If there’s anything our review team loves more than 5-star hotels, we’re not sure what it is. The glamour and glitz of The Sofitel Nusa Dua were very appealing to the reviewers, and they were keen to learn more about the in-house beach club Manarai Beach House.
They wanted to see if this club could compete with Bali’s best beach clubs and also to learn what the food and drinks would be like.
So, they jumped into a Grab car and headed out to the Bukit Peninsula to learn about Manarai Beach House for you, our readers, and this is what they found there.
Introduction – Getting To Manarai Beach House
Manarai Beach House is in Bali. That means you’ve got to get to the island before you can get to Nusa Dua. This is a short flight if you’re coming from most of Australia or Southeast Asia.
However, it’s a much longer flight if you want to come from North America or Europe. The good news is that flights aren’t that expensive, and you can usually save the cost of your flight when you compare the accommodation and other expenses in Bali to places like Ibiza and Miami.
In fact, Bali is not only the home of the world’s leading beach club scene, but it may also have the most affordable beach clubs in the world. Choosing between spending a week in Bali’s beach clubs and a day or two in St. Tropez in Tulum isn’t the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make.
Once you’re in Bali, then Nusa Dua is reasonably easy to get to. It’s on the Bukit Peninsula, and it’s not in the best position there, so we’d recommend either leaving early in the morning to get there or spending the night to avoid spending most of your day in Bali’s notorious traffic.
As this is a 5-star resort’s beach club, there’s plenty of parking if you’re driving yourself, and if you’re coming in a ride-share (Grab or Gojek being the two most popular brands of app here), then you can get a ride right to the front door of the resort.
Where Is Manarai Beach House? Lot N5 ITDC Tourism Complex, Jl. Nusa Dua, Benoa, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80363, Indonesia
Online: Manarai Beach House
Opening Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Nyepi – the Balinese day of silence. This is a mandatory single-day holiday that falls in either March or April of each year.
What’s Available At Manarai Beach House?
There is a pair of pools at this beach club, one of which is aimed at children and the other is a beachfront pool with views out over the ocean.
There is also a restaurant with bar facilities, and also a full wine shop, which is an unusual addition to the beach club and possibly the only one in Bali.
And as you would expect at a hotel beach club, there is an array of different and comfortable seating options to choose from.
Our Detailed Review Of Manarai Beach House
We adopt a standardised approach for reviewing each beach club to promote fairness for owners, management, and staff, and to deliver reviews in a uniform format that facilitates easy comparisons between locations.
The review process is conducted as follows:
- A team is selected to examine the venue.
- Each member must visit the beach club, with the flexibility to visit independently and on separate days.
- During their visit, every reviewer completes a scorecard, assigning the club a score from 1 (least satisfactory) to 5 (most satisfactory) across designated categories, while also recording their impressions.
- Once all members have submitted their scorecards, they convene to discuss their observations and finalise scores for each category.
- A designated team member then composes the review, capturing the team’s discussions and final scores, which is later shared on our website
Reservation and Booking Process
It feels like we have this rant a lot on this site, but we only do it because we care passionately about beach clubs, and we’re lost as to why so many of them make the process of reserving a seat so bad.
If you want to reserve a seat here, you can, but click the button on the Sofitel site and boom! You’re sent to Tablecheck, a third party, because this huge corporation, the Sofitel group, can’t afford a proper booking system?
This isn’t great for engendering customer trust. It also means they can’t take a deposit, so if you’re 15 minutes late (easy to do in Bali traffic,) they will give away your seat.
You also can’t specify where you want to sit, so it’s a bit of a gamble and means you want to get there early if you want a great spot.
Overall, we’d be disappointed in this from a small beach club, but from a big brand like Sofitel? They can and must do better.
Ambience and Atmosphere
There is always a hint of the corporate at 5-star hotel beach clubs, and places like the Sofitel have a certain uniformity of feel that it’s hard to describe but everyone recognises as soon as they walk through the door.
It’s not unpleasant, but it is a little sterile, and we find that it puts a damper on the social interactions within a place, which is a shame.
Overall, you won’t hate this beach club, but you’re not likely to fall in love with it, either.
Location And Accessibility
Nusa Dua is a lovely beach town that is very popular with wealthy families seeking a relaxing resort-style vacation.
Unfortunately, it’s also in an awkward location on the Bukit Peninsula, which isn’t as easy to get to as most of the other beach towns in Bali, but it’s not super difficult either. The challenge is Bali traffic, which can make the drive out here much longer than it needs to be.
So, we recommend setting off much earlier than you think you should to make sure you keep your reservation.
The beach itself is very attractive and one of the nicest in Bali, but it’s not angled in the right direction for a glorious sunset.
Aesthetic And Design
This is a 5-star hotel place and there’s no doubt that at first glance, this is an attractive beach club and you will get some lovely Instagram shots.
However, there’s still that corporate vibe to deal with and it feels like a place that was crafted by a company rather than with love by some passionate beach clubbers.
It’s not a big deal, it’s certainly beautiful enough that you will have no complaints, but it won’t touch your soul either.
Staff Friendliness and Professionalism (Service Standard)
This is a 5-star hotel, and one thing you can be certain of is that these big brands take the raw material of the friendly and super hospitable Balinese, and then they polish their skills and refine them.
You’ll find that the staff at this hotel are very friendly and professional, and that they have a deep knowledge of the things they serve and the local area.
They are a genuine credit to the Sofitel, and you’ll be certain that they will add value to your day within minutes of interacting with them.
Service Speed and Efficiency
We don’t know how they get to the point where they can anticipate you will want something, but there’s no doubt that the staff here do just that.
They also have that wonderful efficiency that we associate with the 5-star hotel experience, and your food and drinks will arrive speedily.
Best of all, we found that they also deliver the check and any subsequent change you require with alacrity, too, so when you’re ready to go home, you won’t be waiting around for a server.
Food Quality and Variety
There’s more than enough variety on the menu to keep most people happy, and while the food is not the greatest that we’ve ever had, it’s solid 5-star hotel food all the same.
The ingredients are clearly fresh, not frozen, and the dishes are nicely presented, so they will look good in your Instagram feed.
But, be prepared, this beach club is expensive when it comes to food, though there is some offset in that they have no entrance fee and no minimum spend to contend with, either.
Beverage Selection and Creativity
The beverage selection is excellent, and there is plenty of choice of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for every drinker.
The cocktails and mocktails are elegantly put together and are very ‘gram-worthy. However, it’s worth noting that they are expensive too.
The alcoholic beverages are more than strong enough, though, and that’s always a positive when you pay a premium for them.
Cleanliness and Hygiene
It’s a 5-star hotel, and the level of hygiene and cleanliness is exactly as good as it should be. The pool areas are clean and well-maintained.
Most importantly, the cleanliness of the toilets, changing rooms and showering areas is excellent, and that gives you confidence in the whole facility.
Comfort of Seating and Lounging Areas
The furniture may have a certain corporate feel to it, but there’s no doubt that the seating in this beach club is very comfortable.
It’s not the best ever seating in a beach club, but it is very good, and if you intend to spend a day chilling by the pool, we doubt you will find yourself wishing for a better seat.
Music and Entertainment
It’s piped music all day long at this beach club, and the usual generic mix that they play in family-friendly beach clubs.
We don’t mind that, it’s the right environment for this kind of musical vibe and even if it’s not perfect for anyone, the kids will be happy, and that’s just perfect.
Overall, we doubt you’ll rush back here to listen to this music again, but it will provide a nice backdrop for your day at Manarai Beach House.
Seasonality
This is Bali, and there’s almost no seasonality to talk about. There are wet and dry seasons, but the wet season doesn’t go full monsoon as it does in places like Goa or Phuket.
In fact, most days it’s a couple of hours of rain and lots of glorious sunshine. It also doesn’t rain every day in the wet season.
There is a single day of mandatory holiday in Bali each year, Nyepi, which falls in either March or April. Every business on the island, including the airport, closes for this day (though hotel guests remain in their hotels).
Pricing and Value for Money
This is one of the more expensive beach clubs in Bali, and while it is in Nusa Dua and it is the Sofitel, there are better places for bang for your buck on the island, too.
However, we don’t think you’ll ever feel like you were ripped off at this beach club, either. It’s an upscale spot catering to wealthier tourists, and it delivers on the promise that it lays out.
Beach Access and Quality
Nusa Dua beach is generally considered to be one of the nicest beaches in Bali, if not the nicest beach. It’s a white sand beach that is soft beneath your feet.
If trash were to wash up on the shoreline, it will be instantly cleaned up by the resort beach club teams working hard to ensure that every guest has a perfect Bali experience.
Overall, it’s hard to fault this beach, though the lack of a sunset view is a minor downside, but as long as you’re going to experience the legendary Bali sunset somewhere during your vacation here, you probably won’t mind that much.
Sustainability Practices
The beach club apparently used sustainably sourced materials in the design and construction phase.
However, there’s a lot of room for other sustainable initiatives, and we’re surprised that a brand like the Sofitel isn’t doing more to lead the pursuit of a better future for Bali.
Exclusive Perks for Guests
With no entrance fee and no minimum spend, a comfortable seat and a free towel to use in the pool is about all you can expect in Bali, and that’s all you’re getting.
Sadly, there’s no option for a higher tier of service at the Manarai Beach House, not even in exchange for more money.
Safety and Security
They will do a security check on your vehicle as it enters the Sofitel grounds, and they may also do a brief bag check as you enter the hotel premises or the beach club.
In addition to that, they have enough security staff visibly present to head off any trouble that may arise from someone consuming a few too many drinks in the Bali sun.
Event Hosting Capabilities
They do host events in the resort, but they seem to downplay holding events in the Manarai Beach House with the singular exception of weddings.
So, if you’re looking for a wedding venue, this might be the place for you, but if you want a corporate event, you may need to choose another beach club or place within the resort complex.
Consistency of Experience
It’s a 5-star resort and thus, it provides a reliable and consistent experience for all of its guests. We found that to be true as a review team, talking to other guests and when reading customer reviews online.
However, we didn’t see any efforts to push the club to the next level either, and we think there should be more of a culture of continuous improvement at these places.
Additional Amenities and Facilities
This is a hotel beach club with all the basic amenities that we’d expect. However, if you need anything more, you may need to jump in a taxi or ride-share to find it elsewhere in Nusa Dua.
Summary
We thought that the Manarai Beach House delivered good service and a pleasant atmosphere for a day out with friends and family by the beach.
The fact that there’s no entrance fee and no minimum spend requirement means that you can try it out and, if you don’t like it, leave without spending a fortune.
However, it is a hotel beach club, which means it’s for families on vacation rather than groups looking to drink the day away and dance the night away.
So, if you want to party, head to Canggu and go to FINNS, the world’s best beach club, but if you want to chill and you’re in Nusa Dua? This is a good choice of beach club for that.
FAQs
Can You Go Swimming At Manarai Beach House?
Yes, as you’d expect from a beach club at a high-end luxury resort like The Sofitel, you can swim at Manarai Beach House.
In fact, there are two pools that you can use at this beach club, and the pool areas are both clean and very well-maintained.
Beach club guests are provided with towels they can use while swimming, showering and changing, and you are not allowed to bring towels in from outside of the club.
You can also, in theory, go swimming on Nusa Dua Beach but as with many beaches in Bali, it doesn’t really provide an amazing environment for swimmers and the currents can be a little random and a lot dangerous, it’s best to stick to the swimming pool, even very strong swimmers can come a cropper in the Indian Ocean here.
What Is There To Do At Manarai Beach House?
This is very much your classic hotel beach club, which means you can relax by the pool or the beach on a comfy sunbed (daybed). You can enjoy food and drinks from the beach club menu.
You can also swim in the pool or talk with your friends and family. One thing you can’t do at this beach club, however, is party. This is very much a family-friendly relaxation beach club rather than a place to dance the night away and drink shots.
Is Manarai Beach House A Child-Friendly Venue?
Yes, the Sofitel Nusa Dua is a family-friendly establishment and children are welcome throughout the resort, including at the beach club.
One of the two pools in this beach club is especially for children to have a safe place for them to enjoy water play in.
If you opt to stay in the hotel attached to this beach club, they can also offer kids’ club facilities.
Who Is The Owner Of Manarai Beach House?
The Manarai Beach House is part of the Sofitel Nusa Dua, which, in turn, is part of the Sofitel Group of Hotels, which is a public limited internationally traded company.
Final Thoughts On The Review Of Manarai Beach House
This is not a party destination, and to be fair, most hotel beach clubs aren’t. However, if you want a quiet place for a relaxing day out with family and friends, then Manarai Beach House is a great spot for it.
Nusa Dua is expensive, though, and so is the Sofitel, so you’re going to spend more than you might elsewhere on the island. It’s also not a great place to enjoy that fabulous sunset that Bali is so famous for.
However, overall, we recommend Manarai Beach House, particularly if you’re staying in Nusa Dua and want a nice day by the beach.
