Bali Paradise: 1 BR Garden View Escape (IR89A) - Book Now!
Bali Paradise: 1 BR Garden View Escape (IR89A) - Book Now!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving HEADFIRST into a review of a hotel that's promising the moon and the stars. Let's see if they deliver, shall we? This ain't your grandma's meticulously-organized travel blog – this is the raw, unfiltered truth, because, let's be honest, who has time for perfect these days?!
First Impression & Accessibility (and how I almost ate it):
Okay, the website claimed to be accessible. I’m in a wheelchair, so this is CRUCIAL. And hey, the photos looked good, right? Big airy entrances, ramps… the whole nine yards. But reality? Well, let's just say the "accessible entrance" was a bit of a quest. Took me three tries (and a near-faceplant on some rogue cobblestones) to actually find the damn thing. Note to self: Pack extra snacks because apparently, adventure is on the menu.
Once inside, though? Bingo! The lobby was spacious, with a clear path. The reception staff, bless their hearts, were super helpful (once they saw the sweat beading on my brow from the entrance ordeal). They even helped with my luggage. Not sure what that means but very welcoming.
Accessibility Breakdown (The Good, The Bad, and the "Hold My Beer"):
- Wheelchair Accessible: Mostly good. Ramps, elevators, the works. BUT the entrance… See above. I’m giving it a solid 7/10. Room design was good too. No claw-foot tubs to trip me up. (Thank GAWD)
- On-site accessible restaurants/lounges: Yes! And not just token ramps, either. Tables at a good height, plenty of space to maneuver. Kudos.
- Elevator: Yep, essential. Worked. No complaints.
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: They've got some. Not perfect, but better than many I’ve seen. My room was… mostly accessible.
- Visual Alarm: (Important for folks with hearing impairments) – Check.
- Facilities for Disabled guests: Yes, and a positive.
Internet & All Things Techy (Because, Duh):
Okay, let’s get down to brass tacks. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? Praise THE WIFI GODS. And it actually worked! Speed was decent, which is a lifesaver because, you know, scrolling is a full-time job.
- Internet [LAN]: They had it, but who uses LAN anymore? Still, good to know.
- Internet Services: Fine. Nothing earth-shattering.
- Wi-Fi in Public Areas: Also decent. Could actually do work in the lobby without screaming at the connection. Bonus points there.
- Laptop workspace: Indeed.
"Things to Do" & Relaxation (Or, How I Spent My Vacation):
Alright, this is where things got interesting. The website promised a luxurious escape, and, honestly? It delivered, with some quirky caveats that made it extra charming.
- Pool with view: OH MY GOODNESS YES. Just… breathtaking. The pool itself was perfect temperature. Floating around, sipping a cocktail, watching the sun dip below the city skyline? Heavenly.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Yep.
- Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom: All there, all… steamy! Okay, the sauna was a bit too hot for my liking, and I swear I saw a ghost of a guy in the steam room. Don't ask. But the spa? Book the massage. Seriously. My masseuse's hands… pure magic.
- Gym/fitness: I glanced in. Looked… intimidating. Okay, I’m not a gym person.
- Fitness center: See above.
- Massage: YES. Book. Now.
- Foot bath/ Body scrub/ Body wrap: Didn't try those. Too busy floating.
- Ways to relax: Bingo. Got it covered.
Cleanliness, Safety & The Pandemic (Because, Let's Be Real):
Okay, this is the new must-have checklist. And I was genuinely impressed. They took this seriously.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Check.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Saw it happening. Relief.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere.
- Hygiene certification: Claimed it, and it showed.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Big plus.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Actually observed, which is rare.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: They said it, and the room felt clean.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Totally. Felt safe.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Yup.
- Safe dining setup: Excellent.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: They said it, and the room felt clean.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Nice detail, for the over-cautious
- First aid kit: Present
- Doctor/nurse on call: Good to see.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Hopefully.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking (The Sustenance Section):
Alright, let's talk food. Because, let's be real, a hotel can live or die by its culinary game.
- Breakfast in room: Excellent. Especially because, again, the stairs…
- Breakfast takeaway service: Also great.
- Restaurants: Multiple!
- A la carte in restaurant/ Buffet in restaurant: Check.
- Asian & International Cuisine in restaurant: Yes, a good variety.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Good for the plant eaters.
- Coffee shop: Essential. Good coffee.
- Poolside bar: Yes, and the cocktails? STRONG.
- Bar: Also had a bar.
- Happy hour: A must-have.
- Room service [24-hour]: Lifesaver. Had a craving for nachos at 3 AM. No judgement.
- Desserts in restaurant: Yes!
- Salad, Soup, Bottle of water: All present and accounted for.
- Western breakfast: Also good.
Services & Conveniences (The "Everything Else" Category):
Alright, let's see what else we got!
- Concierge: Super helpful. They even sorted out my slightly-botched airport transfer.
- Dry cleaning, Laundry Service, Ironing service: Did not explore.
- Cash withdrawal, Currency exchange: Good to have.
- Doorman: Always a warm welcome.
- Luggage storage: Yep, no problem.
- Daily housekeeping: Room was always spotless.
- Elevator: As mentioned before.
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes!
- Air conditioning: Same.
- Car park [free of charge]/ Car park [on-site]/ Valet parking: Yep.
- Taxi service/ Airport transfer: Yes.
- Cashless payment service: A good idea to have.
- Invoice provided A basic thing to have.
- Convenience store, Gift/souvenir shop: Good extras.
- Facilities for disabled guests: More yeses.
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Business facilities, Meetings, Seminars: All present, for the business travelers.
- Shrine: Didn't use it, but nice.
- Indoor venue for special events/ Outdoor venue for special events: Good to have.
- Xerox/fax in business center: They still exist.
- Baby Sitting Service: Very good for those with kids.
- Family/child friendly, Kids meal, Kids facilities: Yes, and you could tell.
- CCTV in common areas/ CCTV outside property/ Security [24-hour]: Made me feel safer.
- Security [24-hour]/ Smoke alarms/ Fire extinguisher: Also comforting.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Super helpful.
- Couple's room, Non-smoking rooms, Pet's allowed (unavaliable): All great.
- Proposal Spot, Room decorations, Safety/security feature: Very good for those who are planning something special.
- Exterior corridor/ Soundproof rooms: Didn't have problems.
- Coffee/tea maker/Coffee/tea in restaurant/Complimentary tea: Delicious.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Filling, but not the BEST.
- Essential condiments: Nice touch.
- Food delivery: Didn't taste, but was available.
- Additional toilet/ Additional Toilet: Good to have.
- Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub: Pretty standard.
- Blackout curtains, Closet/ Extra long bed: Good to have.
- Free bottled water: The ultimate gift.
- Hair dryer: Was good.
Okay, buckle up, buttercup, because this isn't your sanitized "travel guide" itinerary. This is my itinerary. My messy, opinionated, probably-going-to-get-sunburned Bali adventure. And it's all starting in that gloriously named Classic 1 BR Garden View IR89A. God, I hope the garden is as lush as the pictures, because if not, heads will roll (figuratively, of course. Mostly.).
Bali: My Personal Playground (and potential downfall) - Rough Itinerary
Day 1: Incoming and Oh. My. Gods. (Arrival & Initial Panic)
- Morning (Pre-dawn, actually): Wake up in a pre-panic. Airport! Airport! Pack bag again. Check passport 1,000 times. Curse myself for packing that ridiculous, sparkly sequined top I KNOW I won't wear. Swear.
- Afternoon (Post-flight slump): Arrive at Denpasar Airport. The usual airport chaos. Smuggle my duty free liquor in my carry-on because the security guard is smiling (or is that just paranoia?). The air…it’s humid. Already sweating. Find (hopefully) reliable driver. Commence bargaining for price. Realize I'm horrendous at bargaining. Pay too much.
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening: The Garden View and Judgement: Arrive at IR89A. Pray to the Bali gods the garden is REAL. Unpack. Assess the room – is it clean? Is the AC working? Do I have enough mosquito repellent? (These are crucial life-or-death questions, people). Start unpacking. Take a deep breath, and then another. And another, because the humidity is real.
- Evening: Hit a local warung (small, family-run restaurant) for dinner. Order Nasi Goreng, because how could you not? My fried egg looks like a sad little sun. Overeat because, vacation. Get a sudden wave of existential dread about being away from everything and everyone and then bounce back almost immediately because, vacation!
- Night: Stare at the stars. Or the darkness. Can’t tell. Decide to watch some TV. Maybe I ordered Nadi Goreng from the wrong place.
Day 2: Temples, Terraces, and Terrible Taxi Deals
- Morning: Wake up because the roosters in Bali have no respect for jet lag. Drink coffee. (Pray for quality, because I'm a coffee snob). Google "Best Temples in Bali." Overwhelmed. Pick one at random.
- Mid-Morning: Hire a driver (again, negotiating skills are a joke). Visit Uluwatu Temple. Try not to get my sunglasses stolen by a monkey. (Those little guys are organized crime, I swear). Feel a moment of profound peace looking at the ocean. Snap a thousand photos.
- Lunch: Find a restaurant overlooking rice terraces. Instantly Instagram. The rice terraces are stunning. Question everything I know about my life.
- Afternoon: Taxis and Tantrums (Minor): Attempt to take a taxi back to my hotel. Get ripped off. Rage internally. Promise to learn Indonesian for the sole purpose of arguing over taxi fares. Get lost. Wander into some random shops and buy things I definitely don’t need. Cry.
- Evening: Dinner and a Balinese massage. The massage is either pure bliss or incredibly awkward, depending on the masseuse’s approach. (Spoiler alert: it’s usually pretty awkward). Decide I'm not a "massage person". Contemplate life choices.
- Night: Fall into bed, exhausted and slightly sunburnt.
Day 3: The Beach (My Happy Place? Or?) & Surf’s Up (Maybe Later?)
- Morning: Beach day! Head to Kuta Beach. Or maybe Seminyak. Decide on Seminyak. Get distracted by all the beach clubs. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!
- Beach Debacle: Realize I'm not really a "beach person." The sand is EVERYWHERE. The sun is intense. The waves are…well, they could be better. Observe the surfers. Wish I could surf (but also feel like I'd drown instantly). Drink a Bintang (local beer).
- Mid-day: Lunch at a beachside cafe. Order something I can’t quite identify. Eat it anyway. It’s delicious. Maybe it's the Bintang talking.
- Afternoon: Stroll along the beach. People-watch. Judge the people. Decide I want to buy all the beachwear.
- Late Afternoon: Sunset at Tanah Lot Temple. (This is a must-see, I’m told) Even though I didn’t plan it. The crowds are insane. The sunset is beautiful, but I'm annoyed by the crowd. Still, take a picture. Instagram, duh.
- Evening: Dinner and cocktails. Attempt to learn basic Indonesian phrases. Make a fool of myself. Laugh. Get a sunburn.
Day 4: Diving Deep (Or, You Know, Snorkeling)
- Morning: Decide on a snorkeling trip. Research options. Choose a boat/tour operator. Pack my things. The anticipation!
- Oceanic Adventures: The boat? Small. The water? Murky at first. But then… coral! Fish! The sheer beauty of the underwater world. Holy crap. I'm in love! It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen, even the part where the waves gave me a slight panic attack. Forget about the bad memories!
- Mid-day: Eat the provided lunch on the boat. The sun is brutal. I'm sunburnt. But still, I’m happy.
- Afternoon: Try to learn more about underwater life. Find out what the different fish are called. Fail!
- Late Afternoon: Return to the accommodation. Shower and relax.
- Evening: Try to recreate the food that was served. (Fail.)
- Night: Head out for a nightcap. The island is so beautiful at night!
Day 5: Cultured Wanderings and Culinary Adventures (Maybe with a Misstep..?)
- Morning: Visit Ubud. (Because, Eat, Pray, Love, right?) Wander through the Monkey Forest. (Remember, avoid eye contact with the monkeys!) The monkeys are cute, but a little scary.
- Mid-Morning: Find the best coffee shop. The espresso is heavenly, although the prices? Not. Find the local market. Buy a stupid amount of "souvenirs."
- Lunch: Take a cooking class! (I might have gotten a little over-enthusiastic with the chili peppers. My mouth is currently on fire).
- Afternoon: Ride a scooter around the rice fields (after a lot of practice).
- Evening: Sample a local dessert (I try a Durian, which I regret instantly. The taste! The smell!).
- Night: Go to bed early, because tomorrow…
Day 6: Farewell (for now…?) and packing… (and more panic)
- Morning: Breakfast at a local warung. Try to savor every last nasi goreng bite. Reflect on the trip. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Am I a better person? Probably not.
- Mid-Morning: Last minute souvenir shopping. Regret my previous souvenir purchases. Decide to buy more. Pack.
- Afternoon: Head to the airport. The usual airport chaos. Hand over my departure card. Cry internally.
- Late Afternoon/Evening: Depart Bali. Promise myself I’ll return. (And maybe actually learn to surf next time). Reflect.
Final Thoughts & Notes:
- Food: Eat everything. Embrace the spice. Be prepared for a potential Bali belly, but don’t let it stop you!
- Transportation: Be prepared to haggle for everything. Hire a driver. Scooter at your own risk!
- Attitude: Relax. Be open to adventure. Embrace the chaos. You’re in Bali…have fun!
- The Garden View: Pray it’s as amazing as the pictures. And if it's not, at least the pool is probably nice, right?
This is just a starting point. Expect detours. Expect meltdowns. Expect unforgettable experiences. Bali, here I come (again)! Wish me luck! And send mosquito repellent!
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Why *this* format? Why FAQs? Why not just… *talk*?
Okay, fair point. Honestly? Sometimes, a rigid structure… helps. My brain's a squirrel in a disco, constantly bouncing to the next shiny object. A question-and-answer format? It… corrals the chaos. Kinda. It also makes me *feel* like I'm actually saying something useful, instead of just rambling about that time I accidentally set a microwave burrito on fire. (True story, by the way. The smoke alarm… let's just say it became *very* well-acquainted with my ceiling.) Also, it’s good to have some sort of base to start on.
So… what's the *real* point of all this? Is there a grand unifying theory of… anything?
Hah! A grand unifying theory? Honey, if I had *that*, I'd be sunning myself on a private island, sipping something fancy. The *real* point? Maybe… just getting it out. Stuffing things down inside… it’s like trying to fit a herd of angry badgers in a thimble. Eventually, something's gonna explode. So, this is… a way of saying "badgers, go forth!" It's also to find out how can I help with answering common questions.
What even are you particularly *good* at? What are your biggest strengths?
Good question! Okay, strengths… I’m honestly, brutally honest (that might also be a weakness, depending on who you ask). I can find a silver lining in a dumpster fire (sometimes. Mostly, I just find the dumpster fire. But! The *attempt* is there!). I am excellent at procrastination, which, ironically, has probably taught me a lot about the value of a deadline. And I'm a fantastic friend, sometimes I forget that.
And the *weaknesses*? Don't be shy!
Oh, the weaknesses! Where do I even begin? Impatience. I'm a master of multi-tasking, which often translates to doing *several* things badly at the same time. I’m fiercely competitive (I once argued with a squirrel over a particularly delicious-looking acorn. I lost). I overthink EVERYTHING. Seriously, everything. And I am absolutely, positively TERRIBLE at remembering people's names. Drives me nuts and I'm sure drives other people nuts too.
What's your absolute *favorite* thing in the world? And what is your *least* favorite?
Favorite thing? A tie! First, a perfect cup of coffee on a rainy morning. Oh, the *bliss*. Second, the sound of my best friend's laugh. It's the kind of laugh that bubbles up from the belly and makes my own sides ache. My least favorite? Traffic. Pure, unadulterated, soul-crushing traffic. I’d actually rather be in a root canal. Seriously, make it stop.
What is your favorite type of music?
Ooh, music! Okay, I'm a bit of a musical magpie. I love a LOT of different types, I can love blues and all kinds of alternative rock. On some days I can fall deep into jazz. If I had to choose, it's all about the mood but, classic rock, grunge and alternative.
What are you *most* afraid of?
Loneliness. The thought of being utterly alone… gives me the serious heebie-jeebies. Not just the physical kind of loneliness, but the emotional one. The thought that no one *gets* you, that no one cares… That's a tough one for sure.
If you could have *any* superpower, what would it be?
Ooh, this is a fun one! I'm torn between two. Super-speed? Imagine the errands I could run! I could get the groceries, do laundry, and still have time to write that novel I've been putting off for… well, years. Or… the power of empathy. To truly understand what other people are feeling, to walk in their shoes, even for a moment… I think that would be pretty incredible. But then again, with super-speed I could eat all the ice cream and still burn it off. Decisions, decisions…
What is your favorite color?
Wow, that's a fun question. It's blue! All shades. But especially the color of the deep ocean or the sky on a cloudless day. It’s like you get a calm feeling when you look at it.
What is your favorite food?
I am such a foodie. I have so many but Pizza! I go for a good pizza slice any day, it gives such a good comfort.
Is there a place you particularly love? A country, a city, a town?
Definitely. I can say I love traveling, especially cities with old stuff from other times, such as Europe in general, but I have a deep love for the small Scottish villages, I can spend an entire day just by walking a village or a town, I have spent a few weeks on the Highlands and I can say it was the best trip of my life. I will return there for sure.
When was the last time you cried?
Oh man, that's a personalEasy Hotel Hunt
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