Can't decide between going to the Surf Ranch Open or the Bali Pro? Let the hotels sway your choice!
Five days ago, the price structure for hiring the Surf Ranch was revealed. Cheap? Depends who’s asking, $US11,500 per person for two days, a video compilation of your eight or so rides included.
And, two days ago, after Martin Daly’s famous boat, the Indies III announced its 2018 prices, it made for a fascinating comparison. With airfares to Indonesia, the cost was identical.
Two days in Lemoore or two weeks on a charter boat in the Mentawai Islands?
The same BeachGrit reader who sent in the Indies III price-list also sent a comparison of the main hotel in Lemoore, the Tachi Palace, and Hotel Komune in Bali, which is the go-to-joint in Keramas, where the WSL’s other high-performance event will run in May and June.
Now if you’re a surf fan, and I presume you are because you ain’t here for the titty, you might be drawing up your travel plans to attend either the Surf Ranch or Keramas events. Both promise a level of performance, and gymnastics, unlike anything we’ve seen.
Filipe? Gabriel? John John? Italo? Can you even imagine?
Now, you’re gonna need a hotel.
So what’s it going to be? An Indian casino, touted as the “most luxurious bingo hall in the state” famous for hosting World Extreme Cagefighting and Tachi Palace Fights or a beachfront pool party stuck atop the dunes at Keramas?
Tachi, which is a five-minute drive from Surf Ranch, promises “Airy rooms with painted accent walls, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minifridges” as well as free valet parking, a gymnasium, slots, bingo and table games. And a buffet.
Rooms start at around $US100 per night.
Hotel Komune promises: “a hypnotising view of the world famous Keramas surf break. With its pristine volcanic beach, this beachfront Bali resort offers a wonderful experience of spending leisure time in a natural luxury hotel. We feature 66 impressive 4 star rooms and suites and 5 star beach front pool suites and 1, 2 and 3 bedroom villas.”
Rooms start at $US200 a night (including tax) and run up to around six hundred a night if you need two private pools and two villas (Yike. I just checked. They’re sold-out already, to the famous contestants one would presume). Plenty of the cheapie rooms, however.
Booking during the contest window also gets you a VIP pass to the Bali Pro. Not that you’ll need it, of course. The (waveless) pool is…there.
Now. Where you gonna stay?