If you’re heading to Amed for a spot of diving and you’re looking for a luxurious 5-star resort to check into, well, you’re going to be short on options.
This East Coast town is only just starting to bring in the crowds, and that means there aren’t too many hotels here.
So, we went to check out The Griya Villas and Spa to find out if they were worth their star rating, and this is what we felt about this resort.
Our In-Depth Assessment Of The Griya Villas And Spa
We apply a single, dependable review model with the same standards to every visit. This guarantees fairness and equips you with a clear basis for comparing accommodations
Hotel Type: Luxury Villas
Area of Bali: Amed
Star Rating: 5-Star
Typical Minimum Price per Night: 5,500,000 IDR (approx. $340 USD or $550 AUD) per night, with the proviso that this varies based on room type and season
The Griya Villas And Spa Address: Jl. Raya Bunut, Bunut, Kec. Abang, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali 80852
The Griya Villas And Spa Website: Griya
Room Types: One Bedroom Villa with Private Pool, Two-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool, Three-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool, One Bedroom Deluxe Villa with Private Pool
Facilities: Safka Restaurant and Terrace, Maku Fine Dining Restaurant, Spa and Wellness Centre, Outdoor Swimming Pool, Free Parking, Bar, Sun Terrace, Garden, Yoga Classes, Fitness Classes, Fitness Centre, Sauna, Cooking Classes, Cultural Tours, Walking Tours, Snorkelling, Diving, Hiking, Fishing, Babysitting (for an additional fee), Meeting Rooms
Cleanliness and Maintenance
The cleaning here was acceptable, but there were noticeable dirt patches around the hotel and even in the rooms; we had to ask for a pillowcase to be changed.
It didn’t wreck our time at The Griya Villas and Spa, but we do expect a greater level of attention to detail than we found here.
Sleep Quality
You will get an excellent night’s sleep. This isn’t a particularly busy area, and there’s almost no noise to potentially disturb you as you slumber.
We also found the beds to be more than comfortable with nice mattresses and pillows; everything felt high-end, which was great.
Staff Attitude And Service Culture
The staff here are very good and have that Balinese charm and warmth that you come to expect from any hospitality property on the island.
However, they don’t seem to have the freedom to just resolve an issue; they often have to kick a small problem up to management before it can be fixed.
Check-in/Check-out Experience
Check-in is just fine. This isn’t a huge property, and it’s in a less-visited part of the island, so you won’t be hanging around for very long before you end up in your room.
Check out is also fine, though you should be aware that this isn’t the easiest place to get a Grab or Gojek, and it helps to have ongoing transportation sorted out well in advance of your departure.
Bathroom Quality & Functionality
The bathrooms look a little tired now and could use some retouching and bringing back up to date. You can see that this place used to be very polished, but it’s lost some of its appeal in things like dated fixtures and fittings.
There was also less hot water than we’d have liked, though the water pressure was fine.
Value For Money
Griya Villas and Spa is expensive for this part of Bali, and while there’s no doubt that this is a 5-star resort, it’s one that needs a lick of paint and some minor issues resolving.
Until then, it’s OK value for money, you won’t feel cheated, but we can’t see anyone thinking they got a bargain either.
Food And Beverage Execution
This property has a nice-looking restaurant and a decent rooftop bar, but neither of them seems to be able to produce anything above average tasting food and drinks.
We found that there were other, cheaper restaurants not far from the property that provided much higher quality and value for money.
Location & Immediate Surroundings
You come to Amed either to get away from it all or to go diving; this isn’t a part of Bali with a wealth of things to do, and you will need transportation if you’re staying for more than a day or two.
You should also be aware that Bali traffic can be a nightmare and that returning to the airport can take much longer than you anticipate.
Facilities & Amenities Vs Promise
The spa is very good, and the property delivers, mainly, on its promises regarding what will be available unless there are minor maintenance issues.
However, there are a lot of hotels in Amed with similar amenities that aren’t anywhere near as expensive as The Griya Villas and Spa.
Overall “Personality”
We can imagine that in its heyday, this property was really something, and even now, in the right light, it makes for some lovely photographs for your social media feeds.#
However, it is past its prime, and there are real issues at this property that need to be addressed if they want to keep on charging top-tier money for a stay.
Summary: Our Overview Of The Griya Villas And Spa
The Griya Villas and Spa are decent enough, but they’re long in the tooth and very pricey for what’s on offer.
Yes, we’d recommend them, but only if you’re prepared to put up with their shortcomings.
Grading: 4-Star Quality
FAQs
Is The Griya Villas And Spa Family Friendly?
Yes, The Griya Villas and Spa is family-friendly. Children of all ages are welcome, but it’s important to note that this property considers children over 4 to be adults and charges for them as adults.
They will also supply a cot for free, but extra beds are a very expensive 1,016,400 IDR per person per night. This is very high compared to most hotels in Bali.
There are no child-specific facilities at this resort, but they do offer paid-for babysitting services if you want to take a break from your children for a night out, etc.
Final Thoughts On The Griya Villas And Spa
The Griya Villas and Spa are stunning bungalow-style villas on the shorefront in Amed, and they offer some of the best sea views in the area.
However, the resort is past its best, and the price tag is hard to justify. If you really need a villa property, this could be your best option in Amed.
But we’d advise you to hunt around before you book to see if you can’t find something offering better value.
