So, here's a quickie for Bali, Japan, and Korea....
KOREAN ISLAND GET-A-WAY
Best kept secrets are better kept when not told but when have I ever been able to keep my mouth shut about tasty morsels?
A Korean get away for ex-pats and ESL teachers... not too far from Seoul but far enough away that it could feel like vacation. For starters this location is on a remote island with a great stretch of beach, mountains and temples to climb up, a few restaurants, and tons of cheap accommodations. You kind of have to be in the know to know about Deokjeokdo but lucky you, the info was passed on and experienced by yours truly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deokjeokdo
How to get there? You can book online if you read Korean or if you google "Deokjeokdo" but it proved to be really difficult. You have to coordinate ferry departures from Incheon and a pick-up by the hotel once you reach the island. The ferry costs about 36,000 each way (not positive on that) and the times are 7:45am (arriving on the island at 9am), 9:30am, 12pm and the last one is 3pm(arriving at 4:20).
I'd recommend staying at KyeongLim Beach Hotel 032-831-2313.
Most rooms can fit a couple of people, we squeezed 4-6 and on a packed holiday wknd paid 100,000 for the room.
You can call them directly and Mr. Baik will pick you up at the ferry station (provided you tell him what time you'll arrive). It's a 15/20 minute ride from the docks to the hotel.
You can wire the deposit for your room directly to their bank from an ATM. Awesome, yes I know!
JAPAN
Now, Tokyo is amazing, yes, yes and yes but so was Kyoto. You must see both!
Tokyo, cab fare is expensive but you just have to suck it up. Stay near Shinjuku or Harajuku is what I'd recommend. The subway is a tad confusing but find yourself a native and make friends. ;-)
In Tokyo, I stayed in a very nice, moderately posh but well-priced hotel with clean, bright rooms and a glorious lobby. Internet service was downstairs and airport shuttles were awesome.
Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku
81 (3) 33753211
2-3-1 Yoyogi
Tokyo 151-0053
Japan
Kyoto, so quaint and beautiful. Delicate as a geisha and just as romantic and mysterious. I loved Kyoto so much I considered going to back to live. Temples are everywhere, great food, long dimly lit walkways over water, nods of elegance and history at every step. Decided to go for a more authentic experience and stayed at a Ryokan just off the main path of Gion across from a temple. The bus system was spectacular and got you everywhere with a lot of guidance and ease (grab a bus map at the main train station). Now, we didn't know how to go about booking a place to stay so we just showed up and went to the tourist's office on the 9th floor of the main train station. There you take a number and wait while looking through accommodation books. They book for you so you don't get lost in translation and then you head out to your destination via bus or taxi (the trains are used to get out of town, not around town really).
It's a little dingey and run-down but do-able and enjoyable.
Gion Fukuzumi tel (075) 541-5181.
It's in all the lonely planet books and websites, as it has been around for a bit and is totally well-priced and has a great location. The bathroom has a bath but it reminds me of a 1 star hotel in a coastal Italian town or a nice Korean love motel. There are rice/wood panel doors to a tea/balcony area for each room and you get tea service. THe mats are very comfortable and you can't beat the price for the location. Big thumbs up!
BALI
Ahhhh my love! As it is still fresh on my mind and on my skin, I must tell you that I hesitate to share the greatness. I would hate to not be able to stay at these places due to them being booked months in advance but I won't pretend to have that much power.
Villa Irene... $23 equivalent per person per night and totally worth it. Meals (lavish ones with oodles of desserts and beverages) are about 150,000 ($15).
http://www.realadventures.com/listings/1106079_Villa-Irene
So, I'm not the party party gal who wants to be out all night on vacation. I like to be tucked away at my own discretion and decide whether or not to be social with anything other than the sun and some fish.
Beach bound but not beerpong bound-
Jasri is awesome, it's near Candidasa and Tirtagangga. We stayed at homestay that was more like a villa with a made-to-order restaurant. The staff was helpful and friendly. THe food was delicious and served all day long. The accommodations were classic and beautiful. The only draw back was that I expected long walks on the beach but it's a black rock and pebble front and not the kind you can sunbathe on. There's a pool and also a five minute drive's away white sand beach, so no worries there! Beware of all the "friends" you'll meet who want to be your personal chauffeur, it's best to stick with recommendations or by your homestay's driver.
Best for last...
Ubud
Dewangga
(0361) 973-302
email: dewanggaubud@yahoo.com
http://www.dewangga-ubud.com
Ubud and the palatial grounds of Dewangga Bungalow. My mouth waters and my heart pounds at the sight of the word, "Dewangga." Surely, the most decadent accommodations ever... stayed in their best room for $40 per night and felt like a goddess dwelling within a Hindi shrine.
The complimentary continental breakfast and poor water pressure/heat were the only downfalls of this gorgeous, tucked away off the main road palace. Ponds, jungle, an art gallery, a golden retriever puppy named Oscar, an organic juice cafe next door and a top-rated restaurant across the street. This place was the stuff dreams are made of in comparison to the dumpy, jail house motif homestays down the road. Five minutes walk to the main market and 15 minute walk to the Monkey Jungle. If I stay in Ubud, which I will hopefully a thousand times over, I will only stay at Dewangga.
Ubud is the best time spent in Bali for bargain market shopping, dress shopping,anything shoppin, food, and being close to things you really want to see like the Volcano, the temples and of course, the monkey forest. Only an hour drive to the airport and so many fabulous massages to be had prior to departure. Yum yum!
Sedona Spa just outside Ubud...
Open daily 10am-9pm. Phone (0361) 975770
Go get a Tumeric scrub and massage followed by a flower bath at Sedona Spa for 140,000 ($13). The driving service (as it's a tad out of town by say, mmm, 5 minutes) to the spa is included but return is about 20,000 Indonesian Rupiah = $2.00. Sedona Spa is so so so awesome and accommodating. Make same day appointments or call in advance. Kelp scalp massages are included with the shampoo and blow dry. The manicures/pedicures are great but the polish is weak and they are really into applying it like a six year old with crayons and then erasing the mistakes with polish remover. You could be washed, rubbed, scrubbed and bathed for hours upon hours and for no more than $60. Making the decision to be pampered prior to my flight was what made my trip. A facial (70,000), mani/pedi (60,000 each), wash/massage/blow-dry (70,000)- ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? This all rounded out to be roughly $17!
Sedona Spa
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