HadesNL

Some final shots of the hotel:








S/O still having an appetite after a big seafood lunch !



I just settled for the fresh coconut instead



Club lounge has live music during afternoon tea / cocktail hour,
with excellent pianiste,
very soothing and also romantic choices in rendition.
Range from nocturne to popular classics!






Influencers have invaded the hotel today:


Influencer being productive



Influencer livestream their meals to their followers

HadesNL

The laundry smell is kinda charming in a spooky kind a way

Thank you demue and IAN-UK for both your getwell wishes, it seem to work as i think i am going to stop using the immodium to see how things go from there !

HadesNL

Ahum:

nicolas75 : https://onemileatatime.com/news/bali...ravel-blogger/

demue : not mellowed indeed, i trust your report about your arrival experience

binman : thanks for the scoop of the coconuts news website

It is like a French farce
to add: https://en.antaranews.com/news/24217...ah-rai-airport

nicolas75

Source

mknalewo

hi

i am planning to book for points stay in bali in end of september. i am hesitating between ic bali and ic bali sanur. any recommendations?

also, with points i can only book basic room. i am diamond elite so what upgrade i could expect? also i understand that my status does not give me lounge access, is it possible to buy it and is it worth?

binman

I am biased as I am here now and have been several times, but the IC Bali gets my vote. It’s a beautiful resort, the staff are outstanding and facilities superb.
You would get breakfast which is excellent. In term of upgrades they are quite ridged but you get at least next grade up and the rooms are lovely.

I have only ever been here with club benefits; when on points, I have paid the supplement which gets a club room and all the bells and whistles. As an Ambassador this then was upgraded to a Duplex. When staying with family it was superb value for money.

mknalewo

you paid supplement on arrival? any idea what is the extra more less?

jongesander

The IC Bali Jimbaran is in a different league then the IC Bali Sanur. It's in many ways better. Some things might be personal preferences, but for me this are my considerations:

- The IC Bali Resort is a well maintained hotel at a great location. The IC Sanur has eh room for improvement regarding the maintenance;
- The breakfast options are great, with local dishes served every morning. Ofcourse, they serve Western options as well. At the IC Sanur the breakfast is much more limited;
- Jimbaran beach is a fantastic spot: a nice beach with nice local vibes. Good restaurants around. From the hotel, you have a great view of the airport and Jimbaran Beach. Sunset at Jimbaran beach is beautyfull;
- IC Bali Resort has a pretty big area, multiple pools.

In terms of upgrades: everything above Duplex Suites is excluded for upgrades.

Only stay once without Club Access. For me, it makes a difference. The Club rooms are slightly better, but the Club Pool area makes it a "hotel in a hotel". The Club Lounge itself is beautyfull. Staff is wonderfull at the Club Lounge and at the hotel in general. I believe you can buy Club Access for around 70 USD if you stay on points, but better check this with the hotel.

The IC Bali Sanur was "good enough" for me, but nothing special in my opinion. Ofcourse, Sanur is a nice town with a good beach and a nice boulevard. If you can have a really cheap stay then the IC Bali Sanur might be nice.

IAN-UK

I like Sanur, but given the hotel choice you present, I'd certainly go with the venerable IC Bali rather than the upstart, flag-switching IC Sanur . Seriously, as @jongesander says, they really are in a different league: maybe in time Sanur will catch up, who knows?

If you prefer Sanur over Jimbaran, then you could consider saving a considerable amount of money/points by trying the lovely Holiday Inn there. If it works for you, cancel the award-nights at the IC; if it doesn't work, hop over to the iC.

At the IC Bali, why not upgrade to club for just one night to decide if it's worth it ? It's a judgement only you can make.

HadesNL

binman demue nicolas75 IAN-UK jongesander

Kevin from youtube's flipfloptraveller channel has posted his impressions:

It seems he went to IC Bali when sunset bar was still closed so this means this was before the 14th of July 2022 when i was at the IC Bali in residencè and sunsetbar was operational again.


His negatives / my response / agree
- standard room has only instant coffee / class distiction in rooms: more expensive club&suites have Illy coffeecapsule machines
- empty minibar / hotel policy i guess for standard rooms, guests prefer to stock own drinks
- pillows were too flat / ask for the right term : pillow menu : guling or kapok : email them in advance!
- wobly closet floor / dial for maintenance or ask room switch
- non descript toiletries / agree : where is old time favorite Harnn Mystique
- beds, sheets and towels were old junk / cant judge personal preference
- club pool doesn't look exciting / didn't inform himself of club privileges like nonstop freeflow drinks at the club pool
- Bella Cucina is not inspired dining / agree : old menu was excellent
- Uluwatu spa has dumpy treatment rooms / get massage at outdoor Belle Bale tower next to the beach : his visit was before the SPA renovation which i reported on https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34406577-post1434.html and he could have read on the hotel's website the alternatives offered
- Taman Gita breakfast is crowded / go early as soon as it opens or sit outdoors in overflow area
- Jimbaran gardens restaurant is the best / agree service + dishes/portions
- Jimbaran beach is crowded / he knows beforehand that Jimbaran beach has the seafood restaurants which always will attract customers in the evening = outside the management scope of the hotel as it is a public beach

He has made some fairpoints but also some whiney ones that makes him LL's Sebastian's twin!
An interesting video indeed!

HadesNL

We have made it safely back home in Amsterdam.
The lads have already done the trip to Albert Heijn supermarket to fill the empty fridge.
You know the fairytale of holidays has ended when you open the fridge and that reality hits you of its emptiness.

Our flights from DPS to SIN to AMS/LHR where again in the capable hands of Singapore Airlines.
Bali airport departures was easy because it was offpeak in timing: departed hotel 10.15 morning for flight departure (13H)


DPS: departures car drop off point




Checkin counters for Singapore Airlines
To enter the terminal building,
all items must be put through the scanner,
not allowed in checkin luggage are powerbanks and lighters




Information for entering Singapore as destination




Departures board




International terminal lay out



We went together to security which was efficient and still the classic style with metal arches.
Immigration has counters open for all passports and seperate ones for crew/diplomatic/disabled.
No fuss at all because we departed during the less busy time of the day



Only 1 lounge open: the Premium lounge (others are closed : T/G and Garuda lounge)

Take the lift or stairs to go to the upperfloor

Lounges are upstairs



T/G priority pass was closed


It might open only during the busy evening bank of departures




Garuda lounge was also closed : might open only during the evening bank of departures



Hey!
What do we spot here: mention of ITA (ex-Alitalia)
We have all jumped on the Skyteam Elite Plus status ITA statusmatch bandwagon last year and have wondered where this newly acquired status can be milked dry as in gravy train for lounge access....... so it seems here!

Reference: ITA Airways Volare (Skyteam) Status Match is back

EDIT: ITA status match seems to be back!
https://loyaltylobby.com/2022/08/05/...ember-15-2022/



Premium lounge, third party contract lounge for Singapore Airlines
Entry business class per invitation only or starGold max +1



Many people turned away with extended families and not wanting to pay the 500.000 idr entry fee
I felt sorry for the staff dealing with turning away a fitty LH SEN in SQ economy with wife +4 childeren demanding to be let in.
For this reason i always buy business class when travelling with my teens as nobody get left behind and abide to the rules.
My S/O kicked my ankles and said: don't you dare guest them in with mine and yours SEN-card! Good to have them learn humility!

Some photos of the Premium lounge:


Handy seat count: 171 though is kinda streching to max



Perfectly fine for a contract lounge



Not to busy due to strict enforcement of entry rules



It is though a place to see and be seen :
I can only report most favourable of the clean toilets with basic Toto washlet and the dedicated attendant!




Most of the airport under renovation so limited shopping but enough places to have drinks/food.


Renovations at DPS getting it ready for G20 summit meeting later this year



Ofcourse being the most addicted Geordielander about : this is the price of a carton of fags



Transit in Singapore was easy, we first went to the transit hotel to checkin and drop our stuff.
https://www.changiairport.com/en/air...it-hotels.html

Expensive but a must to keep everyone sane and fit for the upcoming midnight departures.
I have booked 2x twin rooms as nobody wants to share the sheets when they are tired
Note: most rooms do not have windows, you must request those:


Transit hotel entrance: rates are steep but worth it to keep everyone sane & fit on a long layover


Entry room: you can pay at reception with creditcards
Internet connectivity via Changi Airport wifi


I booked 2x twin room with windows: most do not have windows so request these upon booking



Clean bathroom: shower pressure heavenly and heating excellent




All modern amenities are present

Windows to make any av-geek jealous

Universal power outlet everywhere




Bottled water and kettle for a spot of tea
Hotel provides automated wake up calls



Slippers and hygiene set



Connecting door to lads' room :
amazing how teens can mess up a room in 5 minutes that it isnt worth taking a photo anymore



Rates come with F&B roomservice

This is a remnent of those pandemic transits >5H where transit passengers were escorted to the transithotel to await their next connecting flight while still being fed according to duty of care rules




If you look down from the window you can see other ways how transit passengers relax



Book the transit hotel ASAP:
they had to turn away walk-ins due to full occupancy
and we spotted many passengers camped out in the terminal



Masks were enforced at the airport but we also spotted them infamous hazz-matt suits : glad to see the romance of travel is still alluring to take risks!


Then headed to the SQ business lounge for something to eat.
Reports indicated that the evening bank departures make the SQ business lounge a zoo and this was also confirmed by the lounge dragons.

To inform others:
This is the photo essay of the SilverKris business class lounge taken at 16.30 on wed 3 Aug 2022 in its own thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34489337-post140.html

The lounge is perfectly fine with now also a snooze room and nuggets+fries but i can see it needing to cope with crowds as the T2 lounges are closed for refurbishment.
The longer we sat eating, the busier it had become.
Thank G-d for imodium again but can report that SQ toilets have Toto washlets!
After the icecube fiasco i have a whole new outlook on the art of Water Closets (WC) an interesting addition to my world perspective!

After a good rest at the transit hotel we each headed towards our flights:
- me + sons to the SQ flight to Amsterdam
- S/O back to SQ flight to London LHR : how he can return and has energy to go back tohis job in the City the day after arrival beats me !
He reported the usual LHR circus upon arrival and was glad we took his suitcase back to Amsterdam

It might enlighten others whom are arriving into Amsterdam airport and wish to book the seperate VIP-service arrival using the private terminal avoiding the chaos of the formalities of the main terminal, my experience:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34484908-post60.html

Please forgive my musings and rants but i prefer to inform people because of 2 years lockdown and restricted travel, every piece of information helps to have a better holiday!

binman

the rate confirmed by club exec is $150++

this is a little steep for a single traveller but a bargain for a family.

mknalewo

ic and ic sanur costs the same amount of points and i see from previous replies that ic bali should be my first choice.

however, i got reply from hotel that with my diamond status i will just get upgrade to singaraja room (the same size, lets say i can accept this) and club access would cost me 180usd net(!). as i am travelling alone this really sounds expensive and i feel like my status is for nothing….

demue

You are Diamond and get free breakfast which is extensive at Taman Gita or Jimbaran Gardens restaurants. The Singaraja rooms are not vastly better to my recollection (even in renovated state) over the Jimbaran Deluxe ( slightly bigger), but somehow these days seem to cost over 100$ more which is odd as they used to go for like 20-30 USD more only. I'd stick to that.

For 150-180$ (incl. 21% or extra on top - beware) more, what you get in the Club offering (even considering the Club room) is a bit tough to justify for a single person. Yes, you get access to another breakfast venue (Club lounge) with some a la carte offerings, have afternoon tea and some nibbles and drinks in the evening and the Club pool is calmer, but "making" up that much $$$ value is hard either for you or your liver .

YMMV

demue

binman - cause you did the work and took pictures of the Bukit Suite already, I can be a bit lazy (rushing for spa ) and reuse them by quoting your post.

There are lots of things to mention about the suite, but aside from the excellent Toto toilets, the best way to describe this suite is incomplete or unfinished. Honestly not great for what is a 800-900 USD a night (+21%) suite and ranks just after the two villas (together with the one Pecatu Suite).

So many easily fixable things missing (e.g. certain furnishings, chaise lounge in bedroom or lounge chair with foot stool anyone?) that it is quite sad. I think the Duplex suites got more functional lounging furniture (L- shaped sofa of good dimensions) than the 152sqm partially empty Bukit Suite, what a missed opportunity and it wasn't like that before.

See one of our own Raynyan's videos on YouTube from a few years ago:

Wow, got furniture that actually is functional and fills the suite. Personally, we preferred the living area next to the bedroom and dinning at the opposite side, but that may be different for others. While probably 55in TVs, for the distance between bed and wall and sofa and wall, they are too small in my book. Again a small and easily fixable thing that doesn't cost much (btw, I'm not implying this is a deliberate cost saving, just maybe hasn't occurred to anyone yet).

Also the balcony used to have sun loungers and certainly has space for a day bed of sorts if one wants to make use of the generous size and excellent views (Sanctuary Suites have one, though the patio is differently shaped). It would be a shame to leave it as is and not so useable right now. The chairs on the balcony could use a foot stool too btw, just for a thought - guests are there to relax and it doesn't cater to that right now sadly, a missed opportunity for a premium suite with ample space.

For the bathtub, it is quite a downgrade from an oversized jacuzzi, plus current setup of bathtub is hard to get in and out even for younger, more nimble folks (I count myself in that category ) and the odd placement of the faucets/ fixture doesn't help. Bath salts are available upon request, if you don't ask you don't get.

Shower room marble is a high grade polish with a high "slip" factor and not really suitable for that use as flooring in a shower / wet room (the architect in my family already gave me a lecture on that) and a potential accident (& law suit) in waiting.

Fully agree on need for some side tables in living area with lamp or so as the only lighting is full blast ceiling down lights or, erm nothing (okay a dim standing lamp in the corner next to the phone. Don't get me started on the recessed ceiling lighting throughout the suite that basically is holes in the ceiling with more or less aligned light bulbs stuck in and no coverings.

Also, another small and easily fixable thing is the toilet paper, it is such thin 2-ply that doesn't feel premium at all and reminds me of public restrooms (in the emergency situations that one has to make use of one). Weird really, maybe just slipped past the radar as well, but gives a very cheap impression. Don't argue with less paper or so, I'm quite confident people will use so much of it to compensate. Anyways enough toilet talk . YMMV.