SANUR
Area: Bali
Country: Indonesia


Location:
On the SE coast of the island, 4 miles SE of central Denpasar. 9 miles NE of the airport.

Telephone code from UK:
62 361

Position:
The resort area is clustered along the beach, and stretches back into the village, with lots of lower budget hotels within walking distance of the beach that have their own swimming pools.

Description:
Sanur is not nearly as frenetic as Kuta nor as well-organised as Nusa Dua. The resort stretches along miles of golden sand and is dotted with souvenir shops and restaurants built to service hotels, which are in easy walking distance of one another. It is possible to stroll along the road or the long beach to other properties for a change of scenery. The entire resort is level and quite suitable for anyone with mobility problems. The village is a stronghold of religion and ceremony, one of the most active spiritual communities on the island, known for its grand processions and extravagant temple festivals.

Suitability:
Those who enjoy all the comforts, slower pace of life and a fairly sophisticated atmosphere; couples, families.

Accommodation:
Except for the hotel Bali Beach, hotels are built lower than the palm trees in accordance with local government limitations and practically all of them are surrounded by landscaped gardens leading down to the beach. Mainly 3- to 5-star properties, with budget accommodation available further away from the beach. For seasonal rates information see Jimbaran: Accommodation.

Shopping:
There is a wide selection of shops along the main road that follows the contours of the beach. Vendors tend to roam and gather at certain points, although the larger properties employ security guards to keep them off their beach fronts. There are several beach markets where rows of shops offer colourful batiks, woven sarongs, and souvenir T-shirts.

Beach:
Sandy and for the most part wide, with patches of concrete at some points (built to stop erosion) which can be off-putting for swimmers. An offshore coral reef running the length of the beach is of interest to snorkellers and protects the inner waters from currents, making Sanur ideal for wind-surfing, sailing or simply sunning and splashing about the calm lagoon. Low tide renders some spots very shallow, so it pays to watch the tides.

Entertainments:
Daytime: beach activities. Nightlife: fairly sedate although there are a number of nightclubs and discos in and around the hotels.

Eating:
Restaurants line the main road, with European and a variety of Asian cuisine, as well as a wide range of Indonesian: local Balinese, Sumatran (Padang) or West Java food.

Public-transport:
The main road is serviced by local "bemo" vans that stop and start anywhere along a set route. Metered taxi's are a phone call away.

Local-excursions:
Hire an outrigger sailboat and sail down the coast to Turtle Island, take a trip to Benoa across to Nusa Penida on a fast pleasure cruiser for a day of water sports, or a sunset cruise. Morning tours of Denpasar, its museums and markets. Waterbom water-slide park in resort of Kuta, 9 miles.