[ Update 26 Sept 2017 ] - Mt. Agnug is said to erupt. We had a chat with one international group on this. The group shared with us that as to Mount Agung, Karangasem, while all their hotels in Bali are operating normally they are monitoring the situation closely.  They encourage us to obtain information from The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency at http://www.bmkg.go.id or the local news agencies.

With our previous article, you learnt how not to be cheated by taxi in Bali. Did you book a hotel already? Team Kaeru have stayed at many hotels around the world and have had good and bad experiences. We would like to share our suggestions.

You would want to reduce the risk of disappointment as much as possible for relaxation. We try to come up with the great options. Most of the hotels we introduce here offer pick up service at the Bali International airport, so you do not need to think about the traffic.

If you stayed at other great place in Bali, please let us know!

In Bali, even if you have tattoo, you do not need to worry about it "unlike" in Japan where you need to worry in fact. Find out why here!

Here are our tips as to what you need to be careful with to make your stay the great at great hotel in Bali, Indonesia.  Even though you paid fortune to book one of the best hotels in Bali, your stay may be wasted if you are not careful.

You see what you can expect and what you can not expect as below:

Welcome drink 

You get the drink, sometimes ice cream and so upon your arrival

Shuttle service (not free)

Good hotel also offers you some cold towel and some drink in the car. If you stay at several properties under the same group, there is often free shuttle between the properties (Always remember to reserve it!).

Butler service

You have a personal assistant to serve you when you need. But it is not really necessary in our opinion.

Afternoon tea

You get some free snacks and drink after lunch till sometime before the evening. It is free(well, it is all incld. in your fee!). Usually if you can arrive at your property early enough, you can enjoy it before check in also (the rule depending on property).

Quality service

In Bali, employees do job hopping and the experience/knowledge level is not stable. You may have a butler but you can not really expect too much from him.

Free pick up service ( you usually need to pay the additional fee with prior reservation)

Cleanliness (even at a high end property, you need to be aware of the risk of uncleanliness in your room, food etc. )

Our personal recommendation is to make sure you use a coffee machine only with clean water once before you use it.

We had a coffee machine ("proudly" made in Italy) at one good hotel in Bali which had a water flea inside. We were lucky to find it in our mouth (before drinking up)! And the butler did not think it was a big deal.  After this incident, every time we use a coffee machine at some hotel, we first use it without a coffee capsule to cleanse the water channel inside.

You should not expect the high safety standard for swimming pool at hotels in Bali. You may see the life guard but you can not expect him to stop other customers who are doing something dangerous.

We love to take some dip in the night looking at the stars in Bali. We rarely see the life guard around night time. Please follow the hotel rule about the opening time of swimming pool too.

We almost cut our skins with some broken tile in hotel swimming pool.Luxurious hotel always look great at first but you take time and look into details there are something not so great.

Source: the hotel's official website

Name: The Villas at AYANA Resort BALI 

Click here to book this hotel!

Clearly one of the best hotels in Bali 

Spacious villas. Suitable for various occasions from a couple's romantic time to the group trip

You get a butler to serve you.

Address: Jalan Karang Mas Sejahtera, Jimbaran, Bali 80364, Indonesia

30 mins from the DPS airport (Pick up service available)

Note: Even the best hotel has some shortcomings such as some dirt floating on your swimming pool.  We understand it is not easy to keep the property 100% clean esp. in windy time and high season. No convenience store around. Infinity pool on the cliff is not really kid friendly.

Tel: +62-361-702222

Check in: after 15:00 

Check out: 12:00

Source: the hotel's official website

Padma Resort Legian    

Click here to book this hotel!

Great for the family. The pool has slide and so on. Quite close to the city center. You find many reasonable priced food around.

No butler service. But it does not really matter if you do not need a special assistance.

Note: Beach is close but no private beach so that you get always harassed by the "beach lesson instructors, street vendors and so on" on the beach.  

Their infinity swimming pool (S.K.A.I. bar) is not really a pool. It is almost like a pond in front of the bar. You basically swim the other two big swimming pools in the complex.

Address: Jl. Padma No.1, Legian, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia

15-20 mins from the DPS airport (Pick up service available)

Tel: +62-361-752-111

Check in: after 15:00 

Check out: 12:00

Source: the hotel's official website

Padma Resort Ubud   

Click here to book this hotel!

It is in the middle of jungle.You can not go out once you are in the hotel. Around 15 mins by car to the Ubud city center where the monkey forest is. We recommend you to swim in the night (careful not to get drown). You see so many stars.

Note: There is a fire place by the swimming pool in the night but the hotel does not keep it long (if not many guests). You make sure you book the shuttle bus between Padma group hotels to get there if you stay at other Padma property and this hotel. You can not go out once you are in the hotel. You can swim in the infinity swimming pool. It is nice but not that big. You take a walk on the hiking course which is part of the hotel. But not much else.

Address: Banjar Carik Desa, Puhu, Payangan, Gianyar, Bali 80572, Indonesia

1.5 hour- 2 hours  from the DPS airport (Pick up service available)

Tel: +62-361-702222

Check in: after 15:00 

Check out: 12:00

The Trans Resort Bali

Great price for good hotel in Bali. The hotel also offers afternoon tea.

Click here to book this hotel!

Address: Jalan Sunset Road, Kerobokan, Kuta Utara, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali, Indonesia

Around 30 mins by car from Bali International airport (DPS)

Note: The hotel is high in the middle range. Full of families (great for families in other words). It is not perfect if you look for a super silence. If you look for more silence, book the villa of this property.

Tel: +62 361 8981234

Check in: after 15:00 

Check out: 12:00

Always good to have a travel insurance. 

Have a nice trip to Bali. We always appreciate your feedback or your experience in Bali. Please share with us!

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Source: Wikipedia, each hotel's official websites

Disclaimer: Even though we try to make the info as updated and accurate but the accuracy of the information herein is not guaranteed by us. If you have any uncertainty, please contact the information source.