In Reply to: Travel warning posted by Loz on Saturday, 11. June 2005 at 13:53 Bali Time:
I stayed at the Ramada Bintang Bali Resort for one week from the 18th of May before leaving the hotel earlier than planned.
The Ramada has a manned security check-point at the entrance by the street (Jalan Kartika) but not even once were any of the various cars I travelled in stopped for checks there upon entering the hotel.
I saw pick-up trucks and vans pass the check-point without beeing stopped and they just drove up to the reception. Some did not even stop but just drove past the reception area and then straight back to the street again.
I tried to contact the GM about it, as well as about quite a few other less pleasant experiences at the Ramada, but to no avail. The GM did not bother to reply to the 3 e-mails I sent to him as he did not - according to the receptionists and managers on duty - want to meet me in person to talk about all the many faults at the hotel. At least nothing changed as to the check-point (and nothing else, for that matter).
According to a Google search the Ramada seems to be part of a franchise operation, based in the United States.
At all other hotels I passed and visited during my 3 weeks in Bali, thorough checks were done at the entrances.