We stayed in a gorgeous architect designed villa complex with a great pool just north of the bustling cities of Kuta and Seminyak. It was a far cry from the peaceful, spiritual north part of the island and absolutely heaving with Australian and Europeans on their school holidays. 

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We only spent one night before flying out to Komodo but that was enough for us: the traffic was awful, Kuta is so built up it could be any holiday destination in the world with huge hotels and chain restaurants on every corner. We did brave it, in the afternoon, to visit the beach and have lunch at the infamous Potato Head bar/restaurant (clad in window shutters). It was great food but we quickly retreated back to the sanctuary of our villa afterwards!