As one review reads, nineteenth century socialite and mother of the hotel’s founder, Mrs. Caroline Astor, would surely approve. To say she would simply approve would be an understatement. This expansive property is a sophisticated and stylish retreat with something for everyone, and includes service that stands out as some of the best anywhere in the world.
The only regret one will have when visiting the St. Regis Bali is the inevitable, unfortunate moment of driving under the rainforest of trailing vines one last time as they depart.
Looking for another opportunity to enjoy Bali’s natural beauty and relaxation, the travelers found themselves again looking for a hotel in Bali. Marriott Bonvoy members will find no shortage of options around the island including options for budget travelers and those seeking luxury.
After reading several reviews, including the traveler’s own on the Ritz-Carlton Bali, the decision was made to give the St. Regis Bali a try.
In this post:
Location, Arrival, & Check-In
Like the other high-end properties in Bali, the St. Regis is located on the peninsula of Nusa Dua, a secluded and pristine area of the island. The advantage of this location is that it’s quiet, really quiet. Naturally, the downside for some travelers is that it’s far from the rest of the commonly visited places in Bali. On top of the dense Balinese traffic, this could present an issue for travelers looking to do more than take advantage of the resort’s amenities. This did not prove to be an issue for this traveler as they had planned to spend their four-night stay in comfort here at the hotel.
As part of the room rate or the traveler’s Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite status, the hotel arranged for a car transfer from the airport. Once the travelers cleared immigration and customs, they met the hotel’s escort to the car. The hotel’s car is comfortable and spacious, clearly meant to accommodate more than one guest. A short 30-minute ride later and one arrives in the hotel’s spacious lobby.
A welcome is always very warm in Bali. A welcome drink accompanied the check-in formalities, and at this point, it was confirmed that the travelers had been upgraded to the luxurious Lagoon Access villa – a several category upgrade from the basic suite initially booked. Once the procedures were complete, the first of 24/7 butlers escorted the traveler to their villa.
As part of the initial escort, the butler had arranged of a tour of the property. While it may be large, it is private, featuring just 81 suites and 42 villas sprawled across almost 20 acres of land. Throughout the property, one can easily access the various amenities which are connected by inviting garden paths and hidden gazebos.
Hotel Room
Guesting staying the garden villa enter through double doors down a private path surrounded on either sides with a water features featuring local Balinese architecture. The doors close for extra privacy but is almost unnecessary given the plants that create a private atmosphere. The second door, which requires a keycard or mobile keycard via the Marriott Bonvoy app, opens to the large living area.
Immediately entering, the travelers were in awe of the crystal chandelier that hovered over a four-seat circular table complete with welcome snacks and a bottle of sparkling wine. Green and brown seating complete the living room with a large TV in the corner. One cannot help but to stop and appreciate the gorgeous view that the windows and doors offer. Off the left side of the room is a half-bath, well stocked mini-bar with snacks and drinks, and a separate kitchenette and staff bedroom with bathroom.
Walking into the bedroom, the colors from the living room continue the Balinese theme. A good balance is met with classic St. Regis flare and Indonesia style. A beautiful king-sized canopy bed centers the room with a seating area at the foot of the bed. A TV and desk area flank the sides of the room with space to store items during the visit. On either side of the head of the bed are controls for the lights and curtains, plus places to charge your devices. Each night the staff arranges for a turndown service complete with St. Regis mints and tea if requested.
Immediately behind the spacious bedroom is a large ensuite bathroom. Its design is a mix of cultures with Balinese inspired enamelled pearl containers alongside art decor grape-style side lamps. Catching ones attention immediately was the standalone tub which included bath salts and could be set-up by your butler upon request with additional “toppings” including essential oils and/or flower petals. The bathroom is complete with a double sink, amenities, and water. A large shower with a waterfall overhead can be accessed behind one sink and the Japanese-style toilet room on the other. Lastly, a large dressing room with space for several suit cases completes the bathroom area.
The highlight of this room, and indeed all of the villas, in the large private terrace and pool. The wooden terrace features two deckchairs and an umbrella for shade, plus a comfortable outdoor table with seating for two. Each villa also features a bale bengong, a traditional Indonesian gazebo with Balinese-inspired sculptures, and with day beds for relaxing. The pool is good for an individual sized pool and is perfect for cooling off – day or night.
Off the corner of the villa is an outdoor shower area and then, steps that lead down to the 40,000-square-foot warm salt water lagoon. The lagoon is perfect for meandering an includes gardens, waterfalls, in-water seating, and sundecks.
Club Lounge
The hotel does not feature a club lounge, but as all St. Regis properties do worldwide, the beloved Champagne sabering event is held on property at 6:30 each night, and is a more than acceptable replacement. As the story goes, famed French military commander, Napoleon Bonaparte, is said to have sliced open a bottle of Champagne with his sword after all of his battles. In 1904 at the St. Regis in New York City, John Jacob Astor IV, son of the aforementioned Caroline Astor, opened a bottle of Champagne in the same way. This tradition is now a nightly occurrence at dozens of St. Regis hotels around the world.
Following the Champagne sabering event, guests can enjoy a nightly display of Balinese fire dancers. Lively drummers play a steadying Balinese beat as dancers throw and dance with fire. It ends with the highlight of the hotel’s fire pits, officially welcoming the evening.
Amenities
At the St. Regis Bali, guests are not left wanting different options as the hotel features four distinct dining venues, and has both in-room and in-villa dining options, too. The travelers got to try two of the restaurants and the in-villa dining during their stay. Needless to say, however, that the food on property is delicious and includes locally sourced items includes spices from the hotel’s very own garden.
Boneka is a versatile buffet spot. In addition to offering breakfast for all hotel guests, the restaurant also has a lunch and dinner buffet. The food features local seafood, a mixture of Indonesia and Western cuisine, and a scrumptious dessert area complete with a free flowing chocolate fountain. The Gourmand Deli is located on ground level and is the perfect place to get light bites and gourmet coffee. It was here that the traveler secured a delicious box of St. Regis branded chocolates to bring back as a gift. Lastly, for all villa guests, the hotel offers in-villa BBQ. Of course, this traveler took advantage of this option. Returning from the Champagne sabering, the traveler was pleased to find a rose petal surrounded table set-up on the terrace and a chef with a grill ready to make a three course dinner. Two staff were on-hand to serve the food and drinks throughout the night. It was a bit over the top, but a great way to end this traveler’s visit to
The hotel features two bars: the King Cole Bar, and the Visa Pool Bar. The King Cole bar is the hotel’s main bar and includes a lovely terrace on which these travelers watched the daily champagne sabering and fire dance. It overlooks the rest of the resort, and also had a live singer each night. Inside, the bar has a dark wood theme featuring Balinese art throughout. On the menu, one can, of course, have a classic St. Regis “local variation” Bloody Mary, or try one of the many options from the dozens of properties around the world. The bar also features several rotating monthly options, staple in-house creations, and classic drinks. A small cold and hot tapas style menu is also available. Unfortunately, this traveler did not have time to try to the Vista Bar, but the drink menus are what one would expect to enjoy at a poolside and beachfront bar. The food menu is similar to the in-room dining options.
The hotel has two very large pools. The first, which these travelers were able to access directly from their villa, is the large salt-water lagoon pool. A central pontoon with deckchair seating and floaties can be found in the center in addition to several other shaded areas to wonder. Between this lagoon and the in-villa pool, the travelers did not get to take advantage of the regular pool. However, other reviews have noted the pool is deeper and cooler than the lagoon pool. At the end of this pool was a a bar, which also served food for those choosing to enjoy the hotel’s luxurious beach area, too.
Located near the entrance of the hotel, and a buggy ride away from these traveler’s villa, is the Iridium Spa, a sanctuary of relaxation with a butterfly theme that runs throughout. Koi ponds surround the spa’s eight treatment rooms, including two extra large couples suites. A Finnish spa and aromatherapy steam room, a beauty salon, and a fitness center can also be found at the spa. There is also a 12-station aqua vitality pool on side, with instructions to enjoy a thorough full-body experience before or after a massage service (of course, guests can take advantage of the pool even without a treatment). As a Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite member, these travelers were provided a 20% discount on services and an additional 30-minute massage to top off any paid service.
In addition to the amenities above, there were several other many amenities around with different levels of privacy. The beach provides seating with a mixture of loungers with and without umbrellas for those wanting to soak up sun and seawater. Walking around the resort, the concrete is cleverly hidden by tropical decorations including a chef’s garden, hammock garden, bird bath, orchid pavilion, maze garden, and amphitheater.
Conclusion
One important aspect of this hotel is the staff. Only one word can describe them: impeccable. The combination of Balinese kindness and efficiency of a large luxury hotel makes the staff her stand out. From the moment the travelers were met at the airport to the moment I was escorted through immigration at departure, the travelers were greeted by name. After breakfast on the first day, the staff had the selected drinks and sides already prepared. Noticing the travelers were leaving early in the morning, the butler team offered to organize a takeaway breakfast and provided an extensive menu option, free of cost. And in one instance, when one of the travelers fell getting off a buggy, the hotel’s staff had an apology drink waiting in the villa. The staff at this hotel are truly some of the best, and they will inevitably be on the highlights of any stay.
True to the St. Regis brand, this luxury resort exudes understated elegance, with elements of local culture incorporated seamlessly into the design. The hotel opened in 2009 and has not undergone extensive renovations since, and one would not be the wiser. This truly speaks to the care the hotel staff take of the property.
Writing this review from thousands of miles away, these travelers cannot help but countdown the days that they get to return. Truly a 5 out of 5 star stay – one of the best that this Ambassador Elite has ever had the privilege of enjoying.
Rating:
A Room with a (re)view 