We stayed at 3 hotels this time and travelled with 2 children and 2 or our friends so it was interesting to see the different likes and dislikes.
Seminyak Suites - 6 nights. Got this one through Asian Travel Club - wanted to try out one of theirs and it was cheap for us as members. Thoroughly enjoyed this small boutique hotel. It was a bit out of the way down a long gang. You could however walk down a couple of other gangs to get to the back of Ku De Ta or onto eat street near the Soho 24hr diner. The children loved this hotel so much they practically stayed there 24/7. The staff were fantastic with them. The rooms were nice, spacious, clean. The shower didn't drain so well (our friends didn't like this and bought a cheap bath mat to put in there). Towels were thin and no bath mats. Crockery was old. Food was pretty good but a very small basic menu. Coffee and tea was not the best. Next time will bring my own tea bags. We will stay here again but hubby will get a motorbike to run us around the Seminyak area.
Bali Spirit and Spa, Ubud.3 nights - beautiful resort set on a hill. Gardens were magnificent!! I love frangipanis and they were everywhere. A lot of steps - needed the exercise anyway. Breakfast at the restaurant by the river - lovely. Pool was very nice. Staff once again lovely and the guy in the pool table bar played pool with the kids and he had no customers. Was once again a bit far out of the main town but free shuttle bus quite regularly.
Friends liked this hotel (she loved it, he was over the statues and didn't like the semi outdoor shower). Children were pining for Seminyak so didn't want to like this one. I seem to like wherever I am in Bali - every place has pros and cons.
Dyndasty - 2 nights. Stayed here for the kids. Great hotel for families. We were so busy trying to cram in everything before we left didn't get to really appreciate this hotel. Happy hour packed. Had some nice cheap cocktails. Got mobbed walking down laneway to the beach. Was over that so didn't go that way again. Thought it would look onto the beach so that was disappointing. Nice pool although I only went into the lazy pool (adults only) once. (too busy). Son got sick here and staff bought us extra sheets and towels late at night no problems. They even had a bali belly remedy in the room so used that and he came good after 7 hours. We had the kids suite - too small for our children (14 and 9) and room to small to share with them. Next time would choose the interconnecting rooms for sure. Had a look at the suites with sliding door between kids and adults beds but you still share the shower and think interconnecting would be better for us. Gracies Irish bar was great enjoyed that one night. Walked down the beach to meet our friends who stayed at the Patra and had dinner at Pantai (I think) nice location but the pipe on the beach was an eyesore.
Patra - our friends stayed here while we were at the Dynasty. We thought finally they will be happy as we have stayed here before and thought we were the king and queen. Well, they said it was "ok" and then complained about the cost of their lunch. I then named our friend "Rick hard to please". They did say they were looked after there.