The InterContinental Bali is one of the oldest resorts in Bali (but 90’s still isn’t that old), and is in Jimbaran. As far as beach resorts in the south go, Jimbaran is pretty awesome because you have a nice big beach and views of the cliffs (where the four seasons is). This video pretty much highlights all the best parts of the InterContinental Bali:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15QbSQ32uFg
The video seems to show mostly the renovated rooms, which is only half of the hotel. Our room was in this half, and we thought the room was awesome. However, I’ve read on TA that the other half feels a little old. Never saw any of the standard old rooms, as we were upgraded to a modern club room. But also, I just kind of assume that they plan on renovating the entire thing.
The Property
Again, the view of the cliffs and being positioned right on the beach is perfect. I’m a big fan of getting out of the tourist areas of Bali and heading to the north side… but I could spend some serious time here. If this hotel was on PointBreaks, I would be tempted to stay a long while.
Our room was also right in front of the club pool, which is pretty baller. But then there is a main pool (and another smaller pool). One is plenty, but I certainly don’t mind one right next to the room.
It’s a big beach front property, which is exactly what anyone wants when they go to the beach resort – a hotel that borders tons of the beach. However, the way it’s laid out prevents any room from really having a beach view. Kinda through the trees I could see the cliffs in the background.
The decor and the statues around the hotel are perfectly Balinese. The dragon that covers the entire bridge shown in the video, and many other details, make it feel somewhere far away.
And the suites on the video… are those even for sale online?
Royal Ambassador Treatment
Chasing the Big Win promo we both needed an IC stay and I needed a saturday. So I checked in Saturday night, and used a BOGO (buy one get one free) cert, and then we rotated rooms on monday.
Treatment was amazing, if not over the top. First we were greeted by person 1, then 2, then 3, then 4, and so on. All thanking me for my loyalty and that crap. Personally, that stuff makes me feel awkward, I’d rather just go to my room.
Never the less, the lounge is awesome. In the evening they have a full bar in the lounge and a menu of mixed drinks that are free. If you like mixed drinks, this is your kind of lounge. Evening canapés include a few small dishes and sides like hummus and other dips. It’s not enough for a meal, unless you’re as cheap as we are.
Breakfast was the best benefit for Royal Ambassadors. You could have it in the lounge (no thanks), in the main restaurant (excellent!), the beach/poolside restaurant (same stuff as the main one just less), or in the room (also excellent!).
I’m not going to say we’re cheap pigs or anything… but I may know of someone who after waking up around 7am and having breakfast in the main restaurant, and then later having smoothies at the pool, then ordered breakfast in the room right before breakfast ended. An early lunch. None of it was charged.
One of the best treatments of RA status I’ve gotten in the last year… Then again, I rarely pay for rooms. So maybe that’s why the status rarely pays off.
Conclusion
As I’ve said, this hotel is as good as it gets in the south of Bali for me. Although I’m sure physically, there are much nicer properties in Bali. But I want a beach and a scenic beach. For me, Sanur and that area is not scenic enough. This sounds crazy, but the geography is a little boring. The only good part is that you can kind of see Lombok… and the beach. Okay, the beach is slightly nicer.
Still, I hate to beat a dead horse but… No one goes to bali to see white sand. No one should.* Because sand and water is everywhere. Amazing snorkeling, interesting cultural rituals, volcanoes, etc… that’s all in the north.
Booking the right room category is key at many Intercontinental hotel properties to receiving the best benefit, since (1) the t&c of the program don’t require most benefits to be honored on reward stays, though some hotels do it anyway, (2) many hotels have their own interpretation of what an upgrade means, eg ‘2 room categories of what’s booked’ at many IC properties — and some hotels have lots of categories at the lower end (so if they’re upgrading on award nights, it’s to these lower categories, but if you book just slightly above the low end the upgrades become phenomenal.. I’ve had my best upgrades overall as a Royal Ambassador on paid stays).
Personally I far preferred the club lounge breakfast at the Intercontinental Bali over the restaurant breakfast, largely because of the environs. The main buffet was crowded, lots of activity/commotion/loud, certainly compared to the more serene surroundings of the lounge. I simply preferred *being* in the lounge despite having fewer food options there.
Of course back when I stayed at the IC Bali the club lounge offered 24 hour food off a menu.
And I had redeemed my points for Hotel Anywhere gift cards when there was a big promotion for doing so, and redeemed those gift cards for a paid discounted stay.
I had a Jimbaran Bay suite as a result, which was quite impressive!
They screwed up my complimentary airport pickup, because of a data migration to new CRM, and I got a nice big spa credit as a result 😀
Glad you enjoyed the Intercontinental, and got all that food!
In this case I did alright booking the standard room. But ya know, I think by the time I jumped on the RA train, it was already past it’s prime. Am I wrong?
Agree to disagree on breakfast. Quality vs quantity. 😀 I never take it in the club if I have the choice. Although, that lounge is particularly nice, and the restaurant was particularly crowded.
No suite, no spa, and no free menu… but the club room on the pool and the food I got = excellent. 😉
Sorry for off topic. Can you email me the title of the newsletter that went out Monday, Sept 30th 2013? I’d like to read the rest of The NEW United’s Stopover and Routing Rules.
Great hotel review!
how long does your RA last once you have it ? would you get the same treatment if its just Ambassador status ?
As long as your Ambassador status works, which is a year.
Did you made the video? Amazing!