Peninsula Beach Resort

Stayed at PBR in April of 2009 through Redweek exchange. Love, love, love it.

PBR is situated among the highend beachfront resorts on the peninisula strip of Dusa Dua which is in the southern tip of Bali. The location is convenient. Many excellent restaurants are right across the street with prices ranging from $5-$15. We never turned on the stove! Circle K is also within walking distance. Dusa Dua is about 20 minutes of taxi ride to Kuta, where all the shops and "party" goers hang out. We went to Kuta once and that was enough.

The pictures posted on Redweek do not do any justice to this beautiful resort. The tropical garden is well-manicured. The beach is alright, have seen better sands, but the view is spetacular. You can see the sun rise in the morning and the moon at night. So breathtaking! The restaurant on site also serves delicious grills. Buffet breakfast is about $35/person for the whole week. It's considered quite high in Bali. But we can't get breakfast elsewhere so....

The ladies at the front desk are friendly and sweet. Love their beautiful smiles. They even helped us to find a private tour guide. That's the best way to travel in Bali: hire a driver/tour guide for the day. It costs around $35-40, and he is all yours for the day. Wouldn't want to drive there...not just because they are driving on the "wrong" side of the road; the narrow streets are crowded with cars, mopeds, and people, and there are no street names!

Resort charges $30-50 U.S dollars for "electricity and water" bills depending on the unit size. We didn't mind paying $30 for our studio since we got cleaning service every day, took 4-5 showers a day/person :0) and left the AC on 24/7.

I gave PBR four stars only because I had stayed at Four Seasons Resort before. To get a five, the resort will have to be as luxury as Four Seasons. PBR's room is too plain. It's good size and well equipped (not that we need anything else except for a bed there 0), but the decor could use some nice touch-ups and the furnitures could be updated.

We will go back and stay there any time. In fact, this is one of those few places that we visited and still "think" about it for a long while after we returned home (And we are season travelers). As I am writing this review, I wish I was there now...0)

Some helpful tips:

1. Bring new, crispy dollar bills. No one accepts old and tattered ones. And the larger the dollar bills, the higher the exchange rate. 0)

2. Don't use credit cards if possible. There is extra service fee for each transaction. Travel checks are good, but not all vendors accept them.

3. Don't book any tours in advance. It's a lot cheaper to book it there.

4. Take a taxi from the airport to the resort. It is about 20 minutes and costs only about $12.00. Bargain and agree upon the deal before you get in the cab.

5. Almost forget to mention this: Do try the Swiss massage at Joy's salon right across the street. It only costs $6.00 an hour and the place is nice and clean with private rooms and AC.

Bali is safe, and the people are genuine and friendly. I am sure you will enjoy vacationing there.

This is an incredible resort--been there 3 times and hope to go back more! The rooms are very good size--even the studio. Large swimming pool, great on- site restaurant and location is convenience on Nusa Dua Beach--close to airport, Denpasar, Sunar, Kuta, Jimbarin Beach restaurants. Loads of restaurants within walking distance including a cooking school/restaurant next door. Car and drivers to wherever you want to go--best to use car and driver--would not want to drive there. For a fantastic experience, great restaurants and sites--Bali is the place to go. Returned to this resort July 2007--even better than before--new restaurant, walking trails along beach, massages at the resort--only $l0.00 for an hour!!!! Same great resort.