Site Inspection at Raffles Bali

Introduction

Tucked away in the beauty of Jimbaran Bay, Raffles Bali unveils 32 extravagant private pool villas spread across 23 hectares. It's a luxurious hideaway with breathtaking views of the ocean, offering front-row seats to the stunning Jimbaran sunsets. Jimbaran is one of the southern coastal towns, though mostly hills would cover the sunset. But during sunset, you may enjoy spending time at the infinity pool or the villa pool.

Accommodation

There are only 32 villas in the property:

• 16 ocean-pool villas - Base villas with decent ocean views

• Seven panoramic pool villas - Same size as the ocean pool village, but with better views of the ocean

• Six hilltop pool villas — Smaller than the ocean and panoramic villas by 100 sq.m, but these villas have more privacy and better views of the hillside and partial ocean view. The garden layout is better for Ocean and panoramic pool villa, because they are more spacious

• Two ocean-front two-bedroom villas — Huge two-bedroom villas for families or groups with more than four members

• One presidential villa - Perched high above the other villas and screened from view by lush tropical greenery, the two-bedroom raffles presidential villa is a kingdom unto itself

Butler Service

Butler services are one of the highlights at any Raffles hotel. Our superstar butler, Endah, reached out to me two days ahead to sort out all the nitty-gritty details for our stay, like hotel transfers, diets, etc.. Endah is a pro at this butler gig, making sure our schedule was as smooth as butter. Top-notch butler service all the way!

Welcome and Check-in experience

We were welcomed by the hotel manager and butler, offered seats in the lobby closer to their writers bar. We offered welcome drinks and the butler took care of the check-in formalities like scanning our passports, payment, etc..

Buggy Service

Since the resort is colossal, the coolest way to zip around is by buggy. Once we checked in, our butler whisked us on a grand tour of the resort, landing us right at our villa. And get this — wherever you are, just whistle for a buggy and voila! It'll zoom to you in five minutes flat!

Our Villa

The ocean pool villa is generously spacious and can comfortably accommodate up to three adults with an additional bed. Within the villa, you will find various distinctive features such as bedtime stories, Raffles hats for all guests, a well-appointed private bar stocked with a variety of spirits and juices. Complimentary items at the mini bar include juices and snacks, with alcohol being the only exception. Every evening they provide turndown service as they prepare the room for sleep and they refill the Minibar once a day.

A private pool in these villas is a slice of paradise! Dive in whenever the mood strikes and soak up the Bali sunshine. Picture yourself lounging by your pool or catching up on a book in the cozy gazebo or daybeds. Plus, an outdoor shower is a handy touch to keep your villa sparkling clean after pool splashes. It's all about that perfect blend of relaxation and convenience!

Breakfast at Rumari

The à-la carte breakfast was a welcomed change after two weeks of monotonous buffet breakfasts. We truly savored the freshness of the dishes and had the opportunity to sample a variety of options over our three breakfasts.

My favorites were:

• Atlantic-Style Eggs Benedict — with smoked salmon, one of the tastiest Benedicts I've tried.

• Lobster Omelet — A delightful seafood omelet made with rock lobster bisque.

• Croissants - Their croissants are top-notch, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

• Wok-Fried Plaga Mushrooms — The Plaga Mushrooms were cooked to perfection, soft and flavorful.

• Tropical Heritage — Enjoy a refreshing milkshake blended with strawberry, mango and bananas.

Other dining options include Loloan Beach Bar & Grill near the beach and Writers Bar in the lobby. Lunch is served only at the Loloan or in-villa dining.

Personalized Dining Experiences

There are a few personalized dining experiences, which you can book for additional cost:

• Purnama Honeymoon Bale — Ideal for special occasions like engagements, anniversaries or birthdays, this intimate setting is reserved for two guests per night. The menu features fresh seafood and fine wine, inspired by ocean views.

• The Secret Cave — In an untouched natural cave, candlelight illuminates the stone walls, creating a soothing ambiance for a unique dining experience. Each dish is paired with bespoke cocktails and premium wines, making it ideal for special occasions.

• The Farm Terrace — Experience an extravagant and personalized dining event beneath the tropical vines at The Farm Terrace. Ideal for groups of up to six guests, our rustic outdoor setting features wooden tables nestled amid lush greenery. Enjoy a special evening with a bespoke bar setup and live grill performance.

Spa

There are two different spas:

• Raffles Spa — At Raffles Spa, treatments and rituals are designed for emotional wellbeing. Maximum two couples occupancy. Spa treatments may be carried out in the privacy of your villa.

• Sanctuary Spa - A private hillside venue for a bespoke wellness experience with only one couple capacity

Other Facilities

• The Writers Bar - A bar located in the lobby

• Beachfront Infinity Pool - Common pool near the beach and LoLoan Beach Bar

• Fitness Center — Located in the main building, morning yoga sessions are available too.

• Tennis court - Two clay-surface tennis courts located near the main entrance

• Library - A small library near the Writers Bar lounge

• Beach - A small private beach for raffles guests

Other Activities

There are some other paid activities:

• Beach - A small private beach for raffles guests

• Traditional Balinese House Visit

• Balinese Painting Classes

• Jimbaran Sunset Cruise

• Balinese Attire (Dressing)

• Temple Visit (Free)

Kids Activities

They have several kids activities, all of them were private activities, so better to make the reservations during your stay.

Some of the activities are: Balinese Dressing, Canang Making, Balinese Dance classes, Moon Gazing, Pizza Making, Cookie Making, Bracelet making, Origami.

Meeting with Hotel Management

As a travel advisor, I had a productive one-hour meeting with the Reservations Manager and Director of Sales to cater to my clients' needs. They were extremely polite and managed to address the majority of my requests. The ongoing discussion with the reservations team has been successful in addressing most of my clients' needs.

I made the reservation with Accor Step/Hera. Accor's Hera rates come with these benefits:

• Stay for three and pay for two (third night free)

• $100 hotel credit

• Free a-la-carte breakfast

• VIP welcome amenity

• Complimentary villa upgrade

• Early check-in and late checkout

• Free airport return transfer

• 60-minute spa treatment (minimum of two nights)

• Three-course dinner for two at Rumari (minimum of three nights)

We completely loved the experience at Raffles Bali and wouldn't mind visiting them again on our next Bali trip.

I always suggest Raffles Bali for a three-night stay to my clients for their exceptional service, privacy, relaxing atmosphere and exclusive Accor Hera perks. Feel free to contact me, and I will customize your ideal Bali getaway flawlessly!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Bali. In need of further inspiration? Check out Allison Kimsey’s guide, Things to do in Ubud, Bali.