After my fiance and I decided were in much need of a nice and relaxing getaway together, we excitedly booked our first trip to tropical Bali, Indonesia.
The Breezes: First Impressions
Centrally located in Seminyak- the heart of the island's most vibrant holiday scene, arriving at The Breezes Bali Resort & Spa was instantly relaxing.
Just a five-minute walk to the golden-sand Seminyak Beach, the flowing sea breezes were lovely in the warm heat.
Warmly greeted with big smiles from the reception staff, we had our luggage taken for us and we strolled towards our room taking in the magnificent resort as we went.
The wide open and modern lobby opened through to a stunning pool area surrounded by welcoming loungers and a pool bar where holiday-makers were enjoying the late afternoon sun.
The Room
Our room was located on the second floor and there is a lift available for those that do not wish to take the stairs. Through the door to our room, we saw our large and modern bathroom to the left, kitted out with all the toiletries you could possibly wish for.
Ahead was our very large King bed in a spacious room fitted with a tv, safe, air conditioning, good wifi, plenty of drawer space, a big chair in the corner and a wardrobe with fluffy bathrobes and slippers.
My favourite thing about the room was the large balcony leading off it offering two comfortable chairs and a table, with a view overlooking one of the pools and the tennis court above the Beach Restaurant.
We saw many fabulous sunsets from the comfort of our balcony enjoying a Bintang (local beer) or two.
Beyond the Room
The resort offers a wide range of facilities including a well-equipped air-conditioned fitness centre, a tennis court, Kid's Corner, Travel Information Centre, a Departure lounge, just to name a few.
They have a road-side restaurant and bar called d'Base which is one of Seminyak's popular dining and entertainment venues with nightly live music and performances.
There are two large pools which I found so great. The lagoon-style four-tiered swimming pool has a sandy man-made beach with red and white candy-striped beach loungers and shady umbrellas- which gives it that ultra relaxing feeling and may have been the reason why we didn't even bother going to the real beach except for a quick look and walk along on our first full day there.
The second pool, closer to the lobby is surrounded by comfortable white loungers, is deeper in the middle and has a bar attached.
Titled 'The Sunken Pool bar' it has a daily fun bingo game with prizes for the winners and pretty good drink specials for beer and their signature cocktails. You can even order casual poolside tapas and snacks if you're feeling peckish.
We arrived on a Friday and discovered the resort puts on a traditional Indonesian buffet feast and dance performance show every Friday evening, so we happily booked this at once.
We were excited to try real Indonesian cuisine for the first time as well as experience Balinese culture.
From start to finish the atmosphere, attentive staff, food and performance was a highly enjoyable experience.
We were greeted with a frangipani flower each and shown to our table which came with insect repellant- a very thoughtful touch!
The buffet offered a huge range of mouth-watering Indonesian dishes and I had to stop myself from going up a third time to get more!
While we were enjoying our dinner and dessert we had a glass of included wine and listened to the pleasant live traditional music.
We then ordered a bucket of Bintangs which came on ice and watched the Indonesian dance which told a story through performance. It was very captivating and entertaining and encouraged the audience members to get involved.
At the end we were invited on to the stage if we wished to get a photo with the actors in their costumes. We were very glad to have booked this dinner as it made for the perfect start to our time in Bali.
The daily breakfast served at The Beach Restaurant was an international buffet with a wide range of both Western and Indonesian cuisine with everything you could want to start your day. Pancakes, croissants, cereal, yogurt, fresh fruit, cooked breakfast options including made-to-order omelettes and eggs how you like, I enjoyed everything with the exception of the coffee which I couldn't quite stomach (I am a coffee snob).
The Spa, located to the right of the lobby is beautifully appointed with private treatment rooms and offer many different pampering treatments.
We enjoyed an hour-long Balinese massage in the middle of our stay which included delicious refreshments beforehand. We both highly enjoyed it and left feeling very relaxed and rejuvenated!
On our final day, we booked in for a Balinese cooking class the resort hosts daily.
We were taught in a small group by expert chefs how to make many delicious traditional dishes. We donned our aprons and paper hats and learned about the ingredients and helped to prepare and cook each dish.
A recipe book was also included with all of the meals and instructions inside which we could take home along with our printed apron.
Enjoying the food afterwards was, of course, the best part and it was so delicious and a super fun and interesting experience on the whole.
We enjoyed an hour-long Balinese massage in the middle of our stay which included delicious refreshments beforehand. We both highly enjoyed it and left feeling very relaxed and rejuvenated!
On our final day, we booked in for a Balinese cooking class the resort hosts daily.
We were taught in a small group by expert chefs how to make many delicious traditional dishes. We donned our aprons and paper hats and learned about the ingredients and helped to prepare and cook each dish.
A recipe book was also included with all of the meals and instructions inside which we could take home along with our printed apron.
Enjoying the food afterwards was, of course, the best part and it was so delicious and a super fun and interesting experience on the whole.
Every single member of staff we encountered were highly professional, warm and friendly and made our stay that little more special.
From the special touches in our room every day after it had been made up- a different towel animal each day and a lovely personal note, to the incredible service when you are poolside.
The staff at reception and the information centre were all very helpful in recommending tours and the best places for us to eat, they are more than happy to help you with anything.
The greetings and smiles around the resort, the funny pool bar staff, the room service (of which the food was very good!) were all brilliant.
We even by a stroke of luck had to stay an extra night due to the nearby volcano erupting and our flight being cancelled... and they accommodated us with no hassle at all.
We were very impressed.
The Details
Hotel: The Breezes Bali Resort & Spa
Location: Jalan Camplung Tanduk No. 66, Seminyak - Bali 80361
Reviews: Certificate of Excellence on Trip Advisor and 4.5/5 stars from 1537 reviews and a 9/10 on Booking.com.
Price: The rooms are generally from $150 AUD a night for a superior double room which includes breakfast and free wifi.
Final Thoughts
Overall it was a truly incredible stay and so pleasant we were very sad to leave- even after 10 nights! The location was excellent with many eateries, bars, the beach and shops in close walking distance.
The rooms were clean and the grounds and pools were immaculate and well-maintained, and the staff always went over and beyond.
The resort would suit a wide range of people from those wanting a romantic couple getaway, groups of friends and families with children.
A nice comfortable hotel really makes such a difference and the next time we go back to Bali which will probably be in 2017- we will undoubtedly book with The Breezes again and I highly recommend this hotel to anyone wanting to stay in Seminyak.
We both thought The Breezes Bali Resort & Spa was sublime and we can't wait to go back!
If you have any questions at all about the hotel or have any other suggestions for fantastic places to stay in Bali then please let me know in the comments below!
This post is not sponsored; it is my genuine thoughts and opinions.
Thanks for reading,
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