Jimbaran Puri, A Belmond Hotel, Bali

The room is a little old but charming, with complete privacy behind the walls. There’s no big window, but I didn’t mind. The garden cottages aren’t far from the beach or pool, and the pool is good. It’s quiet here, with no loud noise, and everyone is super nice and professional. The customer service was excellent, especially from the poolside crew and cleaners. There are geckos and mosquitoes, which seem normal for flat cottages in a tropical place. A gecko visited and woke us at 6am. We had a few issues in our room, and they later offered us a free upgrade. At first the nightly rate was higher than online, but I didn’t say much. I don’t think an ocean view would make much difference, since those rooms are closer to the beach but the design doesn’t give you much of a view. Privacy and room size matter more to me here. Some Western food was good, and the grilled fish was much better with extra spice. I really appreciated how quickly and helpfully the hotel responded when I realized I’d worked out my departure date wrong and needed to pack at the last minute and get to the airport. I’d definitely consider coming back.

The service was exceptional, and the beach dinner is worth going for. Singer LINA and the band made our evening. The hotel is amazing, but for the price it isn’t especially lavish. The breakfast selection was limited, though okay, and didn’t feel like enough for what we paid, Rs. 30,000 / 350 USD. There are no hand showers by the toilet seats, which will be a problem for Indians.

The hotel itself looks nice, but the stay fell well short of what I expected from the Belmond name and price. The area around it and the beach were dirty, with visible plastic and rubbish. I know the beach is public, but I’d expect a luxury resort to do basic daily cleaning. Breakfast service was inconsistent. Simple orders took a long time, and once my coffee never came. There were serious mosquito problems, and the room had no electric repellents or other preventive measures. We were travelling with a small child and decided to leave early. The experience didn’t match the way the property is presented online.

The grounds were lush, and our suite with a private pool was perfect. It’s a beautiful property, like something out of the White Lotus. We stayed several nights in early December before a cruise, and the staff couldn’t have been warmer or more welcoming. We arrived after midnight, and I realized I’d left my glasses on the flight. Thanks to Tessa at the concierge desk, they were found at the airport the next day, and I could retrieve them before the cruise. I’d also like to thank Windani, our lovely server at breakfast and lunch.