Nusa Dua, Bali Desa Suites

Have just got back from the Desa Suites after 10days with my young family and felt compelled to write a review on it. When I booked I had looked for other reviews from visitors for reassurance, but found none on-line... so here is the first and I hope that it helps persuade others to visit as the hotel deserve high praise.

The hotel is just amazing... I can not recommend it highly enough... not for luxury or 5-star trappings etc, but for good, honest, fantastic service and quality. It has so much going for it...

1. Value for money - you would not believe the size of room you get and the spec and location for such a modest budget. We paid ~$100 a night for a 2-bed villa that was huge and had 2 ensuite baths, 3 bedrooms, a lounge area, kitchen, vast veranda... all the other hotels in the area were more than that for just a standard hotel room. The rooms are spotlessly clean and serviced everyday.

2. Service - we found the Balinese to be wonderfully friendly and hospitable people. The staff at the hotel could not do enough for us... including free transfers to where ever we went locally, recommendations for restaurants, good advice for trips, etc.

3. Location - although not on the much sort after Nusa Dua beachfront (hence the price), the hotel is ~100m away down a path that leads directly on to the sand... it could not be more convenient. Plus, it has its own lovely pool anyway for those that don't even make it off the loungers!

4. Food - it has a small poolside cafe that does breakfasts, lunches and dinners ... the food is great - definitely no 'Bali Belly' here!!

5. Broad appeal - although we went with a young family (for which it's perfect), there were many couples there too and elderly folk - a real broad range... I wouldn't say it is better for any specific type of traveller, except those that want a great, quite holiday spot ... definitely no surf-dudes need apply as you can hear a pin drop at night!! - it's a quiet, tranquil haven in paradise.

Basically, I'd say skip the big chains on the seafront (Westin, Sheraton, Grand Hyatt, etc) and opt for value over glitz... you just have to go!