IsleSeat

Stayed there a few times, not too recently, but often enough in the past time. It is decent, but not the best. The only thing really negative which comes to my mind is the experience at the breakfast buffet, which is my most important meal of the day.
The hot servings in the chafing dishes are not hot, not even warm, often cold. Hope that they corrected this malaise after I wrote a review

palermo

Thanks jongersander. I saw your post/blog on the Conrad. How would you compare both hotels. For reference I have diamond status with Hilton and I was looking at getting the club access rooms at the IC

How is the club pool at the IC vs the suite pool at Conrad

I stayed once in the iHG (no club access) and I found the main pool too crowded.

Thanks a mill

UASPG

Similar recent experience but my Ocean view Duplex suite was the 2nd closest to the ocean, of that building (3). I got the complimentary received the breakfast + the 600 (!) + the bottles of water (!!). There were also a few fruits and chocolates.
My stay was booked on (a low amount of) points. An overall great deal.

demue

While not everything is perfect at the property and one can argue that excluding all "named" suites from the upgrade pool is a bit too much, on the "lower" end it can be a decidedly good deal. Book a Deluxe room (points or paid) and as AMB get a split level Duplex Suite that would get most folks very excited at other ICs. Now with Diamond breakfast it is kind of a sweet spot in my book if one can do without Club privileges.

quitecontrary

People seem to be happy being upgraded to a Duplex Suite - I have never liked them as the bedroom area was always too hot - have they now sorted out the aircon?

HadesNL

As a stressed out independent executive, i wish to avoid all uncertainty and see if the hotel can underpromise and overdeliver to exceed expectations. I have emailed them for the upcoming booking and this is what i learned:

- surprisingly the English level in the email is now quite excellent (from congierge + reservations department)

- my classic room Twin is upgraded to a club Twin room
(From their tone in the email, i think they could have upgraded me to duplex
but because i stressed out i needed a Twin bed they left it at at Club Twin because duplex does not have a Twin bed / think in my stayprofile it says no stairs when booking twin beds)

- my reservation changed from "classic Twin" to name "2 single beds Premium Room garden view + club access"

- i get as RA the promised Club Lounge access

- pillow menu is still there

- depending on publication, it is still possible to get an issue of Indonesian Tatler delivered to the room (OMG: to see the fab rich)

- because Spa Uluwatu is being reburbished, i could get confirmation that massages at the bale (tower) at the pool is still possible

- as demue said : hotel's airport transfer is priced at IDR 330.000 nett for a Hiyunda van

- hotel acts now as intermediar for booking the arrival/departure expedited VIP service called "Joumpa"
i googled it and is the true official daughter of "Gapura Angkasa" the operator of Indonesian airports across the archipelago
hotel confirmed that:
- i'll be met at the aircraft
- we skip document and vaccination formalities
(i was requested to send this to the hotel congierge who forwarded it to Joumpa VIP, they process these in advance for arrival)
(Why i am pleased: https://loyaltylobby.com/2022/05/22/...i-in-may-2022/)
- to go directly to Visa upon arrival counter to pay
- then to Immigration counter - the first one that is available/free
- through customs
- handed over to hotel representative and guided to transport to hotel
* it seems one most pay for this service at the airport in IDR (- ATM at airport are available to allow for this i was told)
(Hotel can't charge it to the room citing temporary restrictions but may return in the future)
* you can book the expedited VIP Joumpa service on your own
but i chose to let the hotel handle it
so that there is seamless connection between them, the Joumpa service and the transfer service to the hotel

Hope this is informative for the future visitors

HadesNL

I was browsing tripadvisor for some photos of the Imperal Villa before the refurb.
As demue pointed out it the refurbs make the Imperial villa look now like an adaptation of the the bigger sister Jivana villa

rant:
* besides finding those photos on tripadvisor i stumbled on IC Bali's tripadvisor photo album <recent>
a lot of bogus ads/photos for casino and 'adult' entertainment
does nobody there even moderate or analyze the photo upload?
according to the date stamp, those ads has been posted over a year ago

demue

Thanks for the updates HadesNL, I was in a bit of disbelief that the Spa is actually closed. Did they give any indication when it would reopen?

I mean planning wise, they had 2 years of low business and now when things pick up they close a money maker like the Spa? Baffling. Plus they could use the villas (across the lawn from Club wing) as fall back as Spa has been located there before.

Am considering the fast track arrival, but we can use the immigration counter for Indonesians, so not sure it makes a huge difference other than maybe skipping queues at visa purchase counter for me and smoother paperwork handling etc. To be seen.
​​​​​

HadesNL

Browsing through their website to presavour the holiday mood i read on the Uluwatu Spa:Spa Uluwatu CLOSED from 29 June 2022 to 31 July 2022 due to maintenance and renovation project.

Spa Reception will be move to Wellness point, and Spa treatment room options will be available at Room #6111 & Room # 6113, Villa Sanctuary, the Bale (Outdoor Spa) and in guest’s room (on call).
https://www.bali.intercontinental.com/spa-uluwatu


demue it boggles the mind that renovations are done now to the spa but my guess i that they are doing a lot of repaint due to the tropical weather. Nevertheless i will see in August if i have chance to take a peek.

Fast track could be handy with all the vacination formalities preflight done because our arrival flight is at the same time as several flights from Melbourne, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh city, meaning an increase % in crowds

aussielori

I was a regular guest until last 3 years
I booked a club room and was very nicely upgraded to. duplex but as I had a fall it did not suit so they gave me fabulous front ocean view for my amount of stays NOT as ambassador or diamond. they were very clear abut that
the IC is still stunning it has not aged like many of the other otherkls I visited on this trip in June 2022
the staff are still fabulous and it is definitely still my go to Bali experience

aussielori

I was there from 10-15 June and they were still doing it up so you may have been first guest . I was very disappointed with the food at Bella Cucina -dreadful menu and food not fab at all, it used to be fabulous
was impressed with the breakfast room as club wasn't working for first couple of days but last day they opened it for breakfast. that club is always so cold

minz56

I tend to agree. While I wouldn't describe the food as awful, I thought it was underwhelming. They really need to reimagine the venue into a more mainstream Italian eatery with a varied menu to suit all tastes and budgets. That way they would get more traffic through the restaurant. There were only three tables ocupied the evening I was there. Upscale dining is probably a thing of the past at hotels these days IMHO.

demue

Thanks to all who reported their experiences. It shall be an interesting stay I guess.

HadesNL much appreciated on the Spa info, we'll be there second week of Aug so am hopeful the touch ups will be completed. Fingers crossed. I also checked with some friends who recently travelled to Bali and even though they could use the Indonesian nationals counters, immigration was still quite full as it was Singapore school holiday period and many Indonesians living here travelled then. Hence, we sprung for the Joumpa arrival fastrack as well, but booked directly as one can pay by credit card that way.

On Bella Cucina, hoping it was an off performance and they are not trying to go all super fancy etc. Let's see. We'll try one time and take it from there.

Btw, the current Resort Manager (he is Belgian IIRC), to my understanding, comes from the IC Pondok Indah in Jakarta where he was the Executive Chef, so he should have a "good hand" for F&B I would think. No GM appointed yet from what I heard. YMMV.

binman

this is actually really annoying! I arrive late July and won’t have access for about half my time. I would normally use it every day.

I asked the hotel only recently what facilities were closed but no reply yet. I think Ku remains closed.

wondering too, if Ambassador status is worthwhile. I have 14 nights on a club access rate and as already in a suite there won’t be any further upgrade.

not sure what benefits the hotel providing beyond $20 per stay and late check out till 4pm

demue

I don't think anything else, maybe you get lucky and they give a free 1hr massage at the Spa for 2 when it is open again. They offered that in the past at times, but nothing to do with AMB.

Probably have to remind them about the 10k points / 50$? compensation for not upgrading you any further.