Hotel Review: Conrad Bali (Lagoon Suite) - Newly-renovated Suite in Nusa Dua with Access to Executive Lounge (Conrad Suites Lounge)
Located slightly over two hours away from Singapore, Bali offers a fantastic weekend getaway from Singaporeans as well as travellers who are visiting the Lion City. I have personally been to Bali at least ten times in the last three years but one thing is for certain - the Conrad Bali remains to be one of my favourite properties here. Do not get me wrong though - there are plenty of luxury resorts (e.g. The St. Regis Bali and Aman properties) here but the Conrad Bali offers an amazing experience (especially when you are a Hilton Honors Diamond member) for a fraction of the price.
Click HERE to check out the newly-renovated room and suites at Conrad Bali!
I checked out the new Pool Villas in Conrad Bali when I visited last year but when I found out that some of the rooms and suites have undergone renovation, I was really excited to check them out. Getting from Singapore to Bali is easy and there are plenty of flights that will take you there - if you would like to opt for something a little more comfortable, a return-trip from Singapore to Bali in Business Class on KLM will cost you slightly under S$600 per person (but the timing is not great). Alternatively, there is always the option of Singapore Airlines and that beautiful Business Class seat on the 787-10 Dreamliner (so long you pick the right flight) that will take you there. I would not pay more than S$1,200 for this flight but if you have The Platinum Card from American Express, do check out the International Airline Program (IAP) rates as you will likely have access to some form of discounted rates.
Conversely, redeeming 19,000 KrisFlyer miles for a one-way trip between Singapore and Bali on Singapore Airlines in Business Class is not a terrible idea either - obviously you can get better bang for your miles elsewhere (e.g. Istanbul) but this is actually one of the best routes for redemption in Zones 2. Getting from Ngurah Rai International Airport to Conrad Bali is extremely easy but I highly recommend arranging for your ride prior to arrival - you may also choose to go with one of the private drivers at the airport but of course that experience may either go very well or very wrong. The Conrad Bali quoted me USD 22 (Toyota Innova) and USD 87 (Mercedes-Benz, but unsure about the series) for a one-way trip. In comparison, I paid roughly SGD 10 (approximately USD 7) for a private airport transfer on Klook (which I have personally used over 10 times across different cities). While I am typically supportive of the use of luxury limousines, the actual ride from the airport to the hotel will take only 20 minutes (especially if you go via the toll-road) so if you are going for the hotel-arranged transport, the Toyota Innova should suffice.
As the name suggests, the newly-renovated Lagoon Suite here at the Conrad Bali comes with a private terrace with direct access to the freeform swimming pool. While it is not difficult to access the pool from any room (since the buidling is only a few levels tall and you can easily take the stairs or elevator down), having direct pool access from your room makes the experience so much better. If you are planning on staying in the hotel, being able to jump right in to the pool right from the moment you get back from breakfast or a cafe nearby is an amazing benefit.
The Lagoon Suite measures approximately 90sqm in size and while it may be smaller than the older Conrad Suite (the lead-in suite category at the time of writing) which I have stayed in previously on multiple occasions, it is a lot more pleasant and the interiors are beautiful. As you would expect, the Lagoon Suites here at the Conrad Bali features a separate living room as well as a bedroom. You will find a powder room (half bathroom) near the entrance of the suite and this is perfect if you are traveling with family (especially kids) or friends since you do not have to wait around for the bathroom in the morning.
The living area comprises of a seating area which sits towards the end of the space, and a dining area for up to 4 adults in the front. As part of my welcome amenity (apart from 1,000 Hilton Honors points which I receive for being a Diamond member), I received a plate of fresh tropical fruits as well as a heartwarming note from the team welcoming me 'home'. As I have mentioned on my Instagram post, this was my sixth stay at the Conrad Bali over the last couple of years and it is always nice to return to familiar faces (especially in the Conrad Suites Lounge which I will cover more in a bit).
The Lagoon Suites here at the Conrad Bali come with a coffee machine (with complimentary coffee pods, unlike the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort) and teabags from TWG are also provided in the living room just above the minibar. While these are replenished during evening turndown and in the morning, I did come back to some 'regular' Dilmah (or Twinnings!) teabags instead of TWG-branded ones, one evening. Now if you have been to different Conrad hotels around the world, you should already know that every property will typically provide a stuffed animal of sorts as a form of a keepsake. Here at the Conrad Bali, you will find an adorable monkey toy which you can bring home with you.
Located past the living room and the dining area is a separate bedroom which comes with direct access to the private deck and lagoon pool. On the other side of the room, it opens up directly to a small outdoor area where you can enjoy the sun (depending on the time of the day) or simply the beautiful ocean breeze. The bedroom of the Lagoon Suite here at the Conrad Bali seriously looks a lot better post-renovation and the bed is about as dreamy as it will ever be.
You will be able to access a private deck from your bedroom or the living room - this area spans across both areas and you will find a pair of tanning chairs located on one side. Since my room was facing the ocean, I was able to enjoy the sunrise from one of these chairs in the morning and seriously, there is nothing better than enjoying that warm sun in the early morning. Obviously, being able to leap directly into the lagoon pool is a huge plus but I do wish pool towels were provided here on a daily basis. While it is not difficult to walk over to the main area to get myself some pool towels, most of the luxury resorts that I have been to have thought about this.
If you have stayed at the Conrad Bali prior to its renovation (which is expected to complete by the end of 2019), you will notice that the bedrooms look very different. In fact, the pastel colours that reflect the ocean and the sun can be found across the whole room. Located directly next to the door (which can be locked to create a private living space outside) is where you will find plenty of wardrobe space. Now if by some stroke of luck, you are planning to be here for a long time, there will definitely be enough space for you to hang up all your clothes.
One of the things that Conrad Bali has done away with (at least for the newly-renovated Lagoon Suites) is complimentary and unlimited laundry. On my previous stays in a Conrad Suite and a Pool Villa, I was offered unlimited laundry for the whole duration of my stay (which is seriously one of the greatest perks when staying in a resort) - most of these requests were fulfilled overnight and I got them the next morning. However, on my latest stay, this perk appears to have been removed.
The Conrad Bali has also introduced a number of modern conveniences following the renovation. At the side of the bed is where you will find a universal power outlet as well as a USB charging port - simply connect your cable and you will be able to charge your mobile device easily. In case you were wondering, not every single power outlet in the room has been converted into a universal one but I did not face any shortages of these power outlets throughout my stay (and I actually travel with plenty of electronics as well as gadgets). While the light controls could have been sleeker and trendier, Conrad Bali has chosen to retain a much simpler set of switches when it came to these controls.
Complimentary drinking water can be found throughout the room and there was never a shortage at any point. I drink at least 6-8 bottles of water each day and there were plenty throughout the entire Lagoon Suite - the living room, the bedroom as well as both bathrooms. I am not certain whether all glass bottles are provided for every single room on property (or is this just a suite thing) but it would be nice to know that the hotel has done away with single use plastics in the guest rooms.
There is also a TV here in the bedroom but unfortunately, it was a lot smaller than expected (especially since it is located away from the bed). Directly under the TV in the cabinet is where you will find a second minibar - I did not actually realise this until the last day of my stay! While it is not necessary, having another minibar in the bedroom means being able to get water in the middle of the night without having to walk all the way to the living room.
The bathroom of the Lagoon Suite here at the Conrad Bali is probably where you will find the least modifications. While there are some light retouches here, the bathroom definitely retained most of what it had even after the renovation. A deep-soaking bathtub can be found on the side of the bathroom and bath salts are provided if that is something that you are after.
Located directly across from the tub is where you will find the toilet as well as a separate shower area. The bathroom of the Lagoon Suite comes with double vanity sinks which is perfect if you are sharing this room with your partner. Now you might remember that there is another powder room located outside which is connected to the living room so there is really no reason why you should fight over this during the ‘peak hours’ of your stay.
Bath amenities are provided by Shanghai Tang and these are the default amenities which are offered in all the guest rooms and suites (obviously they did not do away with single-use plastics then). If you prefer, you may also request for Temple Spa or The Refinery branded bath amenities during your stay - I really like the range from Temple Spa so you should try them if you have the opportunity.
As I have mentioned earlier, one of the best-kept secrets of the Conrad Bali is the existence of an equivalent club lounge - the Conrad Suite Lounge is accessible only to guests staying in suites and above but as far as I know, access is also granted to Hilton Honors Diamond members. There are not too many hotels in Bali which offer an executive lounge and as you can imagine, alcohol prices are fairly steep within the resort (expect to pay about S$8 to S$10 for a beer). Being able to enjoy complimentary (alcoholic) drinks daily from 5:00PM to 7:00PM in the evening is definitely something that offers plenty of value to me.
The staff here at the Conrad Suites Lounge in Conrad Bali have been fantastic - I have gotten to know some of them throughout the years (I have first stayed here 2014 and I have been back six times now) and many of them have grown to become friends whom I now look forward to visiting each time. Not only do they remember my drink orders from my previous stays, but there is also seriously something special about that genuine service that I get each time I am back. While I do not generally have a sweet tooth, the piña colada here at the Conrad Suite Lounge is a drink that I look forward to all the time. The Conrad Suite Lounge here at the Conrad Bali used to offer only a small selection of food - they used to be plated and delivered to your table but now you will be able to fill your own plate from the buffet spread in the air-conditioned area of the lounge. This is definitely a positive change since it allows hotel guests to substitute dinner for a smaller meal at the lounge. However, if you are feeling hungry after your drinks, there are a number of restaurants located within the hotel (suite guests will get to enjoy 15% savings on food and non-alcoholic beverages) but if you are willing to get out and walk, there are plenty of affordable restaurants to choose from opposite.
Breakfast for all guests is now served at Suku which is the all-day dining restaurant for Conrad Bali. Previously, suite guests were able to enjoy breakfast at RIN but this option appears to have been removed this time. With that said, I actually really enjoy the selection over at Suku and if you come slightly early, there is really plenty of seats to choose from - I personally enjoy the outdoor seats inside one of the elevated bales.
Breakfast at Suku runs from 7:00 AM to 10:30 AM each day and if you are a Hilton Honors Gold or Diamond member, you will get to enjoy the buffet breakfast for free here (which is fantastic!). Remember, if you have The Platinum Card from American Express (which is seriously my favourite credit card right now), you will get Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as you hold the card (which means you will get to enjoy complimentary breakfast at all Conrad properties always!).
Outside of breakfast hours, Suku offers authentic street food from Bali, Java, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore and it personally my favourite restaurant on property. Most of the Asian main courses range from S$30 to S$35 each which is not exactly cheap for Bali but do remember that you are dining within the hotel so it is actually fairly reasonable.
There is a wide selection of food during breakfast and if you are the kind that typically skip breakfast, you should definitely wake up for this one. Apart from tropical fruits, I really enjoyed the noodle station as well as the delicious (and crisp!) hash browns in the morning. The staff at the restaurant are also extremely attentive so you will never have to wait too long for your drink and food orders.
Apart from the extensive buffet breakfast spread, hotel guests with a breakfast-inclusive rate will also get to select from a range of a la carte items which includes popular dishes like eggs benedict, egg white omelette, breakfast burrito and a Japanese bento box just to name a few. There is also a couple of items under ‘Hilton Huanying’ which I would imagine, caters more to Chinese guests (think fried noodles, dim sum and porridges).
it goes without saying that you must like the sun and the sea if you are planning to stay at the Conrad Bali. The main pool is amazing and because of how much direct sun the pool actually receives, the water remains warm even in the evening (I used to think it was a heated pool!). There are plenty of sun loungers around the swimming pool but if you are looking for something a little more private, you will find some facing the ocean on the far end of the pool. In fact, if you wish to be on the beach (which you can just walk over from the swimming pool in under a minute), there are sun loungers out on the beach itself but do note that there are touters around trying to sell you something or a water sport activity.
During my visit, I obviously felt the need to purchase an overpriced coconut so I can post it on Instagram but hey, at least it was nicely chilled and delicious! Honestly, one of the best things to do in Conrad Bali is to simply enjoy all the different pools and the amazing weather in the Island of the Gods.
Having been to a number of luxury hotels in Bali (including the famous St. Regis Bali Resort), the Conrad Bali remains to be one of my favourite hotels here in Nusa Dua. Having access to the Conrad Suite Lounge without actually having to pay for it as a Hilton Honors Diamond member offers me plenty of value and this is definitely one of the main reasons why I come back to this property time after time. Unfortunately for me, I will not be able to retain my Hilton Honors Diamond status next year so I will only return the next time as a lowly Gold member (I still get complimentary breakfast but I will have to pay for access to the Conrad Suite Lounge next time).
The Conrad Bali is also part of The Hotel Collection for select American Express members so you will get to enjoy USD 100 property credit if you book an eligible rate and stay for at least two consecutive nights. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes to check out when you are in Seminyak but Nusa Dua (where the Conrad Bali is located in) is pretty quiet in comparison to that. My advice to you is to probably get a driver for a day if you are planning to go around the island but please do not forget to spend time in the hotel for the rest of your stay. Seriously, I have no issues checking-in to the hotel and leaving only when it is time to catch my flight home.
Conrad Bali
Jl. Pratama No.168, Tj. Benoa, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80363, Indonesia
Website | Email
The Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara offers an excellent Club Millésime experience with comfortable rooms and well-maintained facilities, catering to both business and leisure travelers. The newly-opened Pavilion Damansara Heights Mall adds a variety of dining and entertainment options nearby, perfect for those who prefer not to venture too far from the hotel.