If you have been following my travels you will have noticed that I have been spending the past few weeks in Bali, the amazing paradise in Southeast Asia. It is surreal to finally be back. I have been checking out a couple of properties in the city and got the chance to visit the Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa recently! There are a ton of selection for Marriott Bonvoy members in Bali and as such, I am keen to see how this property stands out with the stiff competition. The location might be out of the way but that is exactly what you are looking out for when heading here for a vacation. The hotel is rather new and only open back in 2018. Without further ado, check it out with Seeing The World In Steps!
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
One of the nicest hotels in South Bali, the Renaissance Bali Uluwatu has a cool design and concept. It sits in the middle of the Uluwatu area and is well placed to get to various areas in the neighbourhood. They are known for their suites here! Seeing The World In Steps stayed as a guest of Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa. My media stay booked me into their Executive Suite with Balcony, one of their premium suites. Thank you for inviting me! Their base level Garden View Rooms starts from around 150 SGD for a weekday stay. The suites can be booked from 230 SGD based on a random date in June at the point of writing. They currently have a special This is Bali package with includes breakfast and 200,000 IDR credit! These rates are fully refundable and valid till 31 Oct. As with many hotels in Bali, parking is included if you are riding around or renting a car.
Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa features 208 guest rooms and suites. They have a rather high percentage of suites here and during non-peak periods, I will assume that elite members do stand a great chance of scoring an upgrade. Their rooms are spread across 8 categories. All room types here come with a bathtub and even a whirlpool for some of the suites.
| Rooms | Bathtub | Room Size | No.of Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden View | Yes | 43 Sqm | 80 |
| Ocean View | Yes | 43 Sqm | 10 |
| Terrace | Yes | 43 Sqm | 10 |
| Junior Suite | Yes | 59 Sqm | 51 |
| Executive Suite | Yes | 78 Sqm | 43 |
| Loft Suite | Yes | 98 Sqm | 8 |
| Loft Suite with Whirlpool | Yes | 130 Sqm | 5 |
| Presidential Villa | Yes | 300 Sqm | 1 |
Checking In
It took around 30 minutes for me to arrive from the Kuta area. I took a grab and it cost me 70,000 IDR. Uluwatu is on higher grounds and the drive was rather lovely. I arrive at the hotel around 11.15am. As we pulled up to the hotel, there is a long driveway and a security checkpoint before we even reach the lobby. This is the norm here and the security will do a brief check of the car and screen the underside of the car before we are even allowed to enter. The hotel is perched on a little hill and the lobby is located at the very top, Level 8.
This ensures that the most amazing view welcomes you as you first arrive at Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa. The hotel has a really lovely exterior and design, this is in fact inspired by local influences from the turtles that nest in the area. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the staff who help me with my bags and ushered me towards the check-in counters. The open-air concept lobby boasts a great view of the surrounding greens and ocean in the far distance accompanied by a breeze. Check out the lobby seating! Does it remind you of the famous Bali rice terraces that tourists like to visit?
Even the panel behind the desk is modelled after the cliff sides of Uluwatu. Check in was prompt and fast with great mask compliance. I love that their reception staff are called navigators, which is really cute. I was provided with all the information regarding my stay and the shuttle service to the hotel’s dedicated beach club, Roosterfish! Check-in was prompt and my suite was already ready. I was then ushered to my room by the bellboy which was a nice touch given this sprawling property. It is easy to get lost for the first time. They do have clear signs around the hotel.
How to get to your room?
The Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa is a huge property despite the low number of rooms and suites. It could be quite challenging getting to your room. There are a total of 6 wings in the hotel and the room numbers here are in 4 digits. The first represents the wing number, the second is the floor number and then the last two digits are your room number. You can refer to the guide below or if not, just call the operator for assistance. You will get the hang of things after the first night or so! Perhaps that is a reason for a longer stay here as well!
Executive Suite with Balcony
I was assigned an executive suite with a balcony located in Wing 3 on the 3rd floor. I am excited to be checking out one of their suites and this is what the hotel is known for. Measuring 78 Sqm the suite is huge and gorgeous, the open concept and plenty of natural light make the suite look even bigger. The suite has an L-shaped entrance and you can find a chest around the corner which is useful to place some of your daily items and grab them easily just before exiting.
Check out how lovely this suite is! That jaw-dropping view! The place is bright and welcoming. In between the bed and the entrance you have a huge lounging sofa! It’s so nicely designed and incorporated into the room with warm lighting and soothing wood finishes. The sofa can even be a bed for the little ones. It can easily seat 3 – 4 people. You have a lazing rattan chair as well as a coffee table. I was assuming at first that the rattan chair was more for aesthetic purposes than comfort but it does provide pretty good back support.
The first half of the suite is where the bedroom is located and a plush king-size bed can be found in the room with crisps and smooth sheets. The mattress was lovely and on the firmer side which is to my liking! Pillows could be better though as they were rather mush but additionally pillows could easily be requested from the staff and brought over immediately. I slept like a baby in my pillow fortress!
Flanking both sides of the beds, you can find nightstands and outlets. Both power sockets, as well as USB outlets, are installed here. That’s commendable! Controls for the lights are also located on either side of the bed.
Opposite the bed, you can find another cute little chair as well as the flat-screen TV. It was high quality and comes with a good number of Cable TV Channels. You have AXN, Fox Sports, Fox Movies and HBO. The TV can be tilted slightly such that you can view it both from the seating area as well as the bed.
My suite comes with a balcony and it’s such a nice space. It boasts a spectacular view of the ocean as well as the greenery below. It’s quite different from being right by the ocean like in Nusa Dua and you are not gonna get that kind of view here but this is pretty relaxing as well! It gives you a feeling that you are staying right in the rainforest. You have a little dining table for 2 and a lazing daybed on the balcony.
The suite has two TV and they are of the same size! The other one is located by the wet bar area. Two TV may seem like overkill but it sure cuts down the fight over channels. I love the wet bar area of the suite and the island concept. It looks so classy and adds up a lot of flair to the room. You have 2 bar stools here as well if you would like to dine in the room. Given the lack of a proper work desk, this also acts as a little platform to get some work done. It sure gets uncomfortable after a short period given how it is not designed for that purpose. Furthermore, you should not be working when in Bali! Power outlets can be easily found and the wifi is easy to connect to.
The minibar is generously stocked with bottled water, packaged tea and coffee. I am glad to see a proper coffee machine in the suite. They do use quality appliances like Kenwood. You also have a mini-fridge below that is left empty for your use. Left on the table was a very generous welcome amenity consisting of some macarons and cakes as well as two coconuts. Look how cute they are! You Drive Me Coconuts!
Two spacious wardrobes can be found by the wall and it’s stocked with all sorts of amenities that you need! Silky smooth bathrobes, bath slippers, ironing kit as well as a safe!
The wow factor of the suite surely got to be the bathroom! Look at this! It comes with double sinks and it is surreal how spacious it is. The bathroom comes with a separate oval shape freestanding bathtub as well as a separate standing shower. There is a rainforest showering head as well as a handheld one!
The water pressure is strong and it is a pleasure to shower here! How lovely is it to take a relaxing shower with this view! Toiletries are from the Margot Elena TokyoMilk collection and are pretty good! I love the citrus scent of them! A hairdryer can be found under the sink. The lack of a door and a lock might be a concern if you are doing a family stay. If you need a door for the bathroom, you can check out their junior suites instead.
Turndown service is offered in the evening and I do have to give a shoutout to the housekeeping team here. The level of attentiveness is like nothing that I have seen and I can personally attest that even some true luxury hotel in Singapore fails to do so like Shangri-La Valley Wing which charge an arm and a leg. I return to my room after breakfast to find my suite nicely made up, my messy clothes folded and check out what they did to my phone cable. Wow! Kudos to the team here!
Kids Club
The hotel has a kids club on site. Great place to get the little ones busy and occupied so that the adults can enjoy some pool and sun time. It is located on level 3 and you can access it easily using the elevator opposite the pool. They do take in kids that are 4 years and above.
Besides having a caretaker on-site, there are some activities that the kids can take part in and have some fun themselves. Most of them are complimentary. Do check it out!
Fitness Centre
I love the fitness centre! It makes even a person that is so lazy tempted! Isn’t this gym goals? Look at those views. You can find all types of equipments and they are accompanied by ceilings to floor glass panels and views of the ocean and the greens. The gym is back to full operations and guests can use it 24 hours a day. It is located in Wing 3 and on the 3rd floor.
From treadmills to weights and yoga balls, there should be more than enough for a solid workout. They have a washroom inside the gym. Bottled water, cold towels and even sanitizing wipes are offered. You can also find some apples. No matter how tough the workout is, I am sure it will be better when you have that view in front of you.
Pool
Renaissance has a lovely pool and it is located on the 5th floor in the main building. The pool is currently open from 7am till 7pm making it perfect for a swim to start the day or a dip with a cocktail before dinner. No reservations are required.
You can find both a regular size infinity pool as well as a wading pool for the little ones. Look at these vibes and views. It is perfect for a relaxing afternoon. Towels are provided and water can be requested from the pool bar. Besides the pool, the hotel also has a partnership with the Roosterfish Beach Club located at Pandawa Beach with a shuttle bus service ferrying guests to and from the hotel. I will share this in another separate post!
Pottery Studio
One very interesting activity that the hotel has is their Pottery Class which allows guests to have some hands-on activity while staying here besides the usual Bali activities like the beach, pool, spa…etc. The Pottery Studio is located in Clay Craft restaurant! What a paring if you get it! Pottery and Clay Craft? The pottery class takes place from 9am to 6pm daily and do make reservations at least 1 day before if you are keen on it!
I got the opportunity to take part during my stay and we were first given an introduction by the instructor. We have to set up the machine and the base by adding some water to make it wet such that the platform won’t slip. Then we put 600 grams of clay in the centre and start the process of shaping it.
The key is to start slow and keep your hands moist. It is really fun and brought back some playdough memories from my younger days. You can do whatever you like. I plan to make a mug but ended up with this! After that, we have to let it air dry for a bit before they put it in the oven to bake. Then the colouring step will come and they will have to bake it again after that. All in all, it takes about 2 weeks for the product to be done. Guests can choose the design and colour to their liking. Once the product is finished, guests can collect it or shipped back home for a fee.
The hotel is currently running a Shape It Up package where for 300,000 IDR per person you get to take part in the Clay Making experience, the finished product as well as a beverage during the class. This is perfect for some family bonding or a bachelorette party during your trip. If you are keen you can also get some of the handmade products from the gift shop. What do you think? Can I make a living out of this? By the way, do drop me a message if you all wish to buy this from me haha!
Afternoon Tea at R Bar
In the afternoon, the hotel serves afternoon tea at its R Bar, the R Bar is located in the main building on the same level as the lobby. The venue offers an amazing view of the surrounding area and it is a great way to spend your afternoon. The R Bar is one of the more popular venues in town and they even do a punch bowl rituals on certain days during sunset which all guests are invited to partake.
I got the afternoon tea during my stay which runs from 2pm to 5.45pm daily. It cost 200K per person and even includes pool access, this might be a good deal if you are not in-house guests and would like to have a pool day. You can check out the afternoon tea set menu here.
Drinks-wise you can choose coffee, tea and juices. They have fresh juices consisting of Dragon Fruit, Pineapple, Watermelon or Orange Juice. Everything is freshly made besides the Orange Juice which is chilled.
We had some Dragon Fruit and Pineapple Juice and look how lovely they are! The afternoon tea was served in a tiered stand and it mimics the traditional temple in Bali. Very classy presentation! I love the babi guling wrap the most and the sweets! The brownie was excellent!
Besides afternoon tea, you can also come here for cocktails or a bite as you wind down the evening. Do take note that as Marriott Bonvoy members you are eligible for dining perks here!
Breakfast at Clay Craft Restaurant
Breakfast is served at the hotel’s main restaurant, Clay Craft! What a cute name! Breakfast is buffet style, just like the good old days and starts from 6.30am to 11am. That got to be one of the longest service timing I have experienced in a hotel which is a good thing, especially in a vacation/resort destination. The restaurant is located in the main building on the 5th floor. If not included in your rate, breakfast normally cost 290,400 IDR per person.
As shared earlier about the Pottery Class, some of the plates and bowls that you use are all made in-house by the restaurant! That is really unique! I was ushered to a table and then drink orders were taken. I got some iced coffee and a double espresso which was excellent. Throughout our stay, we also enjoyed some fresh juices.
Breakfast was an affair and it was crowded! Most of the seats are outdoor and this is also where people choose to be seated. It is very relaxing to have your meals with the blue skies and the pool for company. There was a huge selection of food. To the left of the restaurant, you can find the Asian Selection. Hot dishes, stir fry and a noodle station. On the menu were Wonton Soup, Seafood Laksa, Bubur Ayam and Soto Ayam. It is so lovely to start your day with a piping hot bowl of Soto Ayam and some Asian dishes. I went for seconds.
In the middle, you have the cold station and here you can find an assortment of fresh juices, smoothies, a salad bar as well as some cold cuts and cheese. The watermelon juice is on point.
They even did up a Milo Frappuccino! Amazing!
Towards the right, this is where you can find the hot station with a great selection of western selections and even some fusion food. They have this Uluwatu Benedict where it is a twist to the traditional version with some sort of warps and babi guling inside. It tastes amazing.
The sweets, desserts and cakes can be found at the end and they are all made in house. The chef here does an awesome french toast! I also love their croissants. They had strawberry one on the first night of my stay and almond croissants on my second time. Well, you even have ice cream for breakfast!
Conclusion
This is an excellent offering for Marriott Bonvoy members in the Uluwatu region and you should check it out if you are heading to the area. The abundance of suites here shows that upgrades are not impossible and are probably on the better side of things. The breakfast is awesome and the staff are simply spectacular. I would love to be back anytime soon. Do check out the hotel here if you are keen. I do hear that the taxi mafias are back in the region so do arrange your transport in advance. I did not get the chance to check out the Spa but this is a property that has all you might need for a relaxing stay, from adults to kids, you will never be bored for at least 3 to 4 days. Next up, my thoughts on the hotel dedicated beach club, Roosterfish Beach Club at Pandawa Beach!
This was a hosted media stay, all views expressed are my own.
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