Singapore and Bali Honeymoon

ptkloon

Hi guys,

I have booked honeymoon for my wife to be and I for the end of July, 3 days in Singapore followed by 3 days in Ubud and a week in Seminyak.
Could anyone recommend things to do in each of these places, we'll be looking to relax for a bit in Seminkyak with maybe a couple of activites within the week. We wouldn't mind seeing the harbour in Singapore and possibly Universal Studios there too along with a bit of shopping.
My fiancee would love to go to the elephant park, but I don't know that much about it - has anyone been?
Also is it best to book activities/day trips online before going or is it easier/cheaper waiting til we get there?
What about money? Would I be best taking Singapore dollars with me or get when there, and Bali - what is the best currency to take for exchanging, or can I get IDR before going?

How much spending money would be advisable? I will be taking my mastercard for emergencies but we will be eating out each night - will I take enough for the trip or just top up when needed from ATM's over there?

Thanks for any information.

Mr_Wang

ptkloon wrote: »

Hi guys,

I have booked honeymoon for my wife to be and I for the end of July, 3 days in Singapore followed by 3 days in Ubud and a week in Seminyak.
Could anyone recommend things to do in each of these places, we'll be looking to relax for a bit in Seminkyak with maybe a couple of activites within the week. We wouldn't mind seeing the harbour in Singapore and possibly Universal Studios there too along with a bit of shopping.
My fiancee would love to go to the elephant park, but I don't know that much about it - has anyone been?
Also is it best to book activities/day trips online before going or is it easier/cheaper waiting til we get there?
What about money? Would I be best taking Singapore dollars with me or get when there, and Bali - what is the best currency to take for exchanging, or can I get IDR before going?

How much spending money would be advisable? I will be taking my mastercard for emergencies but we will be eating out each night - will I take enough for the trip or just top up when needed from ATM's over there?

Thanks for any information.

Universal is tiny, honestly. It is in Sentosa and only when you pass it on the monorail can you see just how midget of a place it is.
Currency exchange in Singapore is widely available.

Personally I'm not a fan of Bali, but I strongly suggest you stay away from Kuta and Besakih.
Hiring a car in Bali is cheap and straight forward, perhaps consider heading up to the North Coast for the volcanic beaches and dolphins, though this is a better option from Ubud.
When in Seminyak head South past the airport to some of the great temples such as Uluwatu and there are some stunning and deserted beaches down there too.
No doubt Kuta Beach is gorgeous but the tide is horrendous and the beach full of Australian tourists. It is commonly known as the Australian Ibiza.

ptkloon

Mr_Wang wrote: »

Universal is tiny, honestly. It is in Sentosa and only when you pass it on the monorail can you see just how midget of a place it is.
Currency exchange in Singapore is widely available.

Personally I'm not a fan of Bali, but I strongly suggest you stay away from Kuta and Besakih.
Hiring a car in Bali is cheap and straight forward, perhaps consider heading up to the North Coast for the volcanic beaches and dolphins, though this is a better option from Ubud.
When in Seminyak head South past the airport to some of the great temples such as Uluwatu and there are some stunning and deserted beaches down there too.
No doubt Kuta Beach is gorgeous but the tide is horrendous and the beach full of Australian tourists. It is commonly known as the Australian Ibiza.

Thanks for the info - so you wouldn't recommend Universal then? even if its just for an afternoon
I have heard that hiring a driver to take us around Bali can be fairly cheap and might be a better option than driving. also they wshould be able to navigate around better than us!!

Mr_Wang

ptkloon wrote: »

Thanks for the info - so you wouldn't recommend Universal then? even if its just for an afternoon (It'll keep her away from the shops at least :j)
I have heard that hiring a driver to take us around Bali can be fairly cheap and might be a better option than driving. also they wshould be able to navigate around better than us!!

I wouldn't reccomend Universal no, Having been to both the ones in Florida and California I felt short changed by Singapore. Besides, there is so much more to do in Singapore. The zoo for example is commonly thought as one of the best in the world, Sentosa is gorgeous (though man made) but there are many things to do there. Bear in mind you can travel the length of Singapore in about 40 minutes and if you wanted to could cross into Malaysia (though JB doesn't offer much for the tourist) Singapore has many beautiful parks and flower gardens and spa's. It is one of my favourite countries.

Hiring a car in Bali iirc cost about $15USD per day, I really don't know about a driver. But maybe add another $15usd. Bali is a beautiful country, outisde of Kuta is genuinely is mountains and rice fields. But the Balinese people for me were nothing more than money grabbing con artists and sadly that was the feel throughout everywhere we travelled. This is no more obvious than in the (something like) 50% tourist tax. However, I have a good friend on this forum that went for a romanticised break and had the time of her life.

Bob_the_Saver

You need advice as what to do on your honeymoon !!!

soil_2

ptkloon wrote: »

Hi guys,

I have booked honeymoon for my wife to be and I for the end of July, 3 days in Singapore followed by 3 days in Ubud and a week in Seminyak.

Where are you staying?

Could anyone recommend things to do in each of these places, we'll be looking to relax for a bit in Seminkyak with maybe a couple of activites within the week. We wouldn't mind seeing the harbour in Singapore and possibly Universal Studios there too along with a bit of shopping.

From Seminyak you can visit Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Jimbaran Bay for seafood dinner. From Ubud you can visit the local area perhaps also Candikuning and vicinity (cooler temperatures).

Universal Studios on your honeymoon?

Try Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Botanical Gardens, Singapore Zoo AND Night Safari, maybe the big wheel (Flyer) also. Orchard Road for shopping. Clarke Quay is Singapore's riverside dining zone nice for a stroll + dinner in the evening. I've not heard of people touring the actual container Port of Singapore.

Avoid Sentosa, it's a manufactured resort for Singaporeans who don't want to travel any further. Like Brighton for Londoners.

My fiancee would love to go to the elephant park, but I don't know that much about it - has anyone been?

In Bali? Don't know but beware that some tourist/nature attractions in Bali are not up to scratch, just tourist traps, check reviews online carefully. Singapore doesn't suffer this problem.

Also is it best to book activities/day trips online before going or is it easier/cheaper waiting til we get there?

In Bali you can hire a car + driver for about £40/day. No need to prebook, but as you are on your honeymoon you might prefer to arrange things ahead so as to have a zero-fuss trip

What about money? Would I be best taking Singapore dollars with me or get when there, and Bali - what is the best currency to take for exchanging, or can I get IDR before going?

No problems in Singapore at all. Personally I like to carry an ATM card for both Singapore and Bali. You can use credit card in both places easily enough, although not everywhere in either (taxis in SG take credit cards, in Bali they don't; hotels and midrange and above restaurants in both take credit cards)

You can change pounds but you might need to shop around for a good rate. That's fine though, it's not going to be worth buying US$ in the UK in order to possibly get a slightly better rate on your IDR.

How much spending money would be advisable?

I will be taking my mastercard for emergencies but we will be eating out each night - will I take enough for the trip or just top up when needed from ATM's over there?

Just use the ATM, but in Indonesia max withdrawal is about £70 typically, if you are paying per withdrawal it's best to get a free-withdrawal cash card. I wouldn't bring more than £100 in sterling cash personally, but I would take (at least) 2 credit cards (one for main, one in case the first one gets locked/queried) and an ATM card.

In Singapore you could for instance easily do something like:

2 zoo tickets - £22
4 taxi rides - £30
crab/seafood dinner for two with beer at a restaurant - £50
basic lunch, soft drinks at the zoo - £15

So easily over £100/day plus any shopping purchases (obv. you can eat for less chicken rice for a few pounds, but the chili crab is the way to go IMO)

In Bali the costs are much lower, you can eat in a nice restaurant for about £20-£25 (and on the street for less than £1/each), but if you did a day trip you are going to be paying about £40-50 for the car/driver, it's less than £1 to get in the monkey forest however. There are a few super-pricey restaurants too, but quite hard too find. Again, if you go shopping you will spend more.

soil_2

Mr_Wang wrote: »

Hiring a car in Bali iirc cost about $15USD per day, I really don't know about a driver. But maybe add another $15usd.

The driver is not the expensive bit, $10/day is more than sufficient.

A basic car without central locking, power steering, electric windows, etc but with AC is around $25/day. Petrol is 35p/litre (more than doubled in recent years), it's therefore often cheapest in Bali with short distances to just pay for the petrol when doing car+driver. Reckon on about £20/tank.

Bali is a beautiful country, outisde of Kuta is genuinely is mountains and rice fields. But the Balinese people for me were nothing more than money grabbing con artists and sadly that was the feel throughout everywhere we travelled. This is no more obvious than in the (something like) 50% tourist tax.

It's the same anywhere where (lots) of 'rich' people meet poor. The poor find eventually find the influx of foreigners rather distasteful and also deeply naive as to costs and ready for exploitation. Case in point, one man gave an Indonesian rickshaw driver €500 after using him for a couple of weeks. A year's wages in Indonesia, the guy stopped working for a while the world gets around and they assume other white folk might do the same. There are rip-offs in Thailand worse than anything in Bali however

soil_2

ptkloon wrote: »

Thanks for the info - so you wouldn't recommend Universal then? even if its just for an afternoon (It'll keep her away from the shops at least :j)

Maybe try the new-built multibillion Vegas-style resort, the Sands. There's an observation deck http://www.marinabaysands.com/singapore-entertainment/activities/sands-skypark/

roadatlas

I've been going to Bali regularly for nearly 20 years generally stay in Legian, Sanur and Ubud. Yes Kuta is mad but you have to go there for a day and make your own mind up.

A really good website for new comers to Bali is http://www.mybaliguide.com/docs/donron.pdf also feel free to ask questions on www.balitravelforum.com

Have a great honeymoon.

ptkloon

soil wrote: »

Where are you staying?



From Seminyak you can visit Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Jimbaran Bay for seafood dinner. From Ubud you can visit the local area perhaps also Candikuning and vicinity (cooler temperatures).

Universal Studios on your honeymoon?

Try Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Botanical Gardens, Singapore Zoo AND Night Safari, maybe the big wheel (Flyer) also. Orchard Road for shopping. Clarke Quay is Singapore's riverside dining zone nice for a stroll + dinner in the evening. I've not heard of people touring the actual container Port of Singapore.

Avoid Sentosa, it's a manufactured resort for Singaporeans who don't want to travel any further. Like Brighton for Londoners.



In Bali? Don't know but beware that some tourist/nature attractions in Bali are not up to scratch, just tourist traps, check reviews online carefully. Singapore doesn't suffer this problem.



In Bali you can hire a car + driver for about £40/day. No need to prebook, but as you are on your honeymoon you might prefer to arrange things ahead so as to have a zero-fuss trip



No problems in Singapore at all. Personally I like to carry an ATM card for both Singapore and Bali. You can use credit card in both places easily enough, although not everywhere in either (taxis in SG take credit cards, in Bali they don't; hotels and midrange and above restaurants in both take credit cards)

You can change pounds but you might need to shop around for a good rate. That's fine though, it's not going to be worth buying US$ in the UK in order to possibly get a slightly better rate on your IDR.



Just use the ATM, but in Indonesia max withdrawal is about £70 typically, if you are paying per withdrawal it's best to get a free-withdrawal cash card. I wouldn't bring more than £100 in sterling cash personally, but I would take (at least) 2 credit cards (one for main, one in case the first one gets locked/queried) and an ATM card.

In Singapore you could for instance easily do something like:

2 zoo tickets - £22
4 taxi rides - £30
crab/seafood dinner for two with beer at a restaurant - £50
basic lunch, soft drinks at the zoo - £15

So easily over £100/day plus any shopping purchases (obv. you can eat for less chicken rice for a few pounds, but the chili crab is the way to go IMO)

In Bali the costs are much lower, you can eat in a nice restaurant for about £20-£25 (and on the street for less than £1/each), but if you did a day trip you are going to be paying about £40-50 for the car/driver, it's less than £1 to get in the monkey forest however. There are a few super-pricey restaurants too, but quite hard too find. Again, if you go shopping you will spend more.

Thanks for the detailed reply - and don't worry we'll be getting up to plenty of the other things that coupe's do on honeymoon (Thats why we've booked pool villas in Bali.
We're staying at the Dusun in Seminyak and the Komeneka Monkey Forest Road in Ubud, both bed and breakfast. Seems to be good reviews on trip advisor (Komeneka was rated number 1 in Ubud when we booked but has slipped a bit now)
We only suggested Universals as we have both been to Florida as kids (many years ago now - when Universal 1st opened in Florida) so thought it might be good. The zoo does sound like a plan though as she is an animal lover (I just like the taste of them)

The reason for going to the port area was due to both my father and grandfather spending time there in the merchant navy, so wouldn't mind going to see how much it has changed since they were there (I have only seen the photgraphs).
Our transfers from the airport and between hotels in Bali are with Tour East in both places.
I'll take 2 credit cards and look into a pre-paid card also, after checking the charges for using ATM's

Maybe try the new-built multibillion Vegas-style resort, the Sands. There's an observation deck http://www.marinabaysands.com/singap...sands-skypark/

That looks nice/different, maybe spen an evening here but at $100 each entry it's a bit expensive (is that just to get into the casino - can you go to the nightclubs etc without paying the casino entrance fee?)

I've been going to Bali regularly for nearly 20 years generally stay in Legian, Sanur and Ubud. Yes Kuta is mad but you have to go there for a day and make your own mind up.

A really good website for new comers to Bali is http://www.mybaliguide.com/docs/donron.pdf also feel free to ask questions on www.balitravelforum.com

Have a great honeymoon.

Thanks for that - I'll be looking through this over the next few weeks

The driver is not the expensive bit, $10/day is more than sufficient.

A basic car without central locking, power steering, electric windows, etc but with AC is around $25/day. Petrol is 35p/litre (more than doubled in recent years), it's therefore often cheapest in Bali with short distances to just pay for the petrol when doing car+driver. Reckon on about £20/tank.


Quote:
Bali is a beautiful country, outisde of Kuta is genuinely is mountains and rice fields. But the Balinese people for me were nothing more than money grabbing con artists and sadly that was the feel throughout everywhere we travelled. This is no more obvious than in the (something like) 50% tourist tax.
It's the same anywhere where (lots) of 'rich' people meet poor. The poor find eventually find the influx of foreigners rather distasteful and also deeply naive as to costs and ready for exploitation. Case in point, one man gave an Indonesian rickshaw driver €500 after using him for a couple of weeks. A year's wages in Indonesia, the guy stopped working for a while the world gets around and they assume other white folk might do the same. There are rip-offs in Thailand worse than anything in Bali however

Thanks for that also - I expect to ripped off slightly, as long as they don't leave me penniless! I know that things there will be far cheaper than what I am used to so don't mind paying more than locals etc

roadatlas

We always get ripped of despite us knowing the pitfalls. I absolutely hate haggling and all I want is a decent price 'good for you, good for me'.

Ubud is getting very busy these days courtesy of Eat Pray Love though the crowds leave after on their tour buses leaving a more peaceful Ubud. Watch out for those horrible monkeys, one bit me at Uluwatu a couple of years back... I did nothing to provoke it. I was sat down minding my own business and one jumped on my shoulder and checking my hair for something to eat, also checking my ears for ear rings. Another jumped on my lap wanting to get in my bag but it couldn't as I'd had my hand over the zip... it turned nasty because it couldn't get in so it bit me. Fortunately, the skin wasn't broken and no treatment necessary.

Lots of lovely restaurants in Seminyak and Ubud and trendy shops in Seminyak for your wife to be. Enjoy :-)