Bali Ginger Suites & Villa – Unique Boutique Seminyak

Bali Ginger Suites is a small hotel with a chill vibe and loud (but not gaudy) artsy decorations. It's set down an alleyway with white walls dripping in ivy -- the passage is lined with lanterns, but can be dark at night. Entrance is via a small, open-air lobby that features bright-red furniture and Balinese accents. Red decor throughout the property is balanced with natural-looking wood and tropical landscaping visible through open-air spaces.

Husband and wife owners Grahame and Lou don’t live on-site, but they pop in from time to time. As for the rest of the staff, they get heaps of praise from past guests for being friendly and helpful. This hotel isn’t a good option for travelers who want to be anonymous -- it’s hard to escape other guests at the small courtyard-style pool fringed with palm trees. The compact restaurant also invites mingling. However, the intimate environment suits those who want to socialize and swap travel stories with other guests, most of whom are couples or friends. Sometimes groups book all 10 rooms. 

This hotel is located across from the bustling Camplung Tanduk, a street lined with lively (and often noisy) bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. This is a good location for travelers who want to experience Seminyak’s nightlife scene. However, the hotel is located down a long driveway, which is dark at night and sometimes hard for taxi drivers to find. On the plus side, Seminyak Beach is only a 10-minute walk away. Seminyak Square is farther away, about 25 minutes on foot -- which can be a challenge in Bali's heat -- or 10 minutes away by car. Eat Street, another lively stretch with places to eat and drink, is 15 to 20 minutes away on foot. The trendy Ku De Ta beach will take about 10 minutes to reach by taxi. Kuta Beach is a 20-minute drive away, and Legian Beach is only a 10-minute drive. Airport pick-up service from Ngurah Rai International Airport, about 25 minutes away by car, is included with some bookings. Free parking is available for guests with cars. 

Bali Ginger Suites offers one-bedroom suites and a two-bedroom villa, all of which are bright and clean. Decor is similar to the rest of the property, with vibrant red furniture and accent textiles. Bed runners and mirror frames feature intricate Balinese-inspired patterns, and a large, hand-painted carving decorates the wall behind each bed. While neutral marble-tile floors and white walls tone things down a bit, the style might be a little loud for some guests. Decor stands out in the two-bedroom Shikumen Villa, with its own private pool, and the Poolside Shikumen Suite that we saw, which has an antique bathtub and a doorframe made from 150-year-old Chinese timber.

All suites face the courtyard pool -- except for one of the Balcony Suites (the most basic option) which faces the street. Each suite has a balcony or terrace furnished with a cozy daybed and small table with chairs. For guests who want to upgrade, the Poolside Deluxe Suite has an open-air living room filled with tropical plants, and the Poolside Terrace Suite offers a shared poolside terrace. 

Suites have partially open-air kitchenettes with free water dispensers and mid-size refrigerators with soda, beer, and milk for an additional fee. Toasters and coffee/tea facilities are also provided. The villa has a full-size kitchen. All suites have creature comforts like air-conditioning and beds with soft sheets made from bamboo. Safes are provided, and all have flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Some of the red-tiled bathrooms have partially open-air showers and a few also have soaking bathtubs. Toiletries in wall-mounted containers are provided. Noise from nearby nightclubs can be a problem, so earplugs provided by the hotel come in handy.

As a small hotel, the Bali Ginger Suites doesn’t have many facilities. There is a small pool in a courtyard with padded double lounge chairs, waterfalls, and palm trees that offer a bit of shade. Sweet Ginger Cafe serves breakfast, which is included in room rates. Banana pancakes and espresso coffee -- sourced from local Indonesian farms -- are popular picks and muesli, baked goods, and omelets are also available. The kitchen can also accommodate specific dietary restrictions. The hotel offers guests Chinese checkers games, pool towels, and books. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, but it can be spotty. Guests can also book in-room massages, facials, and manicures and pedicures for an extra charge. The hotel's staff can also provide concierge services and genuine local recommendations on dining and drinking.