Kuta Beach Area ( Part 3 ) { Shopping in Kuta , Shop in Kuta )

Kuta Beach Area ( Part 3 )

Kuta, located in southern Bali, was a sleepy fishing village half a century ago, but it has slowly expanded since the 1960s after its long sandy beach was discovered by travellers from Asia and wandering surfers from nearby Australia.

Nowadays Kuta is quite busy and packed with varied accommodation from four-star hotels to budget hostels. Cheap bars and clubs make it a party centre, while local and international restaurants offer great dining. Kuta also offers shopping aplenty, from the chic beachfront ‘Discovery Shopping Mall’ and Kuta Square to the souvenir shops lining Jalan Kartika Plaza, Jalan Pantai Kuta and up to Legian and Seminyak – all within easy walking distance.

Despite its negatives, Kuta has its own beauty and attractions and remains one of Indonesia’s major tourist destinations; particularly during the peak season from July to August and the holiday season for Christmas and New Year: at these times Kuta will be fully booked by a local younger crowd, Asian travellers and Australian ****agers who are intent on enjoying an affordable vacation in Bali.


Where to Stay in Kuta Beach

Over the years Kuta development has spread out - almost absorbing the neighbouring villages of Legian and Tuban which now provide a quieter alternative to Kuta central. New hotel developments, guest houses and resorts fill every available space, yet almost all amenities are within walking distance or a short taxi ride.

Shopping in Kuta Beach

Where to Shop in Kuta Beach - Bali
Kuta is a shopping Mecca for visitors, shopaholics and locals who wish to sport the fashionable look of well-known locally made Bali designs and established international brands. Don’t miss out on a spot of bikini, swimwear and surf wear shopping while in Bali. There are numerous shops in Kuta, lined up on Kuta Beach, Kuta Sidewalk, Legian Street; even small alleys called Poppies that are famous for small hotels, guesthouses and villas. Shops selling clothing, leather goods, pirated DVDs and handicrafts line the streets.

Prices differ from store to store but with the variety of choices, you will be sure to find something that matches your budget. To find some souvenirs to bring home to your family and friends, there plenty of art shops selling Balinese crafts in Kuta. Although they offer similar items, prices can vary, depending on the quality of the merchandise and how good you are at bargaining. During the high season from July to September and at Christmas, some stores hold clearance sales where you can save up to 70%.


Kuta Art Market



Kuta Art Market is a traditional market where you can get souvenirs and goods crafted by local people. The prices vary, depending on your haggling skills. The most important thing to remember is to be polite and friendly (certainly not confrontational) and to treat it all as a kind of game. Haggling is expected and indeed encouraged as part of the fun of shopping, and as such theatrical expressions and claims of bankruptcy will soon have you laughing together with the shop owner. It is often helpful to decide upon the most you want to pay for an item before you start bargaining.

Then you should try offering one third of the price first offered, and wait for them to come down in price before slowly raising your own offer in small increments. Don’t be afraid to take your time: your patience will be rewarded with much lower prices. If the price offered is still much higher than your maximum budget, walk away slowly from the shop. Often the vendor will call you back and offer you a lower price. Make sure you check the quality of your item before you pay and move along to the next store. Once you have won the negotiation battle, you can bet you will be addicted and will have fun shopping at this kind of market.
Location: next to Kuta Square


Kuta Square


Just nearby the Kuta Art Market, Kuta Square is a shopping centre approximately 50 metres from Kuta Beach. Designed in boulevard style, Kuta Square is packed with a lot of international and local brands from surf wear outlets, dining areas, a hypermarket and fashion stores; such as Billabong, Quiksilver, Hurley, Giardano, Reebok, Nike, Levi’s, and two famous local brands – Milo’s and Animale.
Location: Jalan Bakung Sari

EXPERT SURF SHOP

Small surf shop , sell Surf acc, board , surf wear  and fashion ; such as CULT, WEST, EXCITE, etc...
Location: Jalan Bakung Sari

Discovery Shopping Mall

Discovery Shopping Mall, the only mall with a beachfront view, is located in Kuta’s prime area. This mall has facilities such as banks, restaurants, caf?s, bookstores, opticians, pharmacies, amusement arcades, home accessories, jewelry and international brand outlets such as Sogo, Guess, Esprit, Giardano and many more. Live bands perform every Saturday and Sunday nights to liven up your weekend shopping.
Location: Jalan Bakung Sari


DFS (Duty Free Shopping)


DFS Galleria brings an exciting and luxurious retail environment to a downtown location for fashion, beauty, fine jewelry and alcoholic drinks. It features an impressive portfolio of the world’s most sought-after brands, including established labels such as Cartier, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany and emerging brands like Bottega Veneta, Pucci and Valentino. If you need assistance, the multilingual staff will be delighted to help you. Located in Mall Bali Galleria, you can also find a hypermarket and mid-range department store for fashion and accessories next door.
Location: on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai Kuta


69 Slam

69 Slam offers lingerie and underwear for men and women, designed in funky and colourful styles. The products are created for a dynamic young stylish upscale market. For ladies, the prices range from IDR 99,000 to 199,000 and IDR 155,000 to IDR 225,000 for men. There are four other branches spread throughout Kuta and Seminyak.
Location: opposite the Memorial Statue

Surfer Girl

 

Surfer Girl sells T-shirts, tank tops, dresses, skirts, trousers, surfing rash vests, flip flops, swimwear, bikinis and accessories to match your style during your visit to Bali. Surfer Girl own brand products come in happy colours and often feature a funky cartoon design of the Surfer Girl characters (Summer, Niki, Grinder and friends). Adjoining the Surfer Girl store, Quiksilver offers beach-themed fashion wear for him.
Location: on Jalan Legian Kuta


Camper Shoes

Having opened its first store in 1981 in Barcelona, Camper expanded their reach to Bali last year. Now, Camper’s fans can shop for their latest edition of flats, wedges, pumps, boots, mules, athletic shoes or sandals here in Kuta, all made from high quality leather, rubber and suede in a wide selection of sizes.
Location: Southside Hard Rock store


Body & Soul



Body & Soul provides the most competitive prices compared to other local fashion brands in Bali. In addition to their clothing collection for women, they offer an extensive range of accessories from jewelry to belts, scarves and handbags – not to mention their hot range of Body & Soul swimwear. For kids, they have Body & Soul Bambini – funky gear for your young boys and girls, aged between three and eight years old. Apart from their outlet, check out Body & Soul Factory Outlet in Kuta and Seminyak, where you can get items from their collection at half price.
Location: at Discovery Shopping Mall, Kuta Square, on Jalan Legian Kuta


Rip Curl


Rip Curl has been a market leader in wetsuits for over 30 years. They produce surfwear, swimwear, bikinis, flip flops, surfboards (especially handcrafted custom boards) and mountain wear. All the designs are stylish and comfortable to wear. Although the prices can be expensive, they give you the best quality garments for beach activities and sportswear.
Location: on Jalan Sunset Road


[b]Batik Keris

Batik Keris sells most Javanese patterns of batik in the form of clothing for women and men, scarves, table linen made from cotton and small souvenirs. Unlike Balinese batik patterns, Javanese batik only uses natural colours such as indigo, black and brown.
Location: on Jalan Legian Kuta and Discovery Shopping Mall 1st floor


Wira’s Batik

If you are wondering where to purchase Batik in high quality fabric, Wira’s is the place to go. The women’s clothing blends the traditional and modern in dresses, tops and skirts, with shirts and trousers for men, all printed on beautiful high-quality silk and cotton. Prices are high but the quality is totally worth it for high-end fashion couture in traditional patterns.
Location: on Jalan Kendedes and SOGO Department Store at Discovery Shopping Mall


Star Surf

If you happen to be just passing by Legian Street, Kuta, have a look inside a big hangar-like store with a real single seat combat plane in it. This unusual accessory has helped make Star Surf one of the biggest surf stores in Bali. Star Surf is loaded with almost every major surfing brand with a wide range of products from surfboards to fashion accessories.
Location: on Jalan Legian Kuta


Motion Skate Shop

The only skateboard dedicated shop in Kuta, Motion aims to promote skateboarding in Bali and Indonesia and hopes the government can be made aware that the sport and its athletes deserve equal opportunity to participate in international competitions. Despite its small number of devotees, Motion Skate Shop stocks almost every leading skate brand like Birdhouse, Nike SB, Plan B and many others.
Location: on Jalan Legian Kuta


MSD (Motor Sport Division)

Formerly a motorsport dealer, MSD has turned into an extreme sports division for adrenalin-fuelled activities from mud terrain biking to paragliding. MSD distributes various international extreme sports brands such as Fox Racing, Troy Lee Design, DC Shoes, Thor, and many others. If you feel that your current sport is not macho enough, you should try riding on a hi-speed motor trail over limestone hills or paragliding off the Bukit Peninsula’s cliffs.
Location: on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai Kuta