VACATION DETAILS

Sanur occupies a happy medium between other Bali beach towns—it's not as frantic as Kuta, and it's not as expensive (or insulated) as Nusa Dua. The white-sand beach, which is lined with outrigger canoes, fronts spacious hotel compounds.

The offshore reef makes the water calm for snorkeling, although the reef itself isn't all that spectacular. Rental shops lease sailboards, surfboards and paddleboards. There are a number of good shops and restaurants along Jalan Danau Tamblingan and Jalan Poso.

As with most places in Bali, day trips can be organized to visit nearby temples and craft villages. It is located 4 mi/6 km east of Denpasar.

Hidden among the rice paddies, foothills, and steep ravines is Ubud, the cultural center of Bali renowned for its arts, dance and music. The town was an important source for medicinal herbs and plants wherein Balinese the word 'ubad' means medicine. It was a Javanese priest in the 8th century who discovered Ubud while meditating between two crossing rivers. Here, he discovered the Gunung Lebah Temple on the valley floor which today, remains a pilgrim destination. Tranquil, visitors can find serenity in nature and  inspiration in its ancient temples and palaces. Make friends at the Ubud Monkey Forest, but hold on to your belongings. Meditate at Anand Ashram or hike through the rice paddies.