In Reply to: Palm Garden posted by Barlee on Wednesday, 1. June 2011 at 07:51 Bali Time:
I stayed there a year ago and this is my experience:
The owner/manager of Palm Beach International does not like any foreign nationals but the Dutch and clearly shows it. The Dutch guests for obvious reasons like the hotel.
Not only the restaurant staff was unfriendly/rude. The various receptionists were just as horrendous and extremely un-helpful. It probably came down to the fact that all staff were afraid of the owner and management and thus could not really like their working place.
At times there was a supervisor who counted what and how much the paying guests were putting on their breakfast plates - and checked what was left on the plates when guests had finished eating. This was an interesting experience.
And outside the gate there was a building where garbage from the whole area was dumped. There was of course a very strong smell surrounding that building, also reaching the gate area, and the amount of rats scurrying across the street into the sewers and the hotel garden was really amazing but totally disgusting.
Some of the rooms did indeed need a renovation. And if sitting by the pool it was recommended to have a look at the palm trees and their contents. Coconuts are heavy and the trees high.
But the location is excellent, almost on the beach. Nevertheless I would not stay there unless I was Dutch, which I am not.