Hotel research trips are always a blast... Not only do you stay in nice places but you get to try interesting food concepts and savour what the market has to offer... This time, Andre and me ended up in Bali to sniff out St Regis, Alila Suites and Bulgari...
St Regis
Very very interesting, the driveway entry into St Regis. You actually enter the compound without realising it. After a short ride, it will suddenly dawn on you that "hey I like this lush landscape, where is this?". My dear, you are already in St Regis... Welcome
Then you encounter a monstrous ancient looking structure. Feels like a readaptation of cambodian ruins. Nevertheless, I like it. Impressive, imposing, a gd stage for unfolding drama. 
Lobby is typically St Regis in design and detailing. Aka, over-detail but grand and comfy.
Ate with Victoria, Allan and Andre at the pool side restaurant facing the beach. Nice cosy place with whitewashed interiors and decorated with pale colored wayang kulit.. nice indigeous touch. Oh btw, food is disappointing.
My room is a cool 92msq of space that is very thoughtfully considered. I did find it quite frustating to spend 10 mins walking round trying to find a empty countertop space to place my watch and accessories. Housekeeper does like to clutter up every table space with plates of fruits/ cards/ handwritten welcome notes/ menos etc... 
Bathroom is perfect. LLLLLLove it..
Relaxed ambience totally destroyed by trying to sort out a "simple yet can turn disasterous" shanghai/ wenzhou flight arrangements with incompetent staff back home. Replying to emails burned my afternoon. 
Pampered myself to a spa session after a totally stuffed breakfast. (Ken would love this breakfast) St Regis spa concept is butterfly inspired- backlit and floating butterflies are everywhere. I was very well looked after by very professional therapist... memoriable...
VERDICT: At US$450 a nite, not bad a deal... of the 3 resorts, this is the best.
Alila Suites Utuwatu
Heard that Ally and Lx wanna come here... opps sorry my backpacking buddies... so paisei
Designed by Woha, the entrance is totally duh and understated. You definitely get the feeling of "u mean this is it??!!"
Designed by Woha, the entrance is totally duh and understated. You definitely get the feeling of "u mean this is it??!!"
But once you step into the compound, you immediately feel refreshed. Lobby reminds me of Amansara but better. Waiting lounge looks right out to a pool and the sea beyond. The set up and color scheme is so chilled out that I agree with Victoria 100% that this is the perfect home. Ken, our next house will look like this ok. Living room opens out to our pool. ok with you or not?
Love the table. Ken, I think we need a table like this by our pool. Good for BBQ parties in the evenings.. kids can mess it up all they want.
You can really tell Woha's signature from the villa architecture. Slide and hide walls everywhere. Rooms can be fully opened like a pavillion or enclosed in the comforts of AC. pretty pretty ammenity boxes.. Blissful
VERDICT: At US$650 a nite, it is not worth it. First day - totally excited. Second day - there is nothing to do, no beach, no activity. Resort too comtemplative and zen but honest, I have nothing to comtemplate no matter how deep I look inside myself... Bored and stressed w emptiness.
You can really tell Woha's signature from the villa architecture. Slide and hide walls everywhere. Rooms can be fully opened like a pavillion or enclosed in the comforts of AC. pretty pretty ammenity boxes.. BlissfulVERDICT: At US$650 a nite, it is not worth it. First day - totally excited. Second day - there is nothing to do, no beach, no activity. Resort too comtemplative and zen but honest, I have nothing to comtemplate no matter how deep I look inside myself... Bored and stressed w emptiness.
Bulgari
VERDICT: Din bother about photos, all black interiors and exteriors... US$850 a nite, for people with money chasing the fashionable. Rooms - bad. Restaurant - bad. Spa - bad. People in the pool - bored faces with no smiles.
