ANANTARA ULUWATU Bali, Indonesia 🇮🇩【4K Resort Tour & Review】Honestly, I'm Torn...

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ANANTARA ULUWATU Bali, Indonesia 🇮🇩【4K Resort Tour & Review】Honestly, I'm Torn...

Рет қаралды 30,488

Күн бұрын

What's the Anantara Uluwatu Resort in Bali, Indonesia like? Check out this full resort tour and honest unsponsored review to find out what makes the five-star Anantara property worth (or not) your hard earned vacation dollars.
🎥 In This Video:
-Hotel Exterior & History
-Lobby & Resort Grounds
-Hotel Location & Setting
-Botol Biru Bar & Restaurant
-Beautiful Cliff views
-Full Ocean View King Suite Tour
-Full Breakfast Buffet Tour
-Seminyak Beach
-On Site Pools
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💸 Nightly Rate
Rate Paid: $379.91 USD
Category: Ocean View Suite
Inclusions: Breakfast + 20% off Food (once)
📽 Next 5 Videos (🩴 = Must Watch)
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↪ Video Chapters ↩
0:00 Intro
00:28 Resort Info
00:58 Dreaming of Shag
01:18 Arrival at Resort & Exterior
02:05 Lobby
02:56 Grounds of Resort
04:57 Resort Overview View
05:22 Location & Map Graphic
06:13 On Site Chappel
06:51 Ocean View Suite Full Tour
12:38 Need to Know FAQs
12:58 Primary Pools & Sunset Views
15:37 Botol Biru Bar & Restaurant
16:05 Sunset & Dinner Buffet
17:08 Breakfast Buffet
17:30 Final Thoughts
18:50 The Flip Flop Score
Music featured in this video is licensed under an Artlist Unlimited License.
This is NOT a promotional video. I pay for all of my flights and hotels (and I always tell you how much!) so I can be as honest and impartial as possible. I do not receive any special treatment that wouldn’t otherwise be publicly accessible, in fact, the hotels and airlines have no idea about my visit and that's the way I like it!
#anantara #uluwatu #hotelreview

Пікірлер: 126

@bg02261989 11 ай бұрын

I went to this place last May and I stayed in a suite with a private pool. I loved it. The restaurant and the Japanese one were opened when I was there. Indeed the staff was lovely and the service to notch. The breakfast buffet was excellent and had many options for every taste. I do agree about the resort conception and the many stairs. There was a staircase where you could access the beach with many steps on the far right of the resort with a security guard but it's not obvious. I went down for a bit but I wasn't bothered by him. I booked a massage at the spa which was gorgeous with a Zen vibe. Perhaps you were unlucky or it was a bad timing when you went. It was my second in stay in an Anantara resort. My first time was in Koh Phangan in Thailand last year and I fell in love with that location & its beach, despite the slow service at the beach restaurant there. You should review this one you'll be more satisfied.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing ✈️

@sd-fx3nd 11 ай бұрын

I love the quality of the cinematography as much as the review itself. Makes for great viewing😊

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Appreciate that! Thanks very much 🙏🏻

@well-blazeredman6187 11 ай бұрын

Good review. Enjoyed the drive, which gave me some new insights on the area. Still a bit worried about those Uluwatu beaches. The shoreline here would have caused me to pass on this one. Best gag? The one about the therapist.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Yah Uluwatu is 100% not the place to go for resort beaches, which may or may not be the reason why the water is some of the most beautiful on the island. Thanks for watching 🩴

@howardcobb4656 11 ай бұрын

Enjoyable video as usual. Love your vocal inflections in describing the facility. Love your sarcastic comment about ‘blue shag dash’. Set the tone for video. Thanks

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

It was a fitting car to bring me to this property haha. Thanks for watching 🩴

@ShelterCats 11 ай бұрын

"You hate this content but your therapist told you to be nicer." I LOL'ed at that.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Sometimes I feel like comment sections should have a required 2 therapy session minimum haha. Thanks for watching 🩴

@ceevee369 11 ай бұрын

7:33 confirms it looks like 70’s set-up. I did 3 Anantaras here in SEA was 3 times disappointed vs it’s value - price offering. I so agree this complex ain’t a stunner !

@peemaklangniam743 11 ай бұрын

Safer to go to ones that originally opened as Anantara. Avoid the rebranded ones because Anantara is not big on renovations.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 🩴

@ipalermo-xk6ly 11 ай бұрын

Another great report Kevin. Not sure if you have followed Bali fares lately but they are at least 50% up so the Anantara at those prices will be cheap.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Yeah I goto Bali annually so I've seen the prices, but on a whole- I wouldn't say 2024 is looking much more than 2023... at least the places I've looked. Booking well in advance I have a few places booked for the lowest prices I've ever seen for them. Thanks for watching 🩴

@Geoffreyboucher 9 ай бұрын

Cheers for the reviews on Bali I was going here before Convid came along,,,was going to stay at the Aman,,chedi club then Capella,,,on watching your channel Kevin there looks like many beautiful hotels to stay in,,,ie l liked the Belmond,,looking forward to the next video great channel to watch,,,peace and happiness on your travels 😊😊😊😊❤❤❤

@tfft 9 ай бұрын

More Bali coming up next year! Thanks for watching 🩴

@wendyurquia4034 11 ай бұрын

Great review as always Kevin. And funny as all hell with the quips. Thank you!

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

@vanessaroughsedge9574 11 ай бұрын

Good fair review, totally agree with you re 2023 shortfalls being unacceptable, but sadly seem common place still. Didn’t think the resort was aesthetically pleasing or flowed well which is a shame when the staff work so hard. Thanks for the info.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

It’s a very strange setup indeed, especially for Bali. Thanks for watching 🩴

@jonsensinaga 11 ай бұрын

Agreed, stayed here during Covid with high expectations by its name Anantara and had the same experience. It made us to think twice to try Anantara Seminyak.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Same here, in my case, I crossed around 12 Anantara's off my list lol. Thanks for watching 🩴

@jimmyjames6492 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the info + video!

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

@gregwho 11 ай бұрын

Kevin, I have watch many of your videos, and this is another great comprehensive review. I have decided to subscribe and sign up to the Paton. You are one of the best out there and deserve to be supported. Keep up the great work. Cheers Greg.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Greg, assuming it's the same Greg, I sent you a message over on Patreon a few minutes ago. Thanks very much for the support!

@user-lw8fo6ig6g 2 ай бұрын

Alhmdulilah bisa berkunjung ke antara Uluwatu tmpatnya nyaman skali apalagi liaat pemandangan dirumah kaca langsung tembus ke laut

@tfft 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 🩴

@jamesshannon753 6 ай бұрын

I stayed here with my partner and two teenage kids last year and we had the same reaction. The place feels a bit worn out. With regard to the restaurants you mentioned, you weren't missing much - the Teppanyaki left a lot to be desired. W stayed in a two bedroom pool villa, which was beautiful and madde up for the resorts other shortcomings. However, for the price we paid, it wasn't worth the money. Thank goodness for beautiful sunsets! And thank you for all of your amazing reviews. We've just booked Regent Phu Quoc, based on your recent video :)

@tfft 6 ай бұрын

Enjoy your trip 🗺️

@awac2 11 ай бұрын

For almost USd 400 per night this would be slammed in my review if I was their guest. No matter how nice the staff had been.. So, I think your score is really too kind! The place looks tired and apparently lacks upkeep.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Understood well, but such good service is so hard to find… I had to let it come through some how. Thanks for watching 🩴

@tidusfantasy 11 ай бұрын

yo kev, ur jokes r really on point in this video, i laughed like 3-4 times already..

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

@bombayteddy 11 ай бұрын

Love your dry New York (?) humor 😂

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

New York-ish, yes haha. Thanks for watching 🩴

@V5mGpYp 11 ай бұрын

Another great comprehensive review Kevin. However the one thing I was waiting for was the review of the "beach", which from what I could see, was a massive rocky tidal flat....is there a beach at this resort or is it what I could see from your video ? Thanks again for the hard work and great production !

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

As I mentioned there's a small strip of it, but it's apparently nothing to write home about. Thanks for watching 🩴

@mleong1977 11 ай бұрын

The Anantara is one of the first luxury hotel chain in the Bukit area. The resort looks dated, even with the recent facelift it doesn't warrant the price tag. Accomodation prices in the area has gone up by 2-3 time from the pre-pandemic days due to the high demand and increasing popularity of the surf coast. At least you can still count on the breath taking ocean views and friendly Balinese service with a smile.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 🩴

@gebe8978 11 ай бұрын

It's absolutely ridiculous. This hotel gave away very low rates during the Pandemic, and I think everybody took those rates as normal for such hotel. It seems, as usual in Bali lately, it seems all is back to normal... in regards to price. However, product is not and seems to not getting there anytime soon. Owners are pressuring to recover their loss and there is zero interest in investing, with the idea that there is sufficient demand and, if not, there will be. Anantara Uluwatu has always felt like a 30 year old resort anywhere else in the world, or a 20 year old one in Bali, where all these design trends seem to take longer to arrive. Great review as usual, and thanks for pointing out the efforts by the staff.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Agree with your assessment. The industry has realized that more profit can come from cutting costs that were once unimaginable and customers can't do a damn thing about it- so, welcome to the new normal. Thanks for watching 🩴

@jimwilson2109 8 ай бұрын

I’m with you, we stayed post COVID, everything was open, all restaurants. We had an ocean view pool suite, the room was enormous, but the ocean view…..not so great…we were in the far right room(looking at the water) and the view was pretty well blocked by the other buildings in front and the wall of trees dividing one resort form the other, you really had to stand up to see anything. Anantara has always been a brand that I expected greatness from, I must say my overall feeling was a little underwhelming, a confusing 4 star vibe in a 5 star location. It could have been so much more…..

@tfft 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 🩴

@bellyhungry 11 ай бұрын

Appreciate the honest and unbiased review. Too bad it's a miss opportunity for them.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 🩴

@juliekohry9385 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for taking me on a Sunday drive thru Paris - loved it!

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Hmmmmm.....

@sonnysantino7849 11 ай бұрын

First! I'm so proud of myself! 🤣🤣

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Congratulations 🎉😅 and thanks for watching 🩴

@DeniseSommerRoque 11 ай бұрын

What a shame of such an amazing location….Haphazard, disjointed and random sums it up pretty well. A very weird layout and style (or lack off). But the people of Bali are so hospitable and accommodating in general, I can sympathise with your difficulties in scoring the resort… Thank you for another interesting review!

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Totally agree! Thanks as always for your support 🙏🏻

@SupaStyla2 11 ай бұрын

Nice one Kev 👍🏻

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

@HotelSnob 11 ай бұрын

“Arriving as strangers and leaving as family…shout out to : my new bestie Clara, my long lost brother Luke” hahaha. So funny, those reviews 😂

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

I maintain there has never ever been a naturally occuring review with a name included in the history of the world. Names are given as a way to earn bonuses. If a review has a name, 98.7% of the time, I disregard it.

@peemaklangniam743 11 ай бұрын

I mention staff names in my tripadvisor reviews sometimes because I have learnt that it helps with their performance evaluation. I only mention the ones that deserve to be mentioned though. Even at some places that I gave them only 3 stars, there were still some staff members who deserved praising.

@HotelSnob 11 ай бұрын

@@peemaklangniam743 nothing wrong with that!

@gregwhipps3813 4 ай бұрын

Agree, the room decor gives off some seriously dated 70’s/80’s vibes. Certainly not what you expect at that price point in Bali.

@tfft 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 🩴

@pizzaearthpancakesandother2549 11 ай бұрын

Here's a 👍🏻just for you Kevin. Good review son!

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 🩴

@pizzaearthpancakesandother2549 11 ай бұрын

@@tfft I live to give Kevin. I thumbed up 👍🏻 your reply as well, as a gentleman does. 🥾 (positive engagement)

@undisgraziato 11 ай бұрын

Loved the hostel comment. I have a friend 55+ that will stay in hostels and one of the restaurant pics he showed me was almost exactly like the restaurant in this video. I don’t need a $500 a night room but I don’t like to wait on line to go to the bathroom 🚽

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

I actually really love staying at cheaper properties- but... that bathroom better be in my room lol.

@RobvHout 11 ай бұрын

What a shame, and so much potential! I can ensure you, this is not the same “level” I experienced when staying at an Anantara property. Thnx for sharing your honest opinion, perhaps Anatara Chiang mai would be a better example

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

The Chiang Mai property has been on my list for a while! Thanks for watching 🩴

@OK-Travels 11 ай бұрын

Hey Kev, we are trying to explore asia and i was wondering where was the best resort/trip you ever had? (When it comes to top notch service and beauty!) i appreciate it!

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Asia is pretty big lol. Two of my top four favorite resorts are on the channel (L’alya Ninh Van Bay & Six Senses Samui)… the other two are coming up in new videos in the coming months. Thanks for watching 🩴

@OK-Travels 11 ай бұрын

@@tfft i appreciate it! i live in okinawa rn and koh samui has been on my radar 😎

@OK-Travels 11 ай бұрын

@@tfft you should visit okinawa! Theres a 5 star resort here called Halekulani Okinawa ive heard good things

@charliebrown5 11 ай бұрын

Thank You✈️

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 🩴

@David_P132 11 ай бұрын

The Botol Biru menu shows 21% "service charge" plus government tax - in my experience it is normally 10% service charge plus 11% tax (or is it the other way round?) i.e. 21% in total.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

It is surely both combined. Thanks for watching 🩴

@randompersonasdfgh 11 ай бұрын

hey Kevin! I feel for 380 usd it probably is slightly dated, not to mention the closure of the venues but i definitely would totally consider it for a lower prive haha! anyway look forward to you flight on china airlines!!

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 🩴

@franckh5862 11 ай бұрын

You MUST checkt the St Regis Bali. I want your honest opinion. I loved it...

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

I've been some years back before the channel. Thought it was very very nice, but it didn't blow me away. Thanks for watching 🩴

@franckh5862 11 ай бұрын

@@tfft really? its my favourite in bali, I really did not like the FourSeasons...

@donjohnson4368 10 ай бұрын

Kevin, what did you mean about “ refundable rate” forgive my ignorance but I don’t travel much. Just enjoy watching your shows 🇬🇧

@tfft 10 ай бұрын

A refundable rate means after you make the booking (sometimes pay in advance, sometimes pay at hotel) there is a certain window where you’ll be able to cancel the reservation without penalty. It varies from location to location but normally between 24 hours to 7 days in advance of arrival. Non-refundable rates on the other hand will not allow for any flexibility, usually regardless of any circumstances. The benefit of non-refundable rates is they will always be cheaper, but they will always be a gamble as well… Thanks for watching 🩴

@colindavy5554 11 ай бұрын

It makes you think who on earth is in charge of the interior design. It looks like they got odd bits of furtniture from the side of the street, or discarded furnishings, and thought they'd find a place for it all in a single hotel - and this is that hotel.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Agree! Thanks for watching 🩴

@thomasmoore9421 11 ай бұрын

Stylistically, i do like it for the most part. Clearly though needs some improvement. It would do better somewhere like the Caribbean or Mediterranean as a middle of the road resort.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Agree. Thanks for watching 🩴

@Ste967 11 ай бұрын

well this is not Anantara standard at all... During last few years I stayed in several Anantara like peace heaven in Sri Lanka, Qasr al sarab in UAE, Banana Island in Qatar, Rasanada Villas in Koh Phangan and I can assure you that this is not Anantara standard indeed. All the resort I've mentioned are just great, especially Qasr al Sarab in the desert. If you have the occasion just go there, and reserve a Royal Pavillon! Thx for your reviews

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing ✈️

@kilantravels 11 ай бұрын

Hmmm yeah, difficult to love the look of the hotel, it could be anywhere in the world.🤔

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 🩴

@jimsimon4432 11 ай бұрын

On your note of the strange name "Minor Group" the founder (William Heinecke) was just a US teenager in Thailand so he named his company Minor, like Branson did with "Virgin." I interviewed Mr. Heinecke for Jetgala Magazine and I would be happy to share the interview with you if you PM me. He is a fascinating, gregarious entrepreneur and his book, "The Entrepreneur" is a fun read. For clarity, I have no personal or financial relationship with Minor or Mr. Heinecke.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

That's really interesting- and I think shows very clearly that he never consulted with a fluent English speaker before choosing (or growing with) the name haha. 'Virgin' can be playful in many contexts. 'Minor'... 1000% should not be a playful word in the same sense as Virgin lol.

@jimsimon4432 11 ай бұрын

@@tfft I may have given the wrong impression. Until he changed his passport as an adult, he was as American as can be. His very first income was from selling advertising space in the go-kart magazine that he cherished as a teenager growing up in Bangkok. If still looks and sounds 100% American. There are many interviews of him on KZfaq.

@Viking0117 11 ай бұрын

will you be doing the stones bali?

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Nah, “collection” hotels (Autograph, Tribute, Luxury, etc) tend to perform poorly on KZfaq because of searching for multiple names. Never say never, but definitely not soon haha.

@thanirz 11 ай бұрын

your voice reminds me of chef john lol

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 🩴

@killerqueen9298 11 ай бұрын

Another great review, Kevin. I agree with your comments re COVID excuses. Its over and done and time to move on to better service instead of blaiming COVID for high prices and poor facilities. If you can't get staff pay them a proper wage. Prices, especially for flights has gone insane. last March I paid just £4000 business class with KLM to fly MAN to MEL the BNE to MAN. Same flight now just 6 months later? almost £8000. I'm a pensioner on a fixed income that's worked hard for 53 years to enable me to the finer fruits of travel but dobling the air fare is just profiteering and a rip off. Rant over. Keep up the great works. Love your videos

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

I agree about wages, but the airlines are really on another level. I can tell you one thing, mark my words that a year from now, there will be a significant easing in airfares. A massive reason why airfares are still so high is becuase Chinese carriers are no where near the marketshare that they had pre-covid, especially to North America and Aus (they already have a decent comeback in Europe). So, once they start throwing capacity at these routes and undercutting the competition, the entire market will readjust to the same dynamic pre-covid. When that'll happen, I'm not sure, but I think a year out is a fair guess. Thanks for watching 🩴

@adirox7 11 ай бұрын

Kevin is the most nit picking travel youtuber that I have seen.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

I'm not sure if thats a compliment or an insult, but I'll just say, the only three choices on KZfaq are: Blind, Sponsored or Nitpicky (some might say...detailed lol)...

@peemaklangniam743 11 ай бұрын

It seems to me that sometimes hotel chains are desperate to have their presence in a certain location that they would just take on any property that would agree to let them manage.

@gebe8978 11 ай бұрын

Not with this one. Their expertise is to rebrand a previously managed resort, which I don't know if it's the case, but the motto is to never do anything that does not make money.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

My guess is this property was much more about stopping a competitor from aquiring it rather than actually wanted to add it to the portfolio. Thanks for watching 🩴

@peemaklangniam743 11 ай бұрын

@@gebe8978 rebranding already-famous hotels (e.g. former Four Seasons and Marriott Riverside in Bangkok) without any renovation. JW Phuket might be next target.

@rawlo 11 ай бұрын

I had to check how much it costs for myself - this does not at all look anything like the prices being asked. Weird.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Agreed, disjointed in many ways. Thanks for watching 🩴

@petercowling6769 11 ай бұрын

Anantara position themselves at a price point that has no clear winner, and a good amount of (potential) demand. However, ime, they're part of the problem, not a solution. We've always ended up having issues with their operational capability, in some way or another...some pretty laughable stuff. However, the biggest issue we've had is that their food has always extremely varied from barely okay, to incredibly bad. 'Everyone' swears that Kiravah is great, but I'm giving the brand a hard pass unless something substantial happens. Thanks for the review!

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing ✈️

@petek5523 11 ай бұрын

So much potential, too bad 😢. And that’s quite the hefty price tag to boot.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 🩴

@vivitow873 11 ай бұрын

The hotel is in auction… the rumors…

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Wouldn’t be surprised… Thanks for watching 🩴

@imeldamogi 14 күн бұрын

March 2025

@tfft 11 күн бұрын

Enjoy your trip 🗺️

@MrHanaf 11 ай бұрын

Based on video alone,i've found it very confusing hotel design..boring.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 🩴

@plantcalledpickle 11 ай бұрын

1997 🤣 It is super dated for such a new property.

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

Agree! Thanks for watching 🩴

@HotelSnob 11 ай бұрын

For some, it will never end. The fearful love their little face coverings…alone, outdoors. Aye-yai-yai 😂 And any underachievers in the hospitality industry have found (in their minds) a good reason to do less

@tfft 11 ай бұрын

It't not just the underachievers though- it's very much a trickle...up effect. The point of reckoning that happened to the (US) airlines beginning in 2008 is precisely what we're seeing with hotels globaly at the moment. "Oh wow, you mean, we could cut our costs in half, keep occupancy at 80% and raise profits by 300%? Cool!"