Like most of Indonesia, Bali has had successive histories of foreign occupation, most notably under Dutch rule but there much of the similarities with other Indonesian provinces end. The Chinese and Indian influences also permeate through the culture on Bali and in contrast to the rest of Indonesia, Bali derives much of its culture and faith from Hinduism and Buddhism and blends them both in rich expressions of art, theater, culture and lifestyle.
Bali has much to offer other than the world class Bali beach resort. With stunning mountains, including two active volcanoes, and a wide diversity of wildlife, much of which can be seen in the Barat National Park, this is a wonderful island in which to explore the natural beauty. The island is roughly 100 miles long by 70 miles wide, allowing for visitors to experience many of the attractions on offer during their stay. To fully appreciate the island, excursions and day trips away from the beach are highly recommended.
While visitors are drawn to the many attractions throughout Bali it is the Bali Beach resorts to the south of the island which are by far the most popular visitor destinations on the island. The original and most famous of these is Kuta. Situated near the airport, the town and former fishing village of Kuta is renowned for its long white sandy beach, many restaurants and bars, and wide array of accommodation options, from backpacker hostels to the grandest of Bali beach resort, most of which are situated on the beachfront in the southern section of Tuban.
A newly popular beach resorts is Nusa Dua, and enclave of international five star luxury hotels and resorts. Nusa Dua is close to the Tanjung Benoa peninsula of Bali, which includes many further hotels and the village of Benoa. Nusa Dua is also home to many of the major conferencing facilities on the island and hosted the 2007 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
The Bali beach resorts you choose depends on what you expect from a beach holiday. To combine some excellent surfing, diving, beach life and water sports with a hectic nightlife, shopping and bustling environment then Kuta is the place to be. Favored by Australians in particular due to the close proximity, Kuta is the preferred destination for most western visitors and represents a classic seaside holiday destination with easy and affordable access to accommodation, entertainment and dining options whatever your tastes or budget.
In addition to boasting some excellent and affordable seafood restaurants, Jimbaran is the preferred choice of beach resort for those who prefer a less hectic slice of beach life. Jimbaran has an excellent range of hotels too. Benoa, on the other hand offers a more natural area with a good range of intermediate priced hotels, and within Nusa Dua, the luxury hotels with extensive features such as first class restaurants, spas, gardens and sports and leisure facilities attract a certain type of clientele who prefer their resorts to come with superlative levels of luxury, amenity and exclusivity.
Bali beach resorts are very much a part of the fabric of the island and there is always that special place within them for visitors to call their own. Whether staying in a luxury hotel, an apartment, or a cheap and cheerful backpackers hostel, your accommodation will form the perfect base from which to discover the best of the island for your own personal island adventure.
