Qatar Airways has started a major expansion of its online operations in South East Asia and has increased flights to Bali from four times a week to seven times a week via Singapore. It has also upgraded aircraft equipment deployed to the region.

Flights from Singapore, Bali and selected services from Kuala Lumpur have been upgraded with aircraft from the airline’s growing Boeing 777 fleet. Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777s feature 42 horizontal flat-bed seats in Business Class and up to 293 seats in Economy Class.

The airline’s flights from Jakarta to Doha have been de-linked from Singapore and the airline now operates a dedicated non-stop service between the Indonesian and Qatari capital cities.

Qatar Airways’ South East Asian expansion comes following Qatar Airways’ announcement that it will add five new routes to its network in the first half of 2010 in what is shaping up to being one of the airline’s busiest years yet.

Speaking at the Singapore Air Show, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways strategy is to expand its international network to key global destinations, served through our operational hub in Doha, while enhancing our existing services with more frequency and more capacity.

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From the USA, you can connect with Qatar Airways international flights by flying with Qatar Airways code share partners US Airways and United Airlines.

Qatar Airways Website

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Bali must be one of the top destinations for weddings otherwise there won’t be so many weddings being arranged here every month  on the island !  You can get married in Bali whether you are Protestant, Catholic, Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim.  The lure is the experience you’ll get here that you won’t find anywhere else. Luxury villas and spas, beautiful sunsets, stunning backdrops for your wedding photos, and unique wedding options.

Unfortunately, Bali is a rather challenging place to arrange a wedding on your own when you are half way across the world. Hence, the services of a dedicated and super-thorough-and-fanatically-organized wedding planner are definitely required to co-ordinate your wedding to ensure that you arrive back in your home country legally married to each other!  Of course there are those who do not require a legal wedding and and this is possible as well in Bali where there are multiple possibilities for a memorable experience.

Basically there are 2 broads types of weddings you can have in Bali:
1. Religious Wedding
2. Civil Wedding (Legal Wedding)

Religious Wedding in Bali
A religious wedding is by far the most common type of wedding ceremony arranged in Bali.  If you are Protestant, Catholic, Buddhist or Hindu, you can get married in Bali with a religious ceremony. The requirements vary greatly and various documents may need to be sent to your wedding planner in Bali in advance.

This type of wedding ceremony is ideal for couples who want to marry without any legal committment, or for those who want a renewal of vows.

Religious weddings are also a pre-requisite for a legal committment. What that means is that if you want your marriage to be legally recognized, you will need to go through a religious wedding first in order to do so.  You will be given a religious certificate which is used for the legal ceremony, also known as the Civil Ceremony.

Civil Wedding in Bali
A Civil Wedding is what makes your marriage legal in Indonesia and around the world. There are 2 parts to this. A religious ceremony must be performed first which is then followed by a civil ceremony. The civil ceremony is conducted by Indonesian Government Registry Officials and in order for them to proceed, they require the Religious Certificate that would have been issued at the religious ceremony.

You do not need to conduct a religious wedding ceremony in Bali if you have already done so in some other part of the world. However, you will need to bring along a copy of the religious certificate you received. It is one of the important documents required to legalize your wedding.  However, it doesn’t make sense of course to come all this way just for a civil ceremony. Of course you may have other plans in mind and may be combining this with a honeymoon which is also nice !

Your Bali Wedding Co-ordinator
Trias Bali Travel can help you arrange your wedding in Bali. Being a travel agent, we can arrange your hotel or villa accommodation, any tours or romantic activities, personal driver, handle all documentation, fix appointments with your consulate, and co-ordinate all aspects of your wedding including locating a suitable makeup artist and hairstylist, photographer and video cameraman.

Services Offered

• Legal wedding documentation
• Religious Wedding Arrangements
• Provide all necessary information
• Co-ordinate all tours and transport
• Provide a personal wedding assistant
• Help you select a suitable hotel or villa for your stay / honeymoon

Different types of ceremonies you can have in Bali:

• Religious Wedding (chapel or other location)
• Civil Wedding Ceremony
• Elephant Safari Wedding
• Luxury Villa Wedding
• Balinese Blessing Ceremony

For more information, please send us an email. Let us know what you have in mind and we will take it step by step from there.  Thank you.

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Here are the Public holidays for Bali for 2010.

01 Jan, Friday - New Year’s Day
14 Feb, Sunday - Chinese New Year
26 Feb, Friday - Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad
16 Mar, Tuesday - Nyepi Day, Day of Silence
02 Apr, Friday - Good Friday
04 Apr, Sunday - Easter Sunday
12 May, Wednesday - Galungan Day
13 May, Thursday - Ascension Day
22 May, Saturday - Kuningan Day
28 May, Thursday - Waisak Day
10 Jul, Saturday - Isra Mi”raj Prophet Mohammad SAW - Celebrating the Ascension of The Prophet Muhammad
17 Aug, Tuesday - Indonesian Independance Day
09 Sep, Thursday - Shared Holiday by Government Decree
10 - 11 Sep, Friday & Saturday - Hari Raya Idul Fitri 1431 H
13 Sep, Monday - Shared Holiday by Government Decree
17 Nov, Wednesday - Idul Adha 1430H
07 Dec, Tuesday - Islamic New Year 1432 H
08 Dec, Wednesday - Galungan
18 Dec, Saturday - Kuningan
24 Dec, Friday - Shared Holiday by Government Decree
25 Dec, Saturday - Christmas Day

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Most hotels in South Bali have rooms that can accommodate 2 adults and 1 child free of charge if using existing bedding. But it you have a larger family, you’ll need a Family Room which may be a little harder to find. To make your job of finding the right hotel to stay at, here is a list of hotels in South Bali with family rooms and facilities for children.

Why South Bali? Well, there are many more shops and choices of restaurants, and it is where the beach is, which is presumably a place you would like to go to. However you can also stay in Ubud although you may have to settle for 2 rooms instead of 1 unless you have an infant with you. Note also that children 12 years and above (or 13 years and above in some hotels) are treated as an adult and will need to pay for an extra bed usually.  Infants (children under 2 years old)  stay free and have a cot.

Here is a list of family suites and 2 bedroom family rooms.

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Holiday Inn Baruna Bali, Kuta This 5 star beach front resort is very popular but family rooms are often full and need to be booked several weeks in advance.  The resort is new and has a Kids Club. It is about 10 minutes from the airport and close to shops, restaurants and Kuta Beach. The hotel opened in March 2009. Rooms : Grand Ocean Room, Kids Suite (bunk beds for kids), Family Suite (2 connecting rooms with 2 bathrooms) Maximum 5 persons (or 5 persons + 1 infant) in each room. eg. 3 adults + 2 children, or 2 adults and 3 children, or 3 adults, 2 children and 1 infant.

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Nikko Bali Hotel, Nusa Dua This 5 star beach front resort is located on the beautiful white sandy beaches of Nusa Dua about 25 minutes from bali airport. The family rooms are new (since July 2009) and come with toys and Playstation 2. There is also free entry for children into the Jungle Camp kids club. This hotel has a lovely ocean view and 4 interconnecting swimming pools and lagoons as well as a water slide.  Rooms here are not the cheapest but you can’t beat the facilities.  You can also opt for 2 standard class rooms. However the rooms are not connecting and rooms will be allocated upon check-in. So you may or may not get adjacent rooms but the reception will do their best to find the closest rooms. Rooms : Family Room (maximum 2A + 2C) , Family Suite (maximum 6 persons)

More information on Kids Club and Family Room package.

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Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites, Sanur Another popular hotel located in the beach resort area of Sanur, 25-30 minutes from Bali airport. This resort is purpose built for families.  It has 2 and  3 bedroom apartments with a kitchenette, living room and dining area.  The Kids Club here has a pool with water slide and it has a huge range of activities for all ages and is free for guests.  There is also a supervised beach which you can reach via the hotel’s shuttle service. Unlike Kuta Beach, the beach at Sanur is suitable for swimming and ideal for families with young children. Rooms : 2 bedroom apartment, 3 bedroom apartment

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La Taverna Hotel, Sanur This small hotel has traditional thatched roof buildings and is located on Sanur Beach.  Most of the rooms can accommodate 2 adults and 2 children. Rooms : Family Unit and all Suites.

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Westin Nusa Dua Hotel A 5 star luxury resort on the white sandy beaches of Nusa Dua about 20 minutes from Bali airport. The hotel is in the Nusa Dua Resort Complex where the gardens are well manicured, beaches are perfect and everything is 5 star. There is a Kids Club with 12 m water slide here. The  family room here has a balcony and is 947 square feet in size. It is equipped with Playstation 2, board games and toys for children. Rooms : Family Studio with 1 x King Bed, and 3 single beds in a 2nd room. There are 2 bathrooms.

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Melia Bali Resort, Nusa Dua A 4 star beach resort in Nusa Dua with reasonably priced rooms. The hotel has a large pool, Kids Club and playground. Rooms : Family Room has twin beds and a King bed in the loft. The maximum persons is 2A + 3C

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Jayakarta Bali Beach Resort, Kuta Located on Legian Beach about 25 minutes from Bali airport. It has a childrens’ pool and playground. Rooms : 2 bedroom apartment.

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Santika Premiere Beach Resort, Kuta A beach front resort in Kuta. It has a small children’s playground but no kids club. Rooms : Garden Double Queen Bungalow.  Accommodates 2 adults and up to 3 children with an extra bed. Note : Infant (under 2 yrs) sleeps in a cot. Children are 2 yrs - 12 yrs old.

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AlamKulkul Hotel, Kuta This hotel is across the road from Kuta Beach. It is built like a traditional Balinese village and has beautiful tropical gardens. Unfortunately there is no kids club or kids facilities here except for a baby sitting service. Rooms: Family Room - This room has 1 x Queen Bed and 2 x single beds. A curtain separates the section where the single beds are located. Younger children (eg 2 - 5 yrs) may share a bed with parents allowing you to have 3 children in 1 room.  Possible arrangements :    2A + 2C,     3A + 1C,     3A + 2C. In addition to the above, 1 x Infant (under 2 yrs old) may sleep in a cot the the room allowing you to have 6 persons.

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Discovery Kartika Plaza
This is a beach front hotel in Tuban, South Kuta, 10 minutes from Bali airport. It is located next to Discovery Shopping Mall and within walking distance to shops, restaurants and entertainment areas. it is 20 meters from Water Bom and Kuta Art market is nearby. Kids club is free for children 5-12 yrs. It has activities and a playground.

Rooms:
* Family Room has 1x King + 1 x Single Bed for 3A or 2A + 1C
* Family Suite has 1 x King and 2 x Single Beds in 2 rooms and is suitable for 3A + 2C, or 2A + 3C.
* Ocean View Suite has 1 x King and 2 x Single Beds and a living room

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Bali is not a very large island and most sights are relatively easy to reach on a sightseeing tour. However for those who are new to this beautiful and culturally interesting island, here are a few pointers.

Where are you staying in Bali?

Firstly, to get your bearings right, Bali Airport is located in the southern part of Bali in Tuban which is part of the greater Kuta area. There are towns north of Bali airport and south of Bali airport. Towns in the Kuta area cover the stretch of coast north of the airport namely Tuban=> Kuta Center=> Legian => Seminyak => Kerobokan, in that order. These are all between 5 to 30 minutes drive from the airport.  Towards the east, you have Denpasar, the capital of Bali, and Sanur, a quiet seaside town which is becoming more and more popular.

Then you have the area south of Bali airport. This part is called the Bukit, or Southern Peninsular. Towns here include Jimbaran on the west side (10 minutes south of Bali airport), and Nusa Dua and Benoa on the east side (about 20-30 minutes from the airport).

Sightseeing places South of Kuta.
If you are staying in South Bali, such as in Nusa Dua or the Kuta area, you might consider visiting Denpasar City, Jimbaran Beach for a seafood dinner, or Uluwatu Temple.

• Jimbaran Beach
  Jimbaran is the first town south of Bali airport. It is well know for its grilled seafood. Book a dinner there on the beach and watch the sunset while you enjoy the freshest lobsters, jumbo prawns, fish, crab and mussels. Prices range from about Rp 125,000 to Rp 300,000 for a good meal.

• Ulu Watu Temple
  Uluwatu temple is set atop a cliff in the south western most tip of Bali. The view of the coastline there is spectacular.  Many tourists go there in the evening to watch the Kecak Dance at sunset. The performance is from 6 - 7 pm and is usually followed by a dinner at Jimbaran if you join a tour.

Sightseeing places North of Kuta up to Ubud
You can also do a full day tour north of the Kuta area and visit temples and craft villages. You could do a tour of craft villages, or you could do a temple tour.  Or you could combine a bit of the two.  What makes sense is to tour to Ubud and includes a stop at the various villages along the way. Visit Mas woodcarving village, Celuk silversmiths village, and the Goa Gajah Elephant Cave.

• Craft Villages
  Mas and Celuk are too well known villages north of Kuta.  Mas is a woodcarving village where you will be able to find mass production of locally made crafts. Celuk is the silversmith and goldsmith centre of Bali. Almost every family in this village are in the trade and you will be able to find a wide range of high quality silver jewellery here.
• Goa Gajah
  This is an ancient hermitage which has a grotesque demon figure carving as its entrance. The carving resembles the large flapping ears of an elephant, hence the name Elephant Cave. Ancient scribes indicate that the cave is of Buddhist origin, however as you enter, you will see Hindu linggas and a state of Ganesha, the elephant god of Hinduism. You will see elements of both religions such as stupas, Buddhas and a 1000 year old statue of a Buddhist goddess as you navigate this man made cave.

Another popular tour is the temple tour where you visit the Taman Ayun Royal Temple in Mengwi and Tanah Lot, a temple that sits on a rock off the coast. You will arrive at Tanah Lot in time for the sunset which presents that best phototaking opportunities.  If you are staying in South Bali, you may want to combine this tour with a stop over at some small villages along the way. If you are saying in Ubud, you may want to visit Goa Gajah along the way.

• Taman Ayun Temple
  This is one of the great temples of the ancient Mengwi Dynasty built in 1637 during the reign of Raja Gusti Agung Anom.  The temple is made up of 3 sections and is surrounded by a large moat. The most interesting section is the inner court which is surrounded by brick wall and has its own moat. Here you will find the tall exquisite merus which are pagoda like towers used for prayers. The gardens in the outer courts are pretty and the moat has fish and floating lotuses.
• Tanah Lot Temple
  If there is only time for one place, the visit Tanah Lot Temple. This is a holy temple that sits on a rock off the coast and is next to the Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort.  The temple forms a lovely silhouette at sunset.  Living under the rock are poisonous black sea snakes which the locals believe are guardians of the temple. You can actually make a donation and go and see them. Combine your trip to Tanah Lot with a delicious grilled seafood dinner at one of the restaurants at Tanah Lot itself.

Sightseeing places north of Ubud
If you stay in Ubud, you will be closer to such places as Bedugul and Kintamani. There is also alot of beautiful scenery up in this area.

Places of interest include Tegallalang, Petulu, Tampaksiring, Kintamani and Mount Batur, Lake Bratan and Bedugul.

• Kintamani and Mt. Batur
  This is where you will be able to view Mount Batur and Lake Batur. Kintamani is a town on the rim of the Mount Batur caldera. There is a restaurant there where you can have breakfast and take photos from. You could also go down to Toya Bungkah town which is known for its hot springs.  Some people are happy with taking photos and going on a short drive around the area. If you like trekking, then you may like to stay there and do the early morning trek up Mt. Batur to catch the spectacular sunrise.

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