The Laguna Resort & Spa Bali in Bali, on the peninsula of Nusa Dua, is a large resort offering a high-quality experience in a surprisingly peaceful setting given the size of the property.

I have a bit of a special history with the Laguna. It was where I stayed on my first trip to Indonesia and Asia, and it was my base for several years in a row. It was also where I joined the Starwood loyalty program, which has since become Marriott, without knowing at the time where it would take me and without imagining for a second that I would one day reach the heights of this program. We even celebrated my birthday there with Olivier several years ago.

But time passed, then COVID hit, the hotel was renovated, and it was with great pleasure and a touch of nostalgia that I went back to rediscover it.

You will find a summary of the articles on these holidays in Singapore and Bali at the bottom of the page.

Booking

I booked a standard room two months before my trip and paid for it with my points.

I also requested upgrades using my “suite night awards” for one- and two-bedroom villas and a duplex suite with an ocean view, figuring that for the lower-level suites, the “natural” upgrade due to my status should be sufficient.

Two days before my arrival, there are almost no superior rooms left in the inventory, so I figure that the likelihood of an upgrade is very low, and sure enough, I receive an email telling me that my request has been denied.

But miraculously, on the morning of my arrival, I noticed in the app that I had been upgraded to a studio suite.

Location

The hotel is located on the Nusa Dua peninsula, in the south of the island, a restricted area where there are almost exclusively hotels. There is absolutely nothing picturesque about it, but it is ideal if you are looking for peace and security.

Arrival and check-in

My Grab (the Asian Uber) finally drops me off in front of the hotel entrance in the morning.

The lobby is in the purest Balinese style, completely open to the outside.

The staff takes my suitcases to deliver them to my room, and I go to the reception desk.

The welcome is very warm and I am thanked for my past loyalty and told that they are happy to see me again in this recently renovated hotel. We chat a little about the past and the new features introduced by the renovation.

They are sorry they couldn’t get me a better upgrade, but the hotel is full and they only found a studio suite. They almost apologize.

I am also offered the option of purchasing credits. Basically, I can prepay a certain amount to cover my consumption and various hotel services with a 20% credit. If I don’t use all of it, I won’t be refunded, and if I exceed it, I will be billed normally. It’s not a bad system if you know how to estimate your expenses in advance.

So I’ll take the equivalent of 200 euros… I should have taken a little more.

Unfortunately, my room isn’t ready, and I’m asked to wait at the bar in the meantime.

That’s when a manager comes over, thanks me again for my many stays, and offers to show me around the hotel to see what’s new.

It was during this visit that I received messages from Le Méridien regarding my mobile check-out story (see article on this hotel), and she called them herself to tell them to “do their job better and stop bothering me.”

Once the tour is over, I’ll settle down at the bar to wait. This is actually something new, as it has been enlarged and moved a few meters. Before, it was just a rectangular bar shaded over the pools, but now it has a real room and a terrace.

The manager gives the bartender my room number so that I can add my drinks to my bill and informs me that my key will be brought to me as soon as the room is ready.

That’s what happens after about an hour: the bartender brings me the key and asks someone to accompany me to my room.

Knowing the property well, I would have found it on my own (although I did get lost once on my way to the beach), but for a new guest, it is essential that someone helps you find your way around the hotel.

The room

My studio suite is on the ground floor. Generally speaking, the “best” rooms are on the upper floors, but as you will see, the Laguna buildings are surrounded by artificial lagoons, so I can go swimming directly from my terrace.

I enter through a small hallway where there is a coat rack and space to store my suitcase.

On the side is the bathroom.

It features a large bathtub and a double sink.

It also has a large shower.

And then, of course, there are the restrooms.

Now for the room itself.

It has a living area with a sofa, a large table, and a desk, which is adjacent to the sleeping area with the bed.

Not exactly what I was looking for in a suite, but very comfortable, especially for one person.

I think the renovation is very successful: they have kept the original style, which is a tasteful blend of local and Western influences.

Both comfortable and welcoming.

The bedding will be of high quality and very comfortable.

I would add that the minibar is very well stocked (for once).

I also have a small terrace.

And two deck chairs by the artificial lagoon surrounding the building. Ideal for cooling off at any time of day.

All in all, a very comfortable and pleasant room. I would have loved to have had a duplex suite or a villa, but I’m not complaining.

And we’ll finish with the usual video.

Facilities

Before going any further, I need to explain the layout of the hotel.

It consists of several buildings surrounded by artificial saltwater lagoons and several swimming pools. The lush vegetation cancels out the feeling of vastness, and you always feel calm and peaceful with no one around you—except, of course, when you go to the beach or the main pool…and even then.

But a map is better than any pictures.

At first, it can seem like a real maze, especially when trying to find a bridge to cross a lagoon.

Lagoons and pools

The rear of the buildings benefits from very calm lagoons for swimming or cooling off.

Almost all of them communicate with each other and are directly accessible from the rooms on the ground floor.

In front of it is a huge lagoon, part of the ground of which is covered with sand.

It’s by far my favorite. It’s quiet and very deep at the end.

Right next door is a very large swimming pool.

On the side, there is another bar that also has its own terrace pool. This is new since my last stay here.

Then there’s the large beach. It’s very pleasant, even though I don’t think Nusa Dua has the most beautiful beaches on the island.

You can also settle into one of the many beachfront cabanas.

Or settle down in the bar’s adjoining area..

It’s a really beautiful place that photos don’t do justice to, but it feels really nice.

The hotel also has a gym. Not fantastic, but large and still does the job well.

The hotel also has a spa offering excellent treatments (I tried them) and with lovely staff.

Bars and restaurants

As already seen, there is a bar near the lobby overlooking the lagoons.

Excellent staff, it is busy all day until cocktail hour.

There is a second bar near the beach. It is open all day, of course, and also offers a snack service. I find it particularly pleasant for a drink after dinner.

There are also two restaurants.

One serves a high-quality buffet with an impressive selection and variety. This is also where breakfast is served. I didn’t go there this year, but I have fond memories of it.

The second is more upmarket with a dining room, a large terrace by the beach, and a fairly varied international and Asian menu.

I will dine there every evening, trying a little bit of everything. Once again, the staff was impeccable, even though I found the service a little slow.

The service

Really very good and attentive.

Check-out

I will check out on the app and go directly to my Grab for the airport without going back to reception.

Bottom line

I can’t be completely objective because this hotel is like Proust’s madeleine for me and brings back a flood of memories. But I can say in all objectivity that the service is very good, the setting is really pleasant and relaxing, and the staff are very attentive.

Is it better than the St Regis Bali? I really like both, but I find the Laguna perhaps a little more welcoming. However, they are both excellent hotels, even if the concept is slightly different.

Articles about these holidays in Singapore and Bali

#	Type	Post
1	Diary	Preparing for a trip to Singapore and Bali
2	Lounge	Air France lounge, Roissy Terminal 2G
3	Flight	Paris-Gothenburg, Air France, Business Class
4	Hotel	Radisson Blu Scandinavia Gothenburg
5	Restaurant	Koizen Goteborg
6	Lounge	The lounge, Goteborg
7	Flight	Gothenburg-Paris, Air France, Business Class
8	Lounge	Air France La Première lounge, Roissy 2E
9	Flight	Paris-Singapore, Air France, La Première
10	Hotel	Aloft Singapour Novena
11	Lounge	Marhaba Lounge, Singapore
12	Flight	Singapore-Denpasar, Garuda, Business Class
13	Hotel	Le Méridien Bali Jimbaran
14	Restaurant	KO Bali
15	Hotel	The Laguna resort and spa, Bali
16	Lounge	Garuda International Lounge, Denpasar
17	Flight	Denpasar-Singapore, Garuda, Business Class
18	Hotel	The Singapore Edition, Singapore
19	Restaurant	Jumbo Seafood Ion Orchard, Singapore
20	Restaurant	Kotuwa, Singapore
21	Diary	Stroll around Singapour
22	Lounge	Qantas First Class Lounge, Singapore
23	Flight	Singapore-Paris, Air France, La Première
24	Lounge	Air France La Première lounge, Roissy 2E
25	Flight	Paris-Amsterdam, KLM, Business Class
26	Flight	Amsterdam-Gothenburg, KLM, Business Class
27	Hotel	Draken, Gothenburg
28	Restaurant	Bulot, Gothenburg
29	Lounge	The Lounge, Goteborg
30	Flight	Gothenburg-Paris, Air France, Business Class
31	Diary	Debriefing of the trip to Singapore and Bali