Citadines Kuta Beach Bali is a great choice for your beach stay in Kuta. The outdoor pool provides fun for everyone, while guests in the mood for pampering can indulge in spa services. Dining choices include 2 restaurants and the 2 bars/lounges are great places to grab a cold drink. There's a rooftop terrace and a poolside bar, and apartments at this luxurious property offer 24-hour room service and LED TVs. With a long broad Indian Ocean beach-front, Kuta was originally discovered by tourists as a surfing paradise. It has long been a popular stop on the classic backpacking route in South East Asia. Back in the 1980s they used to talk about the three Ks: Katmandu in Nepal, Khao San Road in Bangkok and Kuta. Today Kuta still attracts some hardcore backpackers as well as families and tourists from all over the world, and is most notably a playground for young visitors from Australia.
Due to the ever increasing popularity of Bali, Kuta is continually developing, and is not short of unsightly, poorly planned buildings. It can come across at times to be chaotic, overcrowded and congested. However, amongst all the mayhem this place somehow works, and hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy their time in Kuta every year. Infrastructure has come a long way in Kuta, although it is still insufficient for the amount of visitors who stay in the area. Some side alleys still have significant potholes and road rules still don't mean very much. Most roads are constantly busy with motor scooters, metered taxis and private cars. Instead of using signals, locals and the seasoned travellers honk their motor vehicles to signal overtaking or squeezing into a tight spot near you. Often cars fold in their side mirrors when negotiating narrow single lanes with parked vehicles. Now you can access free Wi-Fi in local convenience stores, restaurants, cafes and hotels. There are half a dozen prepaid mobile phone SIM cards available everywhere with competitive top up plans. Touts will persistently try to get you to buy something from them, whether you're walking on the streets or seated in a restaurant. The five km long sandy stretch of Kuta is arguably the best beach front in Bali.
The beach is safe, partially clean, well-maintained, although the beach vendors remain annoying pushing massages, hair braiding, cigarettes and surf boards. The long wide stretch of sand is often full of sunbathers and although most of the serious surfers have moved on to newer pastures, there are still plenty of surf dudes around at most times of the year, and especially so during peak season. As you move north along the beach to first Legian and then Seminyak and Petitenget it becomes progressively quieter and less frenetic. The area of south Kuta closest to the airport is more correctly known as Tuban, but this name is rarely used. Once the sun goes down, Kuta is the rough and ready party zone of Bali, even after the tragic events of 2002. Even the most hardened of party animal will find something to please them on Jalan Legian at night. Surfing Kuta is a well known destination amongst surfing enthusiasts. A long sandy beach with a lack of dangerous rocks or coral, makes the area attractive for beginners. Bali learn to surf is Bali's first professional surf school and they have an office at the Hard Rock Hotel, as well as a beach presence. Offers equipment in good condition and premises for a surfing introduction in calm water at the swimming-pool of the Hard Rock Hotel. An introductory lesson costs US$45, lasts 2.5 hours and students are offered hotel transfers and fresh
water. A 3-day course costs US$120, and five day courses include a "surfari" to other surfing spots for US$200.Some of the surf dudes in the shops also offer private lessons. They are considerably cheaper than the surf schools but just as good. Many of the dudes have been working for the schools or do it on the side. You cant find them on the web so you should look around. One good one is the "Sion Surf Shop" on Poppies I, around 400 m from the beach.There are several surf shops on Poppies II which all seem to be much of a muchness. Friendly local surfer dudes will happily chat wth you about the waves, offer to fix a ding, rent you a board and sell you just about anything surf-related.
Be careful when you rent on a beach, some boards are in such a poor condition that you are very lucky if you don't break it. And that is what some guys who operate the rental business are looking for. If you break it, then they may demand that you pay for it. So choose only the boards that appear to be in good condition, otherwise you may get ripped off. It is also possible to rent equipment from locals on the beach for between Rp 20,000-80,000 per half day, however prices asked are often closer to Rp 40,000-100,000 for one hour. If you rent from the same guys for a few consecutive days you will almost certainly get a better price. The equipment quality is lower than of the formal outlets. The surfers on the beach can also give you some basic lessons, and look after your stuff while you are in the water. If this is your first experience of surfing it is safer to use a surf school or private lessons before heading out on your own.
If you want to rent for a few days, rather use rentasurfboard.com, . Their price is Rp 100,000/day, the boards are usually in very good condition and the local guy who handles the business is really a good guy.
Bali Wave Hunter, +62 811 389507 (rocky@baliwavehunter.com), . Surfing charters and tours from Bali to Nusa Lembongan, Lombok & Sumbawa with a professional photographer. Visiting world class reef breaks, like Desert Point, Scar Reef, YoYo's and Super Sucks. Uses an 80 ft Indonesian jukung outrigger with 6 cylinder diesel engine, full size beds, shower and toilet, tv, video/DVD player and stereo , PlayStation 2 and wake boarding facilities. 240v power with international plugs, fully equipped kitchen with fridge/freezer, safety equipment, first aid kit, VHF/UHF radio. Smaller boat also available.Location
Offering direct access to the beach, this Kuta aparthotel is in the entertainment district and within a 15-minute walk of Padang Padang Beach and Kuta Beach. Carrefour Plaza Kuta and Legian Beach are also within 2 mi (3 km).
Property FeaturesAt Citadines Kuta Beach Bali, spend the day playing on the nearby beach then return to dine at one of the aparthotel's 2 restaurants.Room AmenitiesAll 194 apartments offer free WiFi, 24-hour room service, and LED TVs with cable channels. Minibars, coffee makers, and free bottled water are among the other amenities available to guests.
