We took the all inclusive gold package, with the room,m food and drinks upgrade. The food for was a very high standard, which we supprised, as it was an all inclusive package. Everything was exceptionally good, from the hotel staff to the hotel facilities. We had such a relaxing time, with not a worry in the world, and allways something to do all day if you want to.

To be picky the only improvments we thought they could imporve, on the scales of things were minor. 1. a daily news letter should be delivered to the room. 2. the local dance needed a narator. 3, the pool needed an area with no shade, and the biggest issue, was the evening bar, it needed jollying up... a bit to relaxed for our liking... but did make sure we were not getting to bed to late, and made sure we got a good nights sleep, and avoided the deaded holiday hangover the next morning!!!!

All in all, everyone we spoke to was having a good time, and if the price was right we would def go back to Bali, and even the same hotel!!!!!!

I went to this hotel, as the last one on my trip, hoping for a bit of luxury. It was a big disapointment.
1. The food was crap.
2. The drinks were crap, they made their cocktils using cheap squash, rather than juice to save money, even though fresh juices were including in the all inclusive package.
3. The pool and beach chairs always had peoples towels and books left on them from early in the morning, so unless you were willing to wake at 6 with the Germans, you would not get a chair all day.
4. I had bed bugs in my bed and me and my wife had bites everywhere.
5. When we arrived we were given a room which was horrible and had twin beds, when i specified a double. They moved us, but this wasted our time.
6. The beah was dirty and full of litter.

We stayed in many smaller hotels on the trip before coming here and they were much better, and more luxorious.

Avoid at all costs unless you like crap food and a bunch of half wit tatoo laden idiots smoking all day by the pool bar. Not a 5 * by any means.

We visited melia benoa for two weeks in April 2009, and had a great time.

The hotel gardens are lovely, and the pool is great, although some shade around the bar in the afternoon would help (watch your backs as it is very hot and you'll end up crispy fried). The gardens are the highlight of the hotel, and the staff are constantly maintaining it which shows. The staff throughout the hotel are friendly, chatty and the service is great.

Food in all the restaurants is great, and whether you go al a carte or buffet there is something for everyone. Bbq's on the beach happen a couple of times a week and there is a carved joint each day (pork being a favourite).

The cabaret and Balinese dancing shows are worth seeing, although the resident band are a little dubious (but try really hard).

(For those smokers out there, go down the drive and to the 24 hour shop across the road rather than the in-house shop.....much much cheaper)

The spa is ok, had a Melia package while i was there - it was nice but not as good as some of the other spa's we've been to on our travels and wasn't tempted to try any other treatments, although the manicures are good.

We upgraded our holiday to a gold package, which includes room service, laundry and a suit among other perks, and was well worth it...the rooms are lovely, spacious with huge beds, although the air con isnt cool enough and needs upgrading....Bali is a very hot place and we would of appreciated that walking into a fridge feeling which just wasnt there.

We had a couple of outings to Denpasar and Legian (sunsets here are worth seeing!), and the art markets are hugely entertaining places to go shopping. There is a great restaurant, run by a dutch ex-pat just up the road from the Melia - called Bumbu Bali - this was our eating highlight, the ristaffle is fantastic - huge amounts of food so make sure you're hungry!

Overall the hotel is great, staff are fantastic and the island is lovely - great architecture and sculptures and loads of spiritual history. If you're a sun worshipper then its great, but its very humid and a mosquito heaven so lots of water and mozzy spray required.

We have stayed at the Melia benoa 5 times in the past year and a half. The first time was in November 2007 when my wife and myself travelled from home in Perth Australia for a short 4 day stay to check out the hotel to see if it was as good as the reviews. It was and we had a relaxing time around the pool and checked out the restaurants and facilities. We rebooked for January 2008 which was my 60th birthday and took 2 of our grown sons who had a suite each. We booked with the Gold inclusive so that they didn't need to put their hands in their pockets for food and drinks and the laundry was kept up to date which was very convenient. There are 3 restaurants. One is a 24 hour per day casual restaurant where you can come and go at will. Another is on the beach and mainly has lunchtime buffets where the meals are tasty and varied. the other is the Italian restaurant which is slightly more dressy but is air-conditioned and has a great selection of food and wine. We spent a few days at the Melia last Christmas and the usually compulsory lunch didn't happen and we enjoyed Christmas lunch at the local Bali Collection. Our recent stay in April was with our 39 year old son and 15 year old grandaughter. We again selected the Gold pass for the convenience. Our grandaughter may put an end to all inclusive as she ate so much food either at the restaurants or room service, but she loved it. This time we booked the Grand suite which was on the ground 2 floors and had a great balcony by the pool area. This was the best as we used it during the day to eat drink and go off swimming, jetskiing, shooting, archery, volleyball,
and walk to the bar and generally socialise with other people in the hotel. The rooms are clean and a bit dated but the hotel has a plan for renovating rooms and this started at the end of last year. There have been comments about the airconditioning and I do know that there is a plan to upgrade the airconditioning systems. The staff are wonderful and friendly and they treat you like a king or queen. Considering the difference in our ages on this trip we all managed to enjoy ourselves.