Risata Bali Resort and Spa

The beaches along the southern side of Bali, provide great spots to watch sunrises and sunsets. Surfing and scuba diving are great on Balai too. Stroll the endless sand beaches and experience great serenity.

For those wanting a bit of cultural exploration, check out the temples, often perched high in the mountains. The mountain jungles are cooler than the beaches, so will also provide a wonderful change of climate for you.

The Bali government, recognizing that the marine life of Bali is a national treasure, has declared various marine protected areas to preserve coral reefs and mangroves, as well as turtles.

Feed Indonesian elephants at the Bali Elephan Safari Park, created preserve some of these wonderful beasts. And to preserve Indonesian birnds, the Bali Bird Park has been established. There you'll find over 1,000 varieties of birds; breeding endangered species is part of the program. There is also a butterfly, reptile, and monkey park.

The Bali Barat National Park conserves opon savanahs, rainforests, mangrove swamps, and coral reefs. It also serves as a refuge for wild animals and birds.

If an uphill trek is your style, be sure to check out the Blahmantung Waterfall. It's near Rupuan in western Bali, and drops 100 meters; it's especially dramatic during the rainy season.

"We LOVE Bali Mumma!" and "I want Bali"... this is what your kids will be saying, as ours did...

Over the last few years we have stayed a total of about 8 weeks at the Risata Bali, with a couple of (very) brief stints at other Balinese resorts... One resort we booked and paid for the week and then left after 48 hours as it was NOT up to speed and NOT like the brochure/website. The Risata Bali is our Favourite place to stay in Bali, after several trips, short stays and long stays there, we still love it and still look forward to going back again.

We have found the staff to be polite and respectful at all times, with gardeners, pool attendants, bar staff and reception staff who ALWAYS greet the guests; often by name.

Facilities are spartan in the cheaper rooms, and include TV, air-con, a bath and lots of cool tiles for the hot climate. Suite rooms have a kitchenette and may accomodate up to five people.

We have stayed a week in the cheapest room and for up to three weeks in a mid-priced room with our three kids. We looked at the Superior Apartment-type rooms (they can sleep ten or so and are like a small house) but decided it was superfluous, unless you invited four families to stay with you!

The Risata has cable internet and wi-fi (internet hotspots), in addition to all the normal things found in luxury hotels, such as large two-person baths, laundry service, room service and a pool cabana boy who will bring you a large cold beer or a BBQ chicken pizza if you raise one eyebrow...

Yes, they recycle, replant, reuse and grow much of their own produce; they are green and they are also HAPPY and love to serve.

The thing that sets Risata apart from all other Green Hotels and all other Hotels we have stayed in around the world (did I mention that Jane was a Travel Agent who has done dozens of trips to every continent) is that the Risata staff are honest, happy and give great service. You even feel that they are honestly happy to give great service.

I guess the ultimate test of a Green Hotel is "do they recycle their guests?" We are happy to stay there again and again, and we often meet others over the pool-bar who are up to their fourth or more visit to the Risata.

Up until 12 months ago, we had a five-page tribute to our family Risata adventures on our website (www.invest.org.au). The pics are not there now but we are happy to send you all the pics of our family at play, candid shots that are not from the brochure and are therefore more "real".

Tell Slamat the barman that Jane and Jeremy from Australia say "Hi" and you may even score a free "Arak".

Jane & Jeremy Britton, various times in 2003, 2005 and 2006