After flying nearly twenty hours to reach Bali and arriving just after midnight, the last thing we wanted to do was spend another couple of hours trying to reach our hotel. Luckily, the Intercontinental Bali is only located about fifteen minutes from the international airport in Denpasar. In addition to its great location near the airport and right on the beach, the hotel had a special deal whereby I was able to use eighty thousand American Airlines miles for five free nights with breakfast included. Given that we arrived in the early hours of the morning, we went straight to our room for some much needed sleep. The next morning, my wife and I felt refreshed and we were ready to explore the hotel and its grounds.
We stopped first at the breakfast buffet which was absolutely spectacular. The breakfast buffet had western and eastern options, a fresh omelet station, more variety of fruit then I have ever seen, and was a great way to start each day.
Once we walked around the resort, we soon realized what a special place it is. The grounds were manicured to perfection. The large staff at the resort took immaculate care of every inch it seemed.
Going with the theme of Bali, there were several different pools and fountains throughout the resort. The main central pool of the hotel overlooked Jimbaran Bay and was the perfect temperature to cool off from the warm sun.
After spending time around the pool, it was also very nice to spend time walking on the beach, especially in the later afternoon when the sun was less intense. Just as we would finish our late afternoon walks on the beach, the sun would begin to set.
The sunsets at the Intercontinental Bali were an event. As the sun would set, an employee from the hotel would begin to play traditional Balinese music until the sun disappeared over the horizon.
For dinner, there were several options at the hotel which were great. But being in Bali, we wanted to try seafood. There were several restaurants just a short walk from the hotel that had fresh smoked seafood with tables right on the beach.
Besides the immaculate grounds, the hotel staff was outstanding. They were friendly, helpful and truly seemed to enjoy working at this magnificent resort. Our last night at the hotel, just prior to departing for the airport, my wife and I sat relaxing by one of the tranquil pools with fountains streaming water. I have to admit, at that moment, I didn’t want to leave the Intercontinental Bali. Rarely, have I enjoyed a property more and I would love to go back someday.