The Hyatt Regency Bali is an aging hotel, but I would argue a hotel that is aging gracefully. Bali is full of luxe properties at excellent prices and so you might be tempted to overlook this one, but I would not do so…I had a lovely stay.
This will be a photo-intensive review, because it’s the common areas and the amenities that make the Hyatt Regency Bali special, especially for World of Hyatt members, and these are better seen than described.
Hyatt Regency Bali Review
The Bali Hyatt opened in 1973 as one of the first Western hotels in Bali. It underwent a five-year renovation between 2013-2018 and reopened as the Hyatt Regency Bali. The rooms have been freshened up, but the hotel still looks quite old…however that is not a knock. It’s got almost a vintage vibe that I love, much like the Kahala in Hawaii or the old Diamond at Concourse at HNL Airport.
I booked the hotel for $140/night, which was the same price as the Grand Hyatt, but about half the price of the Andaz Hotel next door (Bali has many Hyatt properties…last time I stayed at the Studios At Alila Seminyak). The hotel is in Sanur only 20 minutes from the airport.
Check-In
Upon arrival I was thanked for my Globalist status and presented with a welcome drink (iced tea) and cold towel. I was also informed I was upgraded to a suite.
It seems that I always get the suite upgrades or the one night stays…
Guest Room
My room was located in a concrete wing of the hotel masked by lush and mature vegetation. My photos are a bit grainy, but the humidity and condensation was so high that it was hard to take pictures at all inside. My room, 1422, was located on the upper level.
The suite was spacious with a living room – dining room combination with a terrace, then a bedroom with its own terrace, plus a large bathroom and walk-in closet.
The bathroom included a separate tub and shower, two sinks, and a dressing ottoman in the middle.
While the view was partially obstructed by other structures, you could see the ocean from the terrace.
The minibar was stocked.
Electrical outlets were plentiful (and accommodated all plug types).
Spa + Fitness Center
A spa and fitness center are shared by the Hyatt Regency and the next-door Andaz.
The entire spa complex is large with a swimming pool as well as several ponds with lily pads used for decoration.
Gender-segregated locker rooms include a whirlpool and sauna.
The fitness center includes mostly cardio equipment, though there are free weights and resistance machines available.
Pool + Beach
I mentioned the pool above in the spa area, but the hotel also has al large pool near the beach.
Speaking of the beach, I would not call it the most beautiful beach in Bali by a longshot, but it’s respectable. Bike rentals are available.
Regency Club
It’s getting difficult these days to find a Regency Club in the USA that is even open, let alone worth visiting. But the Regency Club here is one of the best in the world. Regency Club guests (included for World of Hyatt Globalist members) can access the club for both evening Hors d’Oeuvres (between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm) and breakfast each morning from 6:00 am to 10:00 am.
Evening selections included grilled calamari, chicken and mushroom pizza, ham and cheese sandwiches, vegetable enchiladas, grilled Balanese-style pork, soups, salads, meats, cheese, plus plenty of freshly-baked bread, desserts, and fruit.
Alcohol is also complimentary during the evening hours, with a choice of wines, including sparkling wine (no fancy Champagne). Barista-made coffee is also available.
Breakfast was also superb, with omelets cooked to order, fresh watermelon, good coffee, and green drink (my kind of breakfast), but also more local flavors like Bihum Goreng.
Service was lovely and attentive.
If you really want to do Bali on the cheap, this is the place…you can easily eat “free” each day in lounge with a large breakfast and large supper. Then again, there are better places to travel to than Bali if you want to just eat a western-friendly buffet.
Other Food + Drink
While Regency Club guests must take their breakfast in the Regency Club, there is a breakfast restaurant called Omang Omang that offers an even larger spread.
Other restaurants and bars include:
- Pizzaria
- Omang Omang (Indonesian food + grill – also open for lunch + dinner)
- Piano Bar
CONCLUSION
I was quite happy at this hotel and would have been happy here for my entire week on Bali (though I would not have had every dinner in the Regency Club). Instead, I just enjoyed a night here, but that was long enough to recognize that though this property may not be the fanciest hotel in Bali, it is a very solid option.
We stayed at the Kunja Villas & Spa when we were in Bali in 2018. It was amazing to have our own private pool. They came and made breakfast every morning fresh in our villa. All we had to do was step outside and enjoy. There’s not many hotels that I’d say we’d return to without a doubt, but it’s definitely one of them.
Been here and loved it. Thumbs up!
The picture of the sign in the locker room asking to stay covered up begs the question,who gets undressed in a gender segregated locker room?
Common in Muslim culture – prevalent even though Bali is mostly Hindu. Even men changing with men is not permitted…they go hide behind curtains within the locker room.
The only thing is that Bali is not Muslim dominated but Hindu.
In Jakarta, where I live for 25 years, nobody runs around naked in a locker or changing room, but they also do not hide behind curtains.
At Indian gym locker rooms — ones where it’s most likely Hindu-majority or Hindu-plurality participants — it’s sort of the same as it would be in Malaysian gym locker rooms in terms of “covering up”. [FWIW, Malaysia tends to be somewhat more socially conservative than Indonesia, although extremism has grown more in Indonesia as a problem with ubiquitous internet availability than it has in Malaysia.]
It’s Bihun Goreng; with an “N” instead of “M”
It is a stir fried vermicelli
Glad to see you make it a priority to use the gyms when going around. Too many business travelers get into poor health habits because of their travels and then it really shows up terribly when they get older but could have been in better shape with a higher quality (and likely quantity) of life if only they had worked out on the go, ate better, cut the alcohol consumption and had better sleep habits during their travels. [The sleep one is the hardest one to control when changing time zones and properties a lot.]
I like to know how the hotel gyms are equipped and situated, if they have their own showers and toilets, and if those can be used easily while waiting for check-in and after check-out on check-out day.
It increases the odds for more travel years and blog entries.