Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Bali Sanur (Standard Room) - Short Stroll from the Beach with Plenty of Restaurants Nearby

I visited Sanur in Bali for the first time earlier this year and I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Bali which offered fantastic value (especially for Globalist members). Most people my age do not visit Sanur in Bali as it is traditionally known to attract a much older crowd but honestly, it is probably my favourite area on the island right now. Since I was visiting Bali during peak season and room rates were through the roof, I managed to find a really decent rate at the Holiday Inn Bali Sanur that worked out to approximately USD 100 per night before taxes.

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Karang
Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

Holiday Inn Bali Sanur is relatively new and it was completed only in 2021 - while the property may not come with all the bells and whistles that you may expect to find, I do appreciate how new the hotel looks and feels. Located just a 30-minute drive away from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Holiday Inn Bali Sanur is conveniently located in Sanur with plenty of great restaurants and cafes in the area. I highly recommend booking a private airport transfer via Klook (enjoy a S$5 discount with my Klook referral code) - it is actually a lot cheaper than taking a Grab or Gojek ride from the airport, and there is even a dedicated waiting point in the airport. As a Diamond Elite member in IHG One Rewards, I opted for complimentary daily breakfast throughout my stay. Since my room was only occupied by myself and I had a separate room for a friend, they offered both of us complimentary breakfast for the stay.

Bedroom
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

While I was not accorded an upgrade at the Holiday Inn Bali Sanur as a Diamond Elite member, the room that I was assigned to during my stay was on the highest floor and it offered a nice view of the area (and a slice of the ocean from the corner). As far as I know, there are only Standard Rooms here at the property but there are a number of Suites available for those that require a little bit more space.

View from Room (Highest Floor)
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

During my visit, there was a suite available for the duration of my stay but it was not the lead-in suite category, and I did not actually push for an upgrade since I am not familiar with IHG One Rewards’ upgrade policy for top-tier members. With all that being said, the Standard Rooms over at the Holiday Inn Bali Sanur are actually quite nice and they offer 26 sqm of space with a huge floor-to-ceiling window that allows for plenty of natural daylight to come in.

Sofa
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

Located next to the window is a massive sofa that can easily fit two adults - this is also large enough to serve as a small daybed to indulge in a good book, or simply takeaway food (be sure to download Gojek so you can order food in via GoFood). Air-conditioning is super important to me and since this is a relatively new property, it works without a hitch and the room gets pretty cold at the lowest setting.

Bedside Table
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

Standard Rooms at the Holiday Inn Bali Sanur come with two different bed configurations which you can guarantee at the time of booking - opt for a king-size bed, or two single beds if you are traveling with a friend. There are plenty of universal power outlets as well as USB charging ports around the room and they are thoughtfully placed by the bedside, as well as near the work desk for convenience. All of the lights can also be controlled via a Master switch by the bed and that’s perfect in the evening when you are ready to go to bed.

Universal Outlets and USB Charging Ports
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

All of the Standard Room comes with a decently-sized work desk that also comes fully furnished with a desk lamp, as well as strategically-placed universal power outlets for convenience. While I did have data roaming issues on my own mobile phone, the Wi-Fi at the Holiday Inn Bali Sanur worked perfectly regardless of where I was in the room.

Work Desk
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

There is also a small mini-fridge that comes empty and that’s perfect for chilling your own beverages that you may choose to purchase from one of the minimarts nearby (or just order them via GoMart on Gojek).

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There is no coffee machine in the Standard Rooms here at the Holiday Inn Bali Sanur but they do provide tea bags and some kind of freeze-dried coffee which I did not bother trying - there are plenty of great cafes like Sala Bistro & Coffee, as well as Stuja di Pantai if you are looking for coffee in the area. Two complimentary bottles of drinking water are also provided each day when housekeeping comes in to refresh your room and I am certain that you can always request for more if required.

Welcome Amenities
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

I am not sure if this is a Diamond Elite amenity but I received a small plate of fruits on my day of arrival, as well as a card (that was not handwritten in case anyone was wondering) to welcome me to the hotel - a nice touch for a Holiday Inn-branded property. Obviously, when staying at the Holiday Inn Bali Sanur, it would be unreasonable to expect the same treatment that you get at the Alila Seminyak or the W Bali - Seminyak for instance so anything extra that I get from this hotel is a bonus.

Bedroom
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

The only issue I had with my room at the Holiday Inn Bali Sanur is a bit of noise since the room that I was assigned to came with a connecting door - I am terribly sensitive with noise so you might not even notice this if you are a normal person. Obviously, I could requested for another room but I was too lazy to move or wait for another room to be ready so I have decided to stick with the same room throughout my stay.

Bathroom
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

The bathroom is highly-functional and the rainshower comes with excellent water pressure which is really all you can ask for in a hotel room these days. I also like that the glass is frosted for privacy but more importantly, it allows of natural light to stream in during the day.

Bath Amenities
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

Bulk-sized bath amenities from Dove as provided in the shower area - this is the first time that I am seeing Dove-branded amenities (which are typically used in households) in a hotel so it was an interesting experience but like I have mentioned before, my expectations are very different when I pay only USD 100 a night instead the usual average room rate of three to four times more.

Bathroom
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

While none of the Standard Rooms over at the Holiday Inn Bali Sanur come with a bathtub, the bathrooms are actually really nice and they even come with a lighted mirror which you can toggle on and off with the touch of button.

Wardrobe
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

There is also an open closet that is located within the bathroom - this is something that I know people either love or hate. I personally do love the fact that I can get dressed easily after a shower (especially since my bedroom is perpetually set to the lowest temperature), but I know some people who prefer a separate wardrobe that is tucked away. You can also find disposable bathroom slippers as well as an iron here if these are items you require during your stay.

Breakfast Buffet
Karang - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

As mentioned earlier, I chose complimentary breakfast for the full duration of my stay as my Diamond Elite welcome amenity - this is the most valuable option if your room rate does not include breakfast. A full buffet breakfast is served at Karang (located on the ground floor) and there is the option of sitting indoors (with air-conditioning) or outdoors in the shade. I am not sure how much the breakfast buffet typically costs but it might be a good idea to head outside for a meal if you do not have breakfast included in your room rate.

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There is a small selection of hot food as well as an egg station here at Karang in the morning which is pretty nice but I would not recommend spending more than USD 15 here per person if that is how much it costs. I am not saying that the quality of food is bad but you have a lot of choices in the area and I would not restrict myself to a typical hotel buffet if it’s not already part of my rate.

Breakfast Buffet
Karang - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

There is also a small room at the end of the restaurant where you can find things like pastries, fresh fruits, as well as a pot of soup or congee. The staff at Karang does an amazing job and even though I was only there for a handful of nights, they have actually taken the initiative to not only remember my coffee order but my preferred table as well.

Rooftop Swimming Pool
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

The Holiday Inn Bali Sanur has a really chill rooftop pool which comes with a view of the ocean. While the pool is really nice during the day, there are very limited deck chairs by the pool so it might be full if you are visiting the property during the peak season. If you are planning on taking a dip in the water however, you should be good since you can always leave your towel and belongings by the side.

Bedroom
Standard Room (King) - Holiday Inn Bali Sanur

Even though the Hyatt Regency Bali will likely be my first choice (since I get complimentary Regency Club access and guaranteed 4:00 PM late check-out as a Globalist member), the Holiday Inn Bali Sanur is seriously a great property to consider if you do not have any attachment (emotional, or otherwise) to any hotel loyalty programs. The Holiday Inn Bali Sanur is just a short 3-minute stroll from the beach, and there are plenty of great restaurants in the area (including Stuja di Pantai which I visited every night of my stay) which makes it a fantastic property for those wanting to enjoy a laidback holiday in Bali without breaking the bank.

Holiday Inn Bali Sanur
Jl. Kusuma Sari No.4, Semawang, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80227, Indonesia
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