Day 6 and we transferred by taxi to the Swissbel Bay View Hotel on Nusa Dua Hill. We had originally booked direct with the hotel for a 5 night stay. This is an upmarket hotel which is secluded and new. So new infact that only 48 rooms had been completed. Staff told me they were running at 30% occupancy but we only saw three room lights on that night. We referred to it as 'the ghost hotel'. There just seemed like there was no-one there except us and the staff. It was if your voice was echoing around the place. Unfortunately for the hotel this created a sterile atmosphere which was no good for us or the kids.
The two bedroom unit was opulent. The views from the Hotel room and roof were expansive. The hotel has two pools, one in the middle and one on the roof. Both were nice to look at but freezing and the wife declined to swim. My daughter had the shivers.
I find it very hard to rate this place. I am sure if they turned up the heat on the pools and had more guests it would be quite nice. It just lacked atmosphere.
The next day we had breakfast at the hotels Sky Terrace Restaurant. We were alone until a young Asian couple, probably on honeymoon, turned up at the last minute. The dinner menu looked good and reasonably priced. This place gets a good wrap for dinner and I'm sure it would have great night time views from the restaurant.
That morning we made a quick recce of the new Novotel Apartments at Nusa Dua. We were shown an apartment and were suitably impressed. The resort opened in March 2007 and has plenty of charisma. They offered us their promotional rate of $US 103 per night for a 2 bedroom apartment. (the rate unfortunately finishes at the end of June). We decided to check out of the Swiss Bel Bay View early, something we had never done before. The wife made me do all the talking and suggested that since she went through child birth, such matters were a husbands domain. That's strange because I don't recall her checking out of childbirth early??
They took it quite well and did not charge a cancellation fee. So off to the new Novotel Apartments we went.
What can I say about the Novotel Apartments apart from for us this was find of the century. The place is brand new, well laid out with buckets of ambience. They were running at 60% occupancy and there were a good mix of families. Don't be put off by the green pools on their website. That's just the colour of the tiles. There are 1500 M2 of pools which are warm, clean and inviting. There was no shortage of sun huts or lounges and plenty of nooks in the pool to call your own. The breakfast were impressive and the joint has a Dolphi kids club and a free gym. It is next to the golf course, around the corner from some great restaurants in the Bualu strip and within walking distance to the Bali Collection (old Galleria). Oh, and they had Tasmanian Atlantic Salmon on the menu to remind us of home, perhaps a bit expensive though for dinner.
The rooms were modern, spacious and impressive. Management told me they are selling off the apartments to buyers who then rent to holiday makers though Accor. They claim to have sold 80% and all the 3 bedroom ones with plunge pools had gone. No-one pressured me to buy one.
It will be interesting to see the new rates come July 2007 but I reckon a 2 bedroom is easily worth US$200 - $250 a night considering the local market such as the Ramada Benoa.
The kids also loved this place and we will definitely return.
The next morning at 2.30am we were confronted by our 4 year old daughter with an ear infection. We had brought Aqua Ear as well and hadn't been using it. Mental note; use Aqua ear daily in future!! We rang 1-Cover Travel Insurance for some advice. We then called out a Dr. via reception. In 15 minutes a Dr. and Nurse came to the room with a suitcase of tricks in hand. A quick inspection revealed an inflamed ear canal only and she was given ear drops and anti-biotics on the spot. Total bill only $60 Australian. I was sweating dreading a huge bill.
The next day we buggered about for ages looking for ear plugs. It seemed like we found the last pair in Bali. The call of 'one size fits all' I'm sure only applies to adults. Hot tip most kids swimming goggles in Bali also contain ear plugs which fit little kids well. (We found this out a few days later)
Places we ate for dinner and recommend all with free transport;
La Scala Benoa Ph.775605. (Ate there twice. Top food, friendly staff)
Kecak Benoa Ph.775533. (nothing memorable apart from nice food)
Mai Mai on the Bualu Restaurant strip Nusa Dua Ph.772406. (Ate there 3 times!!, top food, staff and atmosphere, overall nicest place we found for tea. They have a guitarist who plays 3 times a week. He played our requests of James BLUNT, Rob THOMAS, Crowded House and U2. A truly memorable renditition of 'Wiff or Wiff out you' ...(...)
Casablanca Benoa Ph.778631. (Nice food and staff, they had three young traditional dancers who chatted with the kids and provided top entertainment).
Pavilion near the Nusa Dua Gates. (exceptional food and nice atmos)
The only place we dined at which wasn't much chop was Ulam. In fact it was shiiite. The surrounds and table were grubby, the food overpriced and ordinary. The wife and I ordered a seafood platter at RP120 000. It was mostly shell and the calamari was extra chewy.
Coming up .... Our trip to visit schools in Sembung/Sembogan and the Laguna Nusa Dua.
If you want you can check out some pics at our webshots page (see link).
http://community(dot)webshots(dot)com/user/tassiemays