Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa
There are mixed views about this resort. Some find it to be a boutique-style hotel, while others prefer to call it a luxurious beachfront housing complex. The reason there is no unanimous opinion about the five star pedigree of this resort is because of the rather laid back attitude towards detail; people who are used to genuine top-notch service will find this resort definitely lacking in this aspect. These relate to the care shown to the guest and other finer details that are typical to other five star category resorts.
Rooms
So if a trendy type of room with some luxurious trappings in the form of sunken baths appeals to you, then this resort could be to your liking. On the other hand, as mentioned above, if you are looking for class and attention to detail, you could be in for a huge disappointment.
Let us look at the positives first. The rooms have beautiful views of the sea with very good bathroom and shower facilities. The ocean view is such that you can see the coast line and also watch the airplanes landing at the airport nearby. The Bose surround system and a very classy iPod deck completes the picture. Though expensive by local Balinese standards, the food and beverage quality is excellent. The Thai restaurant serves up delicious dinners and is reasonably priced.
Resort Features and Facilities
The garden is compact and you have easy access to the pool. Similarly, the compact size of the resort makes getting to your room and out of it to the place you wish to go a breeze, and there is no hope of getting lost. The resort is located just a few minutes from the main street, so access to restaurants and night life is not a problem at all.
Yoga lovers will find a yoga master who will be able to guide them. Other positives include a lovely sunset bar at the terrace, and a spa where you can enjoy an invigorating body massage. An early morning elephant safari can also be taken advantage of for those interested in such an adventure.
Depending on how you wish to view it, the pool size is definitely not as per the usual resort standards, and is on the lines of an infinity pool. The water though is refreshingly cool – and not so cold that it makes you uncomfortable. Relaxing in this pool, gazing out into the ocean, can be highly relaxing.
On the flip side
On the negative side, certain details, such as a lack of a place to leave behind your belongings if you are up late, and the rather cramped-looking pool area, are a case in point. There is no shower facility before you enter the pool and you would find it difficult to therefore wash your feet when coming off the beach. The toilet is also not in close proximity and one has to pass the dining room to get to it. The young staff in charge of the servicing appear to have received little training and are quite poor in their spoken English. As compared to its sister resort, this one does suffer a lot. Simple things like a wake up call could not be arranged and on the whole, the place suffers from poor customer care.
You also need to be very careful with small children on higher floors. Though the balconies are very large and offer an amazing view, the wooden slats are wide enough for a small child to fall through and that is, again, something that must be addressed.
Getting to Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa
The resort’s proximity to the Denpasar International Airport (20 minute drive) is close and easily reached via taxi or limousine service which you can book through prior to arriving or leaving.
To summarise, you will be disappointed if you are looking for a Ritz/Hyatt kind of customer service. On the other hand, if you are looking for something compact, this resort could be the one for you.