Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Bali, Indonesia
 

I realize this topic has come up in one variation or another, but it's generally this property vs. this property. I'm hoping to narrow down the best choice for getting the best value out of Starpoints when staying in Bali and have done a ton of exhausting researching-- but am hoping people's experiences can help shed some light.

The situation: I have appx 130k Starpoints saved, going on a honeymoon in December and am trying to figure out how to most effectively book the hotels. Need to book 4/5 nights in Bali, 1/2 nights in Jakarta and have already booked 3 nights in the Maldives (non-SPG property).

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Bali is one of the top honeymoon destinations in the world with literally hundreds of hotels in dozens of regions to choose from--so which one do you choose? I've narrowed my choice by *trying* to stay at Starwood or Hyatt properties using points or cash & points. And, if it doesn't make sense to use points, then I'd still prefer to stay at one of these properties so that I might have a better chance for an upgrade and, at the very least, earn more points while staying. At the end of the day, however, it might be cheaper and a better experience to stay at a local property.


Starwood Bali hotels by category (prices include taxes):

Cat 7:

The St. Regis Bali Resort
Trip Advisor::: 93% / Ranked #3 of 36 hotels in Nusa Dua / 4.5 of 5 stars / 670 Reviews
Cheapest Cash Room:: $649/night non-ref "Red-Hotel Deal" for basic St. Regis Suite w/ butler (990 sq ft)
”Good value” Cash Room:: $775/night "Red-Hotel Deal" for Plunge Pool Suite w/butler (2,034 sq ft)
Points: 157.5k for 5 nights (Was quoted 126k for 4-night stay = 31.5k/night). Limited participation in SPG, definitely cannot use 35% off because of Cat 7
Points/$ return: $3,245 / 157.5k = 2.06 cents/points

Cat 6:

W Retreat & Spa Bali - Seminyak
Trip Advisor:: 87% / Ranked #15 of 76 hotels in Seminyak / 4.5 of 5 stars / 1067 Reviews
Cheapest Cash Room:: $430/night non-ref "Red-Hotel Deal" for basic Garden View room (689 sq ft)
”Good value” Cash Room:: $786/night (refundable!) for "Marvelous one-bedroom villa" w/ private pool (2,422 sq ft)
Points for basic:: For basic Garden View room = 80k for 5 nights w/ 5th night free deal - 35% for Plat coupon = 52k
Points/$ return basic: $2150 / 52k = 4.13 cents/points
Points for suite: For "Marvelous one-bedroom villa" w/ private pool (2,422 sq ft) = 240k for 5 nights w/ 5th night free deal - 35% for Plat coupon = 156k
Points/$ return suite: $3930 / 156k = 2.52 cents/points

The Westin Ubud Resort & Spa (Cat 6?)
Update 11/16/14: Opening September 1, 2015 -- won't be open in time for this trip.

The Sarasvati, Bali (Cat 6?)
Update 11/16/14: Opening June 1, 2016 -- won't be open in time for this trip.

Cat 5:

None

Cat 4:
Update 11/16/14: All of the below properties dropped from a Cat 5 to Cat 4.

Le Méridien Bali Jimbaran
Trip Advisor:: 84% / Ranked #11 of 30 hotels in Jimbaran / 4.5 of 5 stars / 104 Reviews
Cheapest Cash Room:: $212/night non-ref for Classic room (571-592 sq ft)
Good value Cash Room: $399/night for "Oceanic View Sky Villa" w/private garden/pool/Jacuzzi (3,014 sq ft)
Points for basic:: Classic room (571-592 sq ft) = 48k for 5 nights w/ 5th night free deal - 35% for Plat coupon = 31.2k
Points/$ return for basic: $1060 / 31.2k = 3.4 cents/points
Points for suite: Aqua Studio Suite = 96k for 5 nights w/ 5th night free deal - 35% for Plat coupon = 62.4k
Points/$ return for suite: $1215 / 62.4k = 1.95 cents/points

The Laguna Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali - Review thread
Trip Advisor:: 87% / Ranked #12 of 36 hotels in Nusa Dua / 4.5 of 5 stars / 1403 Reviews
Cheapest Cash Room:: $179/night non-ref "Red-Hotel Deal" basic for Garden View (388 sq ft)
Good value Cash Room: $401/night non-ref for Villia w/ private pool, butler service (3,014 sq ft)
Points for basic:: 48k for 5 nights w/ 5th night free deal - 35% for Plat coupon = 31.2k
Points/$ return basic: $895 / 31.2k = 2.87 cents/points
Points for suite: Executive suite (646 sq ft) = 96k for 5 nights w/ 5th night free deal - 35% for Plat coupon = 62.4k
Points/$ return suite: $1505 / 62.4k = 2.41 cents/points

The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali
Trip Advisor:: 88% / Ranked #9 of 36 hotels in Nusa Dua / 4.5 of 5 stars / 1198 Reviews
Cheapest Cash Room:: $166/night non-ref "Red-Hotel Deal" for basic Garden View (409 sq ft)
Good value Cash Room: $306/night non-ref for One-Bedroom King Suite (818 sq ft)
Points for basic:: 48k for 5 nights w/ 5th night free deal - 35% for Plat coupon = 31.2k
Points/$ return basic: $830 / 31.2k = 2.66 cents/points
Points for suite: "One-Bedroom Suite" (818 sq ft) = 96k for 5 nights w/ 5th night free deal - 35% for Plat coupon = 62.4k
Points/$ return suite: $1530 / 62.4k = 2.45 cents/points
Cash & Points for Suite: "One-Bedroom Suite" (818 sq ft) = $275 & 12k points/night
Cash & Points return: ($1530 - $1375) / 60k = 0.002 cents/point return

Cat 3:
Update 11/16/14: All of the below properties dropped from a Cat 4 to Cat 3.

Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort
Trip Advisor:: 74% / Ranked #22 of 161 hotels in Kuta / 4.0 of 5 stars / 207 Reviews
Cheapest Cash Room:: $186/night non-ref "Red-Hotel Deal" for basic Garden View (495 sq ft)
Good value Cash Room: $313/night non-ref for Ocean View King Suite (667 sq ft)
Points: 40k for 5 nights w/ 5th night free deal - 35% for Plat coupon = 26k
Points/$ return: $930 / 26k = 3.58 cents/points

Aloft Bali Ubud (Cat 3?)
Update 11/16/14: Opening January 1, 2016

Cat 2:

None

Cat 1 (Not technically in Bali):
Update 11/16/14: All of the below properties dropped from a Cat 2 to Cat 1.

Sheraton Senggigi Beach Resort
Trip Advisor:: 77% / Ranked #7 of 16 hotels in Senggigi / 4.0 of 5 stars / 605 Reviews
Cheapest Cash Room:: $95/night non-ref "Red-Hotel Deal" for basic Pool View (409 sq ft)
Good value Cash Room: $294/night non-ref for "Grand Suite" ocean view (1,238 sq ft)
Points: 19k for 5 nights - 35% for Plat coupon = 12.3k
Points/$ return: $475 / 12.3k = 3.86 cents/points

Other choices to maximize Starwood Preferred Guest Points:

1. Use Suite Night Awards (SPG Platinum amenity)
Pro: Might be able to get a suite for free, can use on any type of stay (award or cash), SPG Platinum members get 10 free SNAs a year
Con: Can only confirm within 5 days of arrival

2. Use the new Cash & Points options
Pro: Would guarantee me into a suite, I think?
Con: Wouldn't be able to use the 5th night free or the 35% off coupon.


3. Use points to upgrade to a suite
Pro: Hmmm....
Con: Can only confirm within 5 days of arrival, basically the same as Suite Night Award, pretty expensive


4. 50% Off Regular Rack Rates coupon
Pro: Very cheap to use--only 1k Starpoints!
Con: 50% off of rack rate might be a worse price than the best rate offered


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Hyatt Bali properties:

Grand Hyatt Bali
Trip Advisor:: 80% / Ranked #21 of 36 hotels in Nusa Dua / 4.0 of 5 stars / 1136 Reviews
Cheapest Cash Room:: $223/night REFUNDABLE for basic "Grand King" (527 sq ft)
Good value Cash Room: $641/night REFUNDABLE for "Grand Suite King" (1,517 sq ft)
Points for basic:: 60k for 5 nights for basic "Grand King" (527 sq ft)
Points/$ return basic: $1,115 / 60k = 1.86 cents/points
Points for suite: 90k for 5 nights in "Grand Suite King" (1,517 sq ft)
Points/$ return suite: $3,205 / 90k = 3.56 cents/points

Other choices to maximize Hyatt points:

1. Use "Suite Upgrade Award" (4 free as a Hyatt Diamond Amenity)
Pros: 1 "Suite Upgrade Award" will cover up to 7 nights, confirmed into a suite
Cons: Must be a on a paid stay, "For purposes of this award, a suite provides for one-bedroom accommodations. Suite upgrade award is not valid toward Specialty, Premier, Presidential or Diplomatic Suites."


2. Use points to book a Suite:
Pros: Can be confirmed into a suite
Cons: Costs 50% more points, probably only works for Standard Suites


3. Book with cash, upgrade with points
Pros: Can guarantee/confirm into a suite?
Cons: Have to book a minimum of the deluxe room (more expensive), 6k points is only good for 4 nights
With this option I would book 4 nights into the "Club Deluxe King" at $332/night and then use 6k points to upgrade to a suite.


So...what to do?

My attitude is go the location where you want to be rather than worrying about what value you are getting out of points or what category property you are staying at.

We recently had a 3 week trip to Bali and stayed at Westin Nusa Dua and Le Meridien Jimbaran. We came to the conclusion we would never go to either location again. LM Jimbaran treated us really well, but nothing in the area was that inspiring.

Best part of our stay was the 2 weeks we had in a private villa in Ubud. Much more to do there and a more interesting area.

Use valuation analysis more to determine whether to spend points or cash rather than as the main driver of property choice.

Agree with both statements but in a place like Bali with 7+ Starwood properties, where do you even start in deciding where to go?

I'm starting by looking both at property (quality, location etc...) and by price (cash vs points) and value (upgrade potential, SNA feasibility) all at the same time, for better or worse.

Thanks for comments about Westin Nusa Dua and Le Meridien Jimbaran--very helpful!

If it is of any help we did get upgraded to a suite at LM Jimbaran and that was a Gold. Nice hotel and great staff, just not an area we would return to. Westin Nusa Dua would not figure it is a good honeymoon destination. Thought the property was only average at the best. Too many families in the area, plus hotel is not that fab.

Have you considered Lombok as that is where everyone was talking about and think there is a SPG property there.

I would look at what you want to do and see whilst you are there and let that determine location. Traffic and road system is not the best in Bali so I would not be wanting to spend too much time in cars on the road. Ubud seemed to have a lot more to do than either Seminyak, Nusa Dua or Jimbaran.

BTW for a honeymoon I would not even consider the standard room at Westin Nusa Dua. It was tiny. We only had 2 small suitcases with us, and we felt cramped and struggled to find adequate space.

Thanks for this timely post; definitely helps me to make the appropriate decision next month!

I think this one is in Lombok, looks like it's a long ferry ride or short flight away. Will have to do some extra research to determine if it's worth it:

Did you rent a car? I've considered scrapping the Starwoods altogether and booking and independent resort in Ubud if that's the place to go. Just don't want to miss out on the beach.

With regards to Lombok, I heard this on the BBC yesterday. Call me paranoid but the thought of CH3Hg in my rice has removed this from my list of places to visit.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24127661

http://www.thejakartapost.com/bali-d...ist-sites.html


As for Bali, I would first decide what I intend to see or do during this trip. Being your honeymoon, I would expect that you would want to spend some time simply lounging in your room, and being pampered. If that is so, I would opt for one of the villa resorts - W Bali is a fav choice for me - which effectively limits your use of C&P and makes your decision much easier.

But if you're like me and prefer to spend your honeymoon traipsing around the local sites, then you need to decide if you want the beach life, the forest/rice padi peacefulness, or the tourist site trail, and how much of it.

For the beach, I would choose a Nusa Dua hotel (sterile as the area may be; Westin is a favorite), followed by Sheraton Kuta. W's beach is not nice. For the forest and rice padi thing, there are no SPG options until Westin Ubud opens. And that should NOT stop you from choosing any one of the many beautiful villas there - my personal experience was at the Komaneka Tanggayuda. Hmmm just looking at the website makes me wonder why I haven't been back and am spending my time at the SPG hotels :P. And if you want to explore the heritage sites, Sheraton Kuta is probably most central though you will spend quite a bit of time in the car/taxi. But the same is probably true for the other SPG choices - it's either in traffic or because of distance.

And of course nothing is stopping you from doing all of it. Which is probably what most people on a first-time trip to Bali would do.

Mini-reviews from most recent visit:
. Sheraton Kuta - right in town, nice but crowded beach opposite hotel, normal room very ordinary, upgrade fairly easy to get but only the suite facing the ocean worth bothering with - very ordinary suite though
. LeM Jimbaran - in the middle of nowhere, beach supposed to be nice but not impressed. Very good chance of upgrade and probably to a lagoon-access suite especially when you mention "honeymoon". Rooms nicer
. W Bali - decent location, so-so beach (not for swimming, too rough), almost assured upgrade to spectacular ocean-facing which is very nice, villas can probably negotiate a good deal if speak directly to hotel though I *think* Dec is high season

Thoughts from previous visits:
. Westin Nusa Dua - nice beach (personally think best of the lot), upgrade fairly easy to get to decent but slightly dated suite, out of the way but better than Jimbaran
. Laguna - oldest looking of the lot, can't comment on upgrades since only been there once and only got a one level jump. Frankly prefer the Westin - Laguna too big for my liking and dated
. Never been to St Regis - too $$$

I just completed my honeymoon, which included a 5-night stay at the St. Regis Bali. Yes, it's ridiculously expensive in terms of points -- and considering everything else in Bali is so cheap. But it was worth it. It's an awesome hotel.

I advise you book at least five nights to get the fifth night free. It will cost you about 120-130K points total.

I advise you book a minimum of a plunge pool suite (not a standard room, but not quite a villa). It has a semi-private patio area with it's own small pool. We didn't use the pool much, but it was nice to have the extra outdoor space.

On our third night we were moved to a villa because of construction noise in the hallway. The villa was much bigger, more private, and very nice. I think the cost in points was dramatically higher but forgot what the agent quoted me in April. However, you will probably be offered a chance to upgrade from the plunge pool suite for $50-100 a day when you get your confirmation email. I'm still torn on whether I would have been willing to pay extra. We spent more time at the beach than in the room.

If you want a villa anyway, one step further is the lagoon villa. These are the best. The backyard is not private because it opens onto the saltwater lagoon. But the lagoon was one of my favorite parts of the resort.

AFAIK the Plat requalification 35% off points cert can only be used on points bookings for basic rooms, not upgraded rooms or suites, although you can apply SNAs to such reservations.

The Westin Nua Dusa is packed with families: screaming children. I would not want to stay there on a honeymoon, or in fact at any other time. Absolutely no way!

Some say the Laguna is dated but OTOH it seems more Balinese in style than most other chain hotels on the island. The simple style of their suite living rooms is relaxing, although I didn't find the dining table seating to be comfortable. The main pool is new and attractive but the lagoon (with direct access rooms) seems old and IMO not very attractive as a place to swim. (Also a bit shallow.) There seem to be a few very large suites at the beach end of the main building which might be classified as villas. In addition, there's a building next to the main building at the beach end that seems to contain a bunch of villas, plus more newly constructed villas located near the entrance to the property (could these be condos or timeshares???) that seem to have a private pool and other facilities. IMO the latter would not be a good location; it's on the grounds but still far from the facilities and very far from the beach.

OP should ask himself what style of property would be comfortable and appreciated by self and wife. If one isn't accustomed to staying in top hotels, the StR could be intimidating and not at all relaxing. OTOH, Kuta seems to be filled with rowdy backpackers, which some would not want either. W caters to trendy people and might not be a good choice for a mature couple.

Lived in Indonesia for 4 years. Its your honeymoon, so go for the experience and not for the value. Out of the bunch you listed, in Bali I recommend either the W, St. Regis or Grand Hyatt. Other SPG properties in Bali are not worth it unless you are backpacking.

One hotel you left out, which is my favorite and perfect for honeymooners, is the Conrad Hotel. But that is part of the Hilton.

In Jakarta, I only recommend you The Keraton at the Plaza. Great new hotel and great location. Avoid the other properties. Their locations are pretty bad and properties are old.

Good luck!

Thanks for all the great suggestions!

Since you lived there for so long, is Bali a place we'd want to rent a car to get around or better off taking shuttles/cabs? We rented a car last year on a trip to Thailand and had no trouble driving around Krabi, Khao Lak and Phuket.

When I get confirmation email--as in soon after completing booking or within days of arrival?

Any experience with the Grand Hyatt?

I booked a stay at the W using my 35% award. Upon inquiring with the hotel via email, an upgrade to a 1 bedroom pool villa would cost $175/night plus 21% tax.

This is what I did. Hope it is helpful.

W Bali with 35% off = 65k = 5 nights = Garden view(???)

And contract to the hotel and got confirmed as following.

$90 / night ++ additional charge to get upgraded to 1bd pool villa.