OBEROI HOTEL BALI       

This hotel is one of my all time favourite hotels in the world. I have been travelling here with my family since I was 6 years old- so obviously many special memories have been made at this hotel.  With that in mind, I will try and keep this review as unbiased as possible!

PROPERTY

The Oberoi Bali is set on a large beachfront property. Immaculately manicured gardens lead you to the thatched lanais and villas, which are scattered thoughtfully throughout the property. A very open and airy restaurant and small bar area overlook the beach and pool area. An amphitheatre occasionally provides entertainment whilst dining. Breakfast is served outdoors overlooking the ocean, weather permitting. The spa and gymnasium are small, but have quality products and equipment. The beachfront is not your typical white sand beach- it's dark volcanic sand with occasional rough surf, but the hotel's beachfront is always kept clean and (mostly) free of hawkers. It has a very stylish, old school feel about it- without feeling uncomfortably stuffy. The pool is a plain design but generous in size, with turtle statues that spout water throughout the day. There are many seats and umbrellas placed along the border and overlooking the ocean.

ROOMS

The entry level rooms at the Oberoi are classified as "Garden Lanais". I have read some people describe the rooms as slightly dated- I would classify them as understated and classic. The bedroom is comfortably sized (not overly large) with a spacious bathroom and outside patio area which overlooks a small fishpond. The room is decorated with traditional touches such as hand painted Balinese artwork and thatched roofs. Each room is designed with privacy in mind- even though you are sharing walls, you will rarely see your neighbours. There is a very neutral colour scheme consisting of dark wood and cream linen. The Oberoi has very comfortable (highly raised) beds, with luxurious quality linen and a pillow menu. The bathroom is a spacious indoor/outdoor design, with marble finishes and a sunken bathtub. Locally sourced bathroom amenities are provided, along with bottled water. Some rooms have separate showers, others have a bath/shower combination- be sure to ask if this is important to you. Daily turn down service is a nice touch- fresh towels are replenished at your discretion and the room is fresh and tidy by the time you return from dinner. Villas are also available with private pool and ocean views. I have had a peek inside the villas with pools and they are nothing short of amazing. Prices for standard rooms start from $345 US ++ depending on the season.

FOOD

The food at the Oberoi is of a high standard- unfortunately so are the prices (for Bali standards). Breakfast was included in our package and I highly recommend this option, as the prices for this separately are very high. Fresh juices, strong coffee, pastries, amazing fruit platters and a full International selection- ranging from Indonesian Nasi Goreng, European Cheese platters, to full American Breakfasts. They do not have a buffet, only a la carte. Afternoon tea was also included in our package- which consists of a small selection of sweet baked goods served with tea/coffee. This is a very relaxed setting, served by the amphitheater near the pool, overlooking the ocean and often is accompanied by different entertainment- local dancers, artists and musicians.  There is a poolside menu which serves very good snacks- such as club sandwiches, fish and chips and satay which are all high quality and delicious dishes, albeit pricey (think $20 for a sandwich). Complimentary iced water, fruit skewers and sorbet are served throughout the day by the pool to tide you over until dinner. Dinner is served in either the relaxed small bar area (informal but very romantic) or the larger open formal restaurant (which occasionally has themed nights such as an Indonesian or seafood banquet out in the amphitheatre area). I have eaten a number of times in both restaurants and have never been disappointed.

SERVICE:

Faultless. Easily the best service I have ever received at any establishment in my life. From the moment you walk you in, to the moment you depart, the staff have a genuine interest in making your holiday the most memorable experience possible. This seems to be the standout point at the Oberoi- the staff have a genuine desire to please- and not just because they are being paid to do their job, because they seem to love what they do and get great satisfaction from seeing happy guests. We personally know 3 staff members that have been there for over 25 years. That speaks for itself.

OVERALL:

As you can see from the above, I wholeheartedly recommend this hotel for most travelers wanting to be pampered. It is a very romantic, peaceful and beautiful hotel on the somewhat busy and bustling island of Bali. Once inside the walls of the Oberoi, every ounce of stress fades away. Do yourself a favour and experience all the Oberoi Bali has to offer!

For more information and bookings: www.oberoihotels.com

All photos by Belinda- www.outoftheoffice.com.au