The Alila Seminyak: Come Here to be Transported

I arrived at the Alila late in the day, tired from a long journey and not feeling very well. Earlier that morning, I’d caught the ferry from Java, and the car ride from the western tip of Bali took longer than expected. It was the traffic. In this part of Bali, it’s often the traffic. If you’re coming here, you’ll likely be arriving from the opposite direction as I did, but you’ll deal with the same traffic.

Did I mention I wasn’t feeling very well? The questionable judgment of a train station lunch from the day before was catching up with me. All the plans I had of exploring the hotel grounds and then venturing out into Seminyak dissipated by the time I arrived. I only wanted to get to the hotel and into bed. The onset of “Bali belly” had dulled the full appreciation of my arrival at the Alia, but it couldn’t kill it. The property is simply too lovely for that.

Keep reading and I’ll tell you more or scroll down to see my quick and dirty take on whether this is the right resort for you.

By car, the trip from Denpasar airport is about 45 minutes in normal traffic. But be prepared to deal with more than normal traffic.

A great hotel in a great location.

The best thing about the Alila Seminyak may be its location. The hard product is great as well, and I’ll come back to that, but there are many great hotels in Bali. Not many of them are right in the mix like the Alila, just down the beach from two of Seminyak’s most popular beach clubs, walking distance to some of the island’s best nightlife, and a quick trip over to where the shopping is.

Seminyak is one of Bali’s most appealing destinations, but it’s hectic to say the least. When the topic of over-tourism comes up, Bali is often at the forefront. And nowhere is this on display more than the corridor running from Kuta up the southwest coast to Canggu. Seminyak sits right in the middle of that corridor.

Because of how hectic Seminyak can be, your arrival at the Alila will feel like being transported to a more serene location. You get to the Alila by way of Jalan Petitenget, one of Seminyak’s busiest streets. A turn onto a quieter road leads you to the resort’s main gate; from there, a wooded driveway whisks you up to the lobby. This trip up the driveway is a form of transformation, of moving from the hot and hectic streets of Seminyak to the calm and cool interiors of the Alila and then out towards the balmy and breathtaking beaches of Bali’s western coast.

This motion towards the water is a motif repeated throughout the property.

Maximalism is the latest trend in hotel design, but you won’t find any of that here.

A big space though not cavernous the lobby of the Alila marries form and function well. The high ceilings and the wood-clad walls help to propel you forward towards the view that waits beyond. At the same time, the large sunken seating area in the middle is decked out with stylish and inviting furniture. Whether checking-in or waiting for your driver, the plush bench and comfortable chairs both look good and feel good.

The feeling of being transported doesn’t stop at the lobby. The color palette helps. The white floors, the dark wood cladding on the walls, and the accents of greenery. Going anywhere in the Alila feels a little like floating.

The Alila brand philosophy promises “something unexpected, profound and new.” I take marketing copy with a grain of salt, but the design aesthetic of the Alila Seminyak delivers on the promise. On the whole, the property serves as the perfect middle point between the chaos of downtown Seminyak and the calm of the endless sea that spreads out behind the hotel.

One of the 29 brands under the Hyatt umbrella, Alila was founded in 2001 and acquired by Hyatt in 2018. The first Alila opened in Manggis, in the northeast of Bali. There are currently four Alila properties on Bali and 16 Alila’s worldwide. Hyatt counts Alila among its luxury brands; although, from what I can tell they vary in rating. I’ve stayed at the Grand Hyatt Bali, which Hyatt also considers a luxury brand; the Alila Seminyak is a step above. I’ll be visiting the Andaz Bali soon and will be able to make that comparison, as well.

There are 240 rooms and “suites” at the Alila Seminyak

I stayed in a King Deluxe room, the entry-level room category. My room was on the ground floor, witch a terrace that faced the pool. These Deluxe Terrace rooms are 635 sq ft (59 sq m) and my rate was just under USD300, including taxes and fees. Joining Hyatt’s member program will unlock slightly lower rates. The Deluxe rooms are tucked back in an L-shaped building away from the beach and with its own pool. In retrospect, maybe it feels like being hidden away from the higher-paying guests, but I can’t say I felt that way at the time.

This was a working trip for me. I stayed at the hotel to make a video for my YouTube channel. The King Deluxe was fine for me, but my suggestion is to book a better room if you’re coming here on an actual vacation. The Alila calls every room category above Grand Deluxe suites, but in fact, most are just larger rooms. The higher room categories are all in the wings that radiate out from the lobby. My suggestion is to book one of the room categories with an ocean view.

There are also two categories of legitimate suites: the one-bedroom Seminyak suites and the two-bedroom Beach Suites (1,518 sq ft or 141 sq m). There is also the three-bedroom Alila Penthouse Suite.

Welcome to Room L44.

If you’re a fan of minimalist design, you’ll love it here. The rooms are contemporary with a slight Balinese feel; although, it could just as easily be called universal SE Asian beach feel. I don’t mean this as a slight. But if you’re looking for a more rustic  and more specifically Balinese design, you’re better off looking elsewhere. The minimalism is the point here.

As with the lobby, layout of the room draws you forward towards the big windows and the terrace. Unlike the lobby, my room faces does not face the ocean. The room has a small terrace that leads out to one of the pools. The rooms on the higher floors are a similar size but have balconies (86 sq ft or 8 sq m).

If you plan to spend a lot of time in the room, spring for one of the Ocean View rooms. Both the bigger room and the superior views will make for a better experience.

The rest of the resort.

As I arrived in the evening, my first real views of the place came in the morning. I like to wake up early and take in a resort while it’s mostly empty. The web site states there are four pools on the property, but I was only able to find four of them. I read a few online reviews and many of them repeat the five pools; so, either I missed the fifth pool or some of these so-called reviewers never even visited the hotel. There was a pool right outside my room in the annex. There are two infinity edge pools, both elevated with views out into the ocean. One is the Relax Pool and the other is the Family Pool. At both of these pools you can see the magical liminal quality that permeates the Alila. It’s hard to tell the edge of the pool from the sea beyond?

After waking up and having a walk around, I had breakfast at Seasalt, the resort’s main restaurant, was very good. They have both a full buffet and a supplemental a la carte menu, which was included in the price. The resort’s only other food and beverage outlet is the Beach Bar. One restaurant and one bar is on the light side, but the Alila is within walking distance of many of Seminyak’s bars and restaurants. You’re likely staying here to take advantage of the nearby nightlife.

After breakfast, I went and checked the last of the four pools. Along the way I passed the spa and a yoga class taking place out front and took a quick swing by the gym. I didn’t have any treatments at the spa, but I did check out the gym. It’s not a large gym, but there is a good mix of equipment, and it’s spaced in such a way that you won’t feel cramped. Lastly, I came to the main pool, which sits next to the aforementioned Beach Bar. The pool area is as stylish as the rest of the property and affords great views of both the beach and the resort itself. On the back side of Beach Bar are a number of chairs and bean bags that make a great place to enjoy the Bali sunset. There are no chairs or loungers set up on the actual beach, but the view from the back of Beach Bar is just as nice.

Is the Alila Seminyak the right resort for you?

I’m not a hotel reviewer. I only want to share some of my experiences with you. That said, I do like to provide a little context to help you decide if the Alila Seminyak is the right resort for you.

If you’ve got your heart set on spending some time in Seminyak, do consider The Alila. The clean lines and contemplative atmosphere are the perfect counterpoint to the madness you’ll find all around you. If you’re a fan of the chic and contemporary design aesthetic that leans towards the minimal, the Alila is definitely the property for you. And I would say this property is best for couples and for solo travelers/those traveling with friends.

On the other hand, if you want to steer clear of this part of Bali, there are resorts of similar quality to be found in quitter areas like Uluwatu or Nusa Dua. Likewise, if you’re looking for a property that is heavy on the Balinese design aesthetic or generally has a more maximalist feel, the Alila might not be for you. And finally, the Alila is not an adults-only property but the vibe is definitely grown and sexy. If you’re worried about entertaining little ones, there are more family-oriented resorts to be found.