Striking while the iron is hot, right off my amazing stay in Uluwatu, I am headed off to check out a new place in Bali, Sanur. Sanur is a traditional seaside town in the southeast part of Bali. It is extremely laid back. The long stretch of beach, as well as the calm and shallow waters have much to offer to the visitors. You can find fishing boats just off the coast and a paved cycling path which is good for a morning run or a ride by the waters. Sanur also boasts one of the best sunrise views in Bali. The Holiday Inn Bali Sanur is a great addition to the Sanur area and they only open back last Aug. You got to commend a hotel for opening during a pandemic.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
One of the newest hotels in South Bali, the Holiday Inn Sanur is making waves in the neighbourhood. Seeing The World In Steps stayed as a guest of Holiday Inn Bali Sanur. My media stay booked me into their Executive Suite with Ocean View, the best available category in the property. Thank you for arranging for this stay! The Holiday Inn comes at an affordable price point which will definitely fit your requirement. The base-level rooms start from around 60 SGD for a weekday stay, while the suites can be booked from 105 SGD based on a random date in June at the point of writing. You could even get a Two Bedroom Suite which would be good for big families. Many of these rates even come with breakfast. Check them out here.
Holiday Inn Bali Sanur features 82 guest rooms and suites spread across 6 categories. The main difference between the rooms here lies in the view.
| Rooms | Bathtub | Room Size | No.of Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superior | No | 26 Sqm | 63 |
| Deluxe | No | 26 Sqm | 14 |
| Junior Suite | Yes | 40 Sqm | 2 |
| One Bedroom Executive Suite | Yes | 54 Sqm | 1 |
| Two Bedroom Family Connecting | No | 52 Sqm | 1 |
| Two Bedroom Executive Suite | Yes | 80 Sqm | 1 |
Checking In
It took around 45 mins to arrive from the Uluwatu area and the hotel very kindly arranged for a pick up from my previous hotel. The hotel car was already waiting for me when and the driver was polite. The SUV came thoughtfully packed with water, hand sanitiser as well as cold towels. The hotel looks chic and on point especially given how new it is! I love the open-air lobby and the high ceilings make it very welcoming with tons of natural light that brightens the place. Upon arrival, the driver help me with my bags and handed over to Atini to assist with the check in. Check in was prompt and fast and I was informed that they have assigned me the Executive Suite instead which was the best available category in the entire hotel. During check in, a welcome drink like some sour plum tea was served and it was pretty refreshing especially in this heat.
There are plenty of seatings by the side of the lobby as well as a small computer and printer. Guests here could access the restaurants and spa at the InterContinental, their sister property located just next door with a side entrance. I do hope that in the coming months they could have a better collaboration so that even guests at Holiday Inn who are using the facilities at the IC could charge incidentals to their room directly. There are numerous restaurants and bars just minutes away and the hotel is a short walk to the beach. Sanur is an amazing place for sunrise.
Executive Suite
I was ushered to the suite by the staff and then my bags was also brought up by the bellboy. I was in suite 2528, located on the 5th floor. This is also the highest floor in the hotel with the rooftop housing the pool which I will cover later on. You can tell how well kept the hotel is with the condition of the common areas. I like that room card access is needed to enter the lift lobby and the rooms. It was a short walk from the lift and the suite was of a good size. It measures 54 Sqm. Look how cosy this is.
I love the modern finishes and how bright the place is. It is thoughtful yet simple. Upon entering, you have a short entryway and then immediately to the right you can find the walk-in wardrobe which connects to the bathroom on the other side. It is on the rare side to find a walk-in wardrobe and it is nicely designed in a way that you can place your suitcase and hang some clothes. You can find bathrobes, bath slippers and a safe here. All you need for a comfortable stay. Despite it being a full suite, it does not comes with a half bath. Although the design does mean that you don’t need one.
I love how welcoming the suite is given the warm colours and the abundance of natural light in the suite. The suite has a cosy living room area and you have an awesome view out of the window too. I wasn’t expecting such a lovely view here but that combination of the trees and the ocean in the far distance does make a lovely postcard picturesque sight.
Right near the entrance, you have the mini-bar set up and it consists of the fridge which is left empty for your convenience. You can find some bottled water as well as packaged tea and coffee provided.
Next to it is a round table and together with the working corner on the side, this is the working area. It is a pretty decent spot to get some work done. The area is complemented by an armchair that provides decent support for working. Wifi is free and easy to connect with good speed. A welcome amenity consisting of some fruits is left on the table.
I love the living area which is super cosy. It comes with a small couch that fits 2 people comfortably easily as well as an armchair on the side. I would assume that it can be converted to a sofa bed if needed for bigger families. Facing the living area you can find a TV mounted on the wall. It’s of high quality and you can find a huge selection of cable TV channels as well. This is one of the better ones that I have seen during my stay in Bali. A care kit is also found left below the TV. A great amenity during this current environment.
A physical door separates the bedroom from the living area and it is of a good size. You have another couch by the side of the room. It is always nice to have some extra storage or seating area.
The plush king-size bed was found in the middle and it’s King Koil branded even. The mattress offers awesome back support and I had a super good rest! The sheets and pillows were high quality as well, perks of staying in a hotel this new! I would also like to comment on their pillows as it offers great neck support and you can also find both soft and firm option provided. I love the little label on the pillowcase.
Flanking both sides of the bed, you can find nightstands with controls for the lights as well as power outlets and even USB chargers. Full marks in this area. This is better than what I would expect to get in a Holiday Inn. The bedroom has another TV that was similar to the one in the living room as well. Overall a very chic suite.
Let me get back to the bathroom which is another favourite part of mine. I love the oval shape mirror and green tiles design. Those double sinks look very inviting too. What a nice contrast that they create. It comes with a separate free-standing bathtub as well as a standing shower with both a rainforest showerhead and a handheld one. Water pressure and temp control are excellent. Toiletries provided are house branded.
Fitness Centre
The gym is open 24 hours and located on level 2. It is on the smaller side and only comes with some weights and two other pieces of gym equipments. It is basic but gets the work done if you need a workout. Towels are provided. You do not have to make reservations or anything.
Pool
The hotel has a lovely pool and it is located on the rooftop with an infinity pool vibe. It comes with a great view of the ocean in the near distance. It is on the smaller side but still good for dipping and tanning. The pool is open from 6am to 7pm and no reservations are required.
Spa at InterContinental Sanur
I also got the opportunity to check out the spa at the InterContinental Sanur located just next to the hotel. The IC is actually a recently rebranded property and an addition to the InterContinental lineup. It used to be a Fairmont in the past. Yani very kindly arranged for a spa just before my check out and it was sure a great way to start the day going. The actual spa is currently closed for renovation and they are now using one of the Two Bedroom Villa in the meantime. On the bright side, you have a private spa session with no other guests at all.
The session starts with a questionnaire and we were also offered cold drinks and some towels. You then choose the essential oil that you prefer for the massage. I went with some green tea oil. Do note that the Spa is running a great promotion till end June. Where prices are at 50% off. Check out the Spa menu here.
The treatment starts with a foot bath with some bath salts and the therapist will then go thru with you if there are any areas that you would like to focus on. The singing bowl ritual will then mark the start of the treatment. They will ask you to relax and then ring the bowl. The treatment was excellent and they were very attentive, checking constantly if the pressure or temperature of the room require any adjustment. Then the entire ritual end with another singing bowl ritual.
Dinner at Pier Eight Bali
I also had dinner at Pier Eight Bali, the beachside restaurant of InterContinental Sanur. It was a nice setting and great for dinner after a walk along the coast. The ambience is really nice in the evening.
We ordered the Caesar Salad and the Rice Paper Rolls to start with. The salad is the better one and I enjoyed it. It was a good combination of the saltiness from the bacon with the creamy egg and crispy vegetables. Lovely!
In the meantime, the rolls were way too bland and dry. Perhaps I am just not a fan of Vietnamese food.
We got the special menu of the day, the roasted chicken and the crusted barramundi for the main course. The roasted chicken came with a mezze salad, saffron rice and some pita bread. I love the chicken and the chimichurri sauce that came with it. It goes so well with the Pita.
The barramundi is another favourite of ours! It was moist and came with a nice crust! The creamy potato sides go well with the fish too.
Desserts wise we got the strawberry parfait and a pisang goreng! They were alright! We got drinks on our own and what else could it be besides fresh coconuts and Bintangs. Service can be a little sparse at times and there was quite a wait for the food. Their main course are the better ones here.
Breakfast at Karang Restaurant
Breakfast is served at the hotel restaurant, Karang! The name actually meant coral in Indonesian. Breakfast is buffet style, just like the good old days. Breakfast starts from 6.30am to 10.30am. We were shown in and drinks orders were taken. You can choose to sit outdoor or indoor.
The buffet consists of a small but nice lineup of hot dishes with some rice, chicken and sausages. They have some local food and these are the highlights here. We especially loved the stir-fried vegetables and chicken. You can also order eggs cooked to your liking from the staff.
On the other side, you can find some salad, fruits, pastries, juices and cereals. I love how they bring out the food in small batches to avoid it turning cold. This also meant that the food you got from the buffet are always fresh.
Conclusion
This is an excellent offering in the Sanur area and I had a fantastic stay. It is a great choice if you are looking for a place to stay in Sanur. The price point is very good and the quality you get is impeccable. It is always nice to be staying in a hotel this new is that everything is in great condition. The beach is a short walk away and besides the shops and restaurants in the neighbourhood you can also access the offerings in the InterContinental Sanur just next door. Do note that the Spa is really a really great promotion till end June. The quality for a Holiday Inn exceeded my expectation.
This was a hosted media stay, all views expressed are my own.
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