Posted by Bali is one of Southeast Asia’s must-visit destinations. While popular among backpackers & tourists on a budget, this Indonesian province is also home to a world of luxury with stunning beach resorts, spas and top-tier dining.
On our last visit to Bali we stopped by one of the most iconic luxury hotels on the island: The Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay. Wondering if a stay here is worth it? Read on to find out our thoughts.
Ratings rundown
| Accessibility | 9/10 |
| Ambiance | 9.5/10 |
| Accommodation | 9/10 |
| Pool(s) | 8.5/10 |
| Food and drink | 9.5/10 |
| Beach | 8.5/10 |
| Spa | 9/10 |
| Facilities | 9/10 |
| Service | 10/10 |
| Overall % | 91% |
Accessibility
Unlike, the other Four Seasons hotel in Bali (Sayan, Ubud), the Jimbaran Bay resort is only a short 15 minute car journey from Denpasar International Airport, making it super easy to get to. The hotel also provides an airport transfer service which we recommend booking in advance to avoid the hectic taxi ranks upon arrival.
Accessibility rating: 9/10
Ambiance
The resort is expansive, luxurious and yet blends into its natural surroundings seamlessly. Many of the main facilities (reception, restaurants etc.) are open air, merging effortlessly with both the lush jungle vegetation and the beach.
The resort also stays true to its roots, with authentic Balinese style & design laced throughout the property. There are over 300 shrines on site, capturing the culture & heritage of this stunning province.
Ambiance rating: 9.5/10
Accommodation
The resort offers villa-style accommodation, ranging from 1-bedroom villas to 4-bedroom residences (we stayed in a 1-bedroom villa). The villas are each situated in their own private gated space and have a courtyard, pool & lounging area.
Accommodation highlights
- Private garden: the outside space provides the perfect secluded spot for lounging, sunbathing or al fresco dining and if you are lucky has incredible views of the Jimbaran Beach
- Luxurious bathroom: the bathroom area in the villa is huge with a free standing bath, indoor & outdoor shower as well as two separate sinks. The marble-style design also helps to create a feel of luxury
- Cozy bedding: the bedding is super soft & plush, with an abundance of pillows and the bed is also surrounded by a mosquito net, creating the perfect setting for a cozy night’s sleep
Accommodation lowlights
- Toiletries: while there were loads of amenities available in the room, we were not a huge fan of the shampoo, conditioner & body wash scent — this is a personal preference however — we’re sure there are many guests who enjoy using them
- Pool fountain: another very minor point was that the pool fountain could be heard quite audibly from our room, so do be aware of this is you are a light sleeper
Accommodation rating: 9/10
Pool(s)
The resort has two main outdoor pools as well as your own private one at your villa. We spent the majority of our time at the Sundara beach club pool which is ideal for lap swimming.
On the whole, there are fairly good amenities nearby the pools including cabanas, showers, suncream etc. making your poolside stay super relaxing.
While the pools were well-maintained and enjoyable to swim in, they didn’t have any kind of wow-factor to them (which some other Four Seasons resorts like the Nam Hai in Vietnam have).
Pool rating: 8.5/10
Food and Drink
There are quite a few dining options available at the resort and we ate all meals on-site with enough variety to keep things interesting during our 3-night stay.
Breakfast
The main restaurant for breakfast is the Taman Wantilan, which has stunning views of the ocean and a combination of indoor-outdoor dining spaces.
The breakfast buffet selection here is seriously impressive with a variety of traditional Balinese food, Asian dishes and Western classics. You’ll find an egg chef, stations that serve freshly cooked to order dishes that rotate every day and a cold room full of patisseries, fruits and freshly-cooked pancakes / waffles.
The quality of the food is also top tier — we really looked forward to our breakfast each day. On top of this, there are a variety of freshly squeezed juices (incl. fresh coconut) which elevated the breakfast experience just that much more.
For guests in a rush or wanting something light, there is also a small coffee cart with pastries & drinks just outside the main restaurant for breakfast on the go.
Lunch / Dinner
The breakfast buffet transforms at night into an impressive evening feast, serving up again a variety of dishes from all over the globe. During our stay, there was a whole hog roast which we saw cooking on a spit during the day, a sashimi section (incl. lobster), cooked-to order seafood and so much more — the spread that they are able to provide and at such high quality is truly astonishing.
Of course, the cold room is also open during the evening and here you will find an array of desserts, cooked-to order crepes and other sweet treats.
Another restaurant we visited for dinner was Sundara which is known for seafood barbecue. This place provides more of a Western-style dining experience, complete with bread, amuse-bouche and three course meals.
The food here was good but we found the Taman Wantilan offered much in terms of flavor and taste. The atmosphere in Sundara is excellent, however, with live music, ocean-front dining and laid back ambiance
We also ordered in-villa dining a few times for lunch, which we recommend highly given the private outdoor dining space. The food typically takes around 40 minutes to arrive but is super fresh and presented nicely. There isn’t a super extensive menu of dishes to choose from but what we did order tasted excellent — we loved the nasi goreng bali.
The resort also has another restaurant — Jala — which offers a locally inspired menu. Unfortunatly, we were unable to get a reservation here (which is a must), so do ensure to book early if you plan on visiting.
On the whole, we were really impressed by the superb variety and quality of the food available in the resort.
Food and drink rating: 9.5/10
Beach
The hotel has direct access to Jimbaran Beach which, while not private, is relatively quiet on the stretch right in front of the hotel. The sand can be a bit stony/rocky at times, but once in the water we were pleasantly surprised by how warm it was. Unfortunately, there are certain sections of the water that pick up litter / rubbish more than others.
The resort also has a private beach club called Coconut Grove which is just down the main road (quick access via buggy). We didn’t spend much time here, but it is an alternative space to relax if you want to lounge right on the beach-front.
Beach rating: 8.5/10
Spa
Booking a treatment at the Healing Village Spa is an absolute must when staying at the Four Seasons Bali. Our hotel booking included a package of spa treatments, including massage and facial — we recommend doing the same if you are planning to spend the majority of your time in the resort.
The spa design is simply beautiful, with buildings separated by koi ponds and lush vegetation. There is a communal changing area and sauna which is well-maintained and can be used before/after your treatment.
The treatments themselves are very relaxing, and the therapists are skilled and considerate, ensuring that you are always comfortable. The massages here are top quality — we will say, however, that the facials can be a little rough on your skin.
We also booked the longevity garden treatment which is a self-applied treatment, where you exfoliate, steam and apply Balinese mud to your body. This treatment was a little disappointing as it was held in a space with outdoor infra-red beds that couldn’t be used as it was raining. So, on the whole, we would recommend sticking to the therapist-lead massages which were excellent.
Post-treatment, there is a relaxing spa lounge where we were provided with a pot of warm tea and sweet fruit snacks — this was a super calming & enjoyable way to wrap up your spa treatments.
Spa rating: 9/10
Facilities
You are unlikely to get bored at this resort given there is so much to see and do.
In terms of your typical amenities, there is a resort boutique for browsing / shopping as well as a fitness center which offers various classes. We did yoga and bamboo stretching classes which were great for the mind, body and soul.
There are also various cultural events & workshops scheduled throughout the week — we recommend watching the Balinese Kecak where locals come in to the resort to perform a traditional dance.
On top of this, there are all sorts of sports & beach activities on offer.
Facilities rating: 9/10
Service
The service at this hotel really is phenomenal.
Despite the fact we arrived late in the evening due to a delayed flight, there were many staff at the hotel reception to greet and welcome us in. We also had a personalized note, champagne and fruit platter waiting for us in our room.
In addition, the service at all of the restaurants really did go above and beyond, including making personalized recommendations, explaining key dishes, providing small tables to place our handbags on etc. The level of professionalism and friendliness really was unmatched by anything we have experienced recently.
Service rating: 10/10
Summary
Overall, The Four Seasons Bali at Jimbaran Bay is a stunning resort, truly exuding luxury while embracing traditional Balinese culture and nature. The food, service and spa are what makes this resort stand out from the rest and we hope you get the opportunity to visit and experience for yourself the wonder that this place has to offer.
Luxury Jetsetter 
2 comments