Escape the winter and head to the Le Meridien Bali Jimbaran

Bali, Indonesia… it’s a destination that Australian’s have flocked to for decades. Thanks in part to the incredibly generous exchange rate and the array of activities for young and old are so abundant. Not only is it full of Australian tourists, Bali is also a place where more than a few Australian fashion designers and brands call home, and where we visited just last month for the very first time.

It felt like a rite of passage I was finally stepping of the plane and into Bali International Airport – the humidity hit me like the steam room at a spa but who could complain since we were quickly swept off into a waiting car and whisked away to a resort we were going to call home for the next few days?

Upon arriving at the Le Meridien Bali Jimbaran, we couldn’t help but be lulled into a sense of relaxation the minute we walked into the lobby. A friendly smile from the staff members welcomed up and before we knew it a cocktail was in our hands as we starred longingly at the sparkling pool by the lobby. It’s hard to stand out in paradise, but I was pretty sure we were set to spend quite a few days in our own little slice of paradise, just a few steps away from the popular fishing village of Jimbaran Bay in Bali. Set far enough away from the raucous haunts that many tourists are often found, it was a just the place where we would love to go with a group of friends for a 5 day getaway with next to no jet lag.

Why the Le Meridian Bali Jimbaran?

I love a carefree holiday and a beautiful resort like the Le Meridian Bali Jimbaran has life’s little luxuries you didn’t realise you need in your life until you have it, from:

• Luxurious hotel rooms – ranging from a lovely room to suites and penthouses and villas – all equipt with new technology and a Lavazza coffee machine.
• A lagoon (code fo a really cool pool) steps away from your hotel room door (some rooms even let you step off the balcony into the lagoon) which has a fully equipt bar.
• The Serenity Spa just downstairs
• A friendly smile from very helpful staff members
• An array of delicious food (including a gelato stand and pearl teas on the menu!)
• The beach just outside the resort

Need I go on? You could say some of these features come standard at most luxury resorts, but following the standard set by Le Meridien hotels around the world, the Le Meridien Bali Jimbaran aims to be an appetiser to the local area.

Unlocking Bali

Having travelled a little in the last few years, I am usually open to heading out and exploring on my own, but before going to Bali I was given so many different tales of personal and third party experiences that I was a little wary about heading out on my own (or with some new found friends). My worries were were laid to rest thanks to Le Meridian Bali Jimbaran’s “Unlock Bali” day trips they have for their guests to experience everything from the cultural, food or aqua sights and sounds of the beautiful areas in and around Bali.

Taking guests away from the well-trodden paths (which you can still explore at your leisure with the help of a rather affordable private driver) of the tourist side of Bali, you can experience quieter beaches, the delights of local farms and markets at a quieter and less frenetic pace.

Being a bit of a water baby, we went on the Aqua Discovery tour and were able to snorkel with a small group of people we came to call friends, without the hordes of tourists that visit the more populated snorkelling destinations in Bali. Seeing the beautiful coral reefs up close was a sight to be remembered and made for a memorable day of laughing, eating and swimming.

Video: A overview of Le Meridien Bali Jimbaran’s Unlocking Bali day trips

[youtube id=”yxx0l9srsPM” width=”600″ height=”338″]

We stayed at the Le Meridien Bali Jimbaran as a guest of the Starwood Group and flew on Garuda Indonesia. 

Stay tuned for all our Bali shopping exploits and spa recommendations!