Just returned after 20.5 nights in Bali with a group of 23. Three families stayed 12.5 nights and the others stayed on for another 8 nights.
Flew Garuda and no complaints either way. Took fishing scales with us this trip so every one under weight. I only returned yesterday so very tired and will follow up with futher JBR over the week.
We arrived at the GVC, 2 families in Superior and the other 4 in family bungalows - keep in mind this is my 8th trip to bali the first in 1982 and have stayed at many resorts 2 and 3 star.
We were also told that both pools were functional and that the family bungalows had been refurbished as well but some renovations were still being conducted.
We were shown to our superior rooms and they were refurbished and were very clean and neat but extremely small if another bed for our 14yo was to be put in there, the other family in superior also had a child to be put on a bed as well.
We were greeted by the other 4 families - 3 of them first timers with a look of doom and gloom on there faces about the family bungalows so I went to check them out. Disappointed, astounded and absolutely disgusted are the words that come to mind especially when you used the toilet and it flushed directly into your shower recess which was outdoors, we have been told that they are to be demolished shortly as well.
The families camp so are not afraid of roughing it but we were not camping and were assured that they were neat and clean. One family had a 3yo and the upstairs stairs were unsafe and the safety barrier was also not stable.
We went to reception and they were most accommodating and actually said to us I thought you would not like them so kindly set the families up in deluxe rooms - deluxe were cheaper than the family bungalows when booking but as one family had 3 children and two of them teenagers they offered them one of the 2br apartments at a small cost and the other 2 families paid to be upgraded to deluxe as well.
Deluxe rooms are beautifully refurbished but the walls are paper thin and it makes it hard to have a little lay down or sleep in each morning when you can hear everyone next door and all outstide noise as well.
Breakfast is not buffet and the staff really are on Bali time and some mornings we waited up to 25 minutes to receive our order whilst being entertained by the constant banging going on with the renovations that went on every morning for our whole stay, right next to the older pool that cannot be used due to the renovations.
The location is fantastic and the other staff and security are very beautiful and attentive but we won't be staying again and it is the first resort we have vowed not to return to.
Our holiday was fabulous and every single person had a great time and will be returning next year but to another resort. We had many adventures and ate at many great places and I will follow up with all the details after some much needed sleep.
Thanks to everyone for all the information we got off the forum and again I know many people love the GVC and yes the location is the ultimate but yes it is rated 2 star and we were not expecting anything more but compared to the Bali Garden which is 3 star that we stayed at last year the GVC would rate a -3.
Thanks