Kuta Bali

Kuta is where Bali's tourism started, and it remains the island's densest, cheapest and loudest resort area — a grid of narrow streets packed with hotels, bars, surf shops and markets, immediately north of the airport.

Its reputation among travellers is poor, and some of that is deserved: the nightlife on Jalan Legian is aggressive, the touts are persistent, and the area has none of the polish of Seminyak or the charm of Ubud. But it also does several things well and cheaply.

The beach is a long, wide arc of grey-gold sand running several kilometres north into Legian and Seminyak. It is one of the best places in Bali to learn to surf — sand-bottomed beach breaks, patient instructors on every corner, and boards for rent at low prices. It is also patrolled by lifeguards, which most Bali beaches are not, and the sunsets are excellent.

Accommodation is the cheapest in southern Bali, and the location is unbeatable for a short stay: ten minutes from the airport, and central for everywhere in the south.

Do not confuse it with Kuta Lombok, which shares the name and nothing else — a small, low-rise surf town on a different island.

Is Kuta Bali worth staying in? It is cheap, central and ten minutes from the airport, and it is one of the best places to learn to surf — but it is loud and crowded, and quieter bases exist just north.

Is Kuta Bali the same as Kuta Lombok? No — they share only a name. Kuta Bali is a dense resort strip; Kuta Lombok is a small low-rise surf town on another island.

Is Kuta beach good for swimming? It has lifeguards and flagged areas, which is unusual for Bali, but rip currents are strong so stay between the flags.

Is Kuta good for learning to surf? Yes — sand-bottomed beach breaks, plentiful cheap lessons and board rental make it one of the easiest places in Bali to start.

How far is Kuta from the airport? About ten minutes, which makes it a practical choice for a first or last night.