Holiday Inn Express BARUNA BALI by IHG

This was arguably the most disappointing hotel of our trip to Bali. One of its few perks is being close to the airport with complimentary pickup, which probably accounts for 80% of the room rate—not particularly cheap for Bali standards. The decor and facilities feel like a college dorm. I wouldn't recommend drinking the bottled water directly unless you want an upset stomach. While the bedding was clean and comfortable enough, the breakfast was abysmal. Aside from the omelets, there was literally nothing else worth eating day after day.

There isn't much in terms of service, but they offer a scheduled shuttle to the airport. Given the price, it's acceptable and decent enough. Water quality is not bad. The hotel doesn't have a spa, but there are plenty nearby. Staff didn't help with luggage when getting out of the car. Both the infinity pool and the gym are very small.

The hotel overall was quite good. The airport pick-up service was excellent, and communication was very smooth. The front desk staff had a great attitude, and the facilities were well-maintained. The breakfast was a bit basic, just enough to get by. There's a small convenience store next door where you can buy some basic food and drinks. The hotel strictly adheres to its 3 PM check-in policy. Since I arrived early, they gave me a temporary room card so I could relax on the observation deck on the top floor. The nearby beach was quite underwhelming, and the roads were all broken and in poor condition.

We arrived late that day and had plans to go to Lovina the next, so we booked a hotel closer to the airport to get a good night's rest before heading out. The hotel was very close; we walked there in less than 15 minutes after landing. This Holiday Inn has both an Express and a Resort, so be careful not to go to the wrong one. We actually went to the Resort lobby to check in, which was a bit of a mix-up, but luckily the Express was right next door. The room was quite spacious, clean, and tidy. The rooftop pool was nice too; since we arrived at night, I imagine during the day you'd have great sea and resort views from there. The staff were also very warm and friendly. The only downside was that breakfast was a bit mediocre with limited options, but overall, it offered excellent value for money!

Overall, it's pretty decent. The cleanliness was good, and the service was acceptable. For the price point in China, it's about what you'd expect. However, the airport shuttle service could be improved; it was quite a long wait.