The Club Villas

Though the hotel is located right next door to one of Seminyak's most popular drinking and dining streets, though once inside the hotel's grounds, the atmosphere is mostly quiet and tranquil. The openness and sense of space felt at The Club Villas is a quality that's rare to find in villa properties in downtown Seminyak. The lobby entrance is lined with flowering frangipani and Balinese statue, and the lobby features hardwood floors, a thatched roof, teak reception desks, and leather couches. However, it's merely a functional space, and there's not much to the hotel aside from its pool. Each villa's courtyard is surrounded by a high wall, making them feel private and keeping the social vibe here to a minimum. The design is heavily inspired by traditional Balinese architecture featuring stone-walls, carved wooden doors, and Balinese statues, even if the style inside of the villas is a bit more plain. Given its location near Seminyak's action, the hotel unsurprisingly attracts couples, though families are also frequently visitors.

The hotel sits on a quiet private lane that's conveniently located off of Seminyak's popular Eat Street (also known as Oberoi Road), with a fantastic selection of restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops less than a five-minute walk from the hotel. Popular haunts such as Ginger Moon, Ultimo, Nirvana, Candi, and Revolver (a hole in the wall cafe serving some of Bali's best coffee) are all right next door. Seminyak Beach and Ku De Ta restaurant (a popular sunset cocktail venue) are both less than 10-minute walk from the hotel. The nearby Potato Head Beach Club is a five- to 10-minute drive away, and Kuta takes about 20 minutes to reach from the hotel by car. Expect a 25-minute drive to the airport, though that varies with traffic.

The villas here are spacious, which can be a rarity in congested Seminyak. In fact, this might be their biggest asset, as even the smallest has a 1,600 square-foot floor plan (150 square meters). The second-best feature are the Balinese courtyards, which feature rustic stone walls and manicured gardens that help create a tranquil, private setting that's amplified by tall walls. Unfortunately, the interiors of most villas don't quite live up to expectations. Despite some pieces of nice hardwood furniture, the art and soft furnishings combine to create a plain look that doesn't exactly feel fresh. Marble floors and a few shelves of knick-knacks do add a bit of personality, but the patterned wallpaper and wear on some of the wood-veneer pieces of furniture all create an underwhelming impression.

Layouts range from one- to three-bedroom arrangements, and while the style is similar, the One-Bedroom Pool Villas have smaller courtyards and indoor kitchens. The other categories have open-air living rooms and kitchens. Standard features include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, kitchens, free Wi-Fi, and safes. Each villa also comes with its own private plunge pool. Bathrooms are elegant featuring marble walls and floors, over-sized terrazzo tubs, motif tile-work, and outdoor showers. While the property is quiet overall, it's worth noting that some of the rooms closer to Eat Street may pick up noise from nearby bars in the evening. 

The hotel's features are limited, as most guests keep to their villas or spend the days out exploring the region. During our visit, the main pool was empty, which is reportedly often the case as many guests prefer the privacy of the in-villa pools. But for those wanting to swim laps or just relax outside of the villa compounds, the main pool has a nice garden setting and plenty of lounge chairs. The hotel serves a free in-villa breakfast with American, Asian, and continental options. In-villa dinners are also available for a fee. A free shuttle is available to nearby areas and the hotel also provides free parking and Wi-Fi. Upon check-in guests receive a free straw beach hat and beach bag.