Finishing up 11 nights in Bali and thought this would be quite relevant to many here:
Keep in mind we started before AUS school holidays and ended first week of.
Titanium elite
Westin Ubud
Corp rate
Booked: Guest Room
Received: Guest Room
14/6-17/6
Not upgraded due to capacity, but I don’t even care. This place is 10/10, and it’s all the soft product. Staff is genuinely top tier all around. We were upgraded in app a week before arrival but was taken away. On check in check in agent apologised for no upgrades and offered a free meal in the restaurant, as well as extended coughtail hours. Pool bar has an amazing view and awesome bartenders and happy hour. A bit far from central Ubud though so I’d plan your trip carefully if you decide to stay here, we did day trips in the morning and come back mid afternoon to recharge. Eka at reception and Pande and Pundawan at the bar are masters of their crafts. Highlight of our trip for sure, which is especially impressive considering…
W Seminyak
Redemption
Booked: Base Garden View
Received: Marvellous 1 Bedroom Villa
17/6-22/6
Awesome upgrade, easily the best upgrade I’ve ever received. Staff is overall pretty good but not as good as before, but still locked in. Step up in F&B price to around Aussie price but still acceptable considering the service and location/facilities. For the first half of this stay I was just thinking about the Westin, which speaks more about the Westin than the W if anything. More kids than expected (5:1 ratio at one point. Would return. 87% capacity on check in and 95% capacity on checkout
Lastly,
The Ritz Carlton Nusa Dua
Amex FHR (+Titanium)
Booked: Junior Suite
Received: Junior Suite
22/6-25/6
Yeah, this place is a massive, undeniable L. I’d highly reconsider to the StR or Laguna if you’ve booked here. No upgrades at all, but ok, whatever. However, we were informed that there are 3 weddings in our first day alone! One of which is a massive Aussie one which has took over the entire centre of the resort. She also mentioned they normally get 3 weddings a week otherwise, which just flags me as a giant wedding mill (a la JW Marriott Khao Lak, unfortunately). She mentioned that she will “monitor for upgrades tomorrow after the wedding party has checked out”, but will update if anything happens.
Anyways, our room ended up being right next to the elevator with the corresponding thump every 15-30 seconds (6 floors, we’re top floor next to the motor presumably), as well as directly in front of the wedding party. I’ve basically got their speakers in my room basically.
Not to mention, unbranded toiletries, robes, slippers, etc. No club lounge. Bordering unreasonable food prices considering where we are. (Like, compared to a 2022 menu some mains items are 50-80% higher).
No welcome notes, gifts, amenities. Just a plate on the table with some cutleries and napkins for presumably a cake that never came.
Service is good enough, but it just all falls flat unfortunately. At least the JW has built a massive ball room for weddings but the Ritz is just blasting everything in open air 50m from our balcony with no warning being sent out prior.
Just don’t do it.
