Anantara Vacation Club Legian

Seaside Suites Bali is situated across a narrow road from Double Six Beach, but despite its location near all of the trappings of Legian and Seminyak, it's tranquil throughout the day. The style throughout the hotel is pleasant and modern, including an open-air lobby with ample natural light, Balinese art, floral-print sofas, and an adjacent koi pond with wall of vines. While the Seaside is situated on tropical grounds that are typical of hotels in the area, it's not quite as roomy or lush as we've seen elsewhere. Still, the outdoor pool at the center of the property is an attractive spot, with one side bordered by trees, shrubs, and frangipani blooms. At 25 meters (82 feet) long the pool is plenty large, and the deck is big enough so that all guests can find a sunbed. The indoor open-air restaurant and bar are another popular gathering spot. This space offers better views of the beach and sunset than many Legian hotels, since the view is largely unobstructed by trees. Despite the lack of kid-friendly activities, the hotel has large studios and suites that appeal to families and groups, though plenty of couples make their way here as well. 

Seaside Suites Bali is in an excellent location at the northern edge of Legian, next to Seminyak and across narrow Jalan Pantai Legian from Double Six Beach. Surfing is a popular activity on Double Six, and the hotel is a two-minute walk from the Rip Curl School of Surf. Keep in mind that pushy vendors can be found on the beach occasionally. The hotel is also a short walk from shopping, galleries, restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs, and beach clubs. Otherwise, it's relatively easy to get around by taxi. Dream Museum Zone (DMZ) Bali is a fun, family-friendly attraction with large 3D murals for visitors to pose and interact with -- it's an eight-minute drive from the property. The Ground Zero Monument to the victims of the 2002 Sari Club bombing is a 12-minute drive from the hotel. Waterbom Bali water park is a good activity for families and is 15 minutes away by car. Ngurah Rai International Airport will take about 20 minutes to reach by car. 

The 28 rooms at Seaside Suites come in studio and one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations. The look here is contemporary, but despite elements like bamboo flooring and good-quality wood furnishings, they do feel a little plain and under-decorated. Neutral white, beige, tan, and brown hues make everything look sharp and simple, with bronze-colored decorative throws on the all-white bedding. 

Ample space is the key feature of the rooms. Studios have 484-square-foot floor plans (45 square meters), while suites range from 1,055 square feet (98 square meters) to 4,230 square feet (393 square meters). This space makes the rooms -- particularly the suites -- good for families and groups. All rooms have balconies or terraces, with some terraces opening directly to the hotel's swimming pool. 

Standard features include minibars (with items sold at inexpensive local prices), electric kettles for instant coffee and tea, free Wi-Fi, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs (suites have two TVs) with HD channels and DVD players. Suites feature separate living and dining areas plus kitchens with refrigerators, sinks, two-burner stovetops, cookware, and tableware. The three-bedroom suites have private outdoor plunge pools and jetted tubs in the master bathroom. 

Bathrooms have a stylish look, with round mirrors, vessel sinks, and granite countertops. All come with glass-walled showers and separate high-walled white bathtubs. Rooms are all non-smoking but the hotel has a small outdoor patio for smokers. 

Seaside Suites Bali's key attraction is its location across a narrow road from Double Six Beach, which offers beach soccer, swimming, and surfing. The hotel provides beach towels. Those looking to get wet closer to home, and away from some of the hawkers that can ply the sand, will do well with the hotel's own pool. It's good for lap swimming, at 25 meters long (82 feet), and has a shallow section for kids at one end. The pool doesn't have a swim-up bar like other area hotels, but the hotel's bar serves poolside drinks and light fare. 

The restaurant and bar have an outdoor terrace that also capitalizes on those beach views. An a la carte breakfast includes a range of Indonesian, Mexican, and American fare, while lunch and dinner feature a variety of salads, soups, pizzas, pasta, Indonesian fare, and international dishes. The restaurant is one of the few in the area to offer Mexican fare as well as numerous gluten-free and vegan options. The bar hosts a daily happy hour and room service is available. 

Unlike many neighboring smaller hotels, the Seaside has a fitness center, and it's quite good. It has large windows with views of the grounds plus a good range of cardio and weight equipment,. Boxing and martial arts training is available for a fee, and there are several heavy bags and speed bags. Occasionally the fitness center can get crowded, since the hotel sells memberships to locals. The spa offers massages and treatments, along with hot tub, sauna, and steam room -- these latter features can be used by guests for free, though treatments cost extra. The Seaside Suites also provides concierge service and wedding hosting and offers free parking. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.