Sanur Beach

Sanur Beach is long and has white sand. It is also sheltered, which makes it suitable for swimming. However, sheltered beaches and being a fairly substantial tourist area does create a disadvantage in that the water quality is not as good as say Nusa Dua. Some people suggest you can snorkel off Sanur, but the reef died a long time ago and their are very few colorful fish to see. There are also multiple beach errosion problems in Sanur.
Sanur can be divided in to 4 areas. The north, Pantai, central and south. Given Sanur was the post independence choice of most Dutch ex-patriots, it also has a slightly more cultural feeling then other southern beach resort areas. Also, unlike Kuta / Legian, there are a large number of hotels that are actually on the beach (not separated from it by a road). Although there are a number of bars, it is not a young persons entertainment area like Kuta is. Sanur tends to attract more families.

Kuta Beach

Sunsets make memories at Kuta beach, one of the island's loveliest seacoasts. Skylight descends in warm waves of color, leaving shy stars behind. Village fishermen often set off at dusk, the sails of their prahus shrinking to frail silhouettes that drift across a wide, red sun. They vanish into the night, lulled by the rhythm of waves breaking on a beach longer than vision can discern. They return when the young warmth of early morning lights up the slopes of Mt. Batukau and, on clear days, the mountains on the eastern tip of Java.
At Kuta, the water stays warm late until after dusk, like its saffron reflections; and the smooth descent of the shore suits anything from building sandcasties to taking long walks. Local beachcombers are on hand gathering fans of white coral and stringing cowries into long necklaces to sell. The Balinese sometimes comefrom near and farto perform rituals bythe ocean. Although all the ritzy nightclubs are at Sanur Kuta after dark is a popular place for young visitors to eat, drink and be merry. There is a night market, one ortwo informal discotheques and numerous bars and restaurants serving good food at moderate prices. Almost every evening there is a performance of Balinese -dance somewhere in Kuta.. To know what is on just ask around.

Pangandaran

Pangandaran is a small town and a subdistrict in southern Ciamis regency, West Java, Indonesia. It is located on the southern coast of Java. Pangandaran is a popular tourist destination, having a beach which is considered to be one of the finest in Java and which offers excellent surfing.
A kite-flying festival is held on the beach in July and August. It is reported that the locals used to fly kites in the evenings to catch bats,[1] and may still do so. [2] There is a local belief that wearing any green garment in this area will anger Loro Kidul, the Javanese guardian spirit or goddess of the southern sea, and will bring misfortune.
The small national park of Penanjung Pangandaran is nearby on a peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow neck of land. About eighty percent of the park is secondary rainforest. The flora of the park includes the Rafflesia.
A tsunami hit the area on 17 July 2006. An undersea earthquake measured at 7.7 on the Richter scale triggered a three metre high tidal wave. Extensive damage was caused and hundreds of people were reported to be dead or missing.

Gili Trawangan Beach

Gili Trawangan is the largest of the three islands and the furthest from mainland Lombok. Large is only a relative word here as it is only 3 km's long & 2 km's wide. One of the best things about the island is that there are no cars only cidimo's(pony traps). Trawangan is also known as the party island. Yes, the island has got bars that turn into nightclubs but I personally do like a little action when the sun goes down so it suits me perfectly. The island is Muslim and before visiting I had read that the local's were very conservative about showing bare skin but the reality is a little different. Although topless & nude sunbathing is frowned apon the locals are tolerant towards bikini's & bare arms & so on. Because it is such a big dive destinataion they are probably a little immune to it. When we asked the kid's where we were staying they replied it didn't worry them and that although they were Muslim it was not offensive. The main jetty is in the middle of the most developed strip of town. To the left away from the best part of the beach are most of the restaurants, bars, hotles & losman(local houses with rooms to rent). To the right is the main sandy beach & the best snorkellingthat can be accessed by walking straight into the water over some very sharp rocks.