The Chic But Cheap Traveler

06/07/2023

Hotel Review - Part 1

Island View Bar and Bungalow
Gili Air - (off the coast of Bali)

If I’m going to vacation on an island, I want to be as close as possible to the water. And I did very well in that respect with Island View Bar and Bungalow. The hotel consists of several individual bungalows that sit only steps away from the turquoise waters of the Bali sea. The hotel grounds include an outdoor restaurant, bar and “cabanas.” Note- This hotel review is in two parts.

Part 1

Room/ Bungalow

The rooms are actually bungalows. Some are free standing. Others have two bedrooms with connecting doors and finally there are a few two story bungalows. Each layout comes with its own veranda that includes a hammock.

Upon entering my bungalow (two bedroom with connecting door), I was happy to see the main area was very spacious and airy. The high ceilings along with white walls and contrasting dark wood beams gave the space a very cool and refreshing feel - making it a very inviting refuge from the scorching midday sun.

Bed - Very comfortable. No chairs in the bedroom, but there was a very comfy window seat that allowed in quite a bit of light.

Bathroom - Spacious and in the Indonesian style of having the shower slightly exterior and exposed to nature. However, the air conditioning did not reach the bathroom. Nor was there a fan, thus not much ventilation. As a result, opening the bathroom door (especially midday) was like opening a door to an oven - you are immediately hit with trapped hot air. Shower floor needed to be repaired.

Closet - Lots of storage space due to deep shelves. However, not much space for hanging clothes.

Amenities - Refrigerator but no coffee/ tea service. Bath towels provided (no wash clothes or hand towels). Air conditioning worked well. Free wifi. The veranda outside made a nice area for sitting.

Restaurant - Island View’s restaurant is right on the beach - in the sand. Beautiful sunsets await you. Mostly serving traditional Indonesia fare at affordable prices. Although pretty good, I would branch out and try some of the small local “mom and pop” restaurants for variety.

27/06/2023

Intro to Gili Air Island

Located approximately 2 hours eastward off the coast of Bali, you will find 3 very small but very popular islands - Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno. All three islands are known for their coral reefs, however each possesses a distinct island vibe - each very different from the other.

Out of the three islands, I chose to visit Gili Air. It has the reputation of being pretty calm and laid back. You can find live music or a bar scene if you look, but it is Gili Trawangan (or Gili T for short), not Gili Air that is considered the party island. Gili Meno, the smallest of the three islands, is known for being the ultimate in peace and quiet. And as I understand, has more of a local community.

After being in Ubud, Bali with all the tourists and traffic, I needed calm and quiet, but with a little spark - so I chose Gili Air.

On Gili Air, transportation is either by foot, on bicycles or horse drawn carriages.

There really is not much to do on the island (which for many is the point), but I did manage to find a nice spa (Slow Spa), take a guided meditation class (H2O Yoga and Meditation Center), find some interesting artisan shops and of course ate great food.

Very happy to share my experience on Gili Air with you. If you have been there, please let me know what you thought of the island.🌸

21/06/2023

Herb Library
Ubud, Bali

I really love this restaurant and can not recommended it enough! Herb Library is my go-to spot for a guaranteed great meal when in Ubud, Bali. I have both dined in and ordered carry out several times.

The staff does an excellent job preparing deliciously made to order dishes.
All ingredients are fresh and locally sourced. Lots of tasty plant based options, but the menu also offers fish and chicken.

Dishes I have thoroughly enjoyed during various visits include: The Yellow Pumkin Soup (yellow pumpkin, ginger and coconut); Pepes Barramundi (fish, herbs, spices, coconut rice, chili sambal, local vegetables); Carrot and Healing Roots Bisque (Carrots, ginger, turmeric, kencur and coconut milk).

Expect great flavors and presentation.

Ambiance - Relaxed, casual and friendly.
I usually dine alone and feel very comfortable. Although most guests are tourists, I didn’t feel I was in a “tourist spot.”

Herb Library often contracts with local musicians for live entertainment. The restaurant also seems to have a weekly Latin music/ dance night.

Service - Good. English spoken.
Location - Central Ubud - very close to Ubud Palace. Next door to Tejas Spa and Adiwana Jembawan hotel (see previous post).
Price - I had a 3 course meal including drink for under $20.00. - very affordable and worth every penny!!

Hour’s operation - Daily, 7am to 7pm.

Herb Library
Jl. Jembawan, Ubud

13/06/2023

Tejas Spa at Adiwana Resort Jembawan
Ubud

Part 1🌸

When in Bali, I try to get in as many spa treatments as possible. And although I like to try different spas, l did find myself returning to Tejas Spa, which happens to be part of the Adiwana Resort Jembawan, a 4-star hotel located in the heart of Ubud, Bali.

Tejas Spa focuses on healing and rejuvenating using Ayurvedic principles and techniques.

My experience always begins with a foot bath, which is both beautiful as well as relaxing. I am then taken to a private treatment room. My treatments were as follows:

Abhyangam Massage - 690.00idr ($45.21usd) A 60 minute full body massage with Ayurvedic oils. According to the Tejas Spa website, this particular massage is beneficial in “…dextoxifing the body, stimulating blood circulation and alleviating stress as well as stiffness.”

Crystal and Sound Healing Therapy 450.000idr ($30.25usd)

Crystals are placed along your spine in an attempt to rebalance energy flow. Unbalanced energy is thought to cause an entire host of ailments such as digestive problems and anxiety. My treatment involved listening to various sounds and music designed to put you in a deep meditative state. I did enjoy this therapy, but my mind was “in and out.” I will say however, I was more in a meditative state than out.

The atmosphere of the spa is a bit minimalist, not very ornate. Prices are bit higher than you might find elsewhere in Ubud, but remember Tejas Spa is part of a 4- star hotel chain. Services are very conveniently offered from 11am to 9pm. Wow! A massage before bed - definitely what the doctor ordered.

🌸Read my next post (Part 2) for my final Tejas spa treatments.

www.tejasspa.com

11/05/2023

Normally, I write in chronological order - as events are experienced, but I just had an amazing experience at my second accommodation in Bali and I can’t wait to share!

It’s funny, this home stay is actually connected to the Goddess Retreats (please read previous posts) in that my villa mate Vikki sent me a video of where she stayed after the retreat - I was very impressed. After experiencing the villa for myself, I am even more so.

The accommodation, located two hours east of Ubud, is called Loid’s Villa Eco Lodge. And yes, there actually exists a Loid. His real name is Pande but as he tells it, when he was an infant his mother nicknamed him Loid. Pande’s wife, Amik suggested they use the nickname for their hospitality business since it is a word easy to pronounce and internationally recognized.

Loid’s Villa Eco Lodge consists of a private residence and grounds that are rented out for short term stays (owners may be open to long term if asked). Guests have access to a beautiful two bedroom home complete with en suite bathrooms, a full size kitchen, dining room, living room and a spacious balcony or lanai that extends the width of the house. Outdoors, there is a lovely infinity pool overlooking the Lempuyang region.

The rental rate includes three meals a day and daily housekeeping. Staff is available daily until 10pm and security is present 24hrs.

Guest services: Spa Treatments, Yoga Instruction, Traditional Balinese Cooking Class, Local tours to famous temples (I chose Tirta Gangga ), trekking and transport to the white sands of Virgin Beach. Drivers are available for airport pickup and return. Note - These services are offered for an additional fee.

If your goal is to get away from the chaos of modern life or simply be “off the grid,” and you appreciate a dose of culture and elegance -Loid’s Villa Eco Lodge is definitely for you.

Stay tuned - more to come about this unique home and my amazing experience at Loid’s Villa Eco Lodge. Above photos include the owners Amik and Pande. Also, Amik conducting our amazing cooking class.

[email protected]
www.loidsvilla.com

10/05/2023

Guests of The Goddess Retreat are offered a variety of accommodation options. Since it was my birthday, I decided to splurge a bit and chose the Divine Villa, which came complete with a private pool and ensuite bathroom.

I’ll be honest, the moment before I opened the door to my villa, I took a moment, held my breath and braced myself. Yes, I had looked at the pictures on The Goddess Retreat website, but what did the villa really look like?

I slowly opened the door, peaked in and was floored! So beautiful! I was so pleasantly surprised I didn’t know what to do. The website pictures really do not do the villa justice. All I could think to say was - OMG! This retreat is starting off fabulously!!

As you can see, the grounds of this private villa are simple beautiful! The word luxurious actually comes to mind. Although I was sharing the villa with another Retreat attendee, there definitely was ample communal space for both myself and my villa mate. In addition, we each had our own private bedroom with a lovely ensuite bathroom.

Personally, I could have lived permanently in my villa. I would spend the the next 6 days fantasizing about just that.

08/05/2023

Goddess Retreat

Bedroom

Pretty spacious. I loved the all white interior contrasted with brown wicker furniture. The furnishings were minimal but elegant, in good condition and very functional - basically, you had exactly what you needed.

Bed - Comfortable. The white mosquito net made for a beautiful presentation, but it was also highly functional. Mosquitos seem to love Bali as much as the rest of us. The Goddess Retreat provided daily housekeeping and evening turndown service that included refilling your jar of bedside cookies and placing, on your pillow, a very inspiring printed affirmation.

Overall, the bedroom was very comfortable, functional with minimalistic elegance and charm. A great refuge from the intense sun, but also a wonderful environment in which to rest. Oh, and let me not forget, some wellness services can be done in your room - I had a spiritual reading performed and on another day, my chakras rebalanced while getting one of the best and most memorable massages I have ever had. All in the comfort of my bedroom.

I will venture to say, that I would have liked more space for my clothes, but in reality I didn’t need it. I brought a large oversized suitcase to Bali full of clothes and shoes, only to repeatedly wear leggings and the two sundresses (purchased in Bali). Word of advice, don’t bring a lot of clothes to The Goddess Retreat - believe me you won’t need them.

🌎

26/05/2022

Pourchet
Place des Vosges, Paris

This is an updated repost from 2019.

While strolling through the arcades of beautiful Place des Vosges, I ran across a shop displaying some very stylish handbags and leather goods.

The shop is called Pourchet. I had never heard of it, but soon learned that Pourchet is a 115 year old French brand whose chic leather accessories are still being produced in France. Pourchet used to sell exclusively to high-end department stores, but a couple of years ago began selling retail.

This classic French brand is known for “…sleek, sophisticated and classy elegance.”Walking around their two-story boutique, I could see that was definitely true.

I fell in love with Pourchet’s styles and variety of colors. I especially like the price tag. You are not looking at any more than €350 for a handbag. Cross bodies start at about €80 and are available in lots of cool colors. Pourchet also sells items for men.

Pourchet – definitely a Chic But Cheap find!

Pourchet
13 Place des Vosges
Paris, 75004

24/05/2022

While walking through the arcades of Place des Vosges last July I was stopped in my tracks by this work of art in the window of Galerie Artmundi. Simply amazing!

The artist is Sergi Cadenas. Go to sergi.cadenas on Instagram to see more of his incredible work. Look for the one where Marilyn Monroe turns into Albert Einstein!!

What do you think of this art form?

Artist - Sergi Cadenas

Galerie Artmundi
26 Place des Vosges
Paris 75003

.cadenas

23/05/2022

Le Consulat

I have always wanted to dine, or at least have a coffee, at Le Consulat in Montmartre. Not only does the building’s facade look oh so French and instagramable, but Le Consulat is one of the few surviving cafes in Montmartre that, during the early 19th century, played host to a number of artists and intellectuals such as Picasso, Van Gogh and Toulouse Lautrec as they ate, drank, debated and contemplated life.

Ambience - Touristy, but still rather local. There is both indoor (very limited) and outdoor seating; however, most opt for the café’s exterior in order to watch Parisian life (albeit quite touristy) pass by.

Nearby - Just about everything Montmartre! Le Consulat is right in the middle of things - Sacré Coeur, La Maison Rose, Place du Tertre (the artistic square), Musée Montmartre and Rue Lepic, the list goes on.

Menu - Traditional French cuisine; Open for lunch and dinner.

My Personal Experience - I sat on the terrace and ordered mussels, I didn’t realize I would receive so many! What a lunch. I was glad I didn’t also order a salad.

Ok - the mussels as well fries arrived lukewarm. 1/2 way through eating, both mussels and fries were basically cold.
The waiter claimed that it was because it was pretty cool outside. Actually, the food arrived lukewarm. I didn’t protest. I was tired and hungry.

Food Quality - I have had plenty of mussels in my time; they are usually quite flavorful - these definitely were not. Very bland. The fries were ok , but of course would have been much better had they been warm.

Service - Wait time for food was minimal. Waiter came back to check on me at least once. I will say that the waiter could have offered to reheat the food. That would have been great service.

I am having a hard time with this review because I really hate being negative, but I do owe it to readers to be truthful. Would I visit Le Consulat again? Probably so. I did like the outside terrace ambiance. And I would like to order from their menu just one more time to see if my experience was just an unfortunate one off. Stay tuned!!

Le Consulat
18 Rue Norvins
Paris 75018

22/05/2022

21/04/2022

More from La Boulangerie Boutique

La Boulangerie
Montmartre
30 rue des Trois Frères
Paris 75018