There are always experiences that stand out and for me the Laguna Resort and Spa in Bali is one of them. 1st trip to Asia, 1st trip to Bali, a hotel chosen not at random but almost, my first Starwood (the one where I took my loyalty card that’s to say…) and my usual stop for a few years.
After a few years of infidelity, I took advantage of our Garuda Business Class discovery expedition to return.
The Laguna Resort and Spa: a huge complex…but on a human scale
What strikes you the first time is the size of the resort. The staff may explain the nooks and crannies upon arrival, but you will have a hard time finding the breakfast room the next morning. This is due to the size of the hotel and the different levels on which it is built. But once the first day is over, it remains a human-sized establishment. Unlike Vana Belle or Naka Island which I will review here shortly, there is no need to walk for hours or to use a cart.
The hotel has a beach and many pools disguised as artificial lagoons. This has a major advantage: even when the hotel is full, you never have the impression of being crowded, you can always find a place near a swimming pool or on the beach, you can always find a place at the restaurant or at a bar and it is appreciable.
The atmosphere is calm, almost family-like, without the festive excesses that can be found elsewhere in other hotels on the island, which take themselves for a nightclub from 5:00 pm onwards and that too is appreciable when you are looking for a rest.
But let’s start from the beginning.
Balinese calm and serenity
The hotel is located on the peninsula of Nusa Dua, known for its concentration of hotels. Let’s be honest: this is not an area to visit at all. One is quiet there in the hotel, one goes to do some shopping or dine in the mall and that’s all. On the other hand, it is an excellent base camp to travel around the island and achieve the right mix between tourism and rest. Go on an early morning excursion and come back in the early/mid afternoon to enjoy the restful calm of the hotel.
The reception is done in a lobby with local decoration totally open to the outside. We are already in the atmosphere: calm, attention, rest, authenticity.
The check-in is done quietly installed in a sofa while enjoying a welcome drink. It is done in the most fluid way possible and you are then led to your room, the occasion for a quick presentation of the place. The luggage will follow a few minutes later.
Let’s talk about the place…here is the map of the resort.
On the left are the residential buildings and villas, on the right the hotel buildings (restaurants, bars, stores, reception rooms). And the blue areas are pools (and below the sea).
The hotel is built in stairs and goes down to the sea by levels. The challenge the first days is to find your way through the pools to reach the breakfast… But we will come back to it.
We had taken standard rooms and were upgraded to the second level room, the Studio Deluxe. With a lagoon view as far as I am concerned.
Warm and spacious rooms…with a view.
Compared to the standard room, the deluxe room gains a few square meters for a sitting area.
The bathroom is very, very spacious with a large tub/shower in all room categories.
And a video is better than all the speeches…
I was talking about the “lagoon” view (in fact pools that are well “disguised”).
You will notice that the lower rooms have direct access to a pool from their balcony.
Swimming areas that you don’t know what to do with
You’ve probably already had this unpleasant surprise. The photo on the hotel’s website shows a huge swimming pool with the help of a trick shot and upon arrival you have a wading pool. Here there is no deception on the product. You have seen the map above, here is the reality.
Main pool:
The “fake” lagoon:
One of the secondary pools:
An attempt at an overview:
The hotel should have about 200 rooms and suites (plus a few villas, some with private pools). I might as well tell you that even in the middle of the high season we have plenty of room to live, so in the off season we feel almost alone.
A resort to live in
One takes pleasure to walk in the hotel which is thus mainly in the open air, to settle here and there. Day or night it is a positive, relaxing experience.
And at night it is even more beautiful.
The restaurant and its terrace on the beach
The area around the pool:
Excellent catering
The hotel has 3 bars and two restaurants.
Both restaurants are large. Impossible not to find a seat at the time that suits you (at worst you will not have the one you want in front of the beach…).
One is more gastronomic. We ate very well there for…less than 50 euros per person. (starter, main course, dessert, one drink)
The other is a buffet with an impressive selection. This is also where breakfast is served. It is to date in choice and quality the best breakfast buffet I have seen in a hotel.
A breakfast without comparison
Short tour far from being exhaustive.
Hot dishes of all kinds, sushi, meats, fruits, pastries, cold cuts… it’s no longer a breakfast but a buffet restaurant.
A superb spa
When I came to the Laguna for the first time there was a third restaurant, more gastronomic. It has since been replaced by a spa and a gym.
The room is very decent. As for the spa, it is simply superb and moreover affordable, which is not always the case.
To recover from our long flight we booked a massage as soon as we arrived…and we were even offered to do it outside next to the pool. The result is this…
A truly Balinese service
A last word on the service, all in efficiency, discretion and kindness. Those who know Indonesia in general and Bali in particular will not be surprised but here again it is a really differentiating element, added to the calm of the place and the overall quality of services. Such a change from what we experience elsewhere on a daily basis.
Paradise has a price and it is very reasonable
So of course after reading this we say to ourselves that it is not for everyone.
I just made a little simulation on the hotel website for a reservation in 10 days, in the middle of summer, so last minute and far from being in the best conditions….or the worst possible rates. I let you judge. Out of the big vacation periods and if you book in advance you can get even better rates.
The Laguna Resort and Spa Bali ? Adopted by the Travel Guys
It was my return to the Laguna after a few years of disloyalty, my 6th or 7th stay I think. In the meantime I have seen so many beautiful establishments that I thought that the spell might be broken, that I would be disappointed. Well, no. I know why I fell in love with this hotel on day one and why it will forever be one of the best options when I visit the area.
Olivier, who did not know it, adopted at first sight also.
In short, we can only tell you one thing: you can go to the Laguna with your eyes closed. Anyway, we’re returning as soon as possible. At this price for this level of service and a hotel classified category 5 at Starwood we have not found better.
In the meantime, the Travel Guys wish you a great vacation and maybe see you soon at the Laguna!
The entire photo album is available here.
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