Anika Hotel Melati & Spa

The rooms were modern and clean, with big baths, excellent AC, and the most outrageously comfortable beds we had anywhere in Southeast Asia. The airport location is brilliant, though getting there or back by taxi is much easier. We walked at night and found it difficult, since airport access is really designed for road travel. Apart from serving as an airport stop, the location feels pretty useless. If you need a hotel by the airport, I’m sure you’ll find none better.

For travelers watching their budget, Anika Melati Hotel and Spa is a clean, comfortable and convenient choice in Tuban, Bali. It’s in a quiet area but still near the beach, temples and markets. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the rooms have air conditioning, Wi-Fi and private bathrooms. There’s also a pool, spa and restaurant. It’s a 3-star hotel and a good option if you want somewhere convenient to stay in Tuban.

The location is handy for the airport, and the Wi-Fi is fast. But the room and service brought this down to a 3- or 2-star experience. In my second-floor room the AC was basically a useless fan, with no cold air, so it was too hot to sleep. The bathroom door was so heavy it was hard to open and close. There’s no luggage trolley or storage, so you have to carry your bags up yourself, which would be rough on the fourth or fifth floor. There was no hospitality at all.

The AC worked well and kept the room cool. It was a clean, cozy place, close to the main road without being too noisy. The bathtub and shower had both hot and cold water. The small, clean pool is right at the hotel’s front entrance by the main lobby, though it felt too exposed for my taste. There was no fridge or complimentary drinking water, and the amenities were just two small bars of soap, two large towels, and a bath mat. The TV only had local channels, but there were USB and HDMI ports. The USB port could read only a FAT-formatted flash drive.