The Hustle and Bustle of Bali Kuta BeachBali Kuta Beach is one of the tourism hot spots in Bali that attracts all kinds of people from all over the world who are looking for a place to relax and have fun at the same time. After the 1960s this quiet beach turned into a melting pot of budget travellers, surfers, package tourists, bars, restaurants and many many shops. With its increasing popularity, Kuta slowly started to expand towards the neighbouring villages of Legian, Seminyak, Tuban and Jimbaran.
In these villages tourism has grown in similar proportions however their character has remained slightly different... From a cultural point of view you can say that tourism has had a negative impact on the Bali Kuta beach area. But tourism has also provided income for a village that was once very poor. This has resulted in a place that is now one of a kind and probably found no where else... Today the traditional Bali life is only seen behind the wooden doors of the common Balinese court yards. Fortunately you can still bump into colorful Hindu processions around Kuta's temples or on the beach. People who visit Bali Kuta beach are mostly there for its nightlife and the perfect waves. Everyday you can find surfers riding the waves or beginners trying to stand on the board for the first time. The Bali Kuta Beach atmosphere is also more or less determined by this type of crowd, giving it a relaxing, a bit shaby and pretty lazy character.
I have seen a couple of these stunning sunsets at Bali’s most famous beach and still I can’t restrain my self of making another set of pictures... So you can imagine, I am pretty happy with the digital-cameras:-) For those who want more than just partying and surfing there are tour information booths which offer various tours around Bali Kuta Beach but also to destinations which I think are pretty out of the way, such as driving all the way up to Lovina to spot some dolphins and to take a dip in the hot springs. If you really want to experience something I always recommend an attraction where you don’t have to sit in the car for hours. From Kuta day tours to Tanah Lot, Uluwatu or Ubud's Monkey Forest are perfect. Check out the Bali Things to See and Bali Things to do section... Despite its prosperous tourism industry the Bali Kuta beach area has had suffered immensely from the bombing in 2002. What was previously a crowded village had turned into a place with empty hotels, restaurants and closed-down shops. Tourists kept away for years and only since 2006 have the numbers started to increase again.
Then again, it is not surprising that this crazy little town is attracting their visitors again. People know that they can always have fun here and that you will definitely head home with unforgettable stories. Getting around the Bali Kuta Beach areaOver the years the tourism development in the Bali Kuta beach area has expanded towards Legian and Seminyak in the north and Tuban and Jimbaran in the south.Up till now it still remains unclear for us where each village starts and ends, but differences between them are still slightly evident. Kuta is mainly for surfers and budget travellers while the two villages furthest away from Kuta, Seminyak and Jimbaran are for travellers who prefer more class and style.
Legian and Tuban on the other hand are more or less the ‘transition zone’ where you’ll find more middle-class package tour resorts and hotels. The main streets in town are Jalan Pantai and the 3km long Jalan Legian which connects Kuta with Legian. These one-way streets are usually jammed with cars, taxi’s and motor scooters. While Jalan Legian is full with shops, bars, restaurants, clubs and tourist information booths that even promote ‘cremation-tours’ (or ‘Ngaben’ in Balinese), Jalan Pantai is the road along the beach with excellent resorts such as the Hard Rock Bali resort and the Grand Istana Rama resort, restaurants and surfing schools. Jalan Pantai isn’t anything fancy but you will have to pass it when heading towards the famous Kuta beach. Poppies I and II are two popular busy narrow alleys between the two main streets. These two alleys form a complex maze where many shops, restaurants, bars and budget hotels are located.
You have to get lost a couple of times to finally find your way through Poppies. But every time I walk trough this area I am amazed about the huge complexes that are located behind the walls. If you do ever get lost and you can’t find your way back, don’t worry there are enough people who are willing to help you out. They will probably even take you by your hand and lead you the way... Since the Bali Kuta Beach area is a small area most things can be done on foot. But there are many types of transportation to choose from. If walking is too slow for you or if you want to go to the nearby villages there are many places that have motor scooters, cars and bicycles for rent too.
When I'm in the Bali Kuta Beach area I always rent a motor scooter since it makes it easier to take short cuts through the narrow alleys or to squeeze myself through a traffic jam on Jalan Legian. If you prefer a taxi, don’t worry. You don’t have to search for them because they seem to be everywhere. All taxi drivers like to let tourists know that they are there by pressing fanatically on their horns every time they see somebody in shorts walking by. Make sure they turn on the taxi meter or try to negotiate a reasonable price first before driving off. A more traditional type of transportation is a ride on the horse-and-carriage. Only a maximum of 4 people are allowed to hop on though, which is only fair considering the size of the horse...
Important Addresses and Phone NumbersThe Post Office can be found on Jalan Tujung Mekar in the south-east of Kuta near the Chinese temple and the Pasar Malam (evening market) and is open from Monday to Thursday 8am-3pm, Friday and Saturday till 11.30am, closed on Sunday.Next to the Chinese temple you can find the Police Station (0361-751598/751998) and there's a tourist police office on Jalan Pantai Kuta next to the beginning of Poppies II. The Legian Medical Clinic (0361-758503) can be found on Jalan Legian, Gang Benasari. The Bali International Medical Center (0361-761263) is located on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai no. 100X near the Galleria Shopping Arcade. The SOS Medika Bali Clinic (Emergency number: 0361-710 505) is also located on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai no. 505X. Bali Dental Clinic 911 Kuta (0361 - 766255, 7449911) located in Mall Bali Galleria 2nd Floor No. 2c -58/59, Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai The Tourist Information Center (0361-756176) is located on the corner of Jalan Bakung Sari and Jalan Raya Kuta and open from Monday - Saturday from 8am-6pm. Airlines: Garuda Indonesia (0361-751011), Japan Airlines (0361-757077), Lufthansa (0361-287069),Singapore Airlines (0361-766942), Air France (0361-288511), KLM (021-2526740), China Airlines (0361-757298), Air New Zealand (0361-756170), Cathay Pacific (0361-753942), Malaysian Airlines (0361-764995), Thai Airways (0361-288141), Eva Air (0361-288511), Qantas Airlines (0361-288331), Continental Airlines (0361-768358) Things to do in and around Bali Kuta BeachWhen you are staying in the Bali Kuta beach area you can easily keep yourself busy from early in the morning till late in the night. While things start a bit later than in other Balinese villages, slowly after 8 in the morning things start to wake up again... Between the hustle and bustle of the big streets where most shops are found, there are many other attractions that will provide you with unforgettable experiences. Kuta and the neighbouring villages are mostly famous for its beaches and surfing. Early in the morning surf boards are placed up right in the sand while Balinese surf instructors wait for their pupils who want to try to catch their first waves. If you want to see more than just Kuta itself, you can easily reach other places that are only a few kilometres away. Just a short drive away you can pay a visit to the popular temples, other gorgeous beaches and interesting museums. After the beautiful sunset there are still many things to do in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak. Clubs and bars offer great entertainment every night of the week, you will probably never want to go home again...
However before jumping in the sea for a swim look left and right first. Don’t go in when the red flags on the beach are visible. I once ignored it which resulted in restaurant staff and sellers on the beach screaming at me to get out. I on the other hand was enjoying myself too much to even notice their panicked looking faces... Only when I was out of the water did I understand why the people were yelling. Unfortunately many swimmers have drowned after being pulled down by the strong currents.
You can choose from the basic beauty parlours along the streets of Poppies I and II or you can indulge yourself into the more luxurious spas which offer various exotic massages and flower-petal milk baths. However once on the beach you don’t always have to look far for a massage... Large numbers of masseurs are eager to pinch you with their strong hands while you enjoy the warmth of the sun at the same time.
Restaurants in and around Bali Kuta BeachThe Bali Kuta beach area and its neighbouring villages offer great food and drinks. Around Jalan Legian and in the Poppies area in Kuta and along the beach in Jimbaran and Legian there are many restaurants that serve mouth-watering and surprising food in all price ranges. Due to the international influence these Kuta restaurants offer delicious dishes from all over the world that will have you coming back for more. Restaurants and bars also offer a large selection of beers and many choices of cocktails as well. Every night bars and clubs have live bands and sexy dancers that will entertain you till the early hours. All types of tourists from all over the world come here in search for fun, so it is more than likely that you will meet many interesting ‘characters’ with the most memorable stories.
Hotels in and around Bali Kuta BeachAt the end of the 60’s the Bali Kuta beach area started to attract hippies and surfers who fell in love with its gorgeous beach, the surf breaks, the magic mushrooms and basic accommodation under the palm trees. After these first flow of travellers all kinds of travellers came to the Bali Kuta beach area to spend their holidays. Basic accommodation is still widely available but now there’s also a choice of more luxurious Balinese styled hotels where you can spend your holiday in style while enjoying all that Kuta has to offer. The scars of the bombing of the Sari Nightclub and Paddy’s Nightclub on 12 October 2002 are still visible on many of the hotels in the Bali Kuta beach area. Some have survived, others have not and some are trying to hold on to the reputation they once had. It’s of no use recommending hotels that are in need of maintenance and renovation badly such as the ’80 styled Kuta Beach Club hotel or those that still hang on to their former grandeur such as the Inna Kuta Beach hotel. Here are a couple of Bali Kuta beach hotels I came across on my travels which have survived, improved and which are really worth staying at...
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Besides the perfect waves it is also a good piece of ocean to go for a swim. So if you are not a surfer you can still enjoy yourself, especially during sunset when the sky turns into a deep red or purple colour. 
It seems that this famous beach spot and the whole of Bali has recovered with tourists rediscovering the charming side of Bali again. I’m still amazed how all of a sudden tourists have started coming back again. 
Seminyak is famous for its exclusive Bali style villas and boutiques while Jimbaran mostly offers top-end resorts and the best seafood restaurants around. 
Swimming: If surfing is not on your list of things-to-do, the soft beach offers a beautiful spot to sun bath, swim and to watch the dark red-yellow sunset that Bali’s west coast is so famous for. 
Sling Shot Bali Kuta Beach: Not far from the Waterbom Bali at Jl Kartika Plaza there is even a possibility to be shot up in the air by the Sling Shot. This is a quick way to see the Bali Kuta beach area from above...I have seen many taking a seat in the metal round cage...still smiling happily. But once they were shot into the air I could hear them screaming their lungs out. 
Shopping: Everywhere you look there are shops. Most shops sell souvenirs and clothing at bargain prices.
Spas in the Bali Kuta beach area: Another relaxing daytime activity is visiting a spa. There is a wide range of spas that offer you massages, foot reflexology and other tantalising beauty treatments. 
Party all night long: There are several bars and nightclubs where you can have fun and dance 7 days a week with live-bands and world-famous DJ's. Most of them are located on Jalan Legian, Jalan Kartika Plaza and Jalan Pantai Kuta...
AJ Hacket Bungy Jumping Tower: Another thrilling experience is in Legian on Jalan Double Six where you can do some bungy-jumping at the AJ Hackett Bungy Jumping Tower. This is an international company that maintains high safety standards. So at least you can worry about other things when you are standing on the edge looking over the Indian Ocean.
