The great news for Territorians is that from July there’ll be a greater number of flights from Darwin to Denpasar.

Budget carrier Air Asia is to resume flights to Bali ex-Darwin after suddenly dropping the service in March last year.   

At the time the airline blamed the popularity of Phuket and the Philippines with Territorians for the service’s demise.

Now the airline has had a change of heart, possibly recognising that Bali, because of its shorter flying time, is always going to be a popular destination.  

Fortunately, they have decided to re-instate four services per week which will compete with the current Jetstar services.  

“AirAsia Indonesia is back in town and we’re bigger and better than ever,” AirAsia Indonesia CEO, Captain Dharmadi said. 

“Darwin Airport and the Northern Territory Government have worked hard to get us back and we’re excited to again provide Territorians with more choice and competition when it comes to their favourite holiday destination.”

Now that it is easier to get to Bali prospective travellers have to decide where to stay and what to do there.

Many people who have visited Bali often will have their favourite places.  

For those who have not yet visited the `Island of the Gods’ here are some of the areas in which to stay: all neatly packaged by location along the south coast of Bali which is most popular with visitors. 

Located about 15 minutes east of the airport is Nusa Dua. 

This is where you find the large upmarket resorts, and it is pretty much a closed community in that few Balinese, other than hotel workers, get to mingle there.  Security and beaches are quite good, the hotels tend to be quite pricey, but most have good rooms and lovely grounds with pools and tropical gardens.  

For those who wish to relax without an authentic Bali experience, Nusa Dua fits the bill.

Closer to the airport is Jimbaran, which is famous for the number of seafood restaurants that arc along the main beach and fill up around about sunset.  

There is a mixture of small, exclusive resorts and large, exclusive resorts here, the type where each villa has its own private plunge pool – it’s good for honeymooners and the affluent.

Cross the airport and the closest village is Tuban.  

All of the names of these places are based on the names of the villages which used to occupy these areas before they were developed.

Tuban is really a quieter part of Kuta.  They have good family style hotels here, access to a good beach and local restaurants. 

It is not as frenetic or busy as Kuta, but is readily accessible to Bali’s Hot spot.

Next in line is Kuta, and this is where most of the entertainment, pubs, restaurants, shopping, hotels, pimps, Bintang singlets and boisterousness occurs.  

Kuta is busy at all times of the day except for the mornings, when revellers are sleeping their excesses off.   

Kuta you either love or you hate, but you do have to experience it at least once.

Kuta sort of segues into Legian, where there are more shops and bars, but where the hotels are slightly more upmarket or more family oriented.  

Legian used to be considered to be less robust than Kuta, but these days it is almost as busy but lacks some of the tackiness of Kuta.

The commercialisation of Bali has continued along to Seminyak.  

You know that you are there because at the corner of the street known colloquially as Doublesix is where the main street of Jalan Legian morphs into Jalan Seminyak.  

Same street, slightly less busy, and Seminyak attracts those who are looking for a quieter Bali.  

It has some good contemporary hotels and private villas, which are becoming all the trend.  

Seminyak boasts some of Bali’s best and most expensive restaurants and bars. 

The newer areas of Canggu and Kerobokan are being populated with private villas where you can lock yourself away so that you don’t need to interact with anyone else.

Really, the strip from Canggu along to Nusa Dua is now just one large tourist area.  

If you want to escape this type of Bali head over to Sanur which is quieter and has a  better beach.  

Or, move further up the coast to Candi Dasa which is still pretty much unspoilt.  

For a more traditional stay head into the hills near Ubud, or go all the way to the north coast to Lovina where you will be able to enjoy the type of traditional Bali which first enticed people to the island in the first place.

> Read more of Steve Collins’ travel stories online at www.grumpysgetawayguide.com.au