Beautiful paradise in the Balinese hills (Ubud)

Member Name: pickle_09

Product:	Ubud
Date:	02/02/09 (9 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, plenty to do, very picturesque

Disadvantages: Quite crowded especially in the markets, but definitely less touristy than other areas.

Ubud is a truly beautiful location in rural Bali. Ubud itself is quite a large town for such a rural area with plenty to see and do. It is much cheaper in Ubud to go and see the traditional dancing and shows than it is in the urban areas, and they are definitely worth a visit. You should probably book transport to Ubud in advance when booking your flight if it is your first trip to Bali as the large number of locals offering transport can be a bit disconcerting especially if you are looking for some form of transport that looks official. There is really no need, this is the main form of transport in Bali, the equivalent of minicabs in London. These are also the best local guides and cost a fraction of the price of the official hotel tours.
Ubud is full of beautiful terraced rice paddies, art galleries and wood and stone carving workshops and is definitely worth a visit if you are interested in the more traditional Balinese way of life than the surf hot spots like Sanur.
The monkey temple is also definitely worth a visit, but I wouldn't advise buying the food on sale here if you don't want to get up close and personal with the monkeys!

Summary: Definitely to be recommended.