First Part...Nusa Dua...5 nights

Hi there,  thought i would write my first Bali JBR in blog style as I always enjoy reading them with the photos included etc.... so here goes!

Travelling was me (35yrold female) and my hubby (40yr old) to Bali for a total of 12nights.  The whole reason we were going is that my hubby had a conference to attend for 3 days in Nusa Dua so thought it was a great excuse to getaway.  Left the 3 kids at home with the grandparents and off we went!!

Flew with Strategic Airlines on Oct 28 from Brisbane to Bali with a quick 30min fuel stopover in Darwin.  Great flight, excellent staff and really good food.  Entertainment was a let down...tiny screens that drop from overhead and pretty old movies that I had already seen so just read my kindle most of the way and chilled out.  Left Brissy 1hr late but arrived in Denpasar only 30min late and no other planes in sight so through VOA, customs and immigration in 30mins and into our transfer to the Conrad Bali.

View from Lobby

Check in was quick and easy and into our Garden Deluxe room which was really nice with all the things you would expect from a 5 star hotel including a pillow menu, flat screen tv and enormous bathroom with a huge bath.  Our outlook was across the gardens towards the main pool and our room happened to be right next door to the pool access rooms so we could just jump in the lagoon pool from there.

Our room view

Definately not the type of hotel I normally like to stay in.  Usually like the smaller boutique style bungalow resorts but I have to say the the Conrad Bali was amazing!  From the staff, to the rooms, to the pools, the breakfast, lunch and dinner and the gorgeous grounds nothing was a dissapointment.  And for being such a big hotel it's suprising how it doesn't feel big as it's so spread out.  Only tiny letdown was the shower was hopeless...but I got over it :)

The breakfast which we had included was by far the best I have ever had.  You could literally have anything.  Cappucino's, lattes, freshly squeezed juice, smoothies, waffles, pancakes,bacon, omelettes, crossaints....the list goes on and I couldn't help myself and found I was having 3 courses for breakfast!!

My view at breakfast!

We had lunch twice in the resort and dinner once and both were fantastic but as you would expect quite expensive by bali standards.  $15 for a nasi goreng....ouch!  wouldn't want to eat there every night thats for sure but was exceptional food!

Apart from the conference we didn't really do too much else other than relax.  I had 3 massages while in Nusa Dua and lucky for me Jari Menari was located pretty much across the road so got to enjoy their dancing fingers massage.  BEST massage I have ever had and I've had my fair share throughout asia.  $35 for a 75min massage but worth every single cent.   Was a bit nervous about them all being male's who perform the massages but literally forgot it was a he about 10min into it.  Finally got my hubby to go on the last day and he raved about it too. 

Ate at a few different restaurants outside the hotel including Bumbu Bali which was fantastic.  Had the Rijsttafel meal and it was an excellent meal.  Ordered just one serve for both of us and an extra main meal (grilled pork ribs) which is what our waitress suggested and it was the perfect amount of food. 

Bumbu Bali

Another place we ate at was the new Sakala Bar in Tunjung Benoa.  Had only opened 2 days previously and promoted as the Ku De Ta for the Nusa Dua area.  We arrived at around 6pm and were the only ones there.  Had an excellent meal - probably the nicest food I had whilst in Bali but as there was no other guests the wait staff were a bit too eager to please and sometimes wouldn't leave us alone for more than 2mins!  And not really much atmosphere as you can imagine but we did eat quite early and when we were leaving at around 8.30pm there was 3 other tables with people dining.  Had a wander around after dinner and looked at the rooftop bar area, beach lounging area and the mock-up accommodation which will, as I understand be built across the road soonish??  All looked very nice and I'm sure it's going to be great once people know it is there :)  Will put a few pics for anyone interested.

Dinner overlooking the pool

Dessert - they split one into two so this was a half portion.

The restaurant with massive wine cellar behind the glass

View of pool and restaurant from the rooftop bar

View from rooftop looking towards the beach

Hubby and I on the rooftop

Had a couple of things included with the conference at the Conrad including a cocktail party on the lawn next to the wedding chapel.  Very nice!  And also a Melbourne Cup lunch in one of the ballrooms/meeting rooms.  Great day with a massive projector screen showing the race and lovely buffett lunch.
 

Will end this with a few more pics from around the hotel etc.... thanks for reading xx

Our room

Wedding Chapel