Bali Bathwater and Bond Villains: An Unexpected Airport Oasis
Let me tell you about this Hilton Garden Inn near Denpasar airport – it's a real surprise.It's got this weird, almost retro Bond villain vibe – way less jungle-y than I pictured Bali. Someone called it "stylish." Sure, if stylish means aggressively air-conditioned and efficient. Which, after 20+ hours of travel, maybe it is. The gym is apparently a legit gym, which seasoned travelers apparently lose their minds over. Who knew?
The pool is long and inviting… until you dip a toe in. Bathwater. Bali bathwater. Good for laps, not so much for splashing around with tiny humans. At night, they dim the lights and it looks kinda magical. I almost forgot about the warm water.
Location? A riddle wrapped in an enigma. Five minutes from airport parking, which means you still need a ride. Technically walkable, but only if you’re backpacking and enjoy sweating profusely while lugging a suitcase.
Oh, and every single car gets checked by security. Thorough! Or…intense? I’m not sure yet.
Inside, it's all very…not-Bali. Restaurant serves “safe” food, which, let’s be real, sometimes you crave after a long journey. Just be prepared to sell a kidney for a bottle of water from the hotel shop. Pro tip: tiny local place a short walk away sells these amazing meat-filled rice balls. Way better – and cheaper – than the hotel menu.
The staff? Angels. Super helpful and attentive – “Western standards,” as someone put it. Which, in this case, seems to mean they fix your AC the second it starts making weird gurgling noises. Which mine did. True story.
So, verdict? Sterile oasis or weary traveler's dream? Jury’s still out. But those rice balls… I’m going back for those.
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