Posted by Mark Dodd on Sunday, 14. February 1999 at 16:29 Bali Time:
In Reply to: Le Meridien Nirwana posted by Wayne on Saturday, 13. February 1999 at 00:55 Bali Time:
Wayne, I am betting you are going on the Bali Spectacular via Singapore Airlines. You will find this is truly a spectacular deal. The hotel is one of the best my wife and I have ever experienced and we've done some Westins, Four Seasons, etc...so we don't say that lightly. Everywhere you turn at the Nirwana are beautiful mahogany carvings, lovely stone foundations, attractive gardens and water sculpting. Your breakfast is served with a view of the Indian Ocean and Tanah Lot. There are four cascading pools with waterslides and hottubs. The disadvantage to Nirwana may also be an advantage...it is isolated from other tourist locations but ask your driver from the airport and you can probably get hooked up with someone who will scurry you around Bali at $20-25/day. There is also a free shuttle to Kuta but after one visit to that capital of hucksterism was to us one too much. There is one other disadvantage. The Nirwana is a real estate development of primarily Jakarta investors who built the hotel against the wishes of most Balinese as it replaces scenic rice paddies overlooking one of the most sacred temples. During our recent stay there was an invasion on the lobby by motorcyclists in the area, destroying some of the decorations, and on the following day a blockade of the entrance. It does not appear to be directly related to the unrest on Jakarta but more a protest from local village folks on not being offered a contract renewal on hotel work. You may want to check with the hotel on whether this situation has been addressed.