What’s the brand new Jumeirah Bali resort like in Uluwatu, Bali? Is it really worth almost $1000 per night?! Take a look at this video to see if this is the best 5-star luxury property for your next trip to Bali.
🎥 In This Video:
-Hotel Exterior & History
-Design Inspiration
-Reception Pavillion
-Hotel Location & Setting
-The Maja Lounge
-Akasa Restaurant (with Dinner)
-Segaran Restaurant (with Breakfast)
-Insanely Dirty Beach
-Beautiful Pools
-Full Tour of Garden Pool Villa
-Horrible Service Story
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💸 Nightly Rate
Rate Paid: $876.65 USD
Category: Garden View Pool VIlla
Inclusions: Breakfast
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↪ Video Chapters ↩
0:00 Intro
00:27 Resort Booking Info
01:05 Arriving at the Resort
01:35 Resort Exterior & Entrance Pavilion
03:39 Resort Location (Map)
04:10 Walking Through the Grounds (& Design Inspiration)
07:26 The Main Pool Areas
09:27 About the Beach… (Part 1)
11:37 Beautiful Full Garden View Pool Villa Tour
21:08 Mold in Rooms
21:23 Maja Bar & Lounge
22:36 Dinner at Akasa (not great…)
25:45 Housekeeping & Management Problems
25:56 Disgusting Beach Covered in Garbage (Part 2)
31:03 A Convenient Truth (Beach Comparison 1 Mile Away)
32:50 Underwhelming Breakfast Buffet at Segaran
35:25 Spa Highlights
36:00 Final Thoughts
38:15 The Flip Flop Score
Music featured in this video is licensed under an Artlist Unlimited License.
This is NOT a promotional video. I pay for all of my flights and hotels (and I always tell you how much!) so I can be as honest and impartial as possible. I do not receive any special treatment that wouldn’t otherwise be publicly accessible, in fact, the hotels and airlines have no idea about my visit and that’s the way I like it!
#jumeirah #jumeirahbali #hotelreview
47 Comments
Look forward to the Indigo Bali video! Heard some positive reviews around it + wonder why price-wise it's similar to Intercontinental Jimbaran.
Also, if you need recco which hotel to try next time in Bali: Potato Head Studio (great ESG), Four Seasons Jimbaran (2 times Dioriviera), St Regis (great service)
Thank you for doing this review. More to the point, Kevin, thank you for spending your money on this stay! For a $1k, I expect something more like an Aman, not what you filmed. Now, Jumeirah resorts in Dubai are very over-priced. The properties look nice in their pics, on their websites. But I was told, by an Emirati friend, to not waste our money, and to stay at a Western chain.
That said, I thought I was prepared for the mess you encountered. Ugh, that beach is a disgrace. Beaches in Bali, are not what they are in Thailand or Vietnam. The sand isn't as white. There can be debris. But that beach had a month (or more) of debris on it. It would take 20 employees about a week, to get that mess cleaned up. That is a 40 yard dumpster worth of debris. Maybe that is why the resort isn't doing the beach cleaning?
The mold in the room is inexcusable. That comes from when the rooms are vacant for a period of time and the A/C is not left running. Even running the A/C at 80°F while not occupied, would prevent that mold. I cannot stay in a room like that. I am very allergic to mold. This is why in SE Asia that I recommend people stay with a Western chain because the cleanliness standards are higher. Ugh, just ugh!
Maybe they don’t want anyone stealing the garbage!
me: "Hello Jumeira Bali front desk, the AC in my villa is not cooling enough"
front desk: "Sir it is working fine….(just deal with it)"
me again: "Hello Jumeira Bali front desk, the beach is full of garbage and maybe full of shit too"
front desk again: "Oh no sir you are mistaken, our staff is constantly cleaning it…(hehehe, take that lies with you)"
Thanks for this honest review Kevin. $1000 USD is an absurd amount to spend in one night at such a crappy resort. What's next? Looking forward to it for sure.
Great review. This is the first time I have seen such a low score from you. You haven't asked for any sort of compensation which you should (faulty AC).
I really don’t understand why your not force full with your complaints same as Hyatt NZ. I would have gone nuts. Your too passive 😢
Thank you for the honest review! Please dont be afraid to rip into a hotel. We need to hear the good, bad, and ugly! So do they, actually! You dont want to be another Sam chu lol. Any company should be receptive to criticism so they can improve and do better.
Ouch! Wicked episode –
i've seen things in my time that have stunned me.
but THIS? is that 900 USD?
that is SO SHOCKING
Stayed here in December last year, fortunately our experience was nothing like you had, we had a great stay and enjoyed our time there. On our trip the beach access was open and the beach and water were very clean and clear. A few mounds of stacked rubbish ready for disposal – but it was very clean on the whole. Food at breakfast was also of great quality and no issues with service, security or taking photos. The architecture could definitely be more balinese but I get that this was not the theme they were going for. Hopefully what you experienced is not the new normal here.
Hi Kevin, good review. I suspect this hotel was planned as Uber Lux hotel however during the construction (project start in 2013), it may be delayed/halted. I can see some of the architecture is gorgeous but the furnishing, decor, garden landscape and pool area are not 6 star worthy, so they may cut a lot of budget. The beach in bali get a lot of ocean debris, in Dec 22 I saw unbelievable massive debris in Berawa, but most major hotels in Bali clean their beaches for guests. This hotel beach is small compared to other hotels so this really baffling because it wont cost so much to clean. In any case, it is a mystery how Jumeirah can stoop so low. I have stayed in some local hotels in Ubud whose management seems 10x better than this.
Wow …. thanks for this. Perhaps this property isn't making as much money as they want/should and so have cut back on staff and amenities. Thanks for the video … now I know hwy I avoid these high end properties.
Kevin, your objective, detailed, unsponsored reviews are invaluable. I refer your channel every chance I get. Thank you for your work.
awesome content as always
Great review, Kevin. One thing that struck me was something that you mentioned as you walked around: yes, the grounds (sans beach) are nice, but where is the color? Why aren't there any flowering plants anywhere in that long walk? It is just green. Great, I like green. But green is a palate at this resort and some flowering red, white, purple, or yellow flowers would be a treat for the eye. But it is just green.
Also, $1000 a night? Well, I guess they have to pay for the hoard of security they employ. Eeesh.
I would not have paid for anything at this hotel
It would have been a walk out
Welcome back to Bali,,, are you here again
Wow, that's absolutely disgraceful!
All I am now able to concentrate on when Bali is concerned, is the amount of garbage and plastic that is on the beach. Period.
34:28 Why choose such a weird font for the food display? Why are the shower gels, shampoos etc in completely similar dispensers.
I have stayed in many upscale hotels in my life, but I would never ever do so again. They are a complete rip off.
What a scam! I go to Bali 2 or 3 times a year, for 1k per night you can get spectacular private villas fully staffed and amazing personalised service.
Incredible. I wonder if the company's other properties are as bad?
You’ve had some bad luck lately. Or are resorts just not as good as they used to be? That beach looked like from a “life after people” episode.
Thanks for the info + video!
Hotel review and not a bloody history lesson
LOL “Welcome to Bali?” Question mark
The resort could have hired a group of out-of-school youths to clean up the beach and sort the trash, and even a local artist to get those flip-flops garbage (and other non-biodegradable garbage) – and make an art installation on the "higher beach" where waves could not reach it – and call it "The Flip Flop of Travel" 😊😁
Seems like you have been on a rough patch with your recent hotel stays, eh?
Its bali in general, they need to figure out their over tourism trash.. obviously it can comes from wherever, bcs indonesia got one of the longest coast lines… local govt should fine hotels that don’t clean beaches on their surround territory…
Honest – no pampering to hotel groups to gain favour – constructive criticism is positive and should be applauded and welcomed by the hospitality industry.
The breakfast doesn't look that bad- so much fresh fruit!
That noise from the neighbours on the terrace!🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
Bali in general has become a bit of a zoo.
Thanks for the review. I could not afford to stay in this hotel and quite frankly if I could, after your review I😎 would go elsewhere …. cheers
Kevin;
If this reservation was made through AMEX, I strongly
encourage you to exercise your right to demand a full refund. The level of service you received was truly horrendous, and I believe it is only fair that you are compensated for such a negative experience.
I want to sincerely thank you for your honest and detailed review. It is important for others to know about the subpar quality of service at this property. I strongly urge you to share your experience with Katerina Giannouka, the CEO of Jumeirah Group. She needs to be made aware of the issues faced by guests like yourself.
Always supporting you in Patreon.
GG
In a word…BRUTAL! I feel your pain.
There is nothing more disappointing than crappy but pricey accommodation!
OMG I just stayed in this hotel last month and thought hmm wonder if he felt cheated as I did. Anyway I found the staff to be nice and friendly but yes it did feel like an Arabic fortress in the sea with the security. The beach was not as dirty as I saw in your vid but yes, the state of Dreamland beach at that time was not up to par to a luxury resort. My own complaints: the food, the state of some details in the room, the service in f&b venues. Really goes out to show that sometimes, price does. not equate to quality. Thanks Kevin!
Bali pretends to offer luxury but is over rated
Amazing one mate..forwarded this to the people who matters,Hope something will be done!!
Any hotel charging over $500 a night that charges for it's mini bar is immediately off my list.
In my personal experience with Jumeirah properties, they appear to have similarities. Overbearing security, incompetent staff that act as robots and do not have or at least show any empathy. A management staff that simply has no problem with lying to your face. Probably the most effectively trained staff in the industry.
Great review! We’ve stayed in many Bali hotels during soft openings and it seems there is no real management and training, very sad considering the price. Thank you for the warning I may give it a try when their rates drop significantly especially after this fabulous review. 🙌✅
Do not upset Kevin !
You should cover “ Andara resort and villas” in Phuket. Absolutely gorgeous!
I am for once just lost for words 😢. Thanks Kevin for keeping these hotels accountable, mould, filthy beach, lousy food and service it sure was a "memorable experience" 👍