In Reply to: AyodyaResort? MeliaBali? SofitelSeminya? posted by ElliDiArt on Tuesday, 24. July 2007 at 03:13 Bali Time:
I have stayed in Melia Bali and the whole choice comes down to location. Sofitel Semiyak is north of Kuta and on the west coast with black sand. The beach was closed on the day we went owing to heavy seas. I would probably not swim in the ocean there. We visited in late June and there was building going on either side of the hotel. The rooms were good, restaurants look good. Melia is in Nusa Dua on the east coast. Beach is white sand, inside a reef and very protected. The tides are large, but very safe swimming. The hotel next door in the Laguna Resort and Spa (old Sheraton). You can walk all along the ocean front from hotel to hotel, also a short walk to the Bali Collection, a big shopping centre. It is about a 7 to 10 minute walk to the Nusa Dua Village where the markets and restaurants are, plus bank and money changers. The two locations are totally different. Sofitel seemed to have lots of conventions and Australians. Melia is a European chain and lots of Europeans stay there. I thought the food was expensive - in American dollars plus 21%. The rooms (I stayed there about 15 years ago) are nice, and the hotel grounds, pools, etc are great. Lots of atmosphere. The Sofitel eating would be cheaper if you were staying for some time and bought the Accor discount card before you left. Would be interested to hear what you choose.