The Hustle and Bustle of KutaKuta 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 little village at the beach turned into a melting pot of budget travellers, surfers, package tourists, bars, restaurants and many many shops. With its increasing popularity, this little village slowly started to expand towards the neighbouring villages Legian, Seminyak, Tuban and Jimbaran. In these villages tourism has grown in similar proportions however their character has remained slightly different... Today the traditional Bali life is only seen behind the wooden doors of the common Balinese court yards. From a cultural point of view you can say that tourism has had a negative impact on Kuta 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...
Kuta is more than just the beach and catching waves... People who visit this village are mostly there for its white-sandy beach with swaying palm trees and its high waves. Everyday you can find surfers riding the waves or beginners trying to stand on the board for the first time. The Kuta atmosphere is also more or less determined by this type of crowd, giving it a relaxing and pretty lazy character. Something most tourists want and need during their holidays...
Despite the big waves, it is also a good piece of ocean to go for a swim. So if you are not a surfer you will still enjoy yourself, especially during sunset when the sky turns into a deep-red or purple colour. I have seen many of these stunning sunsets at Bali’s most famous beach and still I can’t restrain my self of making too many pictures... So you can imagine, I am pretty happy with the digital-cameras:-) This village is also ideally located for making day trips around the island. Tour information booths offer various tours 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 something where you don’t have to sit in the car for hours. From Kuta day tours to Tanah Lot, Uluwatu or Taro Elephant Safari Park are perfect. Check out Bali Things to See and Bali Things to do section... Despite its prosperous tourism industry Kuta 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.
Not long ago we would often be the only ones having breakfast in the hotel, but today more Bali hotels and resorts are fully occupied. 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 aroundOver the years the tourism development in Kuta 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 are for travellers who prefer more class and style. Seminyak is famous for its exclusive Bali style villa’s while Jimbaran mostly offers top-end resorts and the best seafood restaurants around. Legian and Tuban on the other hand is 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.
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 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 the way... Since Kuta is a small place most things can be done by 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.
When I'm in Kuta 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 punching on their horn 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. 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 doWhen you are staying in Kuta 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 reach 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 like that. Unfortunately many swimmers have drowned after being pulled down by the strong currents.
You can choose from the beauty parlours along the streets of Poppies I and II or you can indulge yourself to the more luxurious spas which offer various 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.
RestaurantsKuta 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 the 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.
HotelsAt the end of the 60’s Kuta started to attract hippies and surfers who fell in love with the gorgeous beach, the surf breaks, the magic mushrooms and its basic accommodation under the palm trees.After these first flow of travellers all kinds of travellers came to Kuta to spend their holidays. Basic accommodation is still available but now there’s also a wide choice of luxurious Balinese styled resorts 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 Kuta. 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 hotels I came across on my travels which have survived, improved and which are really worth staying at...
Basic Accommodation Kuta
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In this section I will show you why...
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 often amazed how all of a sudden tourists have started coming back again. 
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 Mercure hotel, restaurants and surfing schools. 
Swimming: If surfing is not on your list of things-to-do, the soft white-sanded beach offers a beautiful spot to sun bath, swim and to watch the dark red-yellow sunset that Bali’s west coast is famous for. 
Waterbom Bali: If you don’t feel like going to the beach, check out the Waterbom Bali. People from young till old can spend the whole day at this water park rushing down the exciting water slides, jumping in different pools or just relaxing and enjoying the beautiful tropical setting and spas. 
Sling Shot 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 Kuta from above...I have seen many taking a seat in the metal round cage...still happily smiling. 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 for bargain prices. Along the Poppies I and II you can find many stalls that sell clothing, souvenirs, fake DVD’s, paintings, second-hand books, jewellery and much more. But there are also shops where you probably need to flash the credit card. 
Spas in Kuta: Another relaxing daytime activity is visiting a spa. There is a wide range of spa’s that offers you massage, foot reflexology and other 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 standard. So at least you can worry about other things when you are standing on the edge looking over the Indian Ocean.
Nero: This Mediteranean & Grill restaurant is located on Jalan Legian, just before the bombing monument. It's a busy and trendy place, where you can have you're dinner by candlelight. There is a wide range of food which include delicious starters such as meze. For the main course you can try many types of mouth watering shishkebabs...
