When we travel, I like to look out for traditional local designs and business to stay and do our groceries, eat and buy souveniers (or not), which is why I chose this hotel and was not disappointed.
Novotel Bali Benoa is a 4.5 star resort located at the edge of Nusa Dua, overlooking the golden sands of Tanjung Benoa beach. The main building is designed in traditional Balinese style, esp. the lobby and the dining hall. It has very green and lush tropical gardens and its own beach!
What we liked:
Rooms and gardens
The rooms are spacious, comfortable, well equipped and clean. A minibar could be filled up by yourself, and a water cooker was provided with different kinds of teas and coffees. The quality of the bed is very important to us and can be recommended for this hotel: mattress neither too hard, nor too soft- just right! The furniture is in Balinese style and has beautiful carvings. The laundry is done daily, unless you ask for linens and towels not to be changed daily. The gardens are very well maintained, and the geckos make their presence felt by their particular sounds. We never saw them though at this hotel.
This resort has bungalows as well, which were well hidden in the tropical gardens. These were family accommodations.
Mosquitos were a bit of a nuisance in the raining period, which is in December. Twice a week they treated the rooms against Mosquitos. Besides this, it is the usual precaution with appropriate dress, spaying yourself and your dress with an insect repellent. Now there are new repellents on the market, in which you can soak your dress! Apparently the effect of the repellent stays on for a longer period of time!
Novotel Bali Benoa, Room
Novotel Bali Benoa, Room
The hotel is divided by a single laned street, and a police officer escorts you across the road. Our room was on the other side of the road than the main building and the beach, and thus quieter. However, the hotel was not too loud anyway, the animations and shows in the evening were kept at a comfortable level.
Breakfast and Restaurant
The breakfast was served in the main restaurant. It was very spacious, open on all sides except the roof. If liked, you had the option to have breakfast under the free sky. However being the rainy season then, the rain could pour down abruptly!
The breakfast was served in different varieties – Balinese, south East Asian and Continental. They served different kind of juices- fruit juices, turmeric and tamarind juice, rice juice etc. Additionally, there was this tower of fruit served daily: Balinese apple, Papaya, Pineapple, snake fruit etc.
Novotel Bali Benoa, Lobby
During the day, snacks or smaller meals are served at two restaurants – one at the beach and another one at the pools. However the variety is limited, the food not traditional and expensive, We recommend going out for lunch and/or dinner.
Staff
very polite, reserved but friendly, always with a smile on their face! They were always dressed in the Balinese uniform, which looks elegant with their Sarongs and usually white blouses.
Swimming and relaxation
Besides the spacious beach, there were 3 pools, 2 of them were relaxing pools, but used for swimming as well. The problem in this part of Bali is, that the sea is rather quiet, but you can only swim very early in the morning or late at night; during the day, the tide is too low. Besides the Algae grow quite high and tickle you, while you swim in the sea, when the tide is low!
This hotel is a very family friendly hotel!
Spa: There was a beautiful Spa section, but I did not try it out!
Novotel Bali Benoa, Pools and the open dining hall and amphit theater in the back
Novotel Bali Benoa, Pools
Shopping & Groceries
Outside the hotel, there were many Eateries and Warongs, for eating out and groceries. A shuttle took the tourists to the “Bali collection” – a touristy shopping and eating area, having one or the other grocery store as well. We stuck to the traditional kitchen like seafood salad and never fell ill during this period,
at Bali collection: Handicraft
Also close to the hotel, you can rent all kinds of water sport equipments!
More plus points:
- They had drinking water dispensers all over the place, with a tap for room temperature and one for cold temperatures. Here,the guests could fill up their bottles too.
- 24 hr Business Center with WiFi connection only in the business center, but you could also buy WiFi connection
- I loved the hand carved decorations in the rooms and the hotel!
- They make the guests conscious of green environmental efforts
Transport facilities and tours could be organised through the hotels, but were quite expensive. We had organised a motorbike rent over the Email and everything worked perfect. Not so perfect was the car rental, who took us out to Ubud a few days later and then a week later, to Amed. Suddenly he asked for a higher price than was fixed. This has nothing to do with the hotel, but is a word of caution for Bali.
More to do
Visit the beautiful beaches of the south of Bali. However, not every beach is a swimmer’s beach: get your information on the net. The sea around the south of Bali, esp, the Bali Cliff, and also Kuta is said to have high waves, which are the surfers paradise, but dangerous undercurrents, which one has to be aware of and not neglect!
Rent a motor bike – if you feel sure enough with the Bali traffic! Explore the beaches by bike.
Organise a tour to Ubud – to discover the handicrafts of Bali, esp. Batik, Ikat and wooden carvings. I liked the handicrafts, but I was antagonized by the aggressive marketing pressure, which they exert on you. Don’t let yourself be cornered to buy anything there – too much commissions in play! They will also try to sell you a day at a Spa- be careful, where you go!
In Ubud visit the Tegellalang Rice terraces and a few kilometers from it, the Spice and Coffee garden. I highly recommend both trips: the rice terraces for the rich greenery, which you have to sit back and enjoy, walk through it and don’t let anyone budge you into hurry to move on (as our driver tried to do!) There are some nice small restaurants built into the terraces, where you can enjoy a drink or a meal! As to the Spice and Coffe garden – it is a treat for all senses!
Tegallalang rice terraces
Kopi Luwak Beans at the Coffee and Spice Garden
We recommend the hotel for the comfort and convenience, the direct access to the beach, family-friendly and design.
Related Posts
- Treat yourself to a Spice and Coffee Farm, Bali Pulinah – highly recommended
- Handicrafts of Bali: Watch Batik and Ikat production – highly recommended
- Weekly Photo Challenge: The World Through Your Eyes – Beaches of South Bali
Hanels' Travels and Photography 
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