FuramaXclusive Ocean Beach

FuramaXclusive Ocean Beach is one of the more contemporary hotels in the area, and not especially Balinese in its character. At first, the modern veneer is pleasant enough, but some rough edges are beginning to show here. The hotel is housed in a building with big windows and an entrance flanked by Balinese statuary, but it's a fairly striking, almost avant-garde design, with a minimalist palm-dotted lawn section and pool deck with topiary. The pool itself has an irregular freeform shape, and it zig-zags its way through the middle of the property, making it the default social hub of the property (for better or worse when it comes to noise). The indoor public spaces feature big windows to let in natural light, and all are open to the air, but despite sharp marble details and ostensibly contemporary furniture, we spotted a good deal of wear, including missing baseboards and scuffed paint. This same problem plagues the rooms as well. The bistro restaurant and bar is an inviting space to have a meal or sip a cocktail and watch the sun set over the beach. Like at many of the other resorts in the area, the guest list skews heavily Australian, and while the crowd includes plenty of mature adults and families, it can get a little boisterous and lively at times. The hotel draws guests to its location near beach and shopping, and families especially benefit from the spacious rooms. 

FuramaXclusive Ocean Beach features a good location across the road from Double Six Beach and the Indian Ocean. The road is a bit small and full of restaurants and hotels, so it can get a bit congested at times. The hotel is at the northern end of Legian, where the town abuts the southern end of Seminyak. It's an area with numerous restaurants, bars, and shops. Double Six Beach is known for its surfing, and those looking to learn to ride the waves can try the Rip Curl School of Surf, a five-minute walk away. Legian Beach, a little farther south, offers up daytime beach sports like volleyball and soccer, plus beachfront cafes and nightlife. Those looking for a piece of Bali to take home can drive a little over five minutes to Jalan Melasti shopping street for its boutique shops, art market, and Balinese handicrafts. The Ground Zero Monument to the victims of the 2002 Sari Club bombing is a little over a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Ngurah Rai International Airport, is just over a 20-minute drive from FuramaXclusive. 

The Studios,; One-, Two-, and Three-Bedroom Suites; and Three-Bedroom Penthouses at FuramaXclusive Ocean Beach have a contemporary, minimalist look, with a white-and-beige color palette and largely bare walls. Many rooms add a dash of color with powder blue bed coverings, and some add bright red throw pillows. Despite their initially modern appearance -- including furniture with retro-futuristic silhouettes -- rooms could use some sprucing up. Many towels and linens need replacement and some rooms have issues with non-functioning air-conditioning, refrigerators, and door handles/locks. We also spotted plenty of scuff on walls. Noise can be an issue in some rooms, especially those facing the pool and bar.

Space is the big asset for these rooms: studios are 375 square feet (35 square meters); suites range from 538 square feet (50 square meters) to 1,507 square feet (140 square meters); and penthouses are 2,153 square feet (200 square meters). Amenities are solid, including free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, flat-screen TVs with DVD players, and electric kettles for instant coffee and tea. Suites and penthouses have living rooms and kitchens with full refrigerators, microwaves, and two-burner stovetops. Studios have dry minibar items, while suites and penthouses have dry and refrigerated minibar items. Rooms all come with floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies or terraces, so light and fresh air are abundant. Some rooms have pool and/or partial ocean views. Penthouses and some suites have outdoor jetted tubs. Consistent with the bedrooms, bathrooms have a contemporary, minimalist look. Some have separate tubs and showers and some have only walk-in showers.

FuramaXclusive Ocean Beach offers a fairly comprehensive set of features. The outdoor freeform pool is fairly large, and it's bordered by a shallow children's section and hot tub, though there can be some issues with upkeep and towels running out. The beach and Indian Ocean are across the street, and the section of the beach closest to the hotel is a bit quieter than stretches farther south. The hotel's on-site spa isn't luxurious, though its attractive and offers a decent range of massages and other treatments (all for a fee). There is no on-site fitness center, but there are health clubs open to the public in the area. 

Dining and drinking venues earn mostly high marks from guests. The hot-and-cold breakfast buffet (for a fee) features a good range of Indonesian and Western items, including fried rice, hot eggs, French toast, cereals, breads, pastries, and fruit. Typical of many hotel breakfast buffets, the coffee quality is iffy and there are occasional issues with the texture and temperature of hot items. The hotel's all-day bistro restaurant serves good local and international fare with locally sourced ingredients, and specializes in fresh seafood. The restaurant features a terrace with sunset and beach views, and hosts sunset barbecues on Saturdays. The open-air bar and lounge serves cocktails and tapas, and features a sunset happy hour. A second bar has a Australian pub/sports bar vibe, and features live music and TV sports along with its menu of international and Australian comfort food and wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The hotel has another bar specializing in Champagnes and featuring tapas and DJ music. The FuramaXclusive also offers child care (for a fee), limo service (for a fee), concierge service, a lobby business corner, and free parking.