. Standard room per night is USD40 / IDR380.000 / MYR135 include breakfast. Good deal! Consider the location is in the bustling Legian street with so many shops but not noisy at night, got TV with 50 channels or so, complete toiletries, friendly staffs, we just love this place!

Staying at the same place for 5 nights sounds boring, so I kepoh booked a few nights at Jati 3 Bungalows, located at Monkey Forest street – Ubud. I was sold when I read and see the pics; room with big window, balcony, facing river and forest, sounds oh so peaceful. It’s IDR300.000 / MYR105 per night include breakfast.

The place is quite hidden inside, small, green, while the room is bigger than Taman Ayu Legian but feels empty, got bath-tub, incomplete toiletries, nice balcony. The major downside is, there is no TV in the room! How to survive in the room at night after the long tiring walk? We didn’t bring books somemore.

The initial plan was to stay at the happening Kuta for 2 nights and move to the quiet relaxing Ubud for 3 nights. But since the room at Ubud is too inside, no TV, basically nothing to do in the room aside from sleeping, we moved back to Kuta after one night in Ubud. Wise choice!

Transportation

We dislike the idea of wake up early and tie up to tour schedule, so we chose to rent car; can choose the destination and take our time. After searching and comparing Bali car rental sites upside down (again), I settled for Bali Trip Car Rental, cause they called back to my phone number directly due to email prob (international call) and ease my life (no need to make deposit payment to their Bank account unlike other car rental company).

I requested for the small Karimun car, but the staff was kind enough to provide new Toyota Avanza at IDR320.000 / MYR115 (10 hours, include driver and petrol). Ubud area got additional charge of IDR50.000 / MYR18. Overall good service. The driver gave suggestion and asked if we wanted to go or not, but he didn’t walk us through the destination and told in-depth story though. Not a big deal, story can be read from Wikipedia.

Miscellaneous

- We requested airport pick-up from Taman Ayu Legian, IDR100.000 although airport to Legian street is quite near, but couldn’t find the driver among the sea of other drivers and hotels’ staffs whom waited at the departure gate. Seriously we even thought of yell out the hotel name but didn’t. Ended up we took the airport taxi at same price.

- International airport tax at Bali airport is at IDR150.000 / MYR 53 per person.