Escape to Paradise: Lovina Oasis Hotel, Bali Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Lovina Oasis Hotel, Bali Awaits! - A Messy, Honest, and Slightly Over-Caffeinated Review
Alright, deep breaths. Here we go. My Bali adventure, fueled by strong coffee and a yearning for sunshine, landed me squarely at the Lovina Oasis Hotel. And let me tell you, it was… an experience. Let's dive in, shall we? Prepare for a messy swim – better bring your metaphorical floaties.
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- Meta Description: A candid review of the Lovina Oasis Hotel in Bali, covering everything from wheelchair accessibility to those all-important Wi-Fi details, the food, the spa… and oh, the monkeys! A real-world perspective on your Bali escape.
First Impressions (and a Coffee Craving):
Getting to the Lovina Oasis was a bit of a trek. Bali traffic? Don't even get me started. But hey, the promise of paradise kept me going. Pulling up, the hotel looked… well, inviting. Lush greenery, that classic Balinese vibe, and a genuine smile from the doorman. Speaking of smiles, I needed a coffee STAT. The early morning airport flight and the drive down had me running on fumes!
Accessibility & the Little Things That Matter (and the Ones That Don't):
Okay, let's talk access. This is important to me, you know? My travel buddy has some mobility issues, and finding accessible places can be a headache. Wheelchair accessible? Yes and no. There are elevators (thank goodness!) and ramps, but some areas were… a little tricky. The elevator was reliable and the facilities for disabled guests were present. I'd give it a solid B+ for accessibility. It's not perfect, but they try, and that counts.
The Room – A Sanctuary (Mostly) (and That Damn Mosquito!):
Our room? Available in all rooms : Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens. Okay, that's a lot! It was clean, comfortable, and surprisingly spacious. Loved the blackout curtains; vital for those all-day jet lag naps. The coffee/tea maker was a lifesaver. Seriously. The bed was HUGE, and the bathtub? Bliss. Downsides? Well, the occasional rogue mosquito. And I swear, the mini-bar prices were designed to make you weep. "Four dollars for a bottle of water? Seriously?!" But overall? A comfortable base camp.
Food Glorious Food (and My Expanding Waistline):
Let's be real, I came to Bali to eat. And the Lovina Oasis didn't disappoint on the food front. Asian breakfast? Delicious. Western breakfast? Equally delicious. Buffet in restaurant? Dangerous because I always over-eat! The restaurants offered a good mix, with Asian cuisine in restaurant and International cuisine in restaurant. I'm still dreaming of the gado-gado. And the coffee/tea in restaurant was endless! The poolside bar was a MUST for happy hour – a perfect way to unwind and watch the sunset. Room service [24-hour]? Genius. I may have ordered a club sandwich at 3 am. No regrets.
Chill Time & Spa Shenanigans:
This is where the Lovina Oasis truly shined. The swimming pool was gorgeous, with that iconic Balinese view. Lounging by the pool with a cocktail, that's what vacation is all about! They offer all kinds of things to relax including Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom. The spa? Oh. My. Goodness. I splurged on a massage, and I'm fairly certain my muscles haven't felt that relaxed since birth. The spa/ sauna was an added bonus. I went full indulgence, trying the body scrub and the body wrap. It was sheer bliss. Highly recommend!
Things to Do – Beyond the Beach (and the Dolphin Watching Chaos):
Bali is all about adventure. The hotel arranged Airport transfer and Taxi service for tours. Let's just say, I went dolphin watching, which was a bit of a circus, but the dolphins were adorable, even if there were a million other boats competing for their attention. The things to do included visiting temples, exploring local markets, and simply soaking up the Balinese culture.
Cleanliness, Safety & the Anti-Viral Measures (and the Reality Check):
Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room. COVID. The hotel clearly took precautions. Cleanliness and safety were taken seriously as shown by the Anti-viral cleaning products, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Individually-wrapped food options, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment. They had hand sanitizer everywhere, staff wore masks, and rooms were cleaned with what felt like a hazmat suit worth of cleaning products. But, let's be honest, the real test is feeling safe. Honestly, I felt pretty good. Things felt clean, and staff were trying their best.
Internet – The Lifeline (and the Annoying Wi-Fi):
Internet access was available, which, let's be honest, is essential to keeping up with life, the outside world, and, let's be honest, checking my instagram. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Yay! Sort of. Okay, the Wi-Fi was a little…patchy. Sometimes, I could stream Netflix. Other times, I was stuck with buffering screens and the dreaded "no internet" message. The Internet access – LAN didn't always help.
Services & Conveniences – The Little Extras (and the Not-So-Little Costs):
The hotel offers a ton of Services and conveniences. The Concierge was helpful. The Doorman was super nice. The Laundry service was a lifesaver. I mean, the clothes come back folded, smelling amazing and ready to rock and roll in a matter of hours, it was a lifesaver. The Currency exchange worked perfectly. The Daily housekeeping was on point. But be prepared to pay for incidentals. The mini-bar was ridiculous, and anything not included in your package can quickly add up.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – The Feedbag Runs (and the Hidden Gems):
Beyond the buffet, I found some absolute gems. The A la carte in restaurant offerings were fantastic. The Bar had a great vibe and a killer cocktail menu. And the Snack bar was perfect for grabbing a bite by the pool. One of my favorite things was the abundance of bottle of water everywhere.
For the Kids (and Those Who Are Kids at Heart):
While I didn't have kids with me, the hotel seemed very Family/child-friendly. They had Kids facilities and Babysitting service. My guess is that the Kids meal options were good. They had a separate pool area and lots of space for little ones to run around.
Getting Around – Navigating the Island (and the Monkeys!):
The hotel can arrange Airport transfer and the Taxi service was readily available, and the hotel offered Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Valet parking, Car power charging station. But I did rent a scooter and got completely lost. That was quite the adventure – but definitely a story for another day. Oh, and the monkeys! Be careful of your snacks!
The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Batty:
The Good: The spa. The pool. The staff's genuine friendliness. The comfortable rooms. The (mostly) delicious food. The Bad: The patchy Wi-Fi. The mosquito situation. The hidden costs. And that dolphin watching circus! The Batty: All of me, after too much sun! The monkeys trying to steal my breakfast. The sheer beauty of the sunsets.
Overall, Verdict:
Would I
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Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's perfectly polished itinerary. This is… ME in Lovina, Bali. And frankly, I'm slightly terrified, mostly ecstatic, and already reevaluating my life choices that led me here. Let's dive in, shall we?
Lovina Oasis Hotel: My Bali Baptism (or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bintang)
Day 1: Arrival and Existential Dread at the Pool
- 12:00 PM: Ugh, the flight. Let's just say I'm pretty sure the air conditioning personally targeted my sinuses. Finally, finally, Bali! The driver from the hotel (bless his heart, because my Bahasa Indonesia is currently limited to “terima kasih” and “beer, please”) picks me up. The drive is a wild ride – scooters weaving like rogue electrons, temples popping up like psychedelic mushrooms, and the air is thick with the smell of… EVERYTHING. Incense, exhaust fumes, the ocean… it's sensory overload in the best possible way.
- 2:00 PM: Lovina Oasis. Okay, first impressions: lush. Like, Instagram-made-me-lie-about-how-I-pack lush. The hotel is charming, the staff are genuinely lovely, and my room… My room is a small-scale paradise. I'm unpacked, and it's time for The Pool.
- 2:30 PM: The Pool. Here's where the existential dread kicks in. Am I worthy of this? Am I too pale? Do I look like a giant lobster in my swimsuit? I start to people-watch as I ease myself into the water – a small group of Aussies playing cards and laughing loudly, a family with perfectly tanned children, and this yoga-toned goddess that makes be question all my life choices lol. After a good 30 minutes, I actually convince myself to just be. That's progress, people!
- 4:00 PM: Pooltime becomes beertime. Can't resist it! The waiter, a young man with the kindest eyes, brings me my first Bintang. It's like liquid sunshine. The beer hits the spot, the sun hits my skin, and I'm pretty sure I'm officially on "Bali Time."
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at the hotel restaurant. Gado-Gado (veggies and sauce) and Nasi Goreng. I'm not going to lie, I was a little bit scared of the spice level when I ordered it, but I survived! It's delicious but I get the feeling I'm not going to be a huge Bali foody.
- 7:00 PM: I try to plan out the next day, before deciding to finish the beer and admire the stars and try to process that I'm actually here. The stars are gorgeous, the air smells amazing!
Day 2: Dolphins, Disaster, and Deliciousness
- 5:30 AM: HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, I'm awake. This dolphin tour is a COMMITMENT. The sun isn't even up yet! I drag myself out of bed, drink a coffee, and stumble down to the beach.
- 6:00 AM: Dolphin Tour! The boat trip is freezing, the waves are choppy, and I am pretty sure I'm going to vomit. BUT! The moment those dolphins breach the water? MAGIC. They're playful, majestic, and so damn joyful that I forget my seasickness and start laughing like a maniac. I actually cried a little bit. (Don't judge me.)
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast. Thank goodness, I'm starving from the early awakening and the wave-dodging. The hotel buffet is a glorious spread of tropical fruit, pancakes, and even a little bit of bacon (score!).
- 9:00 AM: Disaster at the Beach: Time to apply sunscreen, or so I thought. So, picture this: a beach, a gentle breeze, my brand new sun dress, and an entire bottle of sunscreen that decided to explode all over my skirt. My beautiful, brand-new-with-a-tag-still-on-it sun dress is now a greasy, orange-stained catastrophe. Time to shop!
- 10:00 AM: Beach Shopping. I walk along the beach and find a small store. A woman in a colorful batik sarong helps me and I bought a new dress, a pretty one with flowers
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at a warung (small local restaurant) recommended by the friendly staff. It's small, simple, and serves the BEST Mie Goreng of my life. Seriously, I'm thinking of writing a love letter to the chef.
- 2:00 PM: Back to the pool with my new dress, and enjoy relaxing.
- 4:00 PM: I go for a spa treatment. I booked a Balinese massage and it was heaven on Earth!
- 6:00 PM: Dinner: Trying to embrace the local culture I order a local dish. The food is good, but the experience is priceless. The owner of the warung is friendly and makes everybody laugh, and I feel like I'm sharing my experience with a new friend.
- 7:00 PM: Back to my room, and relax after such wonderful day!
Day 3: Temples, Temptations, and Terrible Karaoke (Maybe?)
- Late-ish Morning (because I slept in!): I needed it after day 2! Coffee and fruit on the balcony to watch the world wake up.
- 10:00 AM: A driver comes to pick me up. He smiles a lot but just drive, he speaks little English, so I'm kind of in my own world.
- 11:30 AM: The driver takes me to a nearby waterfall. The scenery is stunning, and even though I'm a bit of a klutz, I manage to hike to the top with a few stumbles.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch at a cute place after the waterfall. I am trying this local food, that I keep forgetting the name of, but it's amazing!
- 2:00 PM: Another temple. It's beautiful and mysterious with all the history and the colours. I am very tired of the heat, but try to enjoy it.
- 4:00 PM: Back to the hotel.
- 6:00 PM: I have dinner with two girls at the hotel, and we share some good laughs.
- 7:00 PM: karaoke. My new friends convinced me to go with them. I'm terrified and excited at the same time. I have a couple of drinks, and try to give my best, it's fun.
Day 4: Serenity… (or, at Least, the Attempt) and the Departures.
- 7:00 AM: One last breakfast! I swear, I'm going to miss this buffet. The fresh fruit is like sunshine in my mouth.
- 8:00 AM: Time to leave the hotel for the airport and say goodbye to my new friends!
- 12:00 PM: The final moments, waiting for the plane and feeling very sad that it's over. This trip has been everything I wanted and more, despite the small disasters and the existential dread.
- 1:00 PM: Fly away.
Final Thoughts:
This trip has been messy, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable. I've embraced the chaos, found moments of pure joy, and learned that it's okay to look like a lobster in a swimsuit. Bali, you were a wild ride. I'll be back, and next time, I'm bringing extra sunscreen (and maybe a life vest). Wish me luck!
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Escape to Paradise: Lovina Oasis Hotel - Your Survival Guide (and Rant!)
(Because seriously, you need to know what you're getting into... in the *best* possible way)
Okay, so, Lovina Oasis... is it *actually* an oasis? Or just another Instagram filter fantasy?
Alright, buckle up buttercup, because the truth is a little… *messy*. Yes, it *looks* like an oasis. Lush greenery, that inviting pool (more on that later), and the promise of pure relaxation. But let's be real, Bali is a sensory overload bonanza and the hotel is just one piece of the puzzle. I mean, there's the incessant rooster symphony at 4 AM (bring earplugs, seriously, they're life savers). Then the scooters zipping past the front gate giving you that proper Bali experience. And the occasional (and by occasional, I really mean daily) power outage that makes you appreciate air conditioning more than you thought possible. BUT… and it's a big BUT… I’d say yes, it *is* an oasis. A slightly chaotic, utterly charming, and truly memorable one. You'll be hooked. You've been warned.
The Pool. Tell me about the pool. Is it… pristine? (My inner perfectionist is screaming!)
Oh, the pool. My relationship with the pool was… complicated. First, the good: it's gorgeous. Seriously Instagrammable. The water is clear(ish), the temperature is perfect for a midday dip, and the swim-up bar? Genius. Now, the *less* good: Let’s just say it's not the kind of pool where you can drop a pin and it stays perfectly still. There might be rogue leaves, the occasional errant insect (nature, people!), and sometimes… (and I’m not proud to admit this) I saw a tiny, adorable lizard. Just chilling. It’s very *alive*. So, pristine? No. Refreshing? Absolutely. Did I spend hours lounging there with a cocktail in hand? You freakin' bet. (Important Note: The cocktails are STRONG. Pace yourself, folks!)
What about the rooms? Clean? Comfortable? Are we talking "barely there" walls? (I need my beauty sleep!)
Okay, truth time. The rooms are… well-loved. They're not exactly five-star luxury, but they are clean, comfortable, and surprisingly charming. I particularly loved the balcony. Perfect for morning coffee (that the hotel delivers) or a sneaky late-night snack (bless room service!). Walls, though, yeah, they do a good job of shutting out the actual outside world, but can you hear your neighbor snore? Maybe. (Again, earplugs are your friend). Now, I did run into a minor issue during my stay: the AC had a mind of its own. It would go from freezing to lukewarm in a heartbeat. I called for help, they tried to fix it, and when I eventually learned to deal with the fluctuation, it was actually kinda cozy. So, no, not perfection, but the rooms are what you'd expect. They are a great and charming space to unwind and find peace and rest.
The Food! I'm a foodie. Is the hotel food just… hotel food? Or something to write home about?
Okay, listen up, fellow food enthusiast! The hotel's restaurant is… a mixed bag. The breakfast buffet? Solid. The Nasi Goreng? YUM. The fresh fruit? To die for. But here's a confession: on my second day, I was feeling a bit… *adventurous*. I saw “international cuisine” on the menu and, against my better judgment, ordered a burger. Big mistake. Huge. It was… well, let's just say it wasn't winning any culinary awards. Stick to the Balinese dishes, folks. Trust me. Or better yet, venture *outside* the hotel. The warungs (local restaurants) nearby offer some of the most delicious and authentic Balinese food you'll ever eat. I can't stress this enough: step outside the hotel grounds. You'll thank me later.
Lovina Beach itself. Is it a sandy paradise, or a… well, something else? (I've read the reviews.)
Alright, the beach. This is probably the most… *polarizing* aspect of the Lovina experience. Let’s get the brutal truth out of the way: it's not the pristine white sand and turquoise water you see in the brochures. The sand is dark (volcanic!), the water isn't always crystal clear, and the beach vendors can be… persistent. There are times you just want to escape it all to your own room, but, you're on holiday, people! But… and this is a *big* BUT… it has its own unique charm. The sunsets are INCREDIBLE. Seriously, they light up the sky with colors you won’t believe and the local vibe is undeniably charming. Plus, the dolphin watching tours are a MUST. Waking up at 5:30 AM to go out on a boat might sound less-than-ideal, but seeing those dolphins frolic in the ocean? Totally worth it. Seriously, tears were shed. Happy tears. Nature is awesome!!
Dolphin Watching. Okay, you mentioned it. Should I do it? Is it ethical? Is it worth the early wake-up call?
Okay, this is a tough one. Ethical considerations are essential. Here's the scoop: yes, you should do it. (With these caveats!) The dolphin watching industry in Lovina has, shall we say, a checkered past. There have been valid concerns about the boats getting too close, harassing the dolphins and impacting their behavior. Make research on the boats, the guides, and the dolphin watch operators. See what kind of reputation they have within the community. Find a boat that’s respectful of the animals and their environment. And even if you do everything right, it still might be a little disorienting to see so many boats on the water. But here's the thing: seeing those dolphins *in their natural environment* (from a respectful distance) is an experience you won't forget. It's pure joy. It's magic. It's also a reminder of the importance of protecting these incredible creatures. So, my verdict? Do your research, choose your tour operator wisely, and get ready to be amazed. BUT please, be mindful and support responsible tourism.
The Staff! Are they friendly? Helpful? Or just… tired of tourists?
The staff at Lovina Oasis? Hands down, the best part of the experience. Seriously. They are utterly amazing. Friendly? Absolutely. Helpful? Above and beyond. Did I manage to lock myself out of my room at 2 AM? (Yes, yes, I did. Don’t judge.) Did they come to my rescue with a smile? Absolutely. They're patient, they're kind, and they genuinely seem to care about making your stay enjoyable. Tip them generously. They deserve it.
