Whenever I’m booking a place to stay, I always love to go with a friend’s recommendation. About a year ago a friend of mine, Melissa, went to Bali for a family vacation. She swapped the depths of a Sydney winter for two weeks of tropical bliss in Seminyak.
Melissa and her family chose to stay at Peppers, a resort that is situated at the end of a very long lane, far from the crowds, congestion and commotion of one of Seminyak’s busiest streets. Melissa started posting images of her time at Peppers on facebook and I looked at them longingly hoping that one day I could be so fortunate.
Can you believe that within the next 12 months, Drew had a conference he needed to attend in Bali. It was to be held at Ayana in Jimbaran but Drew and I decided to tack a few extra days onto the end of our mini-break and also spend some time in Seminyak.
We booked a one bedroom villa at Peppers Seminyak that came with its own private plunge pool. The drive from Ayana to Peppers took nearly an hour; not because Jimbaran and Seminyak are a long way from each other but because of the lack of infrastructure in getting around Bali and its subsequent horrendous traffic.
Seminyak is known in Sydney as one of the better parts of Bali as it has numerous luxurious hotels along the beachfront, private villas offering palatial accommodation, retail shopping with designer labels and outstanding restaurants with incredible food and amazing service. However, Indonesia is a poor country and in Seminyak you have all the trappings of the first world pocketed amongst third world conditions.
Peppers is at the very end of a narrow and dirty laneway that has a smell because of the stagnant stream ‘running’ beside the lane. We visited in June which is the dry season so I think the odour from the stream would be lessened when the wet season causes the water to flow.
When I saw the entrance to Peppers I was underwhelmed. I thought the facade was very unattractive with round shapes of raw concrete and seemingly no Balinese features.
The staff at the reception desk were all smiles with tremendous enthusiasm and an eagerness to greet us and make us feel welcome. This is very typical of the Balinese people. The check-in process was relatively painless and it wasn’t long before we were being ushered to our villa. We followed our porter along a narrow pathway, past the shrine to the gods, across a bridge suspended over the smelly stream and along an outdoor path to our room. Our villa was in a section of the resort that was relatively separate from the main part of the resort and there were only about 6-8 villas where we were situated. If you had a villa in the main part of the resort you wouldn’t have to cross over the stinky stream.
Our villa was clean, modern and spacious. There was a king-sized bed with soft, downy pillows and the bedroom had plenty of cupboard and hanging space with a safe for your valuables. There was a desk area which was handy and plenty of power points with adapters for charging all the compulsory technology.
The bathroom was in two parts with the vanity and bath indoors then there was a glass door leading to the rest of the bathroom which is outside. How lovely to have a climate where you can do so much living outdoors. There were two showers and my favourite was the bamboo shower where the water thundered out and it felt like you were having a massage. Would love one of those at home!
The living area had a roof but the wall to the pool area was absent making it seem more spacious as well as giving you the feeling of being outdoors. The plunge pool was a good size and there was a powder room near the pool to save you having to run through your bedroom to use the bathroom. However, while the villa was generous in its proportions, the high walls around the pool area preventing me from having any outlook, made me feel as though I was in a compound. I felt boxed in and wanted to be somewhere where I could sense a bit more of an outlook.
I didn’t remember Melissa’s facebook photos of her villa being anything like this. From memory her villa seemed so much more palatial with a lot of space around the pool and as well as being modern and minimalistic, it also had Balinese design features. I emailed Melissa asking her if perhaps she had booked a three-bedroom villa and that must be the difference but she wrote back advising they booked the presidential suite! I can confirm there is a chasm of difference between a one-bedroom villa and the presidential suite.
Our villa was serviced daily to a very high standard. A team of men would arrive and very quietly and quickly knock our room back into shape. Toiletries were always replaced and so we had a generous supply of everything we needed.
Peppers has a lovely pool area with a couple of waterfalls and lots of daybeds and recliners around the pool. The poolside bar menu has a lot of tempting options and we found the food and service to be excellent.
Breakfast was included in our tariff and was served in the restaurant that used to be one of Luke Mangan’s Salt restaurants but is now Laneway. I understand Salt disappeared with new local ownership. Breakfast is a continental buffet with hot dishes made to order. There is plenty of staff and all communicate very well in English.
I have previously dined at one of Luke Mangan’s Salt restaurants and found the menu and the food to be really enticing. It is a shame the restaurant is no longer at Peppers as I definitely would have dined there. We did notice that despite the villas at Peppers being heavily booked, Laneway was empty most nights.
Peppers has a wonderful gym that Drew used most days. I thought about going and thought about it and thought about it and left it at that. There is all the equipment you could wish for and also personal training sessions if you wanted that option.
Peppers also has a day spa and while I didn’t manage to get to the gym, I definitely got to the day spa. I found the day spa to be very luxurious, peaceful and serene. I thoroughly enjoyed a facial, body scrub and massage then floated out of there feeling like a new woman. Before you leave, they give you a hot, ginger, lemon and honey drink and I loved it so much I would sneak back in and ask for another.
Peppers is in a fantastic location as it is within walking distance of the beach, the shops and the restaurant. The villas are generously proportioned and the communal pool area is peaceful and relaxing. We noticed that most people staying at the complex were families and I would agree that this is more a place for families than it is for couples. We enjoyed our time at Peppers however, for me, I prefer accommodation with an outlook over being fenced in by high walls.
Verdict: A good destination for families.
Peppers Seminyak: Jl. Pura Telaga Waja, Petitenget, Seminyak, 80361
Bali, Indonesia
What a beautiful place!
Glad you and Drew had a relaxing time at Peppers sure looks luxurious love the showers arrangement. I too would feel boxed in by the high walls.
It looks beautiful, but like you, I would prefer a view than concrete walls. Loved your note about how you thought about going to the gym. Made me giggle. I always have good intentions and even pack gym clothes for our trips, but that’s typically as far as that thought goes. 😉
What an incredible destination Charlie, lucky you! A private pool would be lovely but you are so right about feeling boxed in, too bad there wasn’t a view, then it would have been perfect. I used to love going on conferences with JT, I always felt pampered and princess-like. Has Bali passed the no alcohol rule yet? I heard that the hotels would be exempt but that would mean that all the local restaurants would be alcohol free. Do they have an alcohol problem there? Just curious.
Hi Eva, there is no problem with alcohol in Bali. I think you are thinking of Indonesia? There is a ban on alcohol in Indonesia because it’s an Islamic nation however, the island of Bali is different to the rest of Indonesia in that it is predominantly Hindu so not subject to the Islamic ban on alcohol.
I agree with you about a view but the wall also gives you privacy I presume? We went through Seminyak on the way to the extinct volcano and then cycled back. It took half a day but I loved the fact that we only had to cycle downhill! GG
This is just beautiful.
That’s beautiful but no outside view would be claustrophobic to me. more like being in a shoebox. I’m glad you had some special alone time with your man.
Yes, it does look like a fun place for families. And that presidential suite doesn’t look too shabby at all. I wish Bill had a business trip to Bali….I can dream… xx
I am afraid this seems a pale copy of what Indonesians believe their Western visitors would like and for which they would be willing to pay hard cash! Perfectly alright but nought special! And Bali very much IS part of Indonesia [so, is Tasmania not part of Australia?] : yes there are more Hindus and Buddhists than Muslims [am a Buddhist so should know 🙂 !] But tho’ alcohol usage is not forbidden by the Hindus of the island it is certainly discouraged. Anything for a buck!!! And there are so many other accessible natural places ex Australia to get sun and relaxation . . .
Been a while, was trying to catch up on posts, but think I am to far behind, so will have to start following from now again lol. Hope I have not missed to much, but with your family I am sure there is lots I have missed lol.
I would compensate with a good book for the lack of a view in the villa. Now just to get Pete to have some business to take care of in Bali…
Have a wonderful day Charlie.
🙂 Mandy xo
The presidential suite! I think there is often a difference between suites and 1-bed villas but your villa still looks delightfully tropical, and the showers and waterfall feature are particularly appealing. I think attending to the day spa rather than gym is appropriate on holiday too!
Oh what a shame that there was such a difference between the rooms. Although I’d expect a one bedroom villa to be good I guess little can compare to the presidential suite.Just imagine what an entry level room would be like.
How lovely to have a place to stay with a day spa!! That would be sheer bliss to me. 🙂
Looks like a gorgeous resort Charlie and you must have come home so relaxed! Any break from our crazy busy lives is always welcome!
Great place to chill out and rest. Yes a little view by the pool would have been nice but at least it was warm compared to the chill in Australia… Did you take any cooking lessons whilst in Bali?
What a gorgeous place Charlie, I love the spa accomadations too, sounds wonderful!
In spite of the stinky stream and the lack of view by the private pool, all I can say is “Wow.” What a lovely place to relax.
I am like you, I like an aspect to gaze upon while I am on holidays…So little chance to sit down quietly in ‘real life’ it is lovely to watch things go by, while you sit with a book, and a little drink (or tea)…Seminyak is lovely and handy…at least the main pool seemed super. xx
i need to come to Australia before I plan a visit to Bali, but I must admit that as a vacation destination Bali is very appealing. Your time at Peppers may not have included the Presidential Suite, but I think I would have been more comfortable in your room than the other. It looked to me like I could totally relax in this lovely environment. You do give a wonderful tour, Charlie,and I am going o do a little research on the bamboo shower. We are planning an outdoor shower near our backyard hot tub, and I really love this look! 🙂
Ok… a spa holiday in Bali is on the list now 🙂
Liz xx