We passed through on our way to Australia for Christmas, from Europe. December is great in Bali unless you want to roast yourself a tan quick - it was never uncomfortably hot, but it didn't rain much (you can be unlucky they say, but in the three years we have been in Bali in December, we never have ...). This was our first time in Seminyak, which we loved. Not that we did much outside the hotel - we had an eight month old baby with us, and my parents tagged aling in the room next door as well. But what we liked about Seminyak was that it was good shopping, filtering out much of the trashy shopping of Kuta/Legian, leaving a good blend which we could easily find what we were looking for. But enough about that - it was the hotel which counted for us, and verery quickly we became thrilled with what we found - not from the start because the entrance isn't at all a take your breath away experience - but once you enter the room and settle in you quickly see what it is all about. All you read about the personal touch at this hotel is true - the babysitters which take your little one away so you can eat your breakfast in peace - the pool attendant who keeps an eye on your every need - the executive chef who drops over to your table every night, the staff who all know your name and your little preferences - pretty much everything works like clockwork. Which in Bali really is quite something. We dined more nights than the usual at the hotel restaurant which from a visual and chill out experience can't be beaten. Frankly, I've visited a few of the "in places" to dine out in the area and in my view the hotel dining is a better experience for the chill out factor, and it is not that much more than the trendies ooutside the hotel when it comes to the wallet. The food isn't amazingly good (although it is very good). The wine is expensive. But overall, it works brilliantly with the waves crashing in the distance and the outdoor setting a dream. And the staff make it a real joy. Where it is worth going out are the more cheaper but excellent value places - I can't remember the name but we ate very good freshly made pasta which was significantly better than most of the pasta dishes I am served in goodish Italian restaurants in Europe (outside Italy, of course) and for value, laughably good. But in my view Koo-de-tah (or however they want to spell it) and its equally trendy spots is for those staying in cheaper hotels who want the fine dining beach experience, not for those already in a fine hotel on the beach and have it all a hundred metres from their rooms, but without the hundreds of other guests alongside. All in all, financial crisis or not, this place merits your attention, and your hard earned dollars, if, that is, you want a totally chilled out small hotel feeling, in a haven of tranquility far enough away from the hustle of the masses (who you are trying to avoid). The only other comment I would make is that although we didn't see the Club area, I understand it is without direct view/access to the beach. On that basis, our deluxe room ground floor with the beach in front of us can't be beaten. There's something to having the beach rumbling away just in front of you morning, noon and night. It is an experience I sorely miss living in Europe (and with real estate prices beachside in Oz these days, probably will have to accept I won't get there ever again). The Club may offer me many things, but (especially with our bubs, but even without I would surely feel the same) the fact that we could walk to the pool and the beach (although it isn't much of an attraction when you actually set foot on it) in one minute, plus the fact that we could smell the beach air (that was not affected by the visual detritus, I am glad to report), and sit on our terrace or even better walk to our covered pagoda covered beach-side bed and return without a second thought, made it better than I could imagine anywhere else. There may well be other places equal in Bali, but for what we paid, this place gives us enough reasons to not bother searching for another - we're happy with what we found.
