Hotel Review: The Seminyak Beach Resort and Spa, Bali

In one of Bali’s most bustling areas, where things are ever-changing, one Seminyak hotel has stood the test of time.

Originally opening as Persona Bali, before changing its name to the Resort Seminyak, and finally the Seminyak Beach Resort and Spa after extensive renovations, this heavenly hotel has wooed visitors for the past 31 years.

The staff

Loyalty speaks volumes here, with most of the hotel’s current staff second-generation employees. And this kind of commitment is evident in the superior service delivered to guests – nothing is a problem.

The vibe

The Balinese owner has hand-picked everything in this hotel, which is perched on 1.37 hectares and is all about celebrating authentic Balinese culture with a five-star flourish.

Wander the gorgeous landscaped grounds that are dotted with traditional Balinese bales containing delightful day beds. The permanent wedding pavilion overlooking the ocean is the only one of its kind in Seminyak. This local, independent resort (it’s not part of any chain) was last year accepted into the Small Luxury Hotels of the World portfolio. And deservedly so.

Celebrate authentic Balinese culture with a five-star flourish

The entrance

Arrival at the resort is via a grand, white grand entrance punctuated by a colourful statue of a garuda. Guests are announced by a giant gong on arrival and greeted with a gorgeous garland of fragrant frangipanis. Check-in is not conducted at a desk, but is personalised while you sit on a comfy couch, sipping a welcome drink.

The rooms

With 103 rooms, 11 villas and 26 suites, there’s plenty of choice here.

The Ocean View Suites scream Asian elegance – all reds, whites, teaks and timber announced by a wood-carved entrance. There’s a dressing room replete with safety deposit box that is large enough to store a laptop as well as your valuables. The slender bathroom has a loo with a view towards the ocean and leads towards a double vanity.

Discover two types of bathrobes: a waffle weave, which can be purchased with your name monogrammed, or a stylish silk batik kimono, also available for sale in the resort boutique. Aromatherapy Associates toiletries are available in the bathroom, which boasts a separate shower leading to a sunken spa with TV and ocean views. There’s a large living area with couch, coffee machine, tea, coffee and mini-bar with local Plaga wine and premium Bali organic dark chocolate. Lie in your large bed and fall asleep to the sounds of the sea.

Dining

For traditional Indonesian fare, head to the Santan Restaurant just off the lobby, which is framed by colourful koi ponds. For those who prefer their dining oceanfront, the Sanje Restaurant & Lounge is the ideal spot, particularly for sunset. A dining highlight here is the Fisherman’s Night staged every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The concept is simple: instead of guests trekking to the busy Balinese district of Jimbaran for fresh seafood, the seafood comes to them. Dine on the likes of barbecued snapper, tuna, mahi mahi and prawns, washed down with a complimentary glass of sangria and a stunning sunset over Seminyak.

The Sanje is also a lovely breakfast spot: choose from a number of healthy breakfast bowls and juices, plus multiple coffee options. For something even more casual, dine on basic fare such as burgers and pizzas delivered to you by the pool or head for a cheeky nightcap at the classy bar, Klass & Brass.

Sanje Restaurant is just one of many dining options

The spa

The elegant Kahyangan Spa has been designed with the philosophy of transporting visitors from Earth to Heaven in mind, with guests entering on the ground level and ascending to the treatment rooms upstairs.

Even the reception area has been strategically placed on the left-hand side because the human heart is on the left side of the body. There are seven treatment rooms, a relaxation room and jacuzzi facilities here. Indulge in everything from a Bali Coffee Body Scrub to multi-day rituals like Energise & Shape; Balance Body & Mind; or Body Cleansing.

The pools

The long infinity pool overlooking the wild waves is somewhat of a Seminyak icon. There’s also a second pool with swim-up bar framed by delicious day beds.

Fitness Facilitates

There’s a 24-hour gym and fitness centre, plus some really cool classes. Partake in kick boxing, boxing, Muay Thai, Zumba, Tai Chi or Pilates. Yoga is also staged on the resort’s gorgeous lawns.

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Brickbats

While the tap water in Bali is not safe to drink, hotels such as this need to consider other options such as filtered water in the lobby, rather than the four free plastic water bottles in the rooms, particularly given this Indonesian island’s recent ban on single-use plastic.

The hotel also boasts a ‘garden wing’ but it’s separate to the main buildings, across a busy road. Bathroom features such as the hairdryer and rubbish bin are so well hidden, it’s possible you may not know they exist. The hairdryer has such poor power it does not meet luxury expectations.

Bouquets

Guests will appreciate the convenience of an ATM on the ground floor. On the ground floor Chantique boutique sells classy goods such as silk kimonos and lovely books on Bali. Guest rooms contain gorgeous hard-cover coffee table books about Bali to read as well as high-end glossy Asian magazines.

Attention to detail in the rooms is so paramount, even the tissues are folded into the shape of a lotus flower. There’s even a day room on the ground floor for guest use either before check-in or after check-out.

The cost

The starting room rate for the Garden Room category is $495 including breakfast for two people.

The verdict

In a destination where you’re spoiled for choice, this stylish hotel in the middle of Seminyak manages a laid-back beach vibe while delivering on superior service standards.

The writer travelled as a guest of Wonderful Indonesia

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.