Image Credit: MG Johnson
As this years’ “volunteer” to stay and keep things running whilst all other staff are away for their festive holidays, I decided to take advantage of an early break and headed to the Intercontinental Bali Resort for a couple of weeks, to unwind, relax and refresh.
Booking a Club room is highly recommended. With it comes the inclusion of a complimentary cooked breakfast every morning, a selection of afternoon tea snacks and drinks, before sliding into complimentary cocktails and hot hors d’oeuvres between 5 and 7 pm daily – which, quite frankly, is enough to sustain any traveller for a whole day without consuming anything else. But to be sure, I also tried a new restaurant every few days. Better safe than sorry.
The resort underwent extensive renovations during COVID periods, and the guest experience is now even better, with hard flooring at the Beach Café and everything looking immaculate and clean. The staff were also very accommodating and quick to carry out all requests made of the hotel. There was nothing too hard or too complex to arrange, even with short notice.
The large size of the room was matched only by the vast array and selection of swimming pools available to guests and IHG members. I lost count at about twelve – everything ranging from the main pool with spectacular sunset views of the water, to small kid-friendly pools with fountains of water. Although there are no lifeguards on duty, pool attendants were always on hand to deliver towels and take food and beverage orders. Sitting poolside on a daily basis allows a traveller to calm their soul – or at least finish several books each week.
Of course, the hotel also has a large, well equipped gym for those travellers keen on staying in shape whilst abroad. And if you over do the exercise, you can always take advantage of Spa Uluwatu, where masseuses trained in several massage therapies, will tease the aches and pains out of well work arms and legs and have you back in action in sixty minutes, or more.
There are several shops in the hotel lobby, ready to assist tourists find and secure that indigenous designed or manufactured item, to securing photos to remember their trip by. Prices are reasonable and as long as you can wait till 10am, you can shop like it’s a boxing day sale event!
Restaurant options include a Japanese restaurant, a seafood restaurant, the Beachside Café and the ever-present room service to cater to everybody’s needs. Currently, IHG members also receive 20% off food prices.
The hotel transport service makes transiting from and to Denpasar International Airport a breeze. At about AUD35 each way, it is cheaper than paying for a taxi from Sydney airport to the city, so well worth the money – and if you’ve ever been to Bali, you know the masses of scooter and motorbike riders would have Sydney taxi drivers looking like little old ladies – so much better to let the locals do it.
This is now one of my favourite places to stay in Bali. I may even volunteer to be the only one in the office for next Christmas!
Further information and a booking link can be found at https://bali.intercontinental.com/
