As soon as we
walked into this main foyer of this hotel we knew instantly we had found
our
Bali winner.
The first thing you see when you walk up the front stairs is a giant man
made waterfall that the foyer, and hotel was built in a square around- simply
stunning.
We stayed at
Grand Mirage on 29/05-01/06/18 costing us $389.94 from Expedia.com.au. From memory this was a really good deal with
something like 30% off.
OUR ROOM
This was a nice
clean, cosy family type room. They accommodated us having kids by setting up a
double bed next to our bed, still giving us plenty of space.
We had our own
balcony with a table and two chairs overlooking the fountain below and gardens.
We could also see the main street of this area, where we found many amazing
restaurants- like The Tree. But you
could also close this with block out doors, painted with a beautiful
traditional hero. When you closed them it just looked like art on the wall, but
made the room completely dark.
The bathroom was
spacious with a shower, bath, toilet and large vanity. The bathroom also had
French bi-fold doors, which you could open up while in the bath so you can
watch TV- but still out of sight of those in the room (unless they are little
peepers).
Our bed was
absolutely massive and was no joke like two queen size beds side by side- this
thing could fit four big pillows all the way along the top, and then some. We
got so lost in this bed!
SECURITY
More low-key
then most places we’ve stayed, but I think this is due to the fact that this
part of Nusa Dua is quite quiet (Bali standards). There was one in the entrance,
waiting to block the roads off so you can cross safely. Then there were always
two guards inside the driveway, who would check with a mirror under the car and
in the boot to make sure you weren’t a threat.
The hotel had
its own private beach with sun-loungers as well as a security on watch, keeping
away the locals trying to sell their activities and goods to you.
KIDS CLUB
Kids Club is at
no extra cost for guests staying at Grand Mirage and Thalasso, which we thought
was great. And noticing this is becoming more and more of a trend in Bali
lately.
One of the best
kids club’s we have ever seen to date. There are two rooms either side of the
building where kids club is (Bamboo Kids Club). One room is a very modern
spaceship like room where there are video games and a massive projector with
beanbags for movies. The other room was suitable more for smaller kids, with a
jungle gym, foam padded floors and ball pit. Then in the middle there was a
mini boxing ring, a pool table and a giant snakes and ladders wall game. Then
at the back of all this was a kids water playground, which the girls went on
once a day.
Only downside to
this kids club was that you needed to pick your kids up at 12pm and drop them
back at 1pm, for lunch closure. We’ve always had alternating staff when it
comes to this at kids club. Only a minor downside, but painful when your kids
don’t want to leave- because kids club is too fun.
Our last full
day in Bali we we’re lucky enough to be staying in Grand Mirage as they through
a big pool foam party, which the girls absolutely loved. Everyday there was new
activities on and really fun ones, where the girls would come home from kids
club with handmade beanbag lizards and even sarongs that they had won as prizes
from games they played throughout the day.
Everyday when we
would drop the girls off and pick them up the minders there were like they were
greeting family and remembered the girls name from day dot. The girls made
awesome friends in kids club and would wake us early for breakfast, so we could
drop them to kids club afterwards.
FOOD
Umm…four words…
BEST BUFFET BREAKFAST EVER! The food here was phenomenal, and the best part it
was fresh. As soon as something in the buffet was looking average the fresh
stuff would be replacing it. And so many cuisines to choose from, literally a
global buffet breakfast. Every morning it was different, but was delicious- we
never had to have lunch when we stayed here as we ate far too much at
breakfast.
We didn’t really
explore the other resort restaurants as they were all home prices and we were
craving the local experience while in Bali, so it was Warung’s for us. But we do know just by walking through and
exploring this massive resort (which you can easily get lost in, Mummy did) the
number of restaurants with all different sceneries was incredible. There was
one right on the beach in like a shack, then another where they would have
traditional theatre night shows, while you ate a buffet- unlike anything I have
ever seen.
Next time we
visit Grand Mirage we will be investing on the $80 a day for us bigger kids,
which includes unlimited activities, unlimited water sports, unlimited drinks
(both alcoholic and non), food at every single restaurant- totally worth it
when you’re prepared in advance.
FAMILY FRIENDLY?
The best
family-friendly resort we’ve actually ever been to, that is a complete all
rounder. I cannot even begin explain how
incredibly family-friendly this place is. There are so many areas to explore
within the resort you could easily just stay in the resort for the week and
feel like you’ve been somewhere new everyday.
The staff here
are so warm and friendly to the children, when we arrived the security guard
got Madi repeating Balinese words over the walkie-talkies. They just made the
girls feel loved and we loved the attention they gave the girls.
POOL(s)
Oh my dear… this
one is jaw dropping, honestly. Just when we thought it couldn’t get much better
it did. It started off great on the first day we stuck to Grand Mirage and swam
in the pool there, which was huge. You could swim under the walk bridge, sit at
the swim up bar, there was a shallow pool for toddlers and babies and a deep
end where Mr M couldn’t even touch the bottom and he’s 6”2. Also at this pool there is a basketball ring
and two smaller soccer goals set up if you wanted to play there. This pool
lined with loungers, which you could bask in the sun on all day if you chose
to.
Then it got
better!! On our little walk on the second day to find kids club, which is
actually located in Thalasso hotel next door (they both sort of interconnect)
we found a second pool. But this is every kids dream! There was a big slid, the
girls constantly went down. The girls could touch the bottom in most of this
pool except when they got close to the slide (but they’re both confident
swimmers anyway). There is also loungers all the way around this pool.
Kids Club also
has the smaller pool with the kids water playground, which the girls had hours
of fun supervised on.
If the pool
isn’t your thing either, then there is also the beach, backing right onto the
resort. As I mentioned above in security this is your own pretty much private
beach. And if you’re in the sun loungers the waiters come around to take your
drink and food orders- pure heaven.
We also explored
a ferry that had tipped over in low-tide and had been abandoned. You could only
access this at low-tide for us was right before sunset. So not only did we have
to beat the water, we also had to race against the sun setting on us- so much
fun.
LOCATION
Jl. Pratama in
Tanjung Benoa (Nusa Dua) right on the hook tip of Bali- surrounded by water.
The front gates backed onto a little busy street full of massage parlours,
shops, restaurants but mainly beachside resorts like ours.
We would often find
ourselves after dark going for a walk and finding a little restaurant for
dinner, that was either cheap or had a stunning view.
The back of the
resort backed onto the beach, as I said above we had our own little private
beach- DID SOMEBODY SAY PARADISE???