JEM44 Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Hi, we made the move at the end of May (update on our progress will follow in a few weeks). Anyway, I am interested in booking a weeks trip for myself, my hubby and two teenage kids, plus my mum, for a week in the school Christmas holidays, probably January some time. Having never been to Bali or Fiji, I am after your hints and tips, recommendations and avoidances etc on either of the islands so I can start to plan a weeks trip. I'm happy for a mix of beach and touristing! Thanks in advance for your help. Laura and Family x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Not a great fan of either, but I've heard good things about Borneo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eera Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Personally I found Fiji pretty boring; saying that we stayed at a resort and were only there as a friend was getting married so didn't have much chance to see much other than a village and some jet boating. If you want more options, especially with teenagers in tow, Bali has loads more to do but can be in your face, whereas Fiji is more laid back and lie on the beach sipping cocktails. Frankly if you are only after sand, snorkelling and palm trees you can go to the Whitsundays and save the airfare. Bali would be my choice of the two but I'd steer well clear of the tourist areas out of personal preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JockinTas Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 We tend to avoid the touristy resorts in both places. I prefer Fiji but not the main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. We used to take a ferry to one of the much smaller islands. All we had to worry about was a coconut falling on our heads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungo Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Frankly if you are only after sand, snorkelling and palm trees you can go to the Whitsundays and save the airfare. Bali would be my choice of the two but I'd steer well clear of the tourist areas out of personal preference. I thought the same earlier. As a new arrival to Australia I would be looking to explore Australia. It has the islands, beaches and weather to equal or exceed anything Fiji or Bali can offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JockinTas Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 I thought the same earlier. As a new arrival to Australia I would be looking to explore Australia. It has the islands, beaches and weather to equal or exceed anything Fiji or Bali can offer. The airfares to the Whitsundays plus hotel costs worked out far more expensive than doing both to Fiji. Even my sister (from UK) was amazed how much it cost for a holiday on one of the Qld islands so she also headed off to Fiji. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungo Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 The airfares to the Whitsundays plus hotel costs worked out far more expensive than doing both to Fiji. Even my sister (from UK) was amazed how much it cost for a holiday on one of the Qld islands so she also headed off to Fiji. Really? I've been to both and my air fare was substantially more for Fiji! It was a couple of hundred dollars to Hamilton Island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRP82 Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Bali is a fantastic place as long as you avoid Kuta. It's far richer in culture than Australia and the people are so friendly. However, December will be during their rainy season. I'm told it rains pretty much constantly from December to March. Then it's lovely for the rest of the year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eera Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Depends which Island you go to: there's a world of difference between Daydream and Hayman. Flights to Hamo are as little as $60 from Melbourne sometimes. You can get the barge free from Ailrie too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 (edited) I've been to Fiji twice - depends on how long you can go for - if you only have a week for example then you would spend a day at each end travelling to get to one of the islands. We went mainland the first time - we had young kids and stayed at the Naviti which did an all inclusive package - drinks as well - and the kids stayed free, so excellent value. The beach by the hotel wasn't too flash, but we did trips out and walked round to another much better beach with great corals for snorkelling, and husband and daughter went diving (daughter for the first time - she was 12) - which was good, but the safety standards of the equipment weren't perfect. Second time we went to Plantation Island which was only a short hop from the mainland - probably around 3 stars but ideal for us as a family - very good diving there - and both my offspring got their PADI licences while we were there. Also been to Vanuatu - I think we were at Hideway Island. Again, great for snorkelling and diving, and some nice trips out and about to waterfalls etc. Borneo was good - we did a three centre trip there including Kota Kinabalu, Mabul Island off Semporna for diving, and Turtle Island and Sandakhan for Orang Utans. My kids were 17 and 19 by then so much more of an adult trip, stayed in some wonderful hidden gem hotels which we booked direct and got excellent value. Last year we went to Thailand and again did a mainland beach, island, and jungle stop in a three centre trip. Happy to give more details on that if you are considering Thailand. This year we're off to Indonesia - we are going to Lombok which is the island next to Bali, and apparently much quieter and more like Bali used to be before all the mass development. Obviously not been yet but been doing a lot of reading and it sounds promising. So cheap to get there as well with Jetstar fiights then internal flights with Wings and Lion Air. Have a good browse around Tripadvisor. The forums there are excellent. Our trip this time was chosen on the basis of Denpasar being one of the few places you can fly to direct from Adelaide and pretty cheaply. I loved Thailand and would definitely go back, but flying to KL, then on for another couple of hours is a bit of a drag when you only have a week.... Oh and the reason we didn't go elsewhere in Australia is because the flights may be cheap, but food and drink and accommodation prices in Australia are ridiculous - especially if you have a family! And I like to go somewhere that feels 'foreign'! Edited August 15, 2016 by Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 This isn't the place we're going to but looks great value if there are a group of you going https://luxuryescapes.com/sheraton-senggigi-beach-resort-0?utm_source=luxuryescapes&utm_group=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=60224&utm_content=175447&m_check=m_2475707_h_0ea62102d11f09fbe701a760d937df25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 PS (or PPS!) there is a Kuta on Lombok as well as one on Bali - this is what Lonely Planet says about the one on Lombok: Imagine a crescent bay, turquoise in the shallows and deep blue further out. It licks a huge, white-sand beach, as wide as a football pitch and framed by headlands. It's deserted, save for a few fishermen, seaweed farmers and their children. Now imagine a coastline of nearly a dozen such bays, all backed by a rugged range of coastal hills spotted with lush patches of banana trees and tobacco fields, and you'll have a notion of Kuta's immediate appeal. Kuta proper consists of no more than a few hundred houses, a likeable but scruffy-around-the-edges place with a ramshackle market area, and a seafront lined with a non-contigious row of distinctly modest cafes and hotels. Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/indonesia/nusa-tenggara/kuta/introduction#ixzz4HOMvWmJy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight7 Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 I always avoided Bali because I thought it would be full of bogans but was pleasantly surprised when we finally got there. Fantastic place so long as you avoid Kuta. Loved Ubud in particular - we stayed at a place out in the country there with free shuttle buses to town and back and also , by way of a contrast, at Legian beach resort. I'd go back again. I have also been to Fiji and Vanuatu and prefer Vanuatu to Fiji personally ( not so many pushy touts). Another great place is Vietnam but a bit further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Indonesia may ban alcohol on Bali soon I have heard. Personally in the Op's shoes I would much rather see Australia if I am new to the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM44 Posted August 21, 2016 Author Share Posted August 21, 2016 Thanks for this. Looks fab! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob1 Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 "Bali far richer in culture than Australia" that's an interesting one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 I thought the same earlier. As a new arrival to Australia I would be looking to explore Australia. It has the islands, beaches and weather to equal or exceed anything Fiji or Bali can offer. Sounds noble but the issue being the enormous cost in travelling OZ these days. If looking for travel value, unless being mostly self sufficient, hard to do in built up areas, where free campers are persecuted and prosecuted, then Asia offers a far better deal and diversity. I don't like Bali and never been to Fiji, but have experienced the full deal in other locations throughout Asia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Wonder if that is what the Aussie lady thought too who is now facing a 15 year prison term. How come you only get 15 years for murder but executed for drug smuggling ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 "Bali far richer in culture than Australia" that's an interesting one Well Indonesia certainly is where the diversity is immense. It is a fantastic country in the main. Bali is but a Provence, not one I'd choose to take my annual holls in, but each to their own. A four day occasional break is enough to recharge the battery though and welcome enough at least from Perth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Wonder if that is what the Aussie lady thought too who is now facing a 15 year prison term. How come you only get 15 years for murder but executed for drug smuggling ? Drugs create major social issues in a lot of Asian societies. The conservative nature in many of these places is supportive of the death penalty. A foreigner with far more advantages, than at least a poor person in Asia, can hardly expect much sympathy for transgressions. Not forgetting Australian police actively encourage intervention by Asian colleagues, as tougher laws feature prominently in Australian press as well as a cheaper option to let others handle Australia's dirty washing. Something Australia has become increasingly good at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Indonesia may ban alcohol on Bali soon I have heard. Personally in the Op's shoes I would much rather see Australia if I am new to the country. Never stop it in Bali. Nor anywhere else in Indonesia outside of arch conservative Muslim areas like Sumatra for example, far too many tourist dollars involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Laos one of my favourite Asian countries even better. Depends what one is looking for though. Malaysia's self promotion of Asia In One, is pretty accurate as well. Great people and easy to travel by own means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Thought I'd pop back in as we're just back today from our trip to Lombok. Amazing place, beautiful beaches, lovely people - we stayed at the Novotel in Kuta, Lombok and would highly recommend it. As mentioned above we went on a package through Luxury Escapes which was excellent value. Lombok is still pretty unspoilt, particularly compared to what I hear about Bali. Enough development to mean there are plenty of local cafe/bars and restaurants to head out to in the evening, but still mostly frequented by the surf-set (did I mention the great beaches?!) and couples rather than bunches of rowdy teens. There are a few new resorts being planned though so I think in a few years it may have totally changed. Definitely somewhere to visit now before too many people find out about it :wink: If you are still looking for somewhere to go and want any more info, feel free to pm me. I'll also be writing up a JBR for Tripadvisor in the next day or so, so if you want a link to that, just ask.... This is a picture of the hotel beach: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramot Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Thought I'd pop back in as we're just back today from our trip to Lombok. Amazing place, beautiful beaches, lovely people - we stayed at the Novotel in Kuta, Lombok and would highly recommend it. As mentioned above we went on a package through Luxury Escapes which was excellent value. Lombok is still pretty unspoilt, particularly compared to what I hear about Bali. Enough development to mean there are plenty of local cafe/bars and restaurants to head out to in the evening, but still mostly frequented by the surf-set (did I mention the great beaches?!) and couples rather than bunches of rowdy teens. There are a few new resorts being planned though so I think in a few years it may have totally changed. Definitely somewhere to visit now before too many people find out about it :wink: If you are still looking for somewhere to go and want any more info, feel free to pm me. I'll also be writing up a JBR for Tripadvisor in the next day or so, so if you want a link to that, just ask.... This is a picture of the hotel beach: [ATTACH=CONFIG]34078[/ATTACH] I was there about 18 years ago, very quiet then hardly any tourists and from memory very few cars, seem to remember lots of carts pulled by oxen? Pretty bad roads. Probably changed since then. Looks lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Looks just like any nice Australian beach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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