Kuta (Indonesia)

Kuta is where you will no doubt first arrive and I advise you to not spend too long there during your stay in Indonesia.  

This city has no charm, it is noisy, polluted, and full of mostly Australian tourists who are spending time partying in the cool night clubs and drinking beer on the beach in the daytime.

I stayed there a day and that was more than enough. I was keen to go to the beach because Kuta is a mythical surfing spot, so I rented a surfboard for two hours and tried to imitate the pros. I had fun, if not also feeling a little afraid, as the waves can turn out to be very dangerous. Also pay attention to pickpockets on the beach!

In the city centre, I found a development of restaurants, cafes and hotels serving western dishes to tourists. The street vendors sell souvenirs at extravagant prices.

So I quickly went back on the road to discover other, much nicer, places. 

A town unpopular with travellers, Kuta is and will remain for me a place for surfers and travellers (Australian for the most part) in search of binge drinking parties. Boutiques, massage parlours, bars, hotels and restaurants line the streets. Here, nothing is Balinese. Everything is tourist-oriented. Prices are exorbitant for mediocre quality. Nevertheless, if you look hard enough, you always find a cheaply priced warung or guesthouse offering good services.

In spite of all this, the town is ideal for learning to surf and for partying while travelling in Bali . Near the airport, Kuta is a practical stop when you have an early morning flight to catch. A day or two days are enough to appreciate the little that the town has to offer and not suffocate in this tourist mass.

A town unpopular with travellers, Kuta is and will remain for me a place for surfers and travellers (Australian for the most part) in search of binge drinking parties. Boutiques, massage parlours, bars, hotels and restaurants line the streets. Here, nothing is Balinese. Everything is tourist-oriented. Prices are exorbitant for mediocre quality. Nevertheless, if you look hard enough, you always find a cheaply priced warung or guesthouse offering good services.

In spite of all this, the town is ideal for learning to surf and for partying while travelling in Bali . Near the airport, Kuta is a practical stop when you have an early morning flight to catch. A day or two days are enough to appreciate the little that the town has to offer and not suffocate in this tourist mass.