WELCOME TO BALI !
Day 1 (March 25th)
You will all be arriving throughout the day and evening from your international flights. You will be met upon arrival at the Denpasar airport and transferred to your wonderful family-run Balinese hotel in the beautiful lush and tropical town of Ubud, recently made famous by the movie "Eat, Pray, Love". You will want to take this first day to unwind on the property, enjoy a dip in the pool, take a stroll down to the marketplaces, savor your first Balinese cup of coffee or just relax with a massage available from any of the nearby spas.
Day 2 (March 26th)
Enjoy your first official full day in Bali with a casual walk to the main town of Ubud. We recommend you enjoy the main marketplace in the center of town to get some of the best bargains in all of Bali ! There are plenty of cafes and spas throughout town as well so rest and relaxation will never be far. If you are up for a bit more physical activity, there are many wonderful hiking and biking trails throughout the town that take you to some of the outer villages. Here you can see the Balinese in their home environment living and working in their tranquil surroundings.
If you are feeling adventurous today (and want a quick remedy for your jetlag!), you may also want to try your hand at white-water rafting down the beautiful Ayung River, known for its scenic landscapes and waterfalls...
Day 3 (March 27th)
Wake up at your own leisure to the sounds of tropical birds and the Champuan River gurgling outside your traditional Balinese bungalow. Enjoy your homemade breakfast while you take in the amazing views of the lush verdant mountains and valleys that surround you. Yoga classes are available throughout the day as are meditation, batik, and wood-working.
For Lunch- Meet group at hotel for a wonderful hike through the Ubud Rice fields to the now famous “Organic Restaurant”. Here we will enjoy some of the most sumptuous, healthy food in all of Ubud. (Lunch included)
Day 4 (March 28th)
Midmorning-we will take a day trip to the scenic lake district of Bedegul (Included)
and then onward to the famous Batik center of Jati Luwih where local artisans will share with you the process of producing this world- reknowned form of art.
We will continue onto Batubulan to see authentic stone carvings and sculptures made by the skillful local Balinese.
Our trip will include stops along the way to visit beautiful temples and will culminate with a traditional Balinese lunch.
FREE EVENING
Day 5 (March 29th)
Enjoy a morning of leisure around the pool, take a quiet stroll through the Champuan Valley, or explore the surrounding villages by foot or bike. If spoiling yourself is on your agenda, why not treat yourself to a massage or spa treatment at one of the many spas throughout Ubud. There are dozens of wonderful spas throughout Ubud including several across the street from our hotel property.
Midday- Indonesian Cooking Class (optional)- Come learn the art of traditional Balinese cooking taught by renowned chef and artist Janet de Neefe , author of the best-selling memoir, "Fragrant Rice" and owner of the very popular "Casa Luna" restaurant. She is reputed to be the leader of the best cooking school in all of Bali. And yes, a big added bonus is that you get to eat the meal you prepared !
DINNER FREE
JAZZ NIGHT at Jazz Cafe (optional) – come join us after dinner for live jazz, rock, and blues music at the very popular Jazz Café, walking distance from the center of Ubud town. A good time is always had by all !
Day 6 (March 30th)
We will be leaving Ubud and transferring to the trendy beach resort of Seminyak. We will be checking into a beautiful beachside Balinese Villa where you will be able to indulge in your private pool if you so desire ! You will also be walking distance to the famous nearby beaches, shops and restaurants. This will be a good time for you to do your last minute shopping and bargaining with the local shopkeepers before you begin to pack your bags for your journey home!
Evening-optional
It is recommended you take a quick cab drive to the famous Jimbaran Bay for an ocean-side meal of the freshest seafood in Bali. Here you can enjoy sunset drinks on the largest stretch of Balinesian beach (Kuta and Legian) and then enjoy a seafood dinner under the moon and stars to experience what the romance of dining in Bali is truly all about.
Day 7 (March 31st)
FREE DAY !
Enjoy your last day in Bali to do whatever you heart and mind desire ! Take a dip in the ocean, get a massage, do some more shopping, explore the local cafes and eateries or just rest all day in a hammock with your favorite book !
Final Night Dinner
We will be having a private dinner/party we will enjoy a privately catered meal prepared by local chefs. This will be a time to share pictures,stories, addresses, etc, and to of course say our goodbyes with each other ! A not-to-be missed experience !
Day 8 (April 1st)
Transfer to Denpasar airport for your flights home….
“until we meet again…”
YOUR TOUR HOST :
MELINA LILLIOS has been conducting tours throughout the world since 1985. She conducted educational bus tours throughout England and Southern Europe as well as worked as a tour director for Contiki Tours which took her all over the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Australia, and New Zealand. She first came to Hawaii to open up a worldwide office for Contiki and then later went on to become operations manager for the travel companies Globus Gateway and Cosmos Tours.
Melina has been traveling to Thailand and Bali for over 10 years and now lives on her beloved island of Ko Lanta for 4 months of the year. While on Ko Lanta, Melina teaches her university courses online, volunteers at various schools and orphanages and makes a point of exploring new countries in SE Asia with every visit. While living the rest of the year in Hawaii, Melina teaches intercultural communications at Hawaii Pacific University, teaches private voice and piano lessons, and is a musical-director of locally-produced theater in Honolulu.
TOUR DETAILS
TOUR PRICE : $975.00 (double occupancy) $1275.00 USD (single occupancy)
This will include the following : 7 nights accommodations in wonderful locations including (5 nights Ubud, 2 nights Seminyak) , all breakfasts, a final night dinner, a day-excursion to the rice fields and countryside, airport transfers, and the expertise of your host who will be there to make sure everything runs smoothly for you.
International flights are not included in above price but can be arranged from any city in the world ! Just let us know your departure point preference and we will do all we can to get you the best price available ! We encourage you to book as soon as possible for the best guaranteed price.
PAYMENT- We have set up a PayPal account so you can pay directly via a check or credit card. We will send you an email with a link to pay once you confirmed you are traveling with us. A 30% deposit is required to hold your seat. The remaining 70% will be due January 15th, 2011. This tour is booked on a "first pay, first serve" basis. Maximum seats available for this tour is 15 so book early to insure your place !
Some testimonials from past Live Laugh Love customers :
“I could not be happier with my decision to Live, Laugh and Love with Melina’s tour. From the moment I cut my check, I didn’t worry about a thing as the communication was clear and thorough and every detail – from accommodations to activities to food to everything else – was well thought through and perfectly balanced, enabling us participants to sit back and just drink it all in. We all returned extraordinarily relaxed and enriched as a result. Melina is tops and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone wanting a seamless, truly restful vacation.” Diane B., San Francisco
" I feel like I've just had a big dose of that beautiful 'One' energy. Thank you for that, Melina- you created the space for us, (strangers but now brothers and sisters) to do just that. It was an unforgettable tour. The Epic Thailand/Bali Adventure leaves me changed... and charmed. I am still lost in Ubud, and have never been more in love with life." Sandra B., New Zealand
"Melina is the tour organizer and guide you want to set things up for you! She knows and LOVES the places she visits, has lots of insider experience and information, knows how to pace a trip. We covered a tremendous amount of world in a relatively short time, yet I never felt rushed. And There were plenty of activities to include myself in—or not. I loved the ‘of you choose’ aspect of the trip. Plenty to do and plenty of not-doing time and space as well. I would recommend this trip—or any LLL tour—to my friends and colleagues based on this one, extremely memorable, enjoyable journey! Thank you for everything Melina! We WILL travel together again!"
Rea Fox,Honolulu
"Melina took such good care of me and my daughter on our recent trip to Greece. She made wonderful reservations at some amazing hotels and basically planned the trip for us including suggestions for independent tours. We loved Greece especially enjoyed the Athens Gate Hotel which is absolutely charming and centrally located. The other favorite is the island of Santorini and our hotel stay there. Overall the trip was such a pleasant experience. Thanks Melina!" Frances H., Honolulu
"I can’t wait to do another tour with Live, Laugh, Love. The experiences I had while on the Thailand-Bali tour are truly highlights of my life that I will be talking about and cherishing for years to come!" Justin K., Seattle
"You gave such a meaningful gift to us all. You worked your magic and it all happened. Powerful wonderful sister you is."
Tony L., San Francisco
WHAT TO BRING
Positive attitude
- Bring an open mind and a good sense of humor ! ☺
Remember you are traveling in 3rd world countries where customs, standards, and norms are different from our own in the western world. Being mindful of these differences and appreciating all that these cultures can offer you will guarantee you the experience of a lifetime.
Paperwork
- A Valid US Passport is necessary to travel to Bali- no special visas is required as you will be there for less than 30 days. If you feel that you might be extending your trip more than 2 weeks, you will need to get an Indonesian visa from your local consulate.
- For Bali, you will need to pay an entry fee of $25.00 (cash) upon arrival at the Denpasar (Bali) airport.
- Bring your driver’s license and a copy of your birth certificate if possible (in case loss of passport occurs.)
- Make copies of all your credit cards and store these copies in a separate place in your luggage.
Medical Shots
Not necessary but left to your own discretion. We will not be going into any remote jungle areas …and there is bottled water everywhere to be purchased.
Clothing-
We will be in warm, tropical climates (average temperatures- mid 80’s ). Bring a couple pairs of shorts, a swimsuit or two, a few tank tops/cotton shirts, a pair of jeans, and a cover-up/light jacket for the cooler evenings in Bali. Some casual evening dress for dinners out is also fine. A good pair of walking/hiking shoes is recommended. No fancy footwear required ☺
Calculator -Bringing a calculator can be helpful when shopping and bargaining with the foreign currency at hand.
Flashlight -A small flashlight also comes in very handy when walking back to your bungalow after the sun goes down.
Money-There is no need to bring too much cash with you. There are ATM's everywhere we go. Your bank will charge you a minimal amount for every time you use your card at an ATM (usually around $5 USD per transaction; check with your bank to see what their rates are). Exchange rates are very similar between ATM’s and exchanging money at a bank. Debit cards are the way to go. Make sure you make a copy of your card in case it gets lost while you are traveling.
Medicine
-I always travel with a small bottle of grapeseed extract . (You can find this at any of your local health food stores). Grapeseed extract is an amazing natural remedy if you ever have an adverse reaction to food, water, etc. Probiotics and charcoal are also very useful to have if stomach upset occurs.
Also know that there are plenty of medical facilities /pharmacies available everywhere we are traveling. Medicine is sold at an amazingly cheap cost as well. (I suggest you buy what you need here at great prices before you head back to the US ! )
Internet access
Leave your laptops at home, if possible! There are internet cafes everywhere we go and the cost per hour is amazingly cheap (2-5 dollars per hour). If you must bring your computers with you, Wifi is available everywhere we travel.
Phones
If you don’t have a phone or Blackberry that works overseas, buying a cheap mobile phone in Ubud is recommended and will cost you around 35-40 USD…this is the way to go when you are traveling here! This will also be a good way for all of us to keep in touch ☺
Live Love Laugh tours is not responsible for any loss, theft, damage, illness, medical costs, airline cancellations,delays, or "acts of God" that may occur on this trip.
THIS JUST IN ! SLIDE SHOW of LIVE LAUGH LOVE TOUR 2010
Live Laugh Love Tour- Thailand/Bali 2010 (www.livelaughlovetours.blogspot.com) from Melina Lillios on Vimeo.
