Click here to read Bali day 1, day 2, day 3 and day 4 blog post. 

Location
We booked Legian Kriyamana Villa initially but we cancelled it. We wanted to stay in a 1 bedroom villa with private pool and near major tourist attractions with eateries or convenience stores nearby. Legian Kriyamana Villa fits in the first criteria well however I realized that its location is out and a bit far from eateries or major tourist attractions. It will be more convenient if you rent a car or bike. Since we are not going to rent any vehicle, we cancelled the villa and booked Park Regis Kuta instead. The reason we booked Park Regis Kuta because it was cheap and has a good score in tripadvisor.




When I was browsing hotel review on tripadvisor, I noticed that Park Regis Kuta hotel manager does read every single review in there, this shows that they appreciate customer feedback and strike to make the hotel better.

Bars, clubs and restaurants are all within walking distance. But it would be a difficult and long walk. It's located outside of Kuta central. It took us about 20 -  25 minutes walk to central. Taxi ride is about 15mins (traffic jam) to Kuta beach at about Rp26,000. The main street outside the hotel was very busy and we could hear noise but we didn't really bother it as it was not very loud. We could hear rooster crow in the morning. Also, there was noise from Padi Padi restaurant in the morning during breakfast time. This restaurant is just above our room (#125). It's also quite near to airport, just 20 mins at Rp36,000.

K circle convenience shop is just beside the hotel.


It's very easy to flag cab in front of hotel. Hotel provides free shuttle bus to Kuta beach 2 times a day, 9:30am and 5:30pm. I'm not quite sure the departure time.
Room

We booked a deluxe pool suite which comes with separate living room, 2 bathrooms, small kitchen and private pool. It's the biggest room, 90m2, 1 king sized bed and 1 sofa bed are provided.










Private pool is located in front of bedroom instead of the living room. Therefore we didn't sit in the living room at all. One good thing about this living room is, it acts like an sound insulation. We couldn't hear anything from next door neighbor.








Private pool is very small. Probably 2m x 2m and 1.2m depth. Like just half size of other villas. You need to go to their main pool if you want to swim. However the main pool is not very big either, 4 - 5m length maybe? It's probably slightly bigger than most villas' swimming pools.

There were great selection of tv channels, HBO, Fox movie etc. We spent most of the time on tv instead of the private pool.

There is no minibar in the room. There is a fridge but it is empty.


Though we had informed them earlier that we would check in the morning, we still had to pay additional Rp400,000 when we tried to check in early at 11am. Check in time is strictly at 2pm. We also told them this is our honeymoon trip but nothing special from the hotel except a card.

Facility

It doesn't have its own spa facility, what a pity. However there is one spa salon, Everyday Spa, just opposite Park Regis Kuta.



Opening hours:
Gym 6am - 9pm
Breakfast (Padi Padi restaurant) 6:30am - 10:30am
Padi Padi restaurant (serves Indonesian cuisine and international food) 6:30am - 10:30pm
Bamboo Cafe (offers cafe menu) 10am - 11pm
The Deck Bar (fresco cocktail bar overlooking the pool) 10am - 11pm
Swimming pool 6am - 10pm

Breakfast

Breakfast at Padi Padi restaurant is located at 2nd floor which just beside swimming pool. It was not bad, quite a lot of choices such as porridge, fried rice, salad, cereal, toasted bread with spread, egg station, fruits etc. Western and asian options were available. They change menu almost every day. They do not have ham and bacon. What a pity. To me these items are must have in hotel breakfast.





There's no air-condition in Padi Padi restaurant so it can be very hot sometimes. Ventilation fans are provided but some corners still quite hot.


This restaurant has traditional BBQ on every Wednesday and Saturday at Rp60,000 includes ice lemon tea. Grilled seafood from Rp65,000 on every Thirsday and Sunday.








Would I stay here again? Probably not. This hotel is great but it is not what I wanted from this Bali trip. I booked hotel before I decided to get a driver. Therefore I kept telling myself I had to stay in Kuta otherwise I would have stay in private pool villa instead.

We were looking for a hotel room with pool access or best, with private pool, and the location has to be in Kuta and near tourist attractions. And we found Burasari Resort.    

Location

It's just located beside the beach, 15 mins walk to Bangla road (kinda far but many things to see along the street), 15 mins walk to Jungceloy shopping centre, 5 mins walk to Shopping OTOP. Bars, clubs and restaurants, Hard Rock Cafe are all within a few minutes walk. 

Hotel lobby



Welcome drink







We booked elite double room with pool access and we loved it! It's luxurious, very spacious and beautiful. Big and comfy bed. Huge bathroom, 2 basins, 1 bathtub. Many tv channels are available (HBO, CNN etc). 

It's 42m², 1 king sized bed and 1 sunbed are provided. 

Minibar is replenished daily complimentary!




  

Facility

There are 2 lovely swimming pools in this hotel. They have a few restaurants, bars and spa, however there's no gym facility.

Opening hours
Kantok restaurant (serves authentic Thai food): 6:30am - 10:30am (breakfast) / 11:00am - 5:00pm (lunch) / 5:00pm - 11:00pm (dinner) 
Naughty Radish (serves fresh salad & grilled meat): 11:00am - 9:30pm
Misty Bar (serves snacks & drinks): 11:00am - 11:30am
Pool Bar (serves snacks & drinks): 10:30am - 8:00pm
Just For you (serves juices & smoothies): 8:00am - 9:30pm
Spa by Burasari: 9:00am - 10:00pm

Swimming pool 





Pool bar






Breakfast

Breakfast was amazing, plenty of choices, western and asian options were available. It's so amazing they have waffles, pancakes, a juice bar, cereals, breads, sweets, an egg station.


Kantok restaurant

Low cost carriers are getting popular nowadays and people don't mind traveling with them especially for weekend getaway. Budget airline tickets are cheaper but you can still save more with the tips mentioned below.

Try to buy air tickets well in advance

At least 3 months in advanced or best, 6 months before your departure date. Skyscanner provides you a chart which you can compare fare difference across the whole year.

Also, avoid flying during peak season (school holiday, major holiday). If you need to, buy air ticket much in advanced. I bought air ticket to Japan from Scoot 10 months before departure.


Don't fly on Friday

Generally air ticket is cheaper departing on Thursday or Saturday and returning on Tuesday. Friday evening is always the most expensive and flight on Wednesday day is usually the cheapest.




Travel with hand luggage only

For a weekend getaway, you don't need to carry big luggage. If you need one, make sure it is within carry on baggage limit. I usually bring a cabin size luggage when I fly out and opt for the minimum baggage size, for example 15kg, on my way back.

Jetstar: 1 main carry on baggage and other small hand carry item 56cm x 36cm x 23cm and total combined weight not more than 7kg
Scoot: 1 piece of up to 54cm x 38cm x 23cm 7kg + 3kg if a laptop is carried
Tigerair: 2 pieces of carry on 54cm x 38cm x 23cm and total combined weight not more than 10kg

Weigh your luggage before you leave home.

Do web-check in if it's available

Seat is usually assigned automatically when you do web-check in. You can save your seat fee on this. If someone is sitting in between you and your friend when you do web-check in, close your browser and come back again for web-check in after others have taken up that seat. Web-check in is usually available 72 hours before departure.


No add on

If you don't mind sitting separately from your travel companion, don't buy your seat in advance then. Seat will definitely assign to you when you do web-check in or counter check in. Forget about priority check in, you are just wasting your money on all these.

Eat before flying, bring empty bottle

Food is sold extremely expensive in the plane, that's how budget airline earn money. Eat before boarding. Bring an empty water bottle and fill in water at the drinking fountain prior boarding. 

Try not to pay with credit card

Credit card payment usually comes with booking fee and service fee.

• Tigerair: $9 per person per way
• Scoot: : $9 per person per way 
• Jetstar: $17 per guest per booking. 

You can save all these money simply by choosing other payment methods.

• Tigerair: pay at AXS $5 booking fee
• Jetstar: pay at 7-11 $1 per person per booking, pay at Singpost or via SAM no booking fee or service fee
• Scoot: pay at Singpost no booking fee 

Check before booking

Budget airline might not be the cheapest sometimes. I will always check zuji.com or other airlines' webpage for the latest promotion.

Is JR pass (Japan Rail Pass) worth? Should I get one? How much can I save? How does it work? These are common questions when it comes to travelling in Japan.

So, should you buy JR pass for you Japan trip? Well, it depends on your itinerary. The further you travel or the more you travel with shinkansen (high speed bullet train), the more likely you will save some money with JR pass.

What is JR pass?

Japan Rail Pass is offered by 6 companies that make up the Japan Railway Group (JR Group). It is a special discount train pass specially cater for foreign tourists to visit Japan. It is the most economical way to travel within Japan by train.

JR pass vs JR East pass

JR pass covers everything offered by JR East pass and other JR groups. It is for the entire JR network, nationwide. 

JR East pass covers only JR East company network. JR East does not cover traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto, Osaka. It is valid to travel on all of JR East's railway lines connecting Tokyo with northeastern Honshu, including Akita, Sendai, Nagano, Nikko. This pass allows travel on five shinkansen lines, Narita Express NEX from Narita Airport to Tokyo and most local trains. 

There are also other types of pass, click here.