OCTOBER 9, 2000 VOL. 156 NO. 14

Bedding

TRAVEL WATCH Driving Yourself Around the Bend in Bali The island's famous terraced rice paddies, solitary temples and active volcanoes offer a brilliant backdrop for a simple road trip Detour For those looking to delve deeper into Balinese spirituality, many resorts offer classes in yoga or meditation Short Cuts As an Indonesian province, Bali often suffers a drop in tourist traffic Web Crawling Look no further for an online starting point for your Bali journey Bedding Some of the island's top locales Travel Watch Archive: Browse hundreds of Asian travel tips

For many visitors, a trip to Bali is about checking into a heavenly resort and letting the outside world go to, um, the other place. And there's nothing wrong with that, is there? Here are some of the island's top locales:

• Amanresorts runs three Bali properties: Amandari, Amankila and Amanusa. To sample each of the hotels—near Ubud, Padang Bai and Nusa Dua, respectively—sign up for the Aman Bali package. You'll pay $3,700 for seven nights in princely settings. Tel: (62-361) 771-267.

• Four Seasons offers two very different Bali experiences. The luxury chain's Sayan property, near Ubud, has the feel of a small boutique and pitches itself as a place for couples looking for isolation and pampering. Four Seasons' Jimbaran Bay hotel is larger and more family-friendly. For $2,375, the Ocean and River package lets you check into both resorts for a total of five nights. Tel: 701-010.

• The Grand Hyatt Bali is spacious, with 750 rooms ranging from $130-a-night singles to $650 suites with private pools. The setting is inspired by Balinese water palaces, and despite the resort's enormous size, it manages to pull off a reasonably intimate ambience. Tel: 771-234.

• The Begawan Giri sits in the hills around Ubud. This two-year-old resort gives new meaning to the concept of luxury. Divided into five separate residences that contain a total of 22 suites, the place is fit for an emperor. It's the sort of resort where, if you have to ask the price, you probably can't afford it. The cheapest suites are $475 a night, and you can rent an entire residence (with beds for 12 on average) for $3,050. After all, what emperor doesn't travel with an entourage? Tel: 978-888.

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