In Reply to: Jayakarta hotel Legian posted by pppoppi on Monday, 22. February 2010 at 14:25 Bali Time:
Hi, we stayed at the Jayakarta in Legian last year. We stayed there on the recommendation of the friends we were going with. We had two inter-connecting deluxe rooms, upstairs in the 300 block. Originally we had booked a 2 bedroom apartment but changed our mind after reading reviews etc. So glad we did. The apartments were quite a distance from the pool in terms of if you forgot something it wasn't just a quick walk back. The 300 block is situated right on the smaller pool - where we spent most of our time and preferred to the larger pool.
We were warned that the rooms are a little tired and in need of an update and that's true. I know from reviews that some people have experienced unclean/dirty rooms but our rooms were clean upon arrival and cleaned every day. The bathrooms are a bit old so if you're expecting 5 star (Australian standard) you'll be disappointed.
If I was returning to Bali with just my husband and I, I wouldn't stay at the Jayakart again. I think there are a lot more boutique hotels, apartments etc that are more upmarket, modern and great for two people. Having said that, the Jayakarta was fine for our family of 5 and reasonably priced and if going with my family, I would stay there again.
The grounds/gardens etc are very well kept and nice for a walk around on a balmy evening. The kids loved the pools (we had 3 families there so lots of kids!). The buffet breakfast was okay - plenty of variety. Some of the food (esp bacon) we steered clear of but had plenty of freshly cooked omlets etc. The adults tended to fill up on breakfast, skip lunch and then go out for dinner. We didn't eat at the hotel restaurants because there is quite a lot of other restaurants in the area to choose from. The staff were always very friendly and helpful.
The Jayakarta is right on the beach (service type road dividing it). The beach is okay (dark/greyish sand). The surf can be a little rough but our group (incl kids) hired surfboards and had a surf a few times. Lots of street/beach sellers as soon as you come out of the resort and once they know your name, they won't forget it. There's a beach 'bar' directly opposite. We spent quite a few evenings before dinner watching the sunset and having a few beers as the kids played soccer on the beach with the locals. Great fun.
So, if you want a hotel that is in a great location, reasonably priced, good pools/gardens and clean, comfortable rooms for the family, I would recommend the Jayakarta. If you're going for a romantic escape for two, personally, I would chose something else.
Hope this helps!