PING Hotel Seminyak Bali

Opened in 2012, the PING Hotel Seminyak Bali is in a quiet location set back from the busy Jalan Camplung Tanduk street. Guests walk through a plant-draped tunnel to reach the hotel's entrance, with Balinese carvings on the facade. A free fruit basket and welcome drink greet guests in the open-air lobby that's decorated with a driftwood table, Balinese artifacts, and a large mural depicting Balinese women. The lobby overlooks a long outdoor pool bordered by a deck with lounge chairs, trees, and shrubs. All-in-all, this is a casual spot with a nice dose of style for the category, though it's not exactly one of the area's destination hotels -- like the W and other beachside Seminyak retreats. Still, it's a fine pick for those looking for sharp, humble digs, and the PING draws mostly younger couples to its pool, stylish vibe, and location near the beach and shopping. 

PING Hotel Seminyak Bali is located in central Seminyak toward the town's southern end, just off Jalan Camplung Tanduk, one of the main east-west roads leading to the beach. Seminyak Beach is a five-minute walk from the PING. Several restaurants, cafes, and bars are also within a five-minute walk of the hotel, including the boutique shops on Jalan Raya Seminyak, the major north-south road running through Seminyak. The hotel is about a five-minute drive or 15-minute walk from the famous Ku De Ta restaurant, renowned for its sunsets, and more shopping is available at Seminyak Square, a little under than a 10-minute drive. The area that's home to La Lucciola beachfront Mediterranean restaurant and Pura Petitenget temple is also a little under 10 minutes away by car, and Potato Head Beach Club is a little over a 10-minute drive. Expect a 25-minute drive to Ngurah Rai International Airport, south of Kuta.

Rooms at PING Hotel Seminyak Bali have a contemporary Balinese look, with light wood furniture and paneling, largely bare white walls with sparely used Balinese art, and all-white bedding accented by Balinese-print decorative throws and throw pillows. The color palette is a muted white, beige, and brown, keeping it fresh, but just a bit moody. Most rooms are a little small, at 215 square feet (20 square meters) in size, though suites offer plenty of space, with 431-square-foot floor plans (40 square meters). All 51 rooms come with air-conditioning, desks, safes, free daily bottled mineral water, minibars (with room for cold storage), coffee/tea makers, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with a good range of English and satellite channels. Many rooms have balconies, some with pool views. Suites have living areas and kitchenettes with microwaves, mid-size fridges, and sinks. Connecting rooms are available and are good for families. The modern, stylish, and well-lighted bathrooms are clad in marble and feature rainfall showers. Suites include bathtubs, though it's worth noting that some bathrooms are small and have limited counter space around the sink. Rooms and public spaces at the hotel are non-smoking. 

The PING Hotel's key feature is its long and sleek outdoor pool, set in the hotel's courtyard next to a deck and poolside bar and restaurant. It's a fine place to cool off in Bali's heat, though it gets little sun. The restaurant serves a breakfast buffet featuring eggs, sausages, cereal, breads, fruit, and Asian items, though it's not included in most room rates. At times of low occupancy breakfast is occasionally a la carte only. The restaurant serves decent Indonesian and Western fare for lunch and dinner, and room service is available. The rooftop bar offers a good array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and features good views of the surrounding area, with partial ocean views. Unlike many Seminyak hotels, the PING has a fitness center -- it's a covered, open-air space with rather limited offerings that include one weight machine, two stair-steppers, and two exercise bikes. In-room spa treatments are available. The hotel also offers airport transfer (for a fee), concierge services, motorcycle and car rentals, a 24-hour front desk, and free parking. Wi-Fi is also free throughout the resort.