In Reply to: MBR...is it really that bad... posted by penbali on Wednesday, 31. January 2007 at 14:49 Bali Time:
I first stayed at MBR in May 2003, went back again November 2003 and again August 2005. I'm now planning August 2007 and MBR is at the top of the list of hotels I'm considering. The only thing holding me back on it is that they no longer offer the free room upgrade they used to do and it's pushing them slightly above my preferred budget on accomodation.
People have been posting negative - and positive - comments on here for as long as I know. I first found this forum when I was doing research on hotels ahead of my May 2003 trip. Even back then people complained about the pool being murky and breakfast giving them "Bali belly" - while others couldn't rave enough about how great the place is.
If it wasn't great, I wouldn't have gone back twice more after the original stay, I can assure you of that! If you had a good time in October 2004, there is no reason whatsoever that you won't enjoy it this time.
Suggestions about having breaky early are definitely justified. The food does sit out in the main maries for a long time and I can understand some people getting a bit icky if they rolled up at 9.45 and started eating food that had been sitting out for nearly 3 hours. But of course people tend to get confused between real Bali Belly and the travellers trots (from change of diet and very mild compared to the real "Belly"), so I wouldn't read too much into people getting sick from breakfast.
If you're at all dubious, go outside the hotel for breakfast. There's plenty of options. Sinar Indah restaurant outside the gate does a good value breakfast. There's a breakfast buffet at the All Seasons, not very cheap and nowhere near the variety as MBR, but nice food. La Monde above the Loji is open for breaky (great jaffles), as is the Poser's Bar down on the corner of Jl Padma (huge breakfast for a few dollars). All have plenty of options at very reasonable prices.