Not ideal for couples on honeymoon - Review of ANANDA RESORT

Staying here for 15 nights and reluctantly coming to the end of our stay. Considering we only paid $51 per night for 2 with breakfast we are very happy with what we paid. Pool is clean with towels available and new poolside lounges, toiletries and fresh bathroom towels each day, a small bottle of water each and room cleaned very well. Staff were all friendly and helpful and there was nothing too much for manager Nita, she is warm, friendly and helpful.

They are currently improving the hotel, in the restaurant areas with even more areas to eat in including the buddha room with a massive budha head, and the menu has been redone and is fresh, cheap and tasty.

The breakfast is basic but tasty and for the price is to be expected. We ate with no extra charge room service and loved the garden salad and spaghetti napolitana. The rooms are outdated but large and i do like the old balinese character instead of ultramodern characterless coffins...lol.

Our fridge was leaking and upon request was changed immediately. Bathroom was massive. They do mosquito fog each week but still spray your before bedtime as we always found at least 1 mozzie cruising around at night, you can buy mosquito spray from mini marts across the road. Remember though its one of the oldest resort hotels in seminyak so its not in the least perfect but its homey, cheap, great location and clean and....is slowly making improvements.

Oh and children are warmly welcomed. Also note that in your rooms kitchen at ananada their are no utensils, plates etc so bring your own or buy here if you wish. They do supply kettle and coffee cups with some powdered milked coffee. There is a phone in your room too, a safe, tv with asian, western and kids channels and programs, also a mini fridge. Most of time good free wifi throughout hotel.

There is great pizza at Trottoria Italian restaurant across the road. AWESOME vegan and vego food 3 mins walk down the road at the famous Earth Cafe who have awesome savoury and sweet dishes smoothies and juices and an organic market inside selling raw and cooked desserts, kombucha, kefir, natural products and wholefoods. 15 mins walk away is Divine Earth another amazing vegan cafe with yoga, chi qong next door upstairs and yoga clothes shop.

Rudi's Place 1 min walk away is good and safe for changing your money and getting a simcard (simpati card) i found the best value to call australia and with best phone reception. There are 2 mini marts across the road 1 min walk either direction. 12 min walk is markets, with all around Ananda heaps of surf shops and boutiques. There is a chemist 2 min walk away and a medical place with drs 24 hr 5 min walk away.

If you want to walk into kuta its about an hour fast walk or more. Because i travelled with my older mother i opted to catch for $2 a bluebird taxi to Double Six Street on the beachside and walked along to beach road and paths which was easier than dodging wonky paths and potholes, this then took us 55 mins slow walk to Centro Kuta the main shopping centre without getting lost lol..

Note too that all the taxis are blue, the cheaper taxis are the ones with"bluebird taxi group" written on the top of their front windscreen, the others may try and claim to be bluebirds but they are not the cheapest, we always tipped them though because really its peanuts they get paid. Waiters get around $50 a week if they are lucky! We always tip, even the very old people who collect plastic bottles for recycling on the streets we slip them some money.

If you get stopped (which you will) with smartly dressed men in the street asking if you speak english and they say that they are not selling you anything and give you a coupon to open, be aware its always time share, you will "win" a free lunch and nice transport somewhere at least an hour or 3 away and you will have a convincing western sales people do their best to have you buy time share, everyone i know who has bought it ($10 000-$30 000) has regretted it. Just tell firmly to salesmen "no timeshare thanks", they hope you dont know its time share and love couples. They try on motorbikes too as you walk. I know its their job but i also feel for the people who buy it and later regret it as its a really smooth industry in grooming their potential clients.

enjoy bali...its a great place, if something isnt right in your room at Ananda then tell manager Nita or staff but always remember...you still have value for money. Ill be back for sure next year with my whole family.

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This hotel is located on ( Eat Street) in a great area of Seminyak. Even though this is a busy street the hotel is Quiet and Traditional. Many resturants to choose from and designer shops. If your into market shopping for cheaper clothes and items this street is limited for that.
The hotel is older but well maintained. The rooms and bathrooms are very spacious. Most of the rooms have a living and kitchen area below ( not airconed ) the bedrooms are up top and are airconed.
The pool is huge and lots of lounge chairs with towels provided.
Breakfast is average and limited. I would recommend the pancakes as they are filling.
Staff at the reception were friendly. We did have to wait for our room to be ready and then we were asked by reception if we minded finding our room without being shown were it was. This was a challenge as the bungalows are not numbered very well and are spread out.We requested an extra pillow and was given one straight away.
Overall if you are on a budget and want to be in the humbug of Seminyak I would recommend this hotel and would stay here again.

Stayed here for 3 days in Sept-14. Absolutely loved the place. The rooms are really nice and big. The lawn area was nice and the pool had a little excessive chlorine. Its centrally located with almost everything nearby. Only thing is there are way too many mosquitoes. Totally recommend the place to anyone.