Bali is back! by Travel Nation's Martin Lake

In the period following the bomb blasts in 2002 and 2005, tourism in Bali was at an all time low and the locals were struggling to make ends meet. On my last visit in 2003, restaurants were giving discounts of up to seventy per cent just to get you through the door. Now, Bali is thriving once again - and it's still excellent value.

Kuta is probably the best known part of Bali and whilst it can be fun in small doses, be warned it is not everyone’s cup of tea ! It is plagued with heavy traffic, tacky bars. incessant hassle from street vendors and Australian suburbia on the loose. I would also suggest that Nusa Dua is relatively uninteresting as it seems to be dominated characterless resorts.

Instead, head for charming Sanur in the east. I stayed at the Puri Santrian Resort at the south end of the beach. It's a genuinely Balinese resort, with a fantastic spa help ease away your aches and pains. There are three pools, a swim-up bar and large comfy sofas to lounge around on next to the beach. Sanur itself stretches the length of the beach. It's full of little shops, bars and restaurants so there's no need to feel confined to only eating in your resort. It's cheaper too, a three course meal for two including a couple of beers and some cocktails will set you back about £12.

A visit to Ubud in the centre of the island is a must. This little town, set in the forested hills and ringed by Hindu temples, is one of the best places to shop in Indonesia. The central market is a hub of noise and colour with everything for sale from smiling Buddha’s to bizarre fruits to . Barter hard though! For a real bargain, head to Monkey Forest Road. It's full of workshops and stalls selling intricate woodcarvings, batik prints and brilliantly painted carved masks, something's bound to catch your eye. Whilst you're in Ubud, take a trip to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. Be warned though, don't take any food with you, as the monkeys will find it!

An afternoon and evening in Jimbaran Bay on the west coast is not to be missed either. This fantastic stretch of beach is a working fishing village. Watch the brightly coloured wooden boats head out to sea whilst you kick back sipping your Mai Tai. Fresh lobster, king prawns or red snapper will be on the menu for your evening meal, served up as you sit on the beach watching the sunset over the bay.

If you are looking for deserted beaches, Pasir Putih (near Candidasa in the east ) is gorgeous and untouched. Nearby is un-crowded Jemeluk which has dark, grey (volcanic) sand and great snorkelling.

In the south, you could check out the magnificent cliff-top temple of Pura Luhur Uluwatu with its natural amphitheatre to see the spell-binding Kecak dance, performed each sunset by dozens (sometimes hundreds) of bare-chested men above the crashing ocean.

Bali's most sacred temple is Pura Luhur Batukau, a spiritual site since the 11th century. It enjoys a gorgeous location on the lower slopes of Batukau mountain, where it is surrounded by misty forests. It also has beautiful garden courtyards and a seven-tiered pagoda.

If you are the active type, make for the village of Toya Bungkah where you can hike up the mini-cone of the still smouldering Batur Volcano. Chances are an enterprising local will pop out of nowhere to sell you an egg that you can cook in a steam vent.

Bali is also a surfer’s paradise. The most popular surf beaches are Kuta, Legian and on the Bukit Peninsula

Not bad for an island that is only 80 miles across at its widest point ! Bali is easy to include on any round the world routing, or even if you just looking for a stopover point en route to Australia or New Zealand. The best time to visit is between May and October when it's virtually rain free with unbroken sunshine. So when you're drawing up a list of possible stops on your trip of a lifetime, you won't be disappointed with Bali.

Feel free to get in touch with me directly if you are planning a stay in Bali.

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