Our two-night stay from 7 October 2008...
Our two-night stay from 7 October 2008 was greeted by the R2,000 Karcis Masuk Pantai Sanur along the entrance road as entrance fee despite our protest that we were to register at the Hotel within. Our query at the front counter on why we were asked to pay such fee was nonchalantly side-stepped and we were given some car stickers instead. And we were also extended some white rubber identification bands that my son found it very fascinating. No further instructions or clarifications were given.
Our villa unit 103 was a pleasant surprise being on the ground floor closer to the pool and not tucked away from the conveniences. Some elderly guests had to climb to the 3-storey upper units above the lobby!
However our requested king-size bed was not available, instead we had to settle for 2-single beds. Whilst the room size was generous, it was a little bit barren - a single bedside table, writing table, two seating chairs and hidden closet tucked inconveniently to a corner.
Lights were insufficient and barely lit the room, while electrical outlets were sorely lacking - the only available was below TV table that was good for my back-breaking exercises to recharge numereous appliances that one takes along nowadays!
Toilet was below average more so when a large warning notice was posted above the WC requesting non-disposal of paper-fibre products through them. You have to wait a moment for the hot water but the water pressure can be improved with good pumps cheaply available nowadays!
The really small swimming pool, footpaths & plantings looked a little bit worn & had seen better days. Even the fish ponds were nondescripted and the fishes old and grey!
The winner had to be the coffe house fronting the beach - alas Sanur beach had been invaded by brown dead seaweeds and black debris washed ashore maybe some sea pollution elsewhere.
Breakfast buffet was okay - services were good and seatings cordial. Outdoor seating courtyard was tastefully done for about 20 dinners overlooking the beach. The upper dining level was closed.
While the management is attempting to rebrand this hotel ala-boutique hotel, it did not fit into such category of boutique since cleanliness had to be redefined to the cleaning staff.
The room was filled with dust and dirt as we combined our beds to house the children. The electrical kettle took ages to boil water while the TV-channels were neither entertaining nor informative! Towels were small and stiff that one would not buy for one's own use. The beds were beyond it's life and should be replaced. Only travelling tiredness that let us fell asleep immediately. Comfort was NOT the key-word of the room.
No helpful information was available at the front desk apart from some self-serving touch-screen ICT directory of Bali road map that had to be subcribed for any useful printout. We were too busy on holiday to figure out it's usefulness!
In good faith, s simple replacement of utensils, beds, sheets, towels and ample functional furniture would turn around the desired boutique outlook of the hotel - and such products are widely available in the island of tourist mecca - that we could not comprehend the obvious solution.
Otherwise, it could be the secret hotel of Sanur Bali awaiting to be discovered.
