Hotel Review: Aloft Bali Seminyak (King Bed) - Affordable Hotel in Seminyak but Walking Distance to Canggu by the Beach

Seminyak, nestled along the picturesque shores of Bali, Indonesia, is a vibrant and upscale coastal town that embodies the perfect blend of tropical relaxation and modern indulgence. The coastline is adorned with a wide selection of luxury hotels and these lavish retreats not only provide a tranquil oasis but also serve as gateways to Seminyak's dynamic atmosphere, which comes alive as the sunsets. The W Bali - Seminyak as well as the Alila Seminyak are probably the two most prominent properties along Petitenget Beach but there is an associated premium with these hotels due to the brand name and location. Since I was taking a night flight from Singapore to Bali, I decided to save some money and spend a night at the Aloft Bali Seminyak before moving to a nicer property the following day.

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Bedroom
King Bed - Aloft Bali Seminyak

Having been to various W Hotels in the region, this was my very first time at an Aloft property. My knowledge of the Aloft brand is also pretty limited apart from the fact that it was first introduced to the portfolio back in 2008, and it is apparently designed for the next-generation traveller that encompasses personality, music, and culture. In layman's terms, you may think of an Aloft property as a cheaper and watered-down version of W Hotel. The Aloft Bali Seminyak is a modern hotel located in Seminyak - it is situated just a short walk away from the famous Seminyak Beach, renowned for its golden sands and great surf. It is also within walking distance of Seminyak's bustling shopping districts and dining options but what is even more interesting to me is that you can actually walk to Canggu along the beach (which is a whole lot faster).

Bedroom
King Bed - Aloft Bali Seminyak

Now I did not know this until about a week prior to my stay at the Aloft Bali Seminyak but room upgrades are not offered at Aloft branded properties (alongside Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Element, and Vistana) for Marriott Bonvoy elite members. This means that even though the Titanium Elite allows me to receive a suite upgrade at other properties when it is available, this benefit is not offered at Aloft properties worldwide. I booked a King Bed for this stay and was accorded a room in the same category but on a slightly higher floor. This is not really an issue obviously since it is in line with brand standards but I thought it is something that I should highlight. The lead-in room category at Aloft Bali Seminyak measures 28 sqm in size which is pretty small compared to most of the other hotels that I have stayed in in the area. With that said, it did come with almost everything I needed for a comfortable stay except for a bathtub and coffee machine but it is very important to take note that the Aloft Bali Seminyak is typically priced at USD 100 per night so it would be unreasonable to expect all of that from a hotel that is located within a prime area of Bali.

View from Bedroom
King Bed - Aloft Bali Seminyak

While all of the guest rooms at the Aloft Bali Seminyak have the same room size (with the exception of the Loft which measures approximately 67 sqm and comes with a rooftop terrace), some of the higher category rooms do come with direct pool access - do note that this is not the main swimming pool of the property (which is actually located on the rooftop). My room came with a view of this said swimming pool but obviously it did not come with access to it - I do not think this pool can be accessed by other guests in the hotel since the only way in is from one of the aforementioned guest rooms.

Bed
King Bed - Aloft Bali Seminyak

The room came with a comfortable king-size bed with a mattress that is leaning toward the firm side of things (and that is actually a good thing as I get older). There is a 55-inch LED TV in the room with a curated selection of cable and satellite channels (e.g. CNN, ESPN, and HBO) but do not expect to find more obscure channels here. This is also not a smart TV so you will not be able to stream your content from your mobile devices easily unless you can link it up with an actual physical cable. There is also a comfortable two-seater sofa located next to the bed by the window which is a great spot for days when you decide to order food to eat in the room.

Beside Controls
King Bed - Aloft Bali Seminyak

The Aloft Bali Seminyak is built back in 2019 (right before the peak of the global pandemic) and perhaps that is why the hotel is not as widely reviewed or recommended by travellers since most people have not had the opportunity to stay here yet. Since the property is pretty new, you will find modern touches like universal power outlets and USB charging ports located by the bedside and around the room. Most of the lights apart from the desk lamp can be switched on and off bed the bedside so you do not have to crawl out of bed to the lights off if you are already comfortable and ready to sleep at night.

Work Desk
King Bed - Aloft Bali Seminyak

There is a small work desk in the room which is large enough for you to place your laptop and some documents - the WiFi (complimentary for all in-house hotel guests) also works well and I did not face any issues with connection at all during my stay. On the table was also where I found my welcome amenity - a bottle of juice and some light snacks. If you look past the slightly-tacky decor, the Aloft Bali Seminyak is actually very much like a nicer version of the Hilton Garden Inn Bali Ngurah Rai Airport which I stayed in back in 2019.

Wardrobe and Minibar
King Bed - Aloft Bali Seminyak

While the room size is actually small on paper, it is thoughtfully designed to make the best out of the available space - there is even a flat surface for you to open up a relatively small suitcase and a wardrobe on the size which comes with half a sliding door (so either the left or right side will be exposed at all times). My only issue with the Aloft Bali Seminyak is the soundproofing as I can seriously hear conversations taking place in the corridors - it is not as bad as the Hilton Garden Inn Bali Ngurah Rai Airport where I could even hear my neighbour turning the shower on I did not have trouble sleeping or staying asleep (I think my worst experience with bad soundproofing has got to be the Fairfield Kuala Lumpur Jalan Pahang) during my stay but this is something you should consider if you are a light sleeper.

Coffee Cups
King Bed - Aloft Bali Seminyak

As mentioned earlier, the rooms at the Aloft Bali Seminyak do not come with a coffee machine but Kahuna (the all-day dining restaurant) serves delicious coffee at a reasonable price (IDR 40,000++ when I visited a few months back). Obviously being in Seminyak (and Canggu) means you can skip the ‘hotel coffee’ and simply take a leisurely stroll down to the nearest cafe for a proper cup anytime. Teabags and freeze-dried coffee sachets are provided but I did not bother with them during my stay as you can easily get a caffeine fix nearby or via GoFood if you are extremely reluctant to head out.

Bathroom
King Bed - Aloft Bali Seminyak

All of the guest rooms, with the exception of the Loft rooms over at the Aloft Bali Seminyak do not come with a bathtub - this is also something to consider if bathtubs are a dealbreaker for you. I do enjoy having a soak while being on vacation but this is not a deciding point for me since it is not Uluwatu or somewhere inconvenient to get out. I do like that the bathroom is modern and brightly-lit with a shower that offers good water pressure.

Bath Amenities
King Bed - Aloft Bali Seminyak

Bath amenities are provided by an Indonesian company, GoodVibes Botanical, and it smells pretty decent so you should not have to bring anything unless you require conditioner which I do not think is provided by default (even though you could probably request for it through the app or by picking up the phone).

View of Ocean
Kahuna - Aloft Bali Seminyak

As a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite member, I was offered a choice of welcome amenity at check-in and I went for complimentary breakfast for the whole duration of my stay - this is honestly one way to save heaps of money and I highly recommend that you consider investing time and money into achieving at least Platinum Elite to get the most out of the loyalty program. For the price that I paid, I did not expect much for breakfast at the Aloft Bali Seminyak but it was surprisingly decent with a good spread and even an a la carte menu that hotel guests can order from. Breakfast is served at Kahuna which is located on the rooftop of the property, right next to the swimming pool (which comes with a view of the Batu Belig Beach).

Interiors
Kahuna - Aloft Bali Seminyak

Kahuna is also the property’s all-day dining restaurant offering international and local fare throughout the day. The industrially-inspired space reminds me a little bit of the wedding chapel over at the Conrad Bali and it features both indoor (air-conditioned) and outdoor seating areas which cater to different travellers. Even though I was only here for a night, I was honestly won over by the genuine service of the staff here - they were always cheerful and a delight to speak to!

Apart from the usual suspects at any self-respecting hotel buffet breakfast, there is also an a la carte menu that diners may order from at no charge - the smashed avocado toast with poached eggs were delicious, and there was also a selection of local dishes for those who wish for something a little more hearty in the morning. Unfortunately, the French toast was a bit of a disaster but I enjoyed almost everything else here - especially the coffee! Since Kahuna is located right next to the swimming pool, you will notice that some diners actually come up to breakfast in their swim shorts so they can linger after having a meal (and enjoy their free coffee by the pool).

Fitness Centre
Aloft Bali Seminyak

There is a small fitness centre at the Aloft Bali Seminyak which is located on the same level as the swimming pool. I did not have the opportunity to use it since I wanted to head up to Alila Villas Uluwatu as early as possible to avoid the congestion but it looked pretty small with a few cardio equipments and a dumbbell rack. There are plenty of fitness studios around Seminyak and Canggu but if you are craving for a quick cardio session, hopping on the treadmill for 30 minutes is also a pretty good idea.

Swimming Pool
Aloft Bali Seminyak

As a Titanium Elite member, I was also offered two drink vouchers at check-in so I decided to drop by Kahuna for a drink and also to spend some time by the pool. If I did not remember wrongly, there is a sunset cocktail happy hour that runs daily from 5-7 PM so if that is something that is of interest to you, you may consider spending some time here - it is also open to the public so you do not have to be an in-house guest to enjoy the views from up here.

Cocktails by the Pool
Kahuna - Aloft Bali Seminyak

Indomie
Kahuna - Aloft Bali Seminyak

The drinks are Kahuna leaned towards the sweeter side but it was boozy and delicious - perfect for the tropical heat! I also took the opportunity to spend some time in the swimming pool which was rather pleasant despite being a stroll away from the main beach. Unlike the Alila Seminyak where you have an unobstructed view of the beach from the swimming pool, you can only see the beach from a distance here at the Aloft Bali Seminyak but you will be able to witness the same sunset from the rooftop bar.

Indomie
Kahuna - Aloft Bali Seminyak

The Aloft Bali Seminyak is not the place to be if you are here in Bali for a honeymoon but it offers immense value to those who want to be in a great location without spending top dollar on a beachfront property. As mentioned earlier, it is possible to walk along the beach and get to popular beach clubs like Finns Beach Club within 15 minutes on foot (which allows you to bypass the crazy congestion in and out of Canggu) but do note that there is a crossing that will be filled with water once the tide comes in so you will need to time your walks accordingly. This may be my first stay in an Aloft-branded property but I am honestly a little bit more encouraged to do mattress runs or short stays at other Aloft properties in the region after having a pleasant stay at this one.

Aloft Bali Seminyak
Jl. Batu Belig No.228, Seminyak, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
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