In Reply to: Ramada Bintang/Kartika posted by rclarke on Friday, 24. June 2005 at 09:22 Bali Time:
oh, i'd definitely go for the kartika! we stayed at the ramada for about a week, and it was really nice, but had a room on the ground floor, and our bathroom kept wafting the scent of drains. But my sisters' room didn't, and theirs was on the ground floor too.
the kartika pool looks brighter and more well-kept (we sneaked in for a comparison for future reference ;) ) and the rooms are cozily done up (ok, so i sneaked a peek..for future reference). their family garden view/pool view rooms on the ground floor have a day bed facing the pool and have direct access to the pool. same rooms on the upper floors have a mosquito netting over the day beds.
pool lounge covers are white, as compared to the dark blue of the ramada. overall layout is bigger, more open than the ramada. ramada pool had a large stage/stone platform/split temple thingy right in the middle of the pool, which took up quite a bit of space in the pool itself. and the hot water and cold water jacuzzis weren't working. in fact, the switch sort of was hanging by a broken corner..not particularly impressive.
having said that, the ramada was lovely (except for eau de drain). the high ceiling of the lobby, the rose petals in the water-filled basins lining the stairs leading to the lobby from the main road..and i think the ramada suites are bigger than the kartika suites.
but both hotels were quiet enough, though they were both on a busy street.
all for future reference, of course : )