In the early ’70’s surfers, hippies and adventurous travelers made it to Kuta Beach, with its perfect coastline, simple guest houses and bamboo warungs. In the early days there were few creature comforts for visitors, with rice, fish and fruit making up a large part of the diet. Cooking oil was also a luxury, so coconut oil was used, giving the food a less than delicate flavour. Pork fat could be substituted, although not entirely the healthy was to go.
In the early days of Kuta tourism a few enterprising people set up warungs to serve the growing tourist market. Among the most successful were Made’s Warung (Jl. Pantai Kuta) and Poppies Restaurant (off of Poppies I), both still in business. Another long time favourite is TJ’s (Poppies I), owner Jean starting out with a vegetarian restaurant and moving to Mexican food in 1984.
Kuta is now the center of an extensive tourist-oriented urban area that merges into the neighboring towns. Legian, to the north, is the commercial hub of Kuta and the site of many restaurants and entertainment spots. Most of the area’s big beach-front hotels are in the southern section of Tuban.
Legian and Seminyak are northern extensions of Kuta along Jl. Legian and Jl. Seminyak. They are somewhat quieter suburbs with cottage-style accommodations, where many of the expat crowd live. Also to the north are Petitenget, Berawa, Canggu, and Seseh - new and quieter continuations of Kuta’s beach. They are easy to reach through Abian Timbul or Denpasar and Kerobokan. Several large hotels are located in this area: the Oberoi Bali, Hard Rock Hotel Bali, the Intan Bali Village, the Legian in Petitenget, the Dewata Beach and the Bali Sani Suites in Berawa. To the south, Kuta Beach extends beyond the airport into Jimbaran.
Kuta is just 2 miles from Ngurah Rai airport in Tuban, making it an ideal first night for many visitors. An airport taxi might cost around 25,000rp, dropping you in the Poppies Lane / Benesari area, with a choice of budget / mid-range accommodation.
After the 2002 Sari Club / Paddy’s Bar bombing, Kuta’s nightlife hit the skids. Seminyak seemed to be charging ahead with new bars opening, some of which were conspicuously open at the front, allowing easy escape should there be another bombing. Kuta’s location however meant that was due for a rebound, so with MBarGo, Hook, The Wave, the new Paddy’s, Sky Lounge and other venues, Kuta is a strong contender for nightlife action.
One of the fun ways to check out the neighborhoods in Bali, including Kuta is by using Wikimapia.org. This site allows you to zoom in and out and check out the area. You might spot a few places you’ve been before. Kuta may not look like the French Riviera, but real estate is worth top dollar. In fact most landowners in Kuta will not sell, realizing that times may change, but the location will always mean business. Some long term expats still live in the Tuban, Kuta, Legian area, feeling at home with neighborhood and comfortable living close to the friends they have developed over the years.
Kuta may not be paradise, but it is not the hell hole some travellers make it out to be.
• Kuta Banking hours:
Banking hours in Bali
• Kuta Shopping:
Camera Shopping in Kuta Bali
Shopping hours in Bali
X-treme Store: Kuta Galeria Bali
Ace Hardware: Kuta Bali
The Station: Surf gear in Kuta Bali
Kuta Kidz: Clothing for youngsters in Kuta Bali
Cigars & Cigars - Kuta Bali
Kuta Galeria Bali
Surfer Girl: Bali’s own all girl surf shop
• Kuta Restaurants:
Fat Yogi’s Kuta Bali
Classic Cafe: Kuta Galeria Bali
Nasi Padang: A good cheap alternative in Bali
Warung Nikmat: Kuta Bali
Eating cheap in Kuta Bali
Ninety Degree Bar & Restaurant in Kuta Bali
Lassis in Bali
Chill Out spots in Bali
Bamboo / Gong Corner still a winner in Kuta Bali
• Kuta Nightlife:
MBarGo nightclub in Kuta Bali
Places to see live music in Bali
Bali Nightlife scene in Seminyak / Kuta
• Kuta Services:
Global Chiropractic Kuta Bali
Guitars in Matahari Kuta Square
CBN Internet Service Provider: Kuta Galeria Bali
Kuta accommodation:
Where to stay in Kuta Bali
• Places of interest:
Mads Lange’s Tomb: Kuta Bali
Bali Bombing Monument: Kuta
ESC: Giant portions in Kuta Bali
Pasar Seni Kuta Bali
Kuta Beach in January 2007
Omahara - Paintings Art Shop
Transport:
Perama Bus: The user friendly travel service for Bali & Lombok
Kuta Bali: Local transport prices
Dana Yoga Tourist Service: Kuta Bali
Kuta Beach hassles: How to avoid them
Vihara Dharmayana: Kuta, Bali
Exploring Gangs: Kuta, Bali
Entertainment for kids in Kuta Bali
• Medical Services:
Bali International Medical Center (BIMC)
Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No.100X Kuta, Denpasar
Phone : 361-761263
Fax : 361-764345
Jl By pass Ngurah Rai 505X, Kuta 80361
Phone : 361-710505
Fax : 361-710515
Kuta Clinic
Jl. Raya Kuta, Denpasar
Phone : 361-753268
Legian Clinic
Jl. Benesari Legian Kuta, Denpasar
Phone : 361-758503
Sanglah Public Hospital
Jl. Kesehatan No. 1 Sanglah, Denpasar
Phone : 361-227911
Fax : 361-226363
Emergency Dental Treatment
Jl. Patimura 19, Denpasar
Phone : 361-222445, 361-226445
Emergency Unit Ambulances Service
Sanglah, Denpasar
Phone : 361-227911, 361-226035
One popular way to vacation in Bali is to rent out a villa for the duration of your stay. Unfortunately, major travel booking sites like Orbitz and Travelocity don’t showcase villa rentals. But, that doesn’t mean there aren’t websites out there that do. There are a number of extremely helpful website out there where you can rent a villa in Bali from. 
