I stayed at the Holiday Villa Diwangkara Beach Hotel and Resort during my inaugural trip to Bali. Located in the Sanur beach area, this resort-style hotel seems like the perfect place to enjoy the best of both worlds—a Balinese beach and the amazing Balinese culture.

Update: Just so you know, the resort is now called Diwangkara Beach Hotel and Resort, as the owners decided to self-manage the property.

Diwangkara Beach Hotel and Resort Review

When I first arrived at the hotel, I was greeted by Ms.Nonik, the sales and marketing manager here. She took me around the resort and showed me some of the unique features available there.

This place is very suitable for those looking for a nice and quiet vacation in Bali. If you have kids, this would be perfect, as the beach is just a stone’s throw away, and attractions are easily accessible from here.

I took a deluxe pool villa unit, which was very private with my plunge pool and mini outdoor garden. The entire unit is surrounded by a wall with traditional Balinese doors at the main entrance.

A well-manicured Balinese garden and plunge pool is inside the villa compound, and the patio has some conventional furniture. The main villa walls have intricate Balinese carvings that make this experience a whole.

When I entered the villa, I was greeted by a vast, super queen-sized four-poster bed made of rich Indonesian wood. Basic amenities are throughout the room, while the bathroom and toilet are interconnected to the plunge pool via a separate wooden door.

Inspecting the minor details around the villa, I was pleased to find a bright green circular card that mentioned how the hotel participated in the Environmental Ecology Program. It asks the guest to participate in the Go Green Practice by reusing towels and turning off lights and televisions when not in use—a thumbs-up from me on seeing this being practised.

The bathroom and toilet were very spacious, and I liked how the doorway led towards the plunge pool outside, making it easy to access the shower or tub without running through the main bedroom.

Another point I want to highlight is the partial open-top concept for the bathroom, where natural light can peep through during the day. But do not worry, as there is netting above to prevent leaves and bugs from coming in. Mosquitoes? I don’t think I saw or experienced anything during my stay here.

Walking around the main resort will instantly give you the traditional Balinese feel, as the modest and tasteful decorations complete the place with minimal effort.

Lush green plants, water features, and traditional Balinese statues are placed throughout the grounds. Walking through the hotel’s main street entrance, you will end up at the main swimming pool area, which is just next to the main restaurant.

This faces the main Sanur beach and walking street, which are a hive of activity from day to night. Several restaurants and bars are located along this mini street for adventurous and curious guests.

As I had my daily breakfast facing the sea, I would see many locals and tourists passing by while beachgoers were getting themselves tanned on the long, spacious beach here at Sanur.

Vendors selling all sorts of knickknacks and souvenirs line the walkway. A short three-minute walk along the beach road leads to the Le Mayeur Museum, which is very interesting. Mind you, all this is happening at the back entrance of the Diwangkara Beach Hotel and Resort.

The beach at Diwangkara Beach Hotel and Resort.

How do you get to Diwangkara Beach Hotel and Resort in Bali?

By road via bus or taxi

• Taxi charges from the airport to Denpasar are less than US$3.00.
• The best and most popular taxis are the blue cabs from Bali Taxi (0361-701111) and the orange ones from Praja Taxi Bali (0361-289090).

By road

• Sanur is 20 minutes drive from the Ngurah Rai International Airport

By sea

• Two of the four Bali seaports anchored by international cruise ships and yachts are Benoa, South of Denpasar and Padangbai on the East.
• Regular ferry services are provided on the Padangbai-Lombok route four times daily.

Conclusion

My conclusion about staying at this resort hotel is that if you are looking to be away from the massive crowds in Kuta, this is your perfect choice, as it is strategically located in the southeast of Bali.

For business travellers, you would also be pleased to know that the resort hotel caters to business packages and is ready to accommodate 60 to 115 people in fully wireless internet business meeting rooms.

The main website also offers a special rate for business travellers. Overall, if I visit Bali again soon, I would easily choose this hotel over the many others due to the simplicity and warm hospitality of the Diwangkara Beach Hotel and Resort.