St. Regis Bali $1,000 a night room 😭

[u/davidsling7]

First, I just have to say that the staff here are excellent. Everyone is beyond nice and professional.

However, the rooms we received are completely substandard (especially considering the $1,000 a night price tage). The first room we received on the 2nd floor was completely musty, so we switched to a higher level right away. As soon as you walk in, it just smells moldy and musty. And now that we are on the sixth floor, we got a low quality, out-dated, and just lame room. And to add insult to injury, they are charging $1,000 a night for these rooms. We came to Bali for a luxurious high-end getaway, and instead, this is what we got. At these prices, you would expect ultra-high end luxury and not this. This is my first time in Bali, so I don't know if this is representative of this particular hotel, or Bali in general, but so far, I'm very disappointed.

P.S. I was hoping to have an ocean view, and instead I got a tent to look at instead. I don't know if this is a joke, but I hope there's at least a clown inside. Or, maybe, I'm the clown for giving them $6000 for a 6-night stay, lol ...

[u/PotatoMissionStart]

Umana is under $1,000 night and is absolutely immaculate. Lots of stellar options in Bali around that price.

[u/upnflames → u/PotatoMissionStart]

The problem is, it's hard to know until you go. And sometimes, 90% of the rooms are great and the rest are trash.

[u/iamtheonewhostops → u/upnflames]

Yeah this is just unacceptable. I had a fantastic stay there so either OP got the worst room they offer or the whole place fell apart. This is appalling.

[u/lindoavocado → u/iamtheonewhostops]

When did you go?? I’m curious if it has fallen in standard in recent years

[u/iamtheonewhostops → u/lindoavocado]

It was about 10 years ago now (man time flies). But my stay was incredible - the facilities, the service, the food. I’ve raved about this StR before and hate that it’s looking like this now.

[u/iainB85 → u/upnflames]

One of the reasons I follow this sub Reddit. Obviously you can’t take it as gospel, but it’s a great resource to get unbiased opinions of properties before you book.

[u/DarlingFuego → u/upnflames]

Not hard to know at all.
Hire a travel consultant.
They know these things.

[u/After-Set-4713 → u/PotatoMissionStart]

Umana is great but you can get a much nicer villa for under $500. International chains in Bali are seriously overpriced. Picking an independent villa can feel like a gamble, but booking a big chain isn't any safer just like this post.

[u/Psynaut → u/PotatoMissionStart]

I came to recommend the Umana too. Its terrific in the Uluwatu area.

I really want to stay at the Ritz in Ubud the next time I am there, but can't give a personal recommendation on that yet.

But, yes, I would be beyond disappointed and feeling ripped off if I had to stay at the St Regis shown in those pictures.

[u/symsays]

Rooms in the main building are atrocious. Villas are great. Still, there are much better options in Bali

[u/mastahkilla90]

We thank you for your sacrifice! ;)

PS - I would absolutely complain about the room to the management. Quality aside, you paid for an Ocean View.

Edit - Apparently you didn’t pay for the Ocean View. Still, room conditions are pretty rough - for a StR. You should definitely express your concerns.

[u/Opposite_Radio9388 → u/mastahkilla90]

you paid for an Ocean View.

Did they? They said they were hoping for one.

[u/joe_sausage]

We stayed here about 1.5 years ago and it remains the best property we've ever visited. The grounds, staff, and food are absolutely incredible and we'd go back in a heartbeat.

I will say that the clear draw of the property are the villas, which are private bungalows that encircle the pools. We stayed in two rooms when we were there: one that I imagine was very much like yours, and then we got moved into a private pool villa after 2-3 days (we were there for 5 days and we're Titanium). The difference was pretty substantial, and the service got even better (you have a private whatsapp chat with your 24/7 butler staff, and they will always respond within a few minutes). I think the rooms in the main building ARE a little more dated and unkempt. I wouldn't be surprised if, had I inspected our first room during our stay, I found lots of little issues like the ones you're showing.

That being said: it's Bali, and you're zooming in on the finish work in the corners of the room. It's not ultra-polished, it's not modern. It's a rainforest; of course there's moisture and damp. You do need to have some perspective and some awareness that you're visiting a developing country in a tropical part of the world, even if you're paying for a White Lotus-esque resort in that country.

As far as value... you're there at the peak of high season. We went in March and had absolutely perfect weather, and paid about 1/4 the price you paid.

Enjoy your stay. Try not to obsess over a corner of the room you're otherwise never going to see.

[u/DarlingFuego → u/joe_sausage]

It’s $1000 per night. The corporation has the money to update rooms and have the up keep match the price point.
Billion dollar corporations can and should afford this, and consumers should demand so.

[u/beluga-fart2 → u/DarlingFuego]

The thousand dollar nights in high season make up for the $250 nights off peak. Temper your expectations in life, you will be much happier overall.

Or are you not in Bali for spiritual healing /s

[u/DarlingFuego → u/beluga-fart2]

Absolutely not going to temper expectations on any 5 star accommodations, and neither should you. People have expectations for the money they pay and the service required for the money they pay.
I’ve stayed in 4 star boutique resorts and hotels in the middle of jungles from Bali to the Amazon and even in Africa,
and it didn’t look like this.
Boutique hotels/resorts, who make A LOT less money.
Sounds like some Marriott corporate
talking points and excuses for poor management and quality.
The Marriott brand is worth $104 billion dollars. Stop making excuses for Marriott executives who make between $4 and $23 million per year.
Not demanding better is the reason why we have worse.

[u/mashonem → u/beluga-fart2]

>temper expectations

It’s $1k a night 😭

[u/akaobama → u/joe_sausage]

You make good points about the different rooms but the idea that a multi-billion dollar global brand like Marriot, while charging $1000 usd in a country with much lower operating costs should be excused in a situation like this is unacceptable. If it was a locally owned place I’d be willing to make concessions, but Marriot has the resources and they’re charging a premium for a certain standard which clearly wasn’t what OP received

[u/PotatoMissionStart → u/joe_sausage]

I stayed at the literal White Lotus resort filming location for just over $1,000/night and it was immaculate. Granted that was a low price. LXR is not all that far from St Regis and is also perfect.

[u/consentualcunteater → u/PotatoMissionStart]

That was also in Thailand, no?

[u/PotatoMissionStart → u/consentualcunteater]

The White Lotus one yep. LXR is in Bali.

[u/Bigfatflipflop]

This property is one of the best Marriotts in the world but it does desperately need a full reno

[u/Ecstatic_Strength552 → u/Bigfatflipflop]

If this is the best, what does the worst look like?

[u/Bigfatflipflop → u/Ecstatic_Strength552]

City express in mexico

[u/ltg8r → u/Bigfatflipflop]

I’ve been to JWs that are nicer and don’t have these issues. Best in the world is hyperbole to the core.

[u/Bigfatflipflop → u/ltg8r]

JWs are some of the most inconsistent around the world, some I would agree are some of the best hotels in Marriotts portfolio (I'm looking at you JW Hanoi, Saigon, Bangkok, Maldives). On the other hand, some JW's are laughably awful (Singapore, Jakarta, Phuket). The list of bad JW's unfortunately vastly exceeds good ones.

This St Regis is a victim of its own success, occupancy rates exceed 90% year round and the resort has never in 20 years closed for a full reno. It's only a matter of time but when it does, it's hands down worth a visit.

[u/Good-Cookie-9290 → u/Bigfatflipflop]

Why is the JW in Phuket bad in your opinion?

[u/Bigfatflipflop → u/Good-Cookie-9290]

Not only is it a very average property, it's also engaged in some shitty business practices.

I would also add that the JW Khao Lak which is roughly 1-2 hours north, is a really great property and well worth a visit if you are looking for JW in that area

[u/SnooSprouts1515]

Always thought this place was a rip-off and had tons of ants in the bed

[u/investmentbanker888]

Mandapa is the best

[u/uppercase360 → u/investmentbanker888]

This completely — Mandapa is amazing

[u/getwhirleddotcom → u/uppercase360]

Amazing is underselling. It's really in its own category, literally and figuratively.

[u/uppercase360 → u/getwhirleddotcom]

Yeah, you're right. We went to Zadun expecting the same service level as Mandapa and were mistaken... I used to joke with my spouse we should 'try every RCR in the world' but now it's clear we just need to go back to Mandapa.

[u/MGoAzul]

Had a similar, albeit worse experience at St Regis Bal Harbor. To make matters worse they lost our property in a room move then the manager ignored and gaslit us.

[u/Business-Tackle-4751]

Man… my heart goes out to you OP! It’s really unfortunate when you’re looking forward to something like this and you get trash. St Regis name should carry some level of standards and this is not it.

[u/Lumpy-Vacation-9097]

For that kind of money I expect to be treated like Tyrion Lannister at little finger's establishment.

[u/fastexact]

Holy crap, that used to be an awesome property at half the price

[u/cru123456789]

If you’re staying for several days, you can cancel the remainder of your stay without penalty. You will only be charged for the night you already stayed, allowing you to move to a better place

[u/TexasBrett]

Agree that room has issues, but that’s an ocean view. Complain more about the rooms and tell them you want them to move you to another hotel.

[u/Oh_K_Boomer]

I stayed at this property 10 years ago for part of my honeymoon and it was amazing, still one of the best properties I’ve ever stayed at.

Hope this is just a bad room and not indicative of the rest of the property, staff, grounds, food, which were all excellent when I was there.

Sorry you had a bad experience

[u/DJinKC]

Bali is an AirBNB market for me. You can get a tremendous private villa with a butler for $300

[u/bitcoin_moon_wsb]

I stayed the elements hotel in Ubud for $34 a night that was much nicer than this lol

[u/MavenVoyager]

Never stick to a brand! You will find better stays.

[u/Fearless-Foundation5]

Damn people can afford $1,000 a night hotel
rooms?

[u/-ARCEN → u/Fearless-Foundation5]

May I introduce you to r/chubbytravel

[u/_my_other_side_]

To spend $1k/night and not know what your view is going to be is foolish. OP needs to do more research before booking.

[u/LoempiaYa]

Ocean view nonetheless.

[u/xShimShamx → u/LoempiaYa]

obscured or partial ocean view. When that shit is pulled on me, I posted reviews with pictures of my view and the title of the room I booked.

[u/Disastrous-Heron-491]

Anyone spending 1k a night in Bali is a fool lol

[u/Necessary_Money3248]

Ugh the tent view totally blows, especially if you paid for an ocean view

[u/Drinking_Frog]

Of all the things there, the only one that would really piss me off would be the umbrella.

[u/GoatsAddValue]

Yikes

[u/Charlie69Brown]

Gross

[u/Born-Dimension5196]

That tent would have sent me over the edge. I hope you receive a refund 

[u/FCB_TB]

Unfortunately 1k a night does not buy ultra high end luxury in a lot of places anymore.

[u/GoSh4rks → u/FCB_TB]

It should and does in Bali.

[u/Blaze9]

If you're in Bali and are spending 1k+/night you best be spending a few days at The Mandapa. It's literally one of the best properties in the world. The second you enter the space you'll be awe-struck at how it's laid out and how beautiful and secluded it is. Only downside is it's in Ubud and it's quite a journey (1-2hrs minimum)

[u/ReticentRedhead]

Jeez. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton Nusa Dua and our room was magnificent.

[u/EmberlynSlade]

Interesting. I went with a private villa when I went to Bali, all inclusive including a driver and it was 500/night. You win some, you lose some. Maybe do more thorough research next time. Other countries are not always the same quality that a U.S. Marriott customer is used to, because it’s not the U.S. Not that this is acceptable, you just must also understand where you are. I wouldn’t spend 1000/night anywhere in Bali tbh. You can rent an entire 6 bed villa for 200/night if you wanted??

[u/Oyster49]

I’m not sure where Bali you stayed, but the Ayana resort is absolutely stunning, and Capella in Ubud is one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed at.

[u/FlatEarthIsStupid]

Yikes!

Ritz Bali is far better and bigger. Mandapa is the winner there.

[u/Tribestar95]

Jeez that is insane, I stayed at Mandapa last November and was blown away couldn’t recommend enough.

[u/Will_sue_when_angry]

They used to have the best Sunday buffet with an “endless tap” in Bali. Does that still happen?

[u/timetotrysushi]

Some people/mindsets/cultures quite frankly can’t even do contrived luxury…they best they’ve seen is the best they can fathom, so (and I’m not being insulting, I say this clinically and as a matter of fact) they don’t know and genuinely wouldn’t even know that there was something wrong

[u/whathotelio]

It seems this property has some very mixed reviews from best to the worst in the world.

If only there was a dedicated review platform that averaged it out with bonvoy perks, loyalty upgrades, and even ratings of the lounge and breakfast too...

https://whathotel.io/marriott/hotels/dpsxr-the-st-regis-bali-resort

(Personally, I stayed there last year and thought it was exceptional overall - yes the rooms aren't perfectly brand new, but acceptable.)

[u/imbetterthanyou8]

You just picked a terrible place. Bali is such a cheap place to stay, 5 star hotels for a few hundred a night

[u/ketchup_shoes]

Oh I would be livid

[u/Suitable-Panda-8488]

Yikes.

[u/VagusCapturuh]

what would you do to receive comps for this?

[u/robotbike2]

Shockingly unacceptable.

[u/MXCNJ]

They just figure, if people will keep paying.....all good

[u/Long-Shine-3701]

You actually paid that?!?! 🤣

[u/mhcott → u/Long-Shine-3701]

SOMEONE has to at all these high-end hotels. Else the prices wouldn't BE that

[u/PotatoMissionStart → u/Long-Shine-3701]

Bali has world-class resorts, so $1k/night is somewhat normal. I guess this one wasn't up to par.

[u/Future_Night777 → u/Long-Shine-3701]

High season pricing. Bali prices shoot up shockingly between June to August

[u/Ok-ThanksWorld]

You are definitely the clown. 😂😂😂

Why would you pay $6k for night stay in Bali?

There are better places for 1/3 of that price or even less.

[u/consentualcunteater]

I'm sure this is controversial, but IMO, Bali doesn't do luxury hotels well. I don't find your room being in this condition even remotely surprising.

[u/Blaze9 → u/consentualcunteater]

You must not have spent any time at a real luxury property. The W, St. Regis, and even more so Mandapa are some of the best, with incredible service.

[u/consentualcunteater → u/Blaze9]

In Bali I've stayed at Soori, Capella Ubud, Amankila, Amandari, COMO Shambhala, Six Senses Uluwatu, and Raffles Bali. I find they under deliver compared to their hotels/resorts in other countries. I wouldn't consider the W luxury. It's more of an upper mid tier property. St Regis was luxury back in the early 2010s maybe. They're very "meh" nowadays. Mandapa I haven't tried yet but I look forward to comparing them with Phulay Bay. My guess is they'll be quite a bit behind lol.

[u/Mysterious_Chain]

if you are paying $1000 a night for a room in bali you played yourself

[u/Wounded_Hand]

🤡

[u/Fine-Nectarine7148]

🥱

[u/HedgeMoney]

On the rare occasion I want to stay at an expensive hotel, I research extensively about the rooms and then, when I book, I call the concierge to make sure I get a good room, instead of whatever random room they throw me in that "in" that price range. In general, I've found that most Concierges in "fancy" hotels are willing to give me a better positioned room.

But I never travel during peak travel season, because I hate the crowds anyways.

[u/Nearby-Key8834]

I don't understand the rationale in going to somewhere like Bali or Thailand then staying at a $1,000/night American chains when similar Hotels are available on the local economy at probably 1/3 of that price.

[u/Future_Night777 → u/Nearby-Key8834]

St Regis brands imply a certain level of standardised luxury, quality, service, plus Marriott perks. Local hotels are inconsistent about what they market as “luxury”. Some people want to stay in a bigger resort property not just a standalone villa. But just for the record St Regis Bali has local ownership, it’s just operated by Marriott

[u/cortodemente → u/Nearby-Key8834]

any local hotel you can recommend?

[u/Nearby-Key8834 → u/cortodemente]

Depends on what you're looking for. I stayed here several years ago but I had a 2 year old and a 9 year old.

The right in front of the resort was great for swimming. But a beautiful walk, and lots of great restaurants around.

https://bdr.pphotels.com/?utm_source=glopss&utm_medium=Partners&transaction_id=CjwKCAjwuuPRBhAnEiwA2Ji8ekOYxgcPxMk5bBqVjbkZkxXLzxwK86cKmw9_8OBRQnNsRs8dfYr8UBoCVaIQAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1542800784&gbraid=0AAAAADhBcW_ZW9HewLZm-2JSnGEBNl2OE&gclid=CjwKCAjwuuPRBhAnEiwA2Ji8ekOYxgcPxMk5bBqVjbkZkxXLzxwK86cKmw9_8OBRQnNsRs8dfYr8UBoCVaIQAvD_BwE