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Continuing on from Singapore, we arrived safely (although VERY slowly through the airport) in Bali. For background info, I know Bali very well: we’ve been travelling there for 40 years and the rest of my family lived there for 10 years. The other major caveat for this trip is that we have an 11-yr old, hence the choice of hotels! We first stayed at the Grand Mercure Seminyak for 3 nights. This was a very last-minute decision/offer at the excellent price of GBP80/night for 3 including breakfast. As we knew we’d be in Kuta (more of that later!), we thought it would be easier to do some restaurants/shopping Seminyak/Petitenget/Kerobokan within an easy distance.
The hotel was more than decent for the price, bearing in mind it’s a “family hotel” with everything that entails! Not a romantic hideaway (the nearby Indigo is for that). Okay pool + basketball for the kids, and a breakfast punching far above its weight, really excellent choices including difference Balinese options every morning. A total highlight.
After a few restful days there, we moved to…Hard Rock Bali! Probably not a go-to choice on HfP, but we have been many times over the years, but this was probably our last, both due to age (11-12) and an awful event which was of course bad luck but was quite traumatic: an Australian woman on our corridor was arrested (loudly) in the middle of the night for having attacked someone in a bar earlier on. To be fair, the hotel comped us that night. Back to happier things: the pool area + entertainment is the most spectacular for kids in the whole of Bali and beyond. It’s especially good for kids with no siblings as everyone joins in with everything: pool basketball, beach volleyball, etc. etc. Our son has made great friends here.
The hotel classifies itself as 5*, which of course it’s not: noise is a massive problem, and any rooms beyond the VIP section (well worth paying for) will have a free concert from the rock band reverberating through their room every night until midnight. Rooms are small for Bali although fine, and the TV has an amazing list of very recent movies for free. Breakfast is pretty decent: in recent years, there have been far more Indonesian options. Queueing can be insane if you’re not an early riser. The location opposite Kuta beach means lovely evening strolls, and ironically, Kuta is much more pleasant than in recent years, as people have moved up to Legian, which is now pretty awful (tattoo joints, lovely restaurants that have turned to only having “BBQ” + sports screens…We only did a couple of day trips this time. One was to Ubud, where we DIDN’T have traffic problems, incredibly. I think a lot is in the timing: if you manage to leave Ubud before 4pm or so, it’s much better. Otherwise, the dance performance/dinner crowd start arriving as others attempt to leave, and all the jams start. On our way, we stopped around 10am at the Goa Gajah temple, where I hadn’t been for years. It was an absolute delight: only 4 other people there, reasonably priced snacks available, and no hassling. All this was with a car + driver for a full day (700,000 rp.). Still love Ubud and am guessing we might stay here next time.
We also had a relaxing day in Sanur. If anyone is interested in handbags/trainers, the fixed-price stalls in the beach market really are the best. We walked a lot, and also saw the new mall (new to me), which has actually been designed quite sympathetically and has some decent food places inside.
Following Bali, we flew AirAsia (great, with cheap pre-ordered food) to Bangkok, where we were collected by a car/driver (2000 baht) and taken the 3 hours to HuaHin. This is a favourite destination of ours: nice places to stay, fabulous food and great markets, and no additional flight to Bangkok. Last year, we had a fabulous stay at the Centara (think 1920s colonial, sweeping staircases, etc.) on an amazing 6 nights for 3 offer. However, on this occasion, the Hilton next door was coming in at less than half the price, so we tried there. It turned out to be way beyond our expectations. Although we were originally “upgraded” to a renovated but smaller room, we were offered a larger Thai-style older room which knocked it out of the park. A very large junior suite with massive balcony overlooking the sea. We were also given lounge access although they did point out (first time ever!) that Honors Gold only have access to the continental breakfast! Never enforced, of course. The lounge was lovely: spacious, gorgeous views and pleasant evening snacks, as well as a choice of cocktails. All within walking distance of the town centre, or tuk-tuk for the further-away markets. OH has already asked to return for a significant birthday.
Final stop was Bangkok (car+driver again). I’d been discussing hotels on HfP and we initially checked into the Waldorf Astoria. A very odd experience. It’s on a few floors within a large building, has some lovely design elements, and is very (VERY!) discreet. We barely saw a soul in 24 hours (which some people may love, of course: I actually thought it would be ideal for famous couples!). The sq.m. of the room was fine on paper, but it had a massive bathroom and dressing area, meaning the room itself was really pushed for space (remembering there are three of us, to be fair). It’s “famous” breakfast really was a bit of a disappointment: yes, the à la carte options were fresh and delicious, but I’ve seen SO many better in Asia. We realised that the quietness and lack of communal spaces (no lounge, small lobby) were not what we needed as a family, so moved (WA kindly cancelled the other nights) to the Conrad, which turned out to be great. I recalled @Aston saying they’d had a good time there, and as soon as the lovely receptionist sympathetically listened to our plight (“let’s see if we can find you a more spacious room”), we knew it was the right decision. Of course the interiors are not luxe, but fabulous location for walking, great lounge (including cocktails and sizeable food offerings) and excellent “crooner” bar in the evenings. We booked through Amex Hotels (a first for me) which included one free night, $100 (more cocktails!!) and HH points. Pool was warm with a massive jacuzzi next to it. Breakfast also good but far preferable in the lovely lounge instead of the very busy downstairs. Our days were mainly filled with friends/Chatuchak market/Chinatown backstreets.
The BKK Priority Pass lounge before leaving was the Coral lounge, which has a full manned bar and various hot food choices. The return home was with EVAair. GBP290 in Y, purchased about 6 weeks earlier. This is a daytime direct flight to LHR, and was the best economy long-haul we’ve had in a long time. Free Wi-Fi, great movie selection and edible food – what more do you want?!
Now to start planning for next year…
Thank you for the report.
What was your plan B for flights home?
Thank you for the report Michael. I’ve stayed in one of the premium/refurbished rooms at the Hilton Hua hin and enjoyed it thoroughly. I think I would try the Hyatt next time or the Marriot though, and then fly onto Chiang Mai.
When we went to the water park at Bali, we went past the Hard rock hotel in Kuta and the wife made a comment “it’s livelier here, I think you would have done better booking this hotel”. I laughed and off we went to the Indigo at Seminyak.
I looked at the Waldorf Astoria, but chose the Asian Kempinski. I think I chose the correct option.
Air Asia are pretty good once in the air but I had a diabolical experience on the ground in Penang.
I may try Eva Air in Feb from Heathrow but I think I prefer the Qatar flight with a stop over for “jet lag” purposes.Thank you for the report.
What was your plan B for flights home?
The last few summers, we’ve always just bought the return ex Asia
(having done avios flights out but not finding returns…plans
to vague for any -355 shenanigans!).Qatar was around the same price, but with the “disappearance” of tier
points (for my style of travelling), we far preferred the direct flight,
and EVA have been excellent each time.Thank you for the report Michael. I’ve stayed in one of the premium/refurbished rooms at the Hilton Hua hin and enjoyed it thoroughly. I think I would try the Hyatt next time or the Marriot though, and then fly onto Chiang Mai.
When we went to the water park at Bali, we went past the Hard rock hotel in Kuta and the wife made a comment “it’s livelier here, I think you would have done better booking this hotel”. I laughed and off we went to the Indigo at Seminyak.
I looked at the Waldorf Astoria, but chose the Asian Kempinski. I think I chose the correct option.
Air Asia are pretty good once in the air but I had a diabolical experience on the ground in Penang.
I may try Eva Air in Feb from Heathrow but I think I prefer the Qatar flight with a stop over for “jet lag” purposes.Looks like we’ve done some similar trips! We did the Hua Hin Marriott when our youngster was about your child’s age (from your posts!), and it was perfect: very lovely splash area, gentle pool slide, donkey on beach, cross the road to the mall, etc. Hyatt was the second choice this time, does look nice.
Was the Indigo at Seminyak fabulous? Looked lovely from the outside.
Thank you for the report Michael. I’ve stayed in one of the premium/refurbished rooms at the Hilton Hua hin and enjoyed it thoroughly. I think I would try the Hyatt next time or the Marriot though, and then fly onto Chiang Mai.
When we went to the water park at Bali, we went past the Hard rock hotel in Kuta and the wife made a comment “it’s livelier here, I think you would have done better booking this hotel”. I laughed and off we went to the Indigo at Seminyak.
I looked at the Waldorf Astoria, but chose the Asian Kempinski. I think I chose the correct option.
Air Asia are pretty good once in the air but I had a diabolical experience on the ground in Penang.
I may try Eva Air in Feb from Heathrow but I think I prefer the Qatar flight with a stop over for “jet lag” purposes.Looks like we’ve done some similar trips! We did the Hua Hin Marriott when our youngster was about your child’s age (from your posts!), and it was perfect: very lovely splash area, gentle pool slide, donkey on beach, cross the road to the mall, etc. Hyatt was the second choice this time, does look nice.
Was the Indigo at Seminyak fabulous? Looked lovely from the outside.
would never deter anyone from staying at the Indigo at Seminyak. The pools were superb. Think my trip to Hua Hin won’t be until she”s at least aged 4/5 now.
Where is next in Asia Michael?
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