Checking in at the GrandMas Plus Seminyak: Balinese culture with a modern twist

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Who doesn’t have Bali on their wish list right now? Bali has had a solid place on mine for so long that I started wondering if I’d ever get there. But since I’ve spent the last year in Australia travelling and working, and with Bali being so close, I knew now was my chance. I love Australia but I’d been craving a change of pace and culture and the thought of the Indonesian food almost makes me drool *nice*. Tom and I had decided to spend some time outside of Australia after our first year there so that was it; it was time for Bali!

Of course, being the backpackers that we are, we booked the cheapest flights going. This meant we landed in Denpasar just past midnight which is why I knew I wanted a hotel somewhere close by and comfortable to recharge but also somewhere with the famous Balinese culture rooted in. Fortunately, I found the GrandMas Plus Hotel in nearby Seminyak and it turned out to be the perfect place to stay. With its modern twists and Balinese traditions at its center, it was exactly what I wanted. Here’s my review to inspire you.

Book your stay at the GrandMas Plus Hotel Seminyak here!

Perfect location to explore Seminyak

Seminyak is most famously known for a few things; its beautiful beaches, for being a shopaholic’s paradise and for its wild nightlife. You’ll find the GrandMas Plus just a short 5 minutes walk from the beach, and slightly away from the main shopping area and bars of Jalan Laksmana Road. It’s closeness to all of these areas makes it super easy to explore Seminyak which is exactly what I needed for my short 2 days there. I personally love walking around a new area and the GrandMas is in such a great location to reach the main spots without any trouble. Whilst being centrally located, the hotel is just off of the main street making it far less busy than the middle of the town allowing me to breathe a bit after being in the midst of the hustle and bustle.

Cleverly designed rooms

The rooms are where the modern twist really comes into play. Each room has its own striking piece of wall art and a phrase to get you motivated for the day ahead. I stayed in their Cozy Double Room which was compact but the fresh colours and minimal layout make the room look sleek and clean.

Something that I really loved about the rooms is that, despite being quite small, GrandMas describes their rooms as ‘smart rooms’ which is so accurate. The underneath of the bed is made entirely of storage that easily fit my huge backpack and day bag and managed to contain the bag explosion that always happens without an issue. Having a place to keep bags out of the way was great especially as I’ve found this to sometimes be an issue in other hotels I’ve stayed in with larger rooms. Additionally, the bedside table is a cube, creating another nook to tuck away items.

If you like to unpack when you’re staying in a hotel then there’s a small clothes rail and shelf above the worktop with tea and coffee facilities. Under this desk is also an electronic safe with a combination lock to secure valuables away and also a small fridge to put your own items in. Right next to this is a flat screen tv which is great if you’re the type of person (like me) who like to watch tv to relax.

Despite the small size of the room, the bed was huge, really comfy and the fluffy pillows meant I slept really well. Something you might not know about me is that I sometimes have real trouble sleeping, so I don’t say that lightly! With all the bags tucked away under the bed, there was plenty of floor space to walk around without fear of tripping over something.

The clever use of space extends into the ensuite with a sliding door that opens into a pretty spacious room. There’s a roomy double shower with hot water, complimentary shampoo and shower gel and a shelf to hold our own toiletries. As someone who is trying to be more sustainable when travelling, I really like that the shower products were in refillable bottles instead of miniatures that use up lots of plastic. GrandMas Seminyak also uses a system where towels are not changed when hung up, and bedsheets are only changed during your stay if you put a card on the bed showing you want it, which I think is great.

Delicious food and great cocktails

There’s no quicker way to my heart than through a good bite to eat and GrandMas’s restaurant, Miura, was where I was lucky enough to enjoy breakfast and a dinner there during my stay. They have a huge selection on their menu including traditional Balinese dishes as well as western so there’s always going to be something for everyone available. I would definitely recommend the Mahi Mahi for dinner though!

The restaurant is in a beautiful curved shaped building and is cosy whilst also being open air. For me, there’s nothing better than alfresco dining! Upstairs you’ll find the funky Kinky Tiki Bar that’s decorated like a surf shack giving it a relaxed vibe and making it a great place to relax and enjoy a drink. The restaurant area also has a bar and I would definitely recommend getting there for their 2-for-1 cocktail happy hour!

Friendly Balinese customer service

Whenever I’ve spoken to anyone about visiting Bali, one thing that gets mentioned time and time again is how welcoming and hospitable the Balinese people are, and that was certainly the case at GrandMas Seminyak. Tom and I arrived really late at the hotel but it was no problem at all. There was a member of staff outside the hotel who very kindly helped get our bags out of the car, the receptionist was so welcoming and checked us in efficiently and even gave us a welcome drink.

Honestly, every member of staff we saw was so happy, welcoming and would do anything to help in any way they could. From the lovely guy who took care of the room keeping to the hosts and hostess in Miura, everyone would say hello and I knew I would have no problems at all. I’m not a nervous traveller but they felt like a reassuring family away from home. The service was as amazing as I thought it would be.

Loads of amenities

From the roadside, GrandMas is quite subtle looking, but it certainly packs a lot into it. As soon as you walk in past Miura towards reception, you’ll see a pretty plunge pool if you fancy a dip. Although I didn’t have time to make use of it, I could think of nothing better on a hot Bali day.

Something that I knew I wanted to do whilst in Bali was to have a massage. The GrandMas Seminyak has it’s very own spa, De Nyuh, and it was fantastic. I had a 60-minute Balinese Massage and as soon as I stepped in the door I was so relaxed. I was welcomed with a delicious ginger tea before having the chance to choose from a selection of oils. When you walk around Bali you’ll come across lots of shops offering massages, but nothing beats the serenity of a spa and De Nyuh was pure bliss and I didn’t want to leave.

Part of experiencing a new country is to learn about its culture. The GrandMas Seminyak offers a huge number of amazing activities allowing you to get hands-on. From Yoga in the morning to lessons on making Canang Sari (small offerings to the gods that you’ll see everywhere in Bali), there’s a lot to try out. While I didn’t manage to fit these classes in during my stay, I love that Bali traditions are at the heart of this modern hotel.

One thing that did come as a bit of a surprise to me was to learn that the GrandMas has just opened a tattoo salon! The Golden Bull tattoo studio has its main salon nearby in Kuta but is now offering its artwork at the hotel. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a hotel that also has a tattoo salon but I think it really fits in with the artistic style of the GrandMas and it’s definitely a unique extra!

The verdict

So, clearly, I really loved my stay at the GrandMas in Seminyak. If you’re looking for a hotel that’s in a great location, is affordable, comfy and modern but also has the Balinese culture at its heart, it’s perfect for you. It’s a real all-in-one hotel with all the amenities you need and more, plus amazing customer service that will make you feel so at home it’s hard to leave. The GrandMas hotel is right where you want to be Seminyak to explore and relax as much as you want.

One thing to note is that Seminyak really comes alive at night, and with that comes the sounds from the streets outside. The music from the nearby bars does float up to the rooms but experiencing the nightlife in Seminyak is a part of the area and I think it would be difficult to escape it whilst still being in such a central location. I wouldn’t let this worry you though as even on a Friday when I was there, the music quietened down at a reasonable time.

Booking.com

I hope you enjoyed this review of the GrandMas Plus Hotel Seminyak and a huge thanks to them for hosting my stay. All opinions and views are entirely my own and based on my personal experience. This post also contains affiliates from which I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you to help run the site. Thanks so much for your support!