There are many ways to see Bali the tropical dream island, one of the most intriguing options to spend your time is to stay in style at a place where it's more than just nice. One of the preferred beaches is Jimbaran Beach because it's still very original, a laid back fishing village without any high rise buildings or hotel complexes. Actually there is only one major resort at that beach and that is the Bali Intercontinental. Huge gardens directly on the beach, who can ask for more. It's a classic Bali Resort that seems to have been there right from the beginning of tourism in Bali. Since then it was renovated just recently and now has some of the most stylish rooms in any of the big resorts on the southern Nusa Dua and Jimbaran tip.

This year in 2008 they suddenly got a fresh boost in interest and are on the top of the "most wanted" list. It must have been some kind of mouth to mouth recommendations of happy visitors that refer others looking for the same experience. If you look for this hotel inside the video section of the Bali1.com web site you can find a few videos that show the suites in the Singaraja or "club" section of the resort. They are very interesting I have to say, with lots of space and things going for them like fine art on the walls and decent sized living rooms.

Unfortunately it is also the hotel in Bali with the slowest reservation staff (ofall hotels we know). They seem to get so many bookings that they let you wait in line for days without getting back to you, yes a treatment like sending in a job application. On the other side we get so many bookings for this resort that we have to deal with them, like it or not. What says nothing about the hotel as such, except that their sales staff is not organized well and seem to have problem getting things done, not that Bali is generally a fast island. No, here time seems to be available in abundance, it's just overseas clients that do not understand that at all. just yet. Prior to their arrival.

Further up on the southern cliffs in Jimbaran is the Ritz Carlton Bali that now has its new additional pool down by the beach. Which is just gorgeous all by itself. This southern cliffs area with its ocean climate is fantastic and the preferred surrounding for a real Bali experience with salty ocean air. This resort was always booked out for 3 months ahead the last few years what brought them to raise prices quite a bit since April 2008. At least officially. However when you tap into the wholesale source at the very source of it, you get rock bottom prices with guaranteed availability and unlike the slow Intercontinental processing a 24h confirmation. Now that's more to my liking, also the villas at Ritz Carlton are closer to my personal idea of a real vacation. Yes, they are not exactly entry level inventory, rather something for people that have seen it all, and now just want something solid with a nice touch and a good view. And a great breakfast to start a day of leisure and relaxation.

The Club rooms and suites at the Ritz Carlton Resort are about the most wanted room types in Bali. And for a reason, you are treated well and with charm. After all you would not be coming to Bali every month, so it's better to save money on business trips to cities where most hotels look just like all the others. The Ritz is different in the same way that Bali is different than all the other islands that build skyscrapers directly on the beach. Nothing like that here on this island, everything is integrated into the natural surroundings and many times even hidden from view in lush green vegetation and trees. This year Bali has a road traffic problem, but the buildings are strictly limited to 3 levels what seems to give a much nicer touch to the landscape than you would see in all these overcrowded European and American popular beach resort regions.

So al in all, Bali as a destination is always recommended, and these two Bali resorts are about as good as it gets in the mid to upper price level of resort accommodation. Of course if you already looked around you can easily spend hundreds more a night for the same rooms Bali1.com offers at wholesale rates even for a single room booking. Travel agents are invited as well, as these low rates make them suitable for your local travel agency as well. Contacts are invited and welcome.