GeneCMH

I'm really stuck, can't decide between Sheraton / Westin or the Hyatts and now will also have to consider the LeMeridien - any one have experience with the LeMeridien?

Also, what are the better Bali-esque properties referenced above?

number_6

The Sheraton is now 1 category higher than the Westin, perhaps making this choice easier. Both are competitive with the other international chains (RC, Hyatt, etc.).

The "better" Bali-esque properties are quite a bit more expensive, typically USD 500 and up (or triple the price). These include Aman and Four Seasons, but there are lots of private luxury villas.

There are also "budget Bali-esque" properties, usually in the highlands, which offer a house plus staff, typically for about the cost of the Westin. Here you get lots of square footage and charm, but the location may or may not suit you (no beach nearby, for example, and it is "native" living). You really have to research the location and decide what you want from your vacation before doing this (personally I think it is much better than Nusa Dua).

olimaspecto

I've read a lot about the Westin vs. Sheraton vs. other hotels and feel that I have a good sense of peoples' views. I have a stay booked for the Westin in one of the new Sea View Suites for August 2006 using the SPG50 ($270 a night, a great deal from what I can tell) and want to know what the experts think about staying in a sea view suite at the Westin as opposed to another hotel.

I have never been to Bali before and am planning for five nights near the beach and three nights in Ubud (already got my hotel there). For the five nights at the beach, I to hear opinions about whether staying at the Westin Nusa Dua in the Sea View Suite for $270 night would be a good expreience or is there a better place (with value considered) that offers a better experience. I know that the Westin is a Western style hotel similar to a Hawaiian property, but it seems that the more Balinese properties that would have similar amenities to the Sea View Suite at the Westin would be twice as much (i.e. Four Seasons, etc).

Any thoughts would be helpful. If people have comparisons to the Sengegi Beach Sheraton to the Westin/Sheraton I'd be interested in those too. Thanks!

JMR

I stayed at Westin Nusa Dua, was told it was a resort and did not offer Plat benefits. Nice place, however, with a secure, safe beach.

SurlyJoe

I had a chance to visit both of the Nusa Dua hotels in Nov of 2005. I can't comment on Platinum upgrades or amenities as I had only Gold status, but I can give you a pretty good comparison since we stayed at the two back to back. We were on reward stays at both properties.

We were in the Sheraton first. We were greeted by name at check-in, and were invited to sit down and enjoy a welcome drink while they prepared our paperwork which was brought right to our table. We were then escorted to our room and given a quick tour of the features in the room. We had a standard room, but it was quite large and very well appointed. We received tea/coffee service in the room each day from the butlers. There is also a complimentary afternoon coffee service on one of the pool side patios, which includes coffee, tea and assorted cakes. The bathroom amenities were quite nice, and the bathroom itself was large with a glass window which looked out into the bedroom (with shutters in case you need privacy)

The gym at the Sheraton was not great. It had a couple of very well worn treadmills and some free weights. There was also a pool table, and a business centre with overpriced internet access. The pools surround the property. There is a medium sized pool in the center, with "lagoons" which wrap around the side of the hotel. All of the pools were quite shallow, and some featured sand beaches and waterfalls.

The Westin is a much larger convention style property adjacent to the Sheraton. The service did seem much less personal after coming from the Sheraton. The room was smaller, but was clean and quite nice. Bathroom amenities were not as nice as the Sheraton either. There was a Heavenly Bed of course.

The gym at the Westin was quite a bit better, with much more modern equipment and free weights. The pools were also nicer imho, as they were deeper and had more room to actually swim in. There is also a grotto-type thing to swim into with a waterfall, a salt water pool, and a poolside bar.

All of the restaurants and pools etc. can be accessed from either property, so I guess this doesn't really need to factor into your decision. The Sheraton was being extensively renovated when I was there, so the rooms are probably even nicer now.

Overall, both properties offer superb value for that amount of $$$ or points, but I have to give the edge to the Sheraton, based on the room and the level of personal service received. Both properties were Cat 2 at the time, though I see that the Sheraton has now been bumped up to Cat 3.

BTW, because of the bombing which happened a month or so before I was there, both hotels were all but deserted. It seemed like the staff out numbered the guests. There were armed security guards walking along the beach in front of the hotels, and gated check points and metal detectors at the front entrances. I'm not sure if the situation is any different now...

Hope this is helpful. Enjoy Bali!

alect

Can't guests of both hotels use the facilities (eg gym, pools) of either?

mario33

Are you refering to the 4pm checkout or Plat benefits in general (upgrade, points etc) ?

diana

When did you stay there?

You are absolutely incorrect in your statement. As a matter of fact, they do have special recognition for Platinums. They have a happy hour with free drinks and 4pm check-out, as well as others which I cannot remember since I am treated so special; as I should be since I am the Ambassador of the Westin Nusa Dua.

I chose the Westin over the Sheraton in the first place because of the Royal Beach Club and the Heavenly Bed. I have never regretted that decision.

If you care to view some photos of various rooms, click here and here and here

You might take a look at the Bali-Do thread for recent posts by me regarding visits (most recent in March) to Bali and the Westin.

Buckhead Flyer

I stayed at the Westin in March 2006 and the Sheraton in August 2004. I was on my own for the Westin stay: with Mrs. Buckhed flyer and the two little fliers for the Sheraton trip.

As others have pointed out, the Westin is a large convention hotel. My Royal Beach Club room was fine: good bed and decent furnishing, though the bathroom was smaller than what I've come to expect travelling in Asia and in need of updating. The Royal Beach Club was a disappointment. The spread was fine, the drinks free-flowing, the service personal and attentive but the club itself is tucked back in a hallway near the front of the hotel, e.g. no where near the ocean or the pools or the garden. The only outdoor seating was a couple of tables in an enclosed corridor.

Our rooms at the Sheraton were very nice. I was Plat at the time and we were upgraded from the two rooms I booked (with points) to a wonderful two bedroom suite which made a ten day stay with two small children more enjoyable. The butler service was a nice touch, as was the morning coffee delivered to our room each day within moments of our request.

The gym at the Westin was better equipped. The pool at the Westin is better if you want to swim for exercise. If you are looking to play or are travelling with children, the Sheraton's swimmable lagoon cannot be beat. The beach is mediocre but immaculately clean and virtually free of hawkers. It's possible to snorkle at high tide, but it was better suited for my six year old son than an adult.

One caution -- when I went in early March both properties were undergoing renovation. The Sheraton clearly stated this on its website. The Westin did not -- which was my primary reason for booking it. There was considerable construction going in the wing which includes the Royal Beach Club. My RBC room was some distance from it, so it did not bother me, but the banging and clanging began about 7:00am and did not stop until nearly 5:00pm the three days I was there.

If I were to do it again, I'd go back to the Sheraton. The Westin, with it's multi-story air conditioned atrium lobby (think domestic Hyatt), and attached convention center felt big, cold and impersonal... which is fine if that's what you want, but it's not Bali.

Either way, enjoy.

deckman

I was at the Sheraton last month. I was met at the airport with by a driver for complimentary transport to and from the hotel. It's a very nice property, and I can't say enough good things about the staff. Most greeted me by name as I walked by. I stayed in one of the remodeled rooms, and they were openeing up an entire wing of updated rooms the week after I left. Bali tourism has been horribly affected by the two bombings. During my stay, which was still considered low season, there were over 600 staff, and a total of 85 guests. That's guests, not rooms booked. It was kind of depressing really. I was there on a weekend stop over for business alone. At the restaraunts there would only be a couple of people beside me. Juding from lights coming from rooms, it seemed like most people were upgraded to jr. suites or better.

chgoeke

I prefer the Westin, very nice Hotel when you stay in the Royal Beach Club room. Good private beach and you can go over and use the facilities of the Sheraton as well. You get some discounts in both when flying SQ.

diana

The Royal Beach Club at the Westin is the only club lounge in Nusa Dua which is open 24 hours and gives you free wine and beer 24 hours. ^

Merlion

Should Royal Beach Club treated as Club floor and therefore access to Platinum guests should be complimentary. Is this a correct assumption?

CaseyN2

No, you do not have automatic access to the Royal Beach club.
There is a Platinum lounge part of one of the restaurants, if closed you are offered free drinks at the Lobby bar from 5-7 pm.

Casey.

Merlion

Isn't this program terms & conditions violation? T&C says that hotel should provide access to club lounge, no matter which room the guest is staying.