Traffic in Bali can be brutal. That’s why I usually spend the last night or two of my trip closer to the airport before flying home. It makes departure day a lot less stressful, and I don’t have to worry about traffic jams and delays getting across the island.
This time, Steve and I stayed at Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach, located in Seminyak along a stretch of coastline lined with beachfront resorts. It might not sound like the most exciting setting, but it turned out to be a really nice place to wrap up our time in Bali.
The grounds are large and lush, with tropical gardens and winding pathways throughout the property. Even though we visited during peak season and the resort was fully booked, it never felt crowded. There was always plenty of space and no shortage of quiet corners to retreat to.
The atmosphere is relaxed, but with the level of service and comfort you’d expect from a luxury resort.
Location
The resort extends all the way down to the beachfront promenade, so restaurants, shops, and nightlife are within easy walking distance while the beach is right outside your door.
Depending on traffic, the drive to Ngurah Rai International Airport usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. That makes Indigo a great option for the last few days of a Bali trip if you want to avoid a long transfer on departure day.
One of the things I like most about Seminyak is the beach at sunset. In the evenings, both locals and visitors gather along the shore, and there’s often live music drifting over from the beach bars. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and it’s easy to end up staying longer than planned.
The Room
We stayed in a ground floor room, and from our small terrace we could walk straight out to the pool area and continue down toward the beach.
The terrace didn’t get much direct sun during the day, but that hardly mattered when we could walk straight from our room to the pool.
The room was spacious and decorated in a mix of contemporary design and traditional Balinese details. The king bed was incredibly comfortable, and there was also a walk-in closet and a large bathroom stocked with locally made spa products.
Pools and Activities
The resort has several different pool areas. The largest pool is located near the beach, and that’s where we spent most of our time.
Even though we visited during the busiest part of the year, it was never difficult to find an available lounge chair or cabana.
If you’re looking for something beyond the pool and beach, the resort offers an extensive activity program with everything from wellness and fitness classes to cultural experiences.
The resort also has a small relaxation lounge called ME Space. Most guests walk right past it, but tucked away inside are three massage chairs that guests can use free of charge. We ended up stopping by more than once. A quick massage after breakfast is a pretty nice way to start the day.
The Restaurants
One of the things that really sets Indigo apart from many other resorts is the quality of the dining. The resort has several restaurants, each with its own distinct identity.
Makase
Makase is the resort’s Southeast Asian restaurant, and it’s also where breakfast is served.
Breakfast is a combination of buffet and à la carte dining. You can order both Western and Asian dishes from the menu at your table, while the buffet includes the usual egg and pancake stations. There’s also a made-to-order station where you can customize nasi goreng or noodle soup exactly the way you like it.
I should also mention the fruit stand, which offered a beautiful selection of fresh tropical fruit.
For the rest of the day, Makase serves an à la carte menu featuring dishes from across Southeast Asia, with Indonesia naturally taking center stage. We had a really good meal there, and it quickly became one of our favorite restaurants at the resort.
SugarSand
SugarSand is located right by the beach and functions as both a restaurant and a pool bar. Across the beachfront promenade is the beach itself, so the views don’t get much better than this.
When we visited, the restaurant had just launched a new menu. I can’t compare it to the previous one, but the current menu was an interesting mix of dishes from different parts of the world built around a Borderless Dining concept.
This was far from the typical international hotel restaurant menu. The dishes were thoughtful, creative, and very well executed.
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club is located right by the beach just outside the main resort grounds and is popular with both resort guests and visitors from elsewhere in Seminyak.
As the name suggests, breakfast and brunch are the main focus, but it’s also a nice spot to stop by later in the day for coffee or a sunset drink.
My favorite item on the menu was the frozen mango bowl with fresh fruit and granola.
Read my blog post about Breakfast Club
Is Indigo for you?
Indigo attracts a pretty diverse mix of guests, and there wasn’t one particular type of traveler dominating the resort during our stay. We saw couples on romantic getaways, families with kids, groups of friends, and flashpackers fresh from yoga retreats in Ubud.
The resort is large enough that everyone can have exactly the kind of vacation they’re looking for.
If you’re looking for a place to spend a couple of days before leaving Bali, Indigo is an excellent choice. You’re relatively close to the airport, the beach is right outside your door, and there are several very good restaurants on site. It’s the kind of place where you can spend your last few days in Bali by the beach, enjoy some great meals, watch the sunset, and ease back into reality before heading home.
Visit Indigo Bali Seminyak’s website here
Book your stay at Hotel Indigo Seminyak Bali
