Xolumado Inspiration Village by Karisma

The care from David and Rene made this stay memorable. My two butlers helped with anything I needed, set up my Bali bed each day, and even brought me a luggage scale so I could avoid overweight baggage at the airport. They walked me to the spa and picked me up afterward, and made sure I got back to my room safely after dinner. Their attention and professionalism made me feel well looked after. A small moment at check-in set the tone: I mentioned I’d forgotten my hairbrush, and the attendant called a pharmacy right away. A brush was delivered to my room at the same time I arrived. Breakfast was another bright spot, with restaurant staff who were consistently warm and attentive. The whole team, especially David and Rene, helped make this a wonderful stay.

The staff were kind and helpful, and we enjoyed the food at every restaurant we tried. The drinks were delicious, too. Our accommodations were comfortable and lovely, the pools were nice, and the Bali beds became one of our favorite parts of the resort. Golf cart shuttles made it easy to look around the neighboring resort. We had a very enjoyable stay.

We had a beautiful room with lots of amenities, and getting to the adults-only section by golf cart was a nice bonus. The resort is close enough to the airport to make the trip easy, but it isn’t in a busy area. Check-in went smoothly. Finding our way around could be easier with more signs. Dinner bookings were also tricky: we stayed four nights, the app didn’t work, and nobody told us we should reserve as soon as we arrived, so it was hard to get into restaurants.

The check-out and transfer process was frustrating. I waited over 30 minutes at the concierge desk without anyone there, and shuttle drivers passing by said they were going elsewhere and couldn’t take me to the main lobby. By the time I got there, I was late for my airport shuttle. No one was at the main reception either. Someone at the member desk saw me but didn’t approach, so I had to ask my wife to see if they could call someone. That isn’t service I expect from a five-star resort, and I wouldn’t recommend it. The problems started at arrival. The room I had booked wasn’t available, and despite emailing the concierge weeks earlier, I got no advance notice by email, phone, or any other means. This was my first trip with my 17-month-old son. I’d requested both a crib and a king bed, but neither was there. The next day I was moved to the swim-out room I had booked, which meant waiting around to switch rooms midday and losing hours before I could unpack. I did get the crib then, but still not the king bed. The compensation offered was just a $100 credit. At the restaurants, especially the chefs market, I sometimes had to ask several times for a high chair, and the chairs we got often had no straps.