Hotel Review: Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport (Suite Room) - Direct Terminal Connection

On a recent trip to Bali, I arrived on Singapore Airlines SQ948 just after midnight. Rather than traveling straight to the hotel of my choice at that hour, I chose to stay the night at the Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport, which is conveniently connected to the terminal. What I didn’t expect was how difficult it would be to secure a booking ahead of time. The hotel was fully booked on the night of my stay – and even random mid-week dates months ahead were showing limited availability. Thankfully, my ALL Diamond status gave me access to the guaranteed room benefit (with 48 hours’ notice), although this required booking at the best available rate which is comparatively higher than the 'usual rates'

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Hotel Lobby
Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

The Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport is conveniently located between the International and Domestic terminals of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). After clearing immigration and customs, the hotel is accessible via a covered walkway – though parts of the path are dimly lit and rather uninviting, which may leave you second-guessing your direction. Still, the walk takes just 7 to 10 minutes, and you will find yourself at the hotel lobby soon enough. I was pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to a King Suite – three categories above my original booking – in recognition of my ALL Diamond status. In my experience, upgrades at Accor properties tend to be conservative (often just one category up), so this was a generous gesture by comparison.

Living Room
Suite Room - Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

Since it was already past midnight by the time I checked in, I took photos of the suite quickly – I wanted to document the space while it was still in pristine condition, but I also wanted to rest. As a result, you will notice the lighting in the photos is darker than usual. The Suite Room at Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport measures 56 sqm and features a separate living area and bedroom. The first thing that struck me was how closely the layout resembled the Hyatt Regency Taoyuan International Airport which interestingly, used to be a Novotel property as well. With the curtains drawn, it wouldn’t be hard to convince me I was back in Taipei instead of Bali.

Powder Room
Suite Room - Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

A powder room is located near the entrance of the suite – a thoughtful addition, especially if you're sharing the space with a friend or expecting visitors. It allows guests to freshen up without needing to walk through the bedroom to access the main bathroom.

Living Room
Suite Room - Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

While the interiors of the suite at Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport do feel slightly dated, the overall condition of the room was surprisingly well-maintained. The living area features a large sofa and a coffee table – functional for lounging or for families travelling together. From what I understand, the property also offers a Premier Lounge, with access extended to ALL Platinum and Diamond members. Unfortunately, with my arrival after midnight, I didn’t get a chance to check it out on this stay and naturally, I missed the evening cocktails as well.

ALL Diamond Welcome Amenities
Suite Room - Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

A small plate of sweet treats and a handwritten welcome note were waiting for me in the suite – a thoughtful gesture that’s always appreciated, even if the treats themselves weren’t particularly memorable. As a quick reminder, ALL members with Silver status and above are also entitled to two complimentary drinks per stay, redeemable at participating bars or restaurants on property.

Coffee Machine
Suite Room - Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

The suite also came with a coffee machine which is a feature I am fairly certain isn’t standard across all room types. There were also the usual complimentary teabags, along with bottled drinking water. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of a couple of glass bottles placed inside and outside the minibar as well as I personally prefer to have my water chilled.

Bedroom
Suite Room - Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

The bedroom of the suite at Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport features a generously sized king bed that leans more towards firm than plush which could be a plus or minus depending on your personal preference. One thing I was particularly pleased with was the air-conditioning. The room stayed comfortably cold throughout the night, which is something I genuinely appreciate. It is not uncommon to find hotels in Bali where the air-conditioning struggles to keep up (e.g. Alila Ubud and Hyatt Regency Bali) so this was a welcome surprise.

Bedroom
Suite Room - Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

The bedroom itself is quite dim, even with all the lights switched on. While this wasn’t an issue for me as I was winding down for bed, it is something to keep in mind if you’re planning to spend more time in the room during the day. That said, the property does offer some pleasantly lush spaces for an airport hotel, such as the poolside area and the lobby bar – both suitable spots if you’re looking to read or relax outside the room. Universal power outlets are also conveniently placed throughout the suite, which is always appreciated for travellers with multiple devices.

Bathroom
Suite Room - Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

I was pleasantly surprised to find a deep-soaking bathtub in the suite’s main bathroom which is a feature that I imagine long-haul travellers would particularly appreciate. While my flight from Singapore was relatively short, it was still nice to enjoy a relaxing soak after a late-night arrival. The main bathroom, which is separate from the powder room near the entrance, also includes a single vanity, a separate walk-in shower, and a dedicated toilet area.

Shower
Suite Room - Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

The shower area is surprisingly spacious and comes equipped with both a small rain shower head and a regular handheld shower. The layout appears suitable for accessible travellers, including those in wheelchairs. Bath amenities are in-house branded and provided in bulk-sized bottles mounted to the wall. While the scent is not particularly memorable or luxurious, they serve their purpose for a short transit stay.

Bathroom
Suite Room - Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

The main bathroom can be accessed from either the bedroom or the main walkway, which is a thoughtful layout. Just before the bathroom, there is a small walk-in wardrobe area that functions well as a dressing space. This setup is especially useful if you prefer to put on your shoes without stepping into the bedroom or bathroom. It might be more of an Asian habit, but wearing shoes indoors (whether at home or in a hotel room) is generally something to avoid.

View from Bedroom
Suite Room - Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

Despite being located on the top floor of the property, the suite at Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport did not offer much in terms of views. My room had no view of the tarmac, and while I could catch a distant glimpse of the ocean, it was nothing particularly noteworthy. I am not certain if any rooms offer better views, but it is fair to say that guests stay here for the convenience rather than the scenery.

Hotel Lobby
Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

As part of my ALL Diamond benefits, complimentary breakfast was included with my stay at the Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport - this perk is also extended to ALL Platinum members. While I technically had access to the Privilege Lounge due to my status, it only opens from 11:00am, so I did not get the chance to visit during this stay. It is worth noting that breakfast is not served in the lounge. Instead, all eligible guests enjoy the full buffet spread at The Square restaurant, which serves as the main dining venue for breakfast.

Buffet Breakfast
The Square - Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

While the breakfast spread at The Square was fairly extensive, I found the overall quality of the food to be underwhelming. Perhaps I am being picky, but after walking two full rounds, there were only a handful of items I felt inclined to eat. Since breakfast was included with my ALL Diamond status, I did not mind too much. However, if you are on a non-eligible rate or do not hold ALL Platinum status or higher, you might find better value ordering something from Gojek or Grab instead.

Buffet Breakfast
The Square - Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

With some time to spare before checking out of the Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport, I decided to stop by the bar to redeem my complimentary drinks benefit. I had been logged out of the ALL app and was fumbling to sign back in when I asked the staff which drinks were eligible. Initially, the bartender seemed hesitant to respond, but once he saw that I held ALL Diamond status, he confirmed that I could order anything from the menu. That hesitation made sense in hindsight, as drink entitlements likely vary by elite tier, with Diamond members enjoying the least restrictions. I ended up ordering two Espresso Martinis, which were decent and made for a pleasant way to wrap up the stay.

Swimming Pool
Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

While I would not travel to Bali just to stay at the Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport, nor would I consider it for a leisure holiday on the island, it is undeniably a solid option for a transit stay. Airport hotels often carry a reputation for being uninspired, catering mostly to a captive market with limited choices. However, the Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport stands out with its convenient direct access to the terminal, a surprisingly nice swimming pool (even though I did not have time to use it this stay), and a Privilege Lounge that serves evening cocktails for eligible guests. If I find myself arriving late at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) again, I would not hesitate to stay here for the night. Just be sure to secure your booking early - availability can be tight, even on seemingly off-peak dates.

Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport
Jalan Raya Ngurah Rai, Tuban, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80362, Indonesia
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