Hospitality
Mövenpick Resort and Spa Jimbaran Bali is a newly opened resort hotel located within walking distance of one of the Indonesian island’s most beautiful beaches. And talk about sunsets!
Try searching Jimbaran on Hotels.com, and 287 properties will appear.
At the high end you will find sumptuous five-star destination resorts such as the InterContinental Bali Resort, the Ayana Resort and Spa, the Keraton Jimbaran Beach Resort, and the Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay.
You will also find some very posh private villas and some lovely boutique hotels.
There will also be several mid-range properties. But you won’t find much in the way of budget accommodation.
Jimbaran is more for the rich and famous than for budget backpackers.
Island of the Gods
The Four Seasons was, in fact, my introduction to Bali. It’s where I spent my first night on my first trip to the island several years ago.
I also spent one night at the private estate of a world-renowned jewelry designer (I was in Indonesia to research a piece of the country’s jewelry industry).
My stay in a guest villa at the jeweler’s estate was followed by four nights at The Ritz-Carlson, which was rebranded as the Ayana shortly after my stay.
I had been flown to Jakarta by the Indonesian government to attend a large scale event to promote the country’s trade ties.
I’ve always suspected that the side trip to Bali was an inducement to get journalists to attend the event in Jakarta.
All I know is, it worked. I’ve been a fan of Island of the Gods ever since. I go there every chance I get.
Balinese Beverly Hills
Over the last 30 years, Jimbaran has been transitioned from a sleepy fishing village into Bali’s answer to Beverly Hills.
There are trendy boutiques. There are luxurious spas. There are excellent restaurants.
Jimbaran Bay is also lined with one of Bali’s best beaches. The creamy sand is fine and soft on the feet.
The calm waters make it safe for swimming, which means, if you want to go surfing, you’d better head elsewhere.
Fear not, however. Some excellent surfing spots are located nearby.
Not surprisingly, this is where some of Bali’s most sumptuous five star resorts are located. Many of them are perched atop rocky cliffs with stunning ocean views below.
At some of the resorts, funicular railways transport guests to and from the beach.
Eating Out
There are three clusters of seafood restaurants with tables and chairs on the sand.
Grab a seat at late afternoon and nurse cocktails, nibble on snacks, and watch the sun sink slowly into the horizon.
Jimbaran Bay features some of Bali’s most spectacular sunsets. Tiki torches provide light after dark.
The restaurants serve similar menus, and you pick your seafood Chinese style from massive fish tanks.
Diners therefore often choose their restaurant based on what’s in the tank rather than what’s on the menu.
When it comes to nightlife, however, you will NOT be spoiled for choice.
There is not much in the way of nightlife – except for shows put on at hotels. For nightlife, you will have to head to nearby Kuta or Seminyak.
Sleepy Fishing Village
Jimbaran’s shoreline might be lined with five star resorts such as the Rimba by Ayana and exclusive boutique hotels such as Karma Kandara, but the sleepy fishing village remains.
The Jimbaran Fish Market is, in fact, a must for hard-core foodies.
This is, in fact, where the chefs at many of Bali’s poshest restaurants source their seafood every morning.
You might even want to take a break from your five-star opulence for a simple meal at an open air café rubbing shoulders with the friendly locals.
With its stunning location, Jimbaran is home to some of Bali’s most photographed tourist attractions.
Uluwatu Temple is one of the island’s most sacred Hindu temples, thanks to its stunning location overlooking the sea.
Tegal Wangi Beach, or hidden beach, is hidden from view by rocky cliffs and verdant trees.
And talk about convenience!
Jimbaran is also located just 15 minutes from the international airport – traffic permitting.
New Kid on the Block
With so much going for it, is it any wonder that Jimbaran was chosen by Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts as the location of its first property in Indonesia?
The Swiss-based hotel group operates 83 resorts in 24 countries around the world.
Yet only nine of these hotels and resorts are currently located in Asia. Its first Indonesian property, the Mövenpick Resort and Spa Jimbaran Bali, had its grand opening on 12 January 2017.
The hotel has 297 rooms and suites, five food and beverage outlets a spa, a fitness club, and other facilities.
Food and Beverage
The hotel also has five food and beverage outlets.
Anarasa has live cooking stations and a Robata grill. It serves breakfast buffets, set menus at lunch, themed buffet nights, and a la carte menus throughout the day.
Overlooking the garden, Katha Lobby Lounge and Library serves premium coffees, afternoon tea, cocktails, pastries, cake, organic fruit juices, and ice cream.
JeJaLa overlooks the swimming pool and child-friendly zones, serving healthy food choices and frozen margaritas made from tropical fruits.
Mövenpick Café serves artisanal ice cream, cakes and coffees. It also has a crepe station.
Above Eleven Bali is a rooftop sky bar serving Peruvian-Japanese cuisine as well as artisanal and classic cocktails. The view of the Indian Ocean is superb, and the music is lively.
Who said there was no nightlife in Jimbaran?
Interview with Andrew Langdon
I have only stayed at one Mövenpick hotel, a resort hotel on the tropical Philippine island of Cebu. I spent two nights there during a trip to Cebu a few years back.
The view of the ocean from my room was superb.
The staff were unspeakably friendly.
The food was absolutely delicious.
And I loved taking selfies with the fun-loving bartenders at the cocktail lounge that – if I remember correctly – was built on a platform jutting out over the water.
What I remember most (and not surprisingly) was the complimentary distribution of ice cream and other mouthwatering treats throughout the day.
What else would you expect from a hotel group that is more famous for its ice cream than for its hotels?
As a fan of Mövenpick ice cream and Bali, I wanted to know more about the new hotel.
I was also interested about the decision to enter the Indonesian market at this time.
Are more Mövenpick hotels to follow?
I interviewed Andrew Langdon, Chief Development Officer and Senior Vice President Asia, Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts by email.
Excerpts from our interview follow:
Accidental Travel Writer: Why was this particular locatoin chosen?
Andrew Langdon: Mövenpick Resort and Spa Jimbaran Bali is a short 100-metre stroll to Jimbaran Bay and Beach in southern Bali, which is renowned for its 4 kilometre stretch of pristine beach. It is located approximately 20 minutes from the island’s Ngurah Rai International Airport.
ATWHK: What makes the hotel unique?
AL: There is a large free-form swimming pool, which features an artificial beach area and a lap pool, offering a total of 2,900 square metres of pure water fun.
ATWHK: Is the hotel family friendly? Are there any special facilities for children?
AL: There is a dedicated Meera (Ocean) Kid’s Club and a Teen Club with its own fun and activity pool that caters specifically to families with daily supervised entertainment for young world travelers and dedicated youth menus.
ATWHK: How does Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts view the Indonesian hospitality market?
AL: We see great opportunity for true internationally managed upscale positioned accommodation delivering great guest experiences to both the international and domestic segments.
ATWHK: How did the hospitality industry perform in 2016 in comparison to previous years?
AL: We can see that the industry has continued to perform strongly in 2016 compared to previous years. However, there are challenges being faced in regards to supply issues going forward.
ATWHK: Why did Movenpick decide to move into Indonesia at this time?
AL: There is a need for an upscale international hotel operator such as Mövenpick to enter the market, as our positioning offering Swiss hospitality combined with great facilities and innovative food and beverage concepts ensures well performing hotels.
Where
Mövenpick Resort and Spa Jimbaran Bali – Jalan Wanagiri No. 1, Jimbaran, Bali. Telephone: 62 361 4725777. Check our room rates now: Movenpick Resort and Spa Jimbaran Bali
Where Else to Eat and Stay in Jimbaran
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