Overly frugal?
Compared to other SE Asian destinations, Bali is quite expensive. Thailand and Malaysia are much cheaper. Vietnam is midway. Bali, quite expensive.
We went to Bali for 9 days. We decided to stay at the Grand Hyatt, in Nusa Dua (the Beverly Hills of Bali) on … POINTS. Thank you Charles….your gift to us for all your business trips!
We had two adjoining Club Hyatt rooms and they were delightful. They were going for US$250 per room per night…how grateful am I that we weren't paying!! THe resort itself is gorgeous. Four swimming pools, on the water, private beach, storks and other birdies, lizards, fish in the ponds, etc. Beautifully kept grounds.
The weather was a dream. It rained twice, for two hours, and then stopped. Just enough to take the edge of the nailing heat.
Back to bucks.
The resort was….expensive. The cost of a cheeseburger and chips was $100HKD, or $15US.
We were given a complimentary breakfast in Club Hyatt. This consisted of fruits, tea/coffee/juices, yogurt, breads, a couple of cereals, and two small heated items, like sausages and grilled tomatoes.
For me, this was perfectly adequate. Tea, toast and fruit for breakfast? WHat could be better? The kids were appeased that none of the cereal included the word "Choco" in it's title when they discovered the fresh baked chocolate croissants. Charles was content-ish. He would have been happier with lattes, an omelette station, and a few other bonuses one associates with a nice (but not free!) breakfast.
So we would eat our great breakfast and then head off to our activity. If it was a hotel day, when it came time for lunch, because I am cruel and mean, I would up our family and move them off the resort and further up the beach to some indpentent surfer hangout restaurants where a burger and chips was HK$38. It was five minutes walk, but look at the difference in the price!
Speaking of price, we were there for Easter. The Kids Club was hosting a one hour Easter Egg Hunt. They said it was two hours long, but if you looked at the schedule, check in was 30 minutes long, and eating the chocolate and other sweeties was 45 minutes long. I bet explaining and would be a good 20 minutes, re-ezplaining another 15, which left 20-30 minutes for the hunt itself. The cost? US$20 oer child.
Our kids were quite keen on this idea. I told them that (surprise!) i wasn't. I offered to make a deal with them. We would have Easter Egg hunts (and make the blasted gingerbread houses) the Sunday after we returned from Hong Kong, and the kids could choose one special event/activity if we didn't do the Easter Egg hunt. They agreed.
The girls decided on hair braiding
Jasper wanted tennis lessons but settled for a new hat (he loves it)
Seb got to watch a movie approved by his father
And if it was a day in the hotel, after I let breakfast settle, I would get changed into my running kit and go for a run – first up to the temple near the hotel, then down to the golf course, then turn round, go past the resort entrance again, and into nusa dua. there was a little restaurant we went to a few times, and not only was the price right, BUT THEY OFFERED FREE PICK UP AND DROP OFF. That's a savings right there!
Then I would run back to the resort. One time, just as my run was finishing and I was heading back up the drive to the GH, i met a fellow carrying two Starbucks cups.
Starbucks….exactly what our accountant has in mind when he refers to "the Latte factor".
But, it was a holiday and I had been a bit of a frugal miser, and so I inquired if the Starbucks was near or 45 minutes by car away, and he pointed to the shopping complex across the street. YIPPEE!!! I found it, and bought my man some sort of cold vanilla latte drink. It wasn't a condescending "here's a treat because you're saving so well," and I hope he didn't take it that way, it was more, "I know these are something you love, and we're loving this holiday…so it's a good match." Just like MC and I are.
Is too much frugality a bad thing? I think so. You need to enjoy experiences without constantly worrying about cost or ordering the cheapest thing onthe menu. But do kids need to learn the value of money and choices? I do think so. I'm trying to strike a balance. Any feedback welcome.
