Sheraton Kuta, Bali (Wow, Wow, Wow!!)
Bali is a complex island, while being simple at the same time , when it comes to booking hotels. You can find hotels for $20 a night that come with full breakfast and comfortable rooms or you can spend $400 a night at a resort, where everything costs more, and you never leave the grounds and all your needs are taken care of.
Introduction
Alaska Airlines First Class from Seattle (SEA) to Los Angeles (LAX)
Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles
Virgin Australia Business Class from Los Angeles (LAX) to Brisbane (BNE)
Virgin Australia Lounge Brisbane
Virgin Australia First Class from Brisbane (BNE) to Cairns (CNS)
Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, and Surrounding Areas
Virgin Australia Lounge Cairns
Virgin Australia First Class from Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne (MEL)
Westin Melbourne and the Press Club
Garuda Indonesia Business Class from Melbourne (MEL) to Denpasar, Bali (DPS)
Sheraton Kuta, Bali (Wow, Wow, Wow!!)
Korean Air Business Class from Denpasar (DPS) to Seoul (ICN)
Korean Air Lounge, Seoul
Free! Cultural Experience in Seoul
Korean Air Business Class from Seoul (ICN) to Seattle (SEA)
There are also very distinct areas of the island, Kuta, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Denpasar City, etc. Getting around is cheap and easy, but we opted for something more central while allowing us also use some of our SPG points (and help re-qualify for Platinum status). The Sheraton Kuta Resort and Spa was only 7,000 points a night, at at 5 nights we’d get our last night free as a benefit of the SPG program. So we booked and crossed our fingers for an awesome hotel experience. What we found, was one of the most amazing hotel experiences we’ve ever had in our life.
Shortly after we arrived to the airport, the private shuttle that we reserved a couple days before was waiting for us, and we boarded the comfortable air conditioned van for the quick 15 minute trip to the hotel. Upon arrival to the hotel, once we passed the security check we were greeted by dancers and musicians performing for us!
Balinese dancers
Balinese Welcome to Sheraton Kuta Resort
All guests are usually required to go through a security check and metal detector upon arrival to the hotel, but we instead were greeted by our personal VIP Concierge Ling Sia who whisked us up the escalator to the hotel bar for a drink while she completed the checkin process. While sitting enjoying a local Bintang beer and fruit juice, she gave us our room keys, talked to us about the resort, the breakfast, and all the benefits given to us as Platinum members. She also mentioned that we were given an upgrade to an Ocean View Suite, and would accompany us to the suite to make sure that it met our standards. Not only did it meet our standards, it exceeded every expectation we could have had. Below are the amazing photos:
Ocean View
Courtyard View
The bathroom included a seperate tub/walk in shower combo, and there was a glass window so anyone sitting in the tub could see into the main room. There is a privacy screen in case you don’t want to shower in front of the world!
Shower
Separated Toilet
View from tub into main living area
Generous bathroom storage area
The main living room included an Illy Espresso maker and plenty of bottled water. Also, a sofa that turned into a bed, comfortable seating area with TV/Fridge and large glass coffee table. The room was spacious and VERY comfortable.
Coffee and Water
Seating area
TV and Fridge combo with Desk
The bedroom was separated with sliding doors and also quite spacious. The standard comfy Sheraton bed and amenities was again in this room, along with another seating area and large dresser.
Sheraton Sleeper Bed
Secondary TV/Seating Area/Dresser
We decided to park our luggage in the room and go look around the local area for a few hours, free bottled water in hand. The location for this hotel is ideal. It’s right next to a shopping mall with shops, convenience stores, restaurants, and just a 45 second walk to the beach. The beach was nice, but in all honestly, the pool at the hotel was much better.
When we arrived back at the hotel we had received a welcome amenity gift of local fruit juice and local snacks. A nice touch, albeit full of strange new flavors that we had not experienced before! The presentation was fantastic, and the hand written note was a nice touch.
Amenity Sheraton Kuta
Amenity Sheraton Kuta
After a long day of flying and an entire day trying to adjust to the heat and humidity of Indonesia, we decided to turn in early (with the AC on full blast) and wake up early for breakfast and an early start to the day.
The next morning we went down to the breakfast area and gave our room number, were welcomed with a huge smile (a Balinese standard) and a big “Good Morning Mr. Jon and Mr. Ben, we have been expecting you!” The breakfast area, which could best be described as a Golden Corral buffet on steroids, was the largest breakfast area I’ve ever seen. The buffet area was easily 5000 sq ft, and I counted no less than 19 stations for food.
There was the bread and cereal station…
The cook to order egg station…
The hot meats station…
Toppings station…
Noodle station…
Indonesian delicacy station…
Crepes, Waffles, Churros and Pancake station…
ICE CREAM station…
Cheese station…
Salad station…
Fresh sushi station…
Prepared however you want…
Fruit station…
Cold cut station…
Fresh juice station…
Bakery station…
Fresh pastry station…
Fresh smoothie station…
More toppings station…
Hot bread pudding station…
Fresh cut fruit station…
and finally the Jams and Sauces station…
I mean c’mon, what the hell! It took me five minutes just to walk around and find everything. Each day we went back we found new things, and the menus changed every morning! Once we sat down, we ordered espresso coffees made to order, and then on top of it all, they came over and brought us fresh cucumber juice and dragon fruit juice.
Fresh Cucumber and Dragon Fruit Juice
On the second and third nights, we went as late as possible to the breakfast and filled up, that way we knew that we wouldn’t have to have a lunch! The food was so amazing, so fresh, and so tasty, that we didn’t want to leave. We finally found a hotel that beat out the Westin in Melbourne (but the humidity was much less there…).
The next day we decided to partake in a high tea service, offered free of charge for being Platinum members. The only downside of the high tea service is that it was served in the open air lobby area, which was very hot and humid. Other than that, the tea (I opted for cold tea, and Ben the hot) was tasty and the treats that came along with it were very well prepared.
High Tea
Rounding out the hotel experience, on our second to last night we opted for a traditional Balinese Massage, which was discounted 25% for being a Platinum member as well. The spa area was right off of the main lobby but the rooms themselves were climate controlled for a more enjoyable experience. We opted for the couples massage, which the masseuses found humorous, constantly asking if we were brothers. When we said no they just laughed innocently to themselves and kept on going 🙂 The massages were also quite inexpensive, with the 90 minute option only costing around $30 pre discount. There were cheaper options to be had on the streets, for sure, but this way we only had to walk back up the escalator to our room to relax afterwards, and not worry about coming home on the streets after a long calming massage.
Spa waiting area
Spa waiting area
Men’s locker and Sauna
Men’s locker room area
Men’s locker room area
After the massage we were directed to the spa/zen garden area, offered cold tea and fruit, and told to stay as long as we wished, just relaxing and hearing the waves lap on the ocean was enough to almost make me fall asleep right then and there.
Post relaxation by the pool
When looking for a hotel, what do you look for? Is it location? Price? Service and Amenities? Reviews? I know that for us, it’s usually a combination of location, price, and loyalty program benefits we can receive upon arrival. The Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort has all of those things, and I could not believe the value that we got. I truly believe that the staff at any given hotel make the stay, and Ling Sia was amazing. Not only did she help with all of our needs while staying at the hotel, she went above and beyond to make sure that we had an amazing time. Whether it was communicating with local stores and tour companies to arrange travel, setting up private car hires for the day, or just being there at the call of a button with a can-do attitude, it was her and her team that made this stay one of the best that we’ve ever experienced.
I hope that one day we will again be able to return to Bali and without a doubt when we do, we’ll be staying again at the Sheraton.
Thanks Ling Sia and thanks Sheraton Kuta! If you want more information, head over to their website by clicking this link or visiting http://www.sheratonbalikuta.com
The most amazing friend and VIP concierge we’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting
November 23, 2017
Great job, Guys!
November 26, 2017
Thank you!