Four Seasons Hotel, Jimbaran Bay, Bali
Jimbaran Bay's Premier Hotel. 5-Star Luxury Accommodation in Bali
Aug 6, 2009
The stunning Bail Four Seasons hotel, nestled in the eastern curve of Jimbaran Bay, was built with one purpose in mind. To provide unrivaled service in a tropical paradise.
And, boy, does it provide.
A Guided Tour of Bali's Finest Resort
Designed from the ground up to blend in with the local environment and culture, the hotel feels like a Balinese village. All the communal areas are open to the elements with high, steep-sided, thatch roofs covering the lobby, bars and restaurants. Around these are lily ponds, home to noisy frogs and thankfully silent fish.
There are more than 150 guest villas, but the architect has managed to make each one feel secluded. Narrow paths radiate from the lobby and bar area, flanked by gray stone walls, verdant grass banks, and fragrant Frangipani trees. Access to each villa is through double doors, leading into a gravel courtyard. Either side of the path is the accommodation, lounge area on one side, bed and bath on the other. Beyond these is a fantastic infinity plunge pool and patio, both bathed in intense sunlight for most of the day. There's even a large stone idol, and the cleaners leave offerings there daily so that one of the many Balinese gods may look after the guests.
The lounge is open air and basic, comprising separate sitting and dining area, and a heart-stoppingly expensive minibar. But, after the courtyard and garden, stepping into the main living area is like being catapulted forward 300 years. The furniture might be dark teak, and the artwork depicts Balinese culture from days gone by. However, the ice-cold air conditioning, 40-inch LCD TV, and Bose stereo are right out of the 21st century.
For people used to sharing too small a space at home, the bathroom is a breath of fresh air. Brightly lit double sinks and both an indoor and outdoor shower (Bali's average temperature is in the 80s, so no need to fight over who gets which one) make getting ready a breeze. However, there is also a giant free-standing bath big enough for two. That can make getting ready a pleasure!
The Bali Four Seasons Customer Service Experience
From the moment guests arrive in the open air lobby, the staff do their utmost to shoulder life's little burdens for them. Luggage, special requests and check-in are taken care of while the weary travelers enjoy a welcome cocktail. They are then whisked away in a golf buggy, and given a tour of the massive complex before being settled into their villa.
The standard of service is superb and consistent throughout. Any time, day or night, guests can order food, drinks or ice. They can even get a buggy to anywhere else in the resort. Villas are cleaned twice a day and a turndown service is offered as well. All of the restaurants are staffed by friendly and knowledgeable waiters, serving fantastic local and Western cuisine. Even the hotel's beautiful 30m infinity pool has several attendants who provide iced water, cold towels and sun cream. And, if the Bali sunshine proves too much, they can recommend one of many frozen cocktails, sipped in the shade of a palm tree.
If anything, with all of this attention to detail (and the occasional mind-reading), it can feel like being fussed around by an over-protective mother. Apart from the cocktails, of course.
The Bali Four Seasons delivers a truly wonderful experience and the final night is bittersweet, as happy memories are swamped by the realization that the next day is the last. There are, however, two drawbacks to this incredible hotel.
The first is the cost. Building an idyllic retreat in paradise does not come cheap, and it is no joke to say that the money needed for ten nights here could buy a new car.
The second drawback stems from the fact that the architect and Four Seasons have done such a wonderful job. The villas are comfortable, the staff attentive, the food tasty, and the facilities superb. Bali is an island of both scenic and historical beauty, but it's far too easy to reach the end of the holiday without once leaving the hotel.
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