The resort area of Kuta is probably the best-known resort area in all of Bali. A true surfer's paradise, Kuta has a long and broad beach along the Indian Ocean. Playground of Europe and Australia, Kuta has more to offer than the more laid-back resort towns of Nusa Dua and Jimbaran. If you're seeking fabulous luxury resorts, go to Jimbaran. If you are looking for the best golfing spot in Bali, go to Nusa Dua. But if it's nightlife and a good time that you're looking for, you'll find it in Kuta.
Nightlife in Kuta
The Jalan Legian area is the main party section of Kuta. The biggest venue in this best party section include:
- Mbargo: A bar on two floors where models will serve your drinks, Mbargo serves the younger crowd and hosts regular fashion shows.
- Vi Ai Pi: A lounge-style bar, plus a restaurant. The upper level is open and pleasantly breezy.
- The Engine Room: More high-end than a lot of the bars and clubs in Jalan Legian. Smaller, with a lounge-style bar, The Engine Room also includes a dance club.
- The Bounty: Themed to look like a torn ship, different areas are set up inside the bar, including areas for dancing and billiards.
Besides the bars in Jalan Legian, Kuta has bars along the waterfront; these bars tend to be more sophisticated and serve a slightly older crowd. Both the bar districts along the waterfront and the Jalan Legian area include several sports bar, which show primarily Australian and American sports.
Surfing
At Kuta you can party at night, then surf and lounge on the beach during the day.
The surfing here is excellent for beginners, because the long, sandy beach is free from coral and rocks, which can be dangerous hazards for surfers. Novice surfers can easily find an accredited surf school in the area and pay only about £55 for a three-day surfing course. At Bali Learn to Surf, the first professional surf school in Bali, lessons begin in the swimming pool of the Hard Rock Hotel and gradually graduate into the Indian Ocean.
If you don't want to lug your surfboard with you when you travel, you'll find plenty of boards and other equipment you can rent from locals for a reasonable price. Sometimes the locals will also throw in a surfing lesson or two.
Other Activities in Kuta
If surfing and partying aren't your thing, don't worry – there are still plenty of other things to occupy your time in Kuta. For instance, take a day to pamper yourself at one of the dozens of spas. Competition for tourist money is fierce, so a little research might yield some excellent price savings.
In more recent years, yoga has become a popular pastime for holidaymakers throughout Bali and southeast Asia. In Kuta, yoga courses are always available, including lessons right inside your hotel.
For shoppers, Kuta Square, located at the north end of Jalan Kartika Plaza, is a fun place to visit. Filled with small shops and a Matahari department store, Kuta Square and the surrounding area will let you shop til you drop. Western clothing lines, including Rusty, Billabong, Quiksilver, Levi's, and Polo can all be found in Kuta, and the exchange rate means that they're typically better than 30% less than what you would pay back home.
Kuta is also home to three different shopping malls. Some of these have familiar retail outlets, such as Guess and Apple, while the Bali Mall Galleria caters mostly to Japanese, Taiwanese, and Korean tourists.
One word of caution: don't buy something from the roving hawkers along the beach. When you do, you will instantly become a magnet for all the other hawkers.
Kuta one of Bali's most fun, lively, and exciting holiday destinations. For the young and the young at heart, Kuta should be on the top of the list for places in Bali to visit.