Whilst Bali resorts do run the gamut on features and pricing, couples can expect a number of similar attractions no matter the final destination. Some of the reasons why so many couples seek out Bali and its resorts for romantic getaways include:

* The outdoors – Bali has long been known as a place where dreams and reality come together. Once believed to be the home of the Gods, this Indonesian island offers some of the most breathtaking natural sights in the entire world. From its mist-covered mountaintops to its white sand beaches surrounded by turquoise waters, Bali is one of the most eye pleasing destinations couples can visit.
* The activities – Couples will find that romantic strolls along the beaches are not the only activities for those on Bali vacations. Whilst the strolls are hard to top – especially at sunset – couples will find plenty of other things to do together. Bali is also famous for its water sports, golfing, tennis, horseback riding, snorkeling and hiking adventures.
* The historic destinations – Bali resorts provide the perfect starting point for adventures that will take visitors back in time centuries. From ancient temples that have stood to honour the Hindu gods for more than a thousand years to the royal palace and beyond, Bali offers couples with a love of history a chance to take in some incredible destinations.
* The adventures – Bali tours can take couples to the edge of active volcanoes and into the heart of forests populated by monkeys. The adventures that await lovers here are virtually endless.
* The shopping, dining and culture – Bali might be known for its splendid natural sights and outdoor attractions, but the island and its residents do not slack on offering couples more to see and do. Here holidaymakers will find plenty of little shops to explore, museums to pursue and a culture that is famous for its handicrafts, dancing, artwork and cuisine.
* The service – Bali is noted the world over for its friendly people and resorts that make everyone feel welcome. Bali resorts offer couples topnotch service from the second they arrive on the island until they moment they depart to go back home.
* The rooms – Bali resorts make sure that the beauty of the island isn’t lost when couples retreat to their rooms for the night. Many of the island’s resorts go to great lengths to ensure that guests are given the royal treatment with richly and romantically appointed rooms that are surrounded by lush gardens and architectural marvels.

The beauty and serenity of Bali has long called to lovers. Those who stay in Bali resorts often discover these destinations provide the perfect launching point for the most romantic holidays of their lives.

Looking to book holidays to Bali? Then find Bali hotel accommodation, other tourism resources and Bali island tours with Bali Dream Tours. Make online bookings for hotels and villas in Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Tuban, Seminyak, Ubud, Kuta, Sanur and other areas of Bali by visiting Bali Hotels.

Bali is an island where the lines between dreams and reality blur. With its breathtaking tiered rice paddies, mist-covered mountaintops and pristine beaches as far as the eye can see, this Indonesian paradise offers more to see and do than many other top destinations. Keeping these things in mind, the accommodation selected should serve as a wonderful launching point for the adventure of a lifetime.

To make sure you select the right Bali accommodation, be sure to:

* Set a budget – Bali hotels, villas, apartment rentals and resorts offer visitors a wide range of pricing. To make certain a budget isn’t stretched too thin, be sure to set spending limits for your Bali accommodation in advance. Holidaymakers are often surprised to find that Bali does offer very reasonable rates on rather comfortable and homey accommodations. The trick lies in knowing where to look for the best deals.
* Pick a location – The island of Bali is a little bigger than many travellers might think. With more than 5,000 kilometers of natural splendour to explore, those planning Bali holidays would do themselves a great deal of good to decide what region to focus their adventure on. Each of Bali’s regions offers its own distinct attractions. No matter what area of the island holidaymakers stay on, they can be assured to enjoy some of the most awe-inspiring sights in the world.
* Determine additional needs – Sometimes it is simply smarter to book not only a Bali accommodation, but an entire holiday package. When the offers are explored, holidaymakers often discover that Bali tour packages give them not only excellent accommodations, but also access to some of the island’s most famous stops.
* Determine the best type of accommodations – Whilst it can be nearly impossible to choose from the many beautiful Bali resorts, the island does offers a fair share of other types of accommodations, as well. To pick the best type for your holiday, make sure to consider your needs, your familys and your own preferences. Some might adore staying in a hotel, but others find renting a villa or apartment that offers more privacy suits well. Families on a budget, for example, might enjoy the kitchen privileges an apartment will afford them.
* Shop online – Perhaps the best place to go to make sure an excellent Bali hotel is selected for a trip is the Internet. Here holidaymakers will find companies dedicated to helping others explore all that Bali has to offer.

Finding the right Bali accommodation is not a difficult undertaking. When a little forethought goes into the prospect, holidaymakers will discover that they can have their choice of accommodations. From hotels and villas to apartments and resorts, the island has the perfect room for anyone’s stay

Looking to book holidays to Bali? Then find Bali hotel accommodation, other tourism resources and Bali island tours with Bali Dream Tours. Make online bookings for hotels and villas in Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Tuban, Seminyak, Ubud, Kuta, Sanur and other areas of Bali by visiting Bali Hotels.

One simply cannot miss the enchanting sun-kissed beaches in Bali. Golden strips of sands flooded with sunlight are simply the best places on earth to catch on a good time doing nothing. Its tropical climate and ample of sunshine adds to the magic of the natural charm. As one moves the greenery of the rice expanses takes on ones mind. And the deep woods are not simply exciting but also have an aura of mystery around them. A number of pretty volcanoes that dot the island do no less in contributing to the beauty of the landscape.

As the natural beauty of Bali soothes your soul, the land has loads to get your adrenalin pumping. Amed, Nusa Dua, and Tulamben are some of the most exciting Scuba diving spots in Bali. With it ribbons of exotic beaches, Bali is a surfing hot spot too. With paragliding opportunities, gliding over the spectacular beaches can be an absolutely thrilling event. And it’s not just about surfing and beaches. Bali is fast growing as a hot destination for other sports as well. It is home to some of the finest golf courses in the world too. Another amazing and less strenuous way of getting thrill is a cycle trek along the lovely country side. Tourists are sure to find many local dealers renting out cycles. Cruising the high seas can also be exhilarating. Get in touch with one of the many local cruise organizing people. They can offer you a good range of cruises to pick from.

The dense jungles of Bali are always a retreat for the nature and wildlife lovers. Deep and dense, these forests are home to large variety of various species. An incredible variety of birds have chosen these jungles as their home, making it a paradise for every avian-watcher. Take an elephant safari to tour the deep woods and explore the natural wealth they possess. The Bird Park in Bali is one of the best spots to go for a bird-spotting adventure. The waters here let you enjoy a good session of dolphin watching. Watching these lovely creatures in their natural habit is always rewarding.

For the weary, Bali is a great place to rejuvenate. It’s not just its natural beauty and calm that helps you refresh. Bali is known for its exotic spas and invigorating massages. The traditional Balinese massages are completely natural and can work wonders on you. Extremely therapeutic these sessions can be of great health benefits.

Considered to be the most visitor-friendly island in this part of the world, the sense of hospitality in Bali is worth commending too. It is its culture that gives Bali this trait. This hospitality can very well be seen in the large numbers of hotels that have come up in Bali. Tourists would hardly find it difficult to find a hotel in Bali. The place has a hotel to cater to almost all kinds of needs, preferences and budgets. From the most fabulous resorts and big star hotel brands to economical hotels, Bali has it all. Bungalows and Villas can also be taken up for an all new staying experience.

Ruchira is an experienced travel writer, specializing in writing on hotels & destinations. Get all details on holidays in Bali and hotels in Bali from: Bali Holidays

Kuta art market is a great spot to sharpen your bartering abilities while shopping. In Indonesia countries it is accepted that you’re going to try and barter when you are purchasing something, the owners will not get insulted if you try and get a cheaper price . Haggling is a method of life there and if done in a friendly way, you will shortly be giggling away with the shop keeper, declaring bankruptcy and waving your hands all over the place. If after your bartering attempts have not brought you any joy, explain that the price is simply too high and slowly walk off the majority of the time the shop keeper will call you back with a far better offer.

It is best to browse around first before purchasing anything as prices can significantly vary even a few stalls apart. Quality of items can also vary and you need to ensure you are paying a reasonable price for whatever you are purchasing. The shops are full of Balinese handmade crafts that aren’t really unique and are rather mass produced, although you’ll be told that they are definitely originals, if you are really looking for quality hand made Balinese art work it’s much better to take a trip up to the mountainous area of Ubud.

The souvenirs that you will find in Bali range between the cheap refrigerator magnets to the more striking artworks that are made by the Balinese people. For the most fantastic artwork Ubud is unquestionably the place to go. The whole area is enclosed by little towns that have concentrated on a certain craft or art for centuries, passing their knowledge down from generation to generation. Woodcarvings are extremely popular as a present or keepsake as they’re highly intricate and the sculptures can be of just about anything. Many girls in Bali still weave their own fabric and materials and the designs that are created and are a superb present for somebody. Although Ubud is situated in the interior it is easy enough to find. The majority of the hotels offer Bali tours of the island or you’ll find a business close by offer various tours which will include one to Ubud.

Shopping in Bali is always a great experience as you learn to haggle for purchases. To learn the art of Bali Shopping and for other important Bali information check out Bali Accommodation to help you with your travel plans.

Over the years this type of accommodation has increased vastly in popularity with travelers looking for something special and exclusive.

The difference between large hotel chains and boutique hotels is that they don’t provide 100’s of rooms but instead secluded luxury in small and intimate resorts.

A “home away from home” is a bit a stressed expression, but it describes quite accurately what you may find. A really private space in a total different location, thousands of miles away from home. You already could find that easily in many Bali hotels that are always different than big city hotels and even more so in boutique hotels.

All amenities are usually provided in these resorts to make you feel comfortable. Individual service with a personal touch makes all the difference, and a villa with an selection of things you don’t want to miss like a sound system and satellite TV, several cozy in- and outdoor areas for relaxation, and refreshingly different styled bathrooms surely add to the ingredients to make you enjoy your stay.

Some icing on the cake may be a private Jacuzzi, plunge or swimming pool. What would be life in the tropics without it.

A resort in Ubud was ahead of its time and has been copied by newly built ones a several times since then. It’s the Pita Maha, build by a member of the Royal family of Ubud in Bali. The concept of a river view resort with spa is taken from the Tjampuhan hotel and greatly refined through adding privacy by establishing a exclusive luxury villa concept. More about this resort later.

On the ocean side it was Four Seasons in Jimbaran who first successfully introduced the private villas concept within a hotel. Of course they also went to Ubud to build The Four Seasons Sayan. Overlooking the Ayung river it became too small for the demand already and new villas have been added.

The leading resorts in this field try to accomplish a secluded setting of each villa, permitting undisturbed outdoor life with outdoor dining areas. So life within nature can be experienced in Bali style. Some of the villas have outdoor bathrooms and private plunge pools as well.

Many known Bali hotels and resorts are renovating and redesigning themselves to follow this trend. Alam Kul Kul in Legian added boutique elements, The Villas in Seminyak are a good example to fully mature this concept, all villas have a private swimming pool and offer the privacy requested by clients.

In Jimbaran the Jimbaran Puri bali is a good beach side concept and must be booked early. The negative side of Boutique resorts is really the limited availability of rooms. It seems that because of the initially understated expectancy a few years back when the success of small high end resorts wasn’t guaranteed, some of them are maybe build a bit too small.

Now the situation is very much different, travelers looking for that special place to spend a vacation, and are willing to pay for the extra luxury. The Ubud area is leading the way with resorts such as Kamandalu Resort, The Alila or the Natura Resort, one of the better and most convincing additions.

In the meanwhile we saw the opening of many new intimate small Bali hotels over the last few years, it seems a trend unbroken despite the slow down and recent recovery in the Bali tourism industry. Bali is once again the tropical dream location on a small island that currently attracts more individual travelers than mass group tours. Personally I am happy with this development and hope it will stay like this, as it supports space and tranquility for a personal experience in a location that ‘is made’ to be experienced this way.
Dave Waldheim is editor of the Bali hotels and Bali travel information website where you can find articles of local and expat writers that actually live there, view previews of some of the leading Bali hotels in every price category and reserve a room online

Bali is a small volcanic island covering around 5000 square kilometers, just south of the equator. Central Bali is dominated by the island’s major volcanic peaks, from which the land steadily descends all the way down to sea level on the northern and eastern coasts; the southern Bali peninsula is largely flat. There are four major volcanoes in Bali, the highest being Mt Agung at 3124m. Agung erupted violently in 1963 and although many people died in the eruption it has since been a blessing to the Balinese in providing some of the richest soil in Indonesia. The next four highest mountains are no longer alive but the smaller Mt Batur (1717m) is one of the most active volcanoes in the region, puffing regular clouds of ash into the air. Bali, being such a small island, has little space to create rivers of any notable size. Rather it is riddled with small creeks that are channeled into the intricate irrigation system that feeds Balinese rice paddies. Nevertheless, some major rivers do flow, namely the Sungai Pakrisan (”Kris River”), the Sungai Petanu (”Cursed River”) and the Ayung, Bali’s longest river.

Bali Introduction : The History

Many years ago Bali was divided into eight Hindu kingdoms. These small kingdoms were powerful but prone to fighting each other, which weakened their resistance to foreign invasion. As early as the sixth century, Javanese kings conquered parts of Bali although Balinese princes often continued to rule as puppets with Javanese sovereignty pulling their strings. Nevertheless power continued to bounce between various kingdoms of Bali and Java. As links with Java strengthened, Javanese script, sculpture and temples began to appear on the island. Late in the tenth century, ties between the islands were solidified with the marital union of a Balinese Prince and a Javanese Princess. The Javanese Majapahit kingdom conquered Bali in the thirteenth century by vanquishing the semi-demonic king of Bali at the time, ‘Dalem Bedulu’, and attempting to eradicate the ‘vile’ Balinese princes and their ‘barbaric’ customs. Ironically, the supreme Majapahit ruler gave a Balinese the position of ‘King of Bali’, a position that gained little respect from the majority of Balinese who continued to refuse to recognize Javanese sovereignty. The Majapahit presence in Bali turned out to be short and turbulent and during the ensuing centuries, much of the unique Balinese Hindu culture and traditions that we see in Bali today were created. This was possibly a result of a community determined to protect their individuality and not be overcome by imported Javanese culture.

Contact with the west began when a Dutch fleet stumbled across Bali in 1597 and felt they had found ‘paradise’. Many of the crew refused to return home but stories of a magical place leaked back to their homeland. With Dutch royalty eager to establish relations, Dutch ships bearing gifts for the Balinese kings were dispatched. However, from a trading perspective, Bali had little to offer so the opportunity to develop international relations was restricted at first. Originally, its primary export was slaves but as the world slave trade was curtailed, the Balinese Kings turned to other commodities such as coconut oil, thereby putting Bali in a position to enter the world trading market.

Dutch interest in the Indonesian islands changed into the seventeenth century and the merchant ships gave way to war ships. The Dutch had overcome many Javanese kingdoms through ancient principles of divide and conquer and the same approach was taken in Bali. As the Balinese continued to resist, the Dutch became more and more aggressive. Stories of their barbaric tactics were not received well in their homeland and protests led them to complete their invasion more tactfully. Surprisingly, once the Dutch secured control, they protected the island from outside influences and encouraged them to maintain much of their culture and traditions. Grateful of this as we are today, their reasons were not purely benevolent: they considered the Balinese controllable with their peaceful religion but were wary should that religion change to a more fundamental variety.

World War 2 brought a new era as Japanese armies took over from the Dutch. The Japanese presence in Bali was short lived and they left without a trace as they lost the war. The Dutch tried to return to the Indonesian islands, but their desperate attempts to regain power in the colony were condemned all over the world. Together with the rest of the Dutch East Indies archipelago, Bali was handed over to a new independent Indonesian government that emerged in 1949. Bali had finally lost its liberty and fell to its destiny of economic and political dependence on neighboring Java.

Bali Introduction : The Population

Bali is bursting, with an estimated population of over three million people. Through the controversial transmigration program, Balinese communities have developed in the outer regions of Indonesia such as Sumatra and Sulawesi, in order to relieve the islands’ already stretched natural resources.

to be continued…..

Bali Travel Guide is a comprehensive guide to the island of Bali, a collaboration by Jenifer Bird and Dave Waldheim. A complete Bali introduction with travel tips and reviews of all major bali resorts and bali hotels such as the Grand Bali Beach. You can collect the parts of this travel guide here from this website or download it as a complete ebook with maps and fotos at the Bali vacation website. A Bali travel site featuring articles, island infos and monthly hotel review updates.