In Reply to: A JBR trilogy -(2) Week 1 at Novotel posted by Wharfie on Tuesday, 25. March 2008 at 20:18 Bali Time:
Hi Wharfie, first off, sorry I didn't make contact while there but was not a happy chappie. I knew about the road but thought it was a road within the resort not the main road. That instantly put me off the hotel. I had been in touch with reservations, explained I was travelling on my own, and had been told I would have a room near reception. I was taken across the road to what I am sure was as far as you could get from reception, strike no 2. The room was musty and opened on to the pool that was closed for renovations so even the garden needed work. (I had also been told I would be on the 2nd floor as I wanted a balcony and felt safer there but no they only had ground floor). Back to reception where I kept complaining until they found me something else. I was supposed to be there 6 nights but now changed to 4 nights. I was given a tropical terrace room for 2 nights and then they would find a superior room close to the road. OK. I will try and make this shorter. Had lunch at the restaurant on the beach, Caesar salad. Big mistake, lettuce bad. Didn;t pay for it. Except for the last day I enjoyed the breakfast. The baked beans were actually haricot beans (yes they did look like the baked beans had been taking steriods). The hotel makes all the food themselves including the bread and jams. mmm lovely pineapple & ginger jam. About the only thing besides the BROWN bread that was positive. I had the Italian dinner buffet on the Saturday night and was definitely not worth the money. Another problem/mixup with the superior room I was to move to, more complaining and I ended up in a beachside cabana. Would I go back, no way. Like most hotels the sun lounges were taken early in the morning, both pool and beach, but no people to be seen. I checked out the Kind Villa Bintang on my way back to Kuta and will stay there next time. The Novotel, beachside, was an absolute maze whereas the Kind Villa Bintang is a U shape with lawn & gardens in the centre. The superior rooms are large but I would stay in the deluxe room as the bathroom was large and had a separate shower. A much smaller hotel but had a good feel about it. Caio, Stormy