Kuta Bali

Kuta Beach is enormous. It stretches for about five kilometers, but it’s the depth of the beach that makes it stand out compared with the beaches on a similar island, such as Phuket. Like Patong Beach, the road running along Kuta is lined with Pizza Huts and outlets of Starbucks and McDonald’s. If the beach weren’t so huge, the place would be a dump.

The beach itself is clean and well kept, although the sand is tinged black thanks to volcanic activity. Most people seem to come to Kuta Beach to go surfing or bodyboarding and there are more than enough places to rent boards. One of the plus points of Kuta Beach is the lack of sun loungers. However, there are only a few shady areas, mostly located at the back of the beach near the road. Set foot in those spots and you will be hounded by all manner of touts.

The waves at Kuta Beach are fairly big, so swimming isn’t ideal and is only permitted in certain zones. There are lifeguards keeping watch over the area. To make the most of Kuta, head north along the beach road to the Legian area, where there are less people. You can grab a beer and sit under a parasol at one of the makeshift bars for about 15,000 rupiah. You’ll still be pestered by touts, but there are less of them.

The road along the beach is one-way and is hectic to drive on. If you want to park a motorbike anywhere it might cost you 1,000 rupiah, although the parking “attendants” sometimes play the up-to-you card, which adds a bit of confusion into the equation.