I can't believe how quickly time flies when you're having fun and being treated so graciously...
We flew Garuda once again and totally happy with the service. We went to Bali last year for the first time and took our 3 girls 18, and twins 10, staying at Legian. This year for hubby's 50th, we decide to go alone and splurge with a 5 star Hotel( for the price we paid it was cheaper than some of the 4 star older Hotels in Legian and Kuta) and took the Romantic Package as well, which was $392 per couple that included a massage at the Hotel, a romantic dinner (that we booked on the actual Birthday) as well as Le Meridien bathrobes and slippers. I'll rave about this deal later , but I must stay it was well worth it!!! What a difference!!! To be able to relax, to decide to eat on the spur of the moment, to be free to shop for what you want to shop for,not to have to try to please everybody..just the two of us...heaven...
We were picked up by private car at the airport ( $5 more than coach) and greated at Le Meridien first by the porters who gonged the gong on our arrival, then the gamelan duo playing sweetly as we were escorted up the stairs to the reception lounge. The Concierge then approached us with frangipani lais, cool friut juice, and a refreshing washer. Off to our room ...well, what a view. We booked a deluxe ocean view room ( in the Qantas or Viva brochures ) stay 5 nights pay for 4 (I know its only a short time but we didn't want to leave the girls too long during school holidays)...we used the 5th night as a late check out and stayed in the room until it was time to leave.
The room was gloriously decorated, large and marble everywhere. Some friends told us that even the older 5 star hotels were looking a bit tired, but as this Hotel is only 5 years old, things looked very clean. The bathroom had shutters so you could open them and while taking a bubble bath you could look out through the room to the rice paddies, golf course and the ocean beyond it.
After settling in, we took a walk around the vast grounds dotted with ponds, pools, ducks and wonderful architecture and ambience. We got a lift in a golf cart to the front gate of the Hotel and walked 4 or 5 minutes to Tanah Lot and the markets (Later in the week we found a short cut through the path along a golf green to the cliff where the restaurants at Tanah Lot are..only a few minutes also, but a nicer walk and better views than the busy, no footpath road.)
Tanah Lot is a mess, with construction, 3 cranes, scaffolding,cement mixers churning etc...they are trying to prevent more erosion by the ocean...don't know how long the construction will go on for as they had started it last year when we visited. Hard to take a nice photo...we had to calculate when a certain crane was behind part of the temple.
Back to the Hotel for a casual dinner at the Pizza Restaurant.. Cost about AUS $ 25 each that included 2 entrees, 2 pizzas and 2 bintangs and free flow soft drink. Thought that was O.K.for such a Hotel.
Next UBUD....