Pics: see http://travel.webshots.com/album/553387176eAZwjS

In August 2006, I stayed some nights in the Sheraton Laguna …. Oh… uh.. now The Laguna Resort & Spa in Bali, Indonesia! Since my last stay in 2005, the hotel was renovated.
I had a special arrangement when I flew in from the Sheraton Bandung, where I had a really great stay. The pick – up from the airport was in time and very convenient. I arranged it via the hotel. When I arrived I experienced a sort of VIP treatment, and was greeted by the hotel manager. I was quite surprised.
In a flash I noticed the changed lobby. I was not pleased with the first impression, since I did like the “old “ lobby” with it’s Indonesian style interior with many flowers.

The “same” executive suite was appointed to me as I last year. Mrs. Dayu accompanied me to the suite. When she opened the door, I noticed a completely different suite. Instantly I was shocked by the difference in interior and atmosphere. The Indonesian style interior was gone. Now I was faced with a modern interior, which I experienced as coldish and impersonal. It could have been a suite in New York of even Amsterdam. I was really very disappointed with the changes in the interior in the suite, and I still regret the hotel “ruined” this suite.
During my stay I could not feel at home here, it was too coldish and impersonal for me. (see my pics, though the suite seems to be nicer on the pics!)
The bedroom seemed to be a bit warmer in style, but was not my taste compared to the beautiful “old “ Indonesian style bedroom.

The bathroom was the same as last year. The toilet is also located in the bathroom. I regret there is no separate toilet, as you can expect in a suite. It is not comfortable to relax in the bath when the toilet has been used.
Furthermore it would be practical if a clock was available in the room.
This executed suite, offered some privacy. However, most of the accommodations do not offer some privacy.

I did see the studio and the deluxe rooms. See my pics.
The interior of these renovated rooms appeared to be much more warmer and with some Indonesian styles. Warm wood, carvings in the wall, very nice comfortable furniture, for instance, made these accommodations much nicer than the coldish executive suite I stayed in. However there was not much privacy in these kind of accomodations.

The gardens, lagoons etc. were like last year, still very beautiful and well kept.

Reataurants
This time I tried the award winning Indonesian restaurant, Myang Sari. When I entered the restaurant, it appeared to be empty, and I hesitated to dine here.
The interior is very beautiful and cozy. Service was friendly, but since I was the only guest all evening, it was sometimes overwhelming…..
I was disappointed when reading the menu. Since I did not like seafood, I had a hard time finding a nice meal.
Furthermore, no traditional Indonesian food was available. No nasi / bami, no rendang, no bab ketjap, no atjar, even no kroepoek, etc. The waiters did manage to help me out, and managed to get me some kroepoek, etc. And finally a had a nice meal.
In the beautiful restaurant was a boy who played the flute, all time long. Though the Indonesian music was nice, I did feel a little embarrassed the boy had to play, and play and play. And after a long time, I could do with some other music…
When I told one of the waiters I thought the boy needed a break, they insisted he had to play for me. Only when I persisted and told them I wanted him to have a break they permitted him to do so.
Again, service was very friendly, but it was not great to be the only guest in the restaurant. I felt not comfortable and I think the menu should have some non-seafood items with some traditional Indonesian food. Since the menu could not give me what I wanted I did not go back. I regret this, since Indonesian food is my favourite.
The next evenings I had drinks in the Cascade bar. This open air bar is quite nice, and the service here is very warm and friendly. The view of the lights / fire in the area near the bar is beautiful and it is very relaxing. In the evening you can enjoy some live music here.
From here I could see guests looking at the menu of the Myang Sari. I noticed most of them went away after reading the menu…
So what it the purpose of offering an Indonesian restaurant with a menu which is not attractive for most of the guests. In my opinion the restaurant should offer some Indonesian traditional dishes, like nasi goreng, and rijsttafel.

After this disappointing dinner experience, I decided to try the café / restaurant Lagoon. It was great to be back here and I liked the new look of the interior. I was very pleased with my waiter, mrs. Fuji, who I remembered from last year. For me she a shining star of Starwood and makes the dining experience here perfect. She goes one step further in her service.
Moreover, colleagues of her did not want to serve me Indonesian food like Nasi goreng, kroepoek, atjar, etc. But she arranged it for me, so I could have my Indonesian dinner. I was a happy SPG and enjoyed coming back here! She showed service with a smile. I did come back to the café / restaurant Lagoon the next days. The ambiance near the Lagoon was quite nice and partly open air.
But once again, I regret it was so hard to get some Indonesian food in the restaurants. In Amsterdam, where I live, we have many Indonesian restaurants. It is very easy to have some Indonesian food experiences. I was amazed it was so hard to get my most favourite food in the hotel.
I do want to thank mrs. Fuji for her extra friendly efforts to serve me the Indonesian food. Otherwise I would have been quite disappointed.

I had my breakfast in my room via room service. Sitting on my balcony, it was every morning a feast to start my day with a perfect breakfast. Roomservice is ok. Only sometimes it was very, very annoying the person on the phone did not understand English and it frustrated me it too so much effort to get what I wanted!
Though it is possible to order some complimentary coffee or tea via the butler, I find it much more convenient to have a coffee maker in my room. I noticed other guests had the same idea. It seems just more practical. Perhaps a butler who serves the coffee is more stylish, but sometime you just do not feel like this. You just want to have a cup of coffee or tea in your own privacy.

The bussiness centre has moved and the location is closer to the lobby now. The area is smaller than before. Prizes for internet are rather high! Service is perferct here.

There are some shops in the hotel. The service they offer is very good. I had a very nice experience when I had to buy a short. Since they could not offer what I wanted, they promised me to order it and it would be ready the next day. And boy, when I went there next day the short was available!

I noticed a ATM is located in the nearby Westin hotel, which makes it easier to get some cash. Quite an improvement compared to last year. However the machine did not accept my bank card and I still had to go to the bank!

I made use of the concierge in the hotel, and arranged a trip with chauffeur to the Meridien hotel, which is now a Starwood property. It was very annoying the concierge and chauffeur told me he could speak English, but during the trip he did not understand what I told him. Furthermore I asked the concierge for a comfortable car, one day before my trip. At first sight it was, but the car appeared not to be comfortable at all!


Would I go back to the Laguna resort and Spa?
Yes and no.
Yes, because the service is very friendly and perfect.
Yes, because the lagoons and gardens are so beautiful.
Yes because the beach and sea are so relaxing.
Yes, because the accommodations are so spacious and comfortable.

No, when I have to stay in an accommodation with no privacy.
No, since there is no accommodation with seaview.
No, if mrs. Fuji is not on duty (!) and I cannot have my favourite Indonesian dinner, since her colleagues do not bother to give me that service.
No, if the menu in the Myang Sari does not offer traditional Indonesian / Asian dishes
No if I have to stay in a coldish executive suite.


Pics: see: http://travel.webshots.com/album/553387176eAZwjS