Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort

The restaurant food was decent, though it felt pretty average next to the rest of the hotel experience. Everything else made for a very pleasant stay, and I’d happily return. Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort is comfortable and beautifully designed, with a relaxing atmosphere from the moment we arrived. Our room was spacious, modern, clean and well maintained, a great place to rest after a busy day. There are several pools, all in good shape and fun for families. The kids loved them so much they didn’t want to leave.

Breakfast at Backstage was on another level, with just about everything you could want. Since we’re Muslim, we also appreciated the staff explaining that the chicken and beef were halal and that the pork section was clearly marked. Artawa, the head chef, even came by to check in and have a nice chat. Special thanks as well to Rasyid at the welcome desk. The pool was lovely, the kids had a lot of fun with the kids club activities, and the beach was very nice too. The hotel itself is new, modern and very clean, and the staff were incredibly friendly. We enjoyed Renaissance so much that I booked a return trip for next month on our final day. I definitely recommend it, and we already have our next visit booked.

The room was a letdown: it felt extremely humid and smelled so bad that breathing there felt like breathing in mold. That’s not what I expect from a “5-star” hotel. The sweets left in the room came with a thank-you card addressed to other people, too (see photo below). We stayed for two nights during Nyepi, when the hotel was clearly full, but the facilities weren’t managed well. The kids club was constantly overcrowded and far too small for a property this size, so it was completely unusable. Breakfast on our last morning was the worst part. There were seven of us, and we asked to sit together. Staff kept offering a table for five, while several bigger tables sat occupied for long stretches with only a glass or two and nobody there. They made no effort to help us, and the whole situation felt careless and illogical. The food was honestly disgusting. I’ve lived in Bali for eight years and stayed at many hotels around the island. This was the worst service experience I’ve had, with the rudest staff I can remember. I don’t understand how the hotel keeps such high ratings or how it got five stars. It was a very disappointing stay, nowhere near a five-star experience and not worth the price.

Breakfast was the part of my three-night stay that most needs attention. I tried Backstage the first morning and Tanah Liat the next. The food selection was broad and generally tasty, but service across the restaurants felt inconsistent and more mechanical than attentive. Tables were sometimes left uncleared despite plenty of staff being on duty, and the young team seemed polite but focused on operations more than hospitality. At Backstage, we were first seated at the far end, perhaps because there were only two of us. We asked about a four-seat window table, but were initially told no, even though I saw similar tables being used by just one or two guests. We were eventually given another four-seat table inside. It wobbled, which made breakfast less comfortable and left a disappointing first impression. The following day at Tanah Liat, I had to find a table myself. My omelet order at the egg station was overlooked. A staff member later offered to make it again, but didn’t really acknowledge the mistake or apologize. It wasn’t a major problem, though those small interactions do shape how service feels. I also mentioned my concerns to a gentleman in an orange-collared uniform, if I recall correctly, his name tag said pardede and he said he was the supervisor. He listened politely, but his response felt reserved and not especially open for someone in a guest-facing leadership role. I’ve had better elite recognition and table-side attention at other Marriott brands, including select-service 3-4stars properties such as Fairfield or Four Points. At Renaissance Uluwatu, breakfast felt much more refined, with proactive attention and fresh juice brought to the table for elite members. That comparison made this restaurant experience feel underwhelming, especially given its size and potential. There were plenty of positives elsewhere. The lobby was busy on arrival, but staff helped promptly with our luggage. After a short wait, a friendly front office associate checked us in at a seating area, which I appreciated after a long flight. Elite member recognition was handled well, and arrival felt considerate and smooth. Our room was spacious, clean, neatly arranged and thoughtfully laid out, with partial ocean views, complete amenities and a generously sized bathtub. The R Bar team was warm, professional and attentive. The property is excellent and the rooms are strong. With more focused training and a stronger hospitality presence at breakfast, service could become much more consistent with the five-star experience this hotel has the potential to deliver.