Hotel Review: Alila Manggis

Overview of Alila Manggis

Alila Manggis is considered a seaside resort with 53 rooms and two suites, and it’s quite stylish and secluded. The hotel is located in East Bali, and it’s set in a coconut grove. You’ll enjoy views of Mount Agung, which is a sacred mountain to the Balinese. Likewise, the rooms and suites are designed to face the ocean, so you have clear views of Nusa Penida.

I’d call this property somewhere between a boutique hotel and a resort, and the focus is primarily on nature. Overall, it features traditional architecture, but there are modern amenities that don’t detract from the beauty. You’ll experience a relaxed environment with natural surroundings here.

This hotel is a spa-like resort, so it’s ideal for couples and individuals. Although children are welcome, it’s a quiet place, and there were no partiers during my stay. The goal is to be relaxed and find tranquility and silence in nature.

How I Booked the Alila Manggis

My boyfriend and I decided to stay at the Alila Manggis for three nights with two of our friends, and I booked both reservations on points for 15,000 points per stay in the superior rooms with one king bed. While I had hoped to apply a Suite Night Award to our stay, it wasn’t possible because the Alila Manggis’s two suites are both premium suites.

This hotel is the only remaining Hyatt Category 1 property in Bali, and it’s a great deal for between 3,500 and 6,500 points per night, depending on the season.

A standard room at a Category 1 property can be booked with the free night certificates offered by The World of Hyatt Credit Card and The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card. Both of these cards offer a great way to earn Hyatt points as well.

Because Category 1 properties can be booked for only 3,500 to 6,500 points per night, it’s not the best use of your free night certificate unless it’s going to expire. And even then, there are higher category properties in Bali that you may want to check out instead.

Hyatt is a 1:1 transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards, so you can also earn points needed to book this hotel with the following Chase cards:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Alila Manggis Location

The Alila Manggis is located in Desa Buitan, which is in Manggis. This East Bali resort is secluded and offers more natural surroundings than other hotels, but it’s still just a mile away from a town called Candidasa.

Overall, I would say that the town of Candidasa isn’t renowned or popular, but it’s a great choice for travelers who enjoy the beach and gorgeous waterfalls.

If you decide to stay here, keep in mind that you’ll likely either be eating on-property or going to Candidasa to eat. There’s not much available within walking distance of the Alila Manggis, and the road just outside the resort is not pleasant to walk on because it has no sidewalk and a lot of fast driving cars.

Best Parts of Alila Manggis

Before dropping the benefits of Alila Manggis, I want to point out what the property is and what it isn’t. Overall, this resort is in a secluded area, so there isn’t much to do outside of the hotel. Candidasa is the closest town, and there are a few attractions, but you’re far away from the Bali most people think about when they visit the area.

Here are the best things about Alila Manggis:

• The nearby attractions: Alila Manggis is secluded, but it offers many lesser-visited attractions nearby. You can experience the ancient village of Tenganan, visit Pura Lempuyang Temple (Gateway to Heaven) and bicycle around the sanctuary.
• Great staff: The staff members are helpful and friendly, and I have to say they made my stay worth it. I spent three nights at Alila Manggis, and everyone was so nice. The concierge was ready to get whatever I wanted, and even the gardeners would stop to say hello.
• The uniqueness: Most people choose a hotel because it’s close to what they want to do, but this property is different: You can choose this hotel because of the hotel itself. Alila Manggis isn’t a traditional hotel, and I’d be emboldened to say it was an experience all by itself. You’ll be mesmerized by the architecture and beauty of the space, but then you also have nature surrounding you at every turn. Plus, they included a daybed on the balcony, allowing us to laze around in luxury and relax completely.
• Hyatt Category 1 property: This hotel is Bali’s last remaining Hyatt Category 1 property, which can be booked starting at just 3,500 World of Hyatt points per night. It’s a steal, no matter which way you look at it.

Alila Manggis Drawbacks

I found the entire resort exciting, and I was truly relaxed during my entire stay. Therefore, I don’t have many complaints. However, if I think like a traditional tourist, I will say that there could be some drawbacks, which include:

• Not much to do within walking distance: You’re at a secluded resort, and if you’re like me, you call a Grab to take you there. Therefore, you don’t have much available for amenities, food and entertainment. Yes, the hotel offers various day trips, which can be fun. However, most people want to visit Bali for its exciting city culture. Likewise, the restaurant is quite expensive for Bali.
• Hard to get a Grab: Unlike everywhere else we visited in Bali, it was difficult to order a Grab to this resort. There were no Grab scooters around, and it seemed like only one car was available and only sometimes. Without a car or scooter of our own, we were reliant on the hotel’s shuttle, which ran during limited hours.
• Small and infrequent shuttles: The hotel offers a shuttle, but the vehicles are small and the shuttles run infrequently. If the hotel is busy, you’ll need to book transportation in advance and you may not always be able to get a seat. Likewise, you have to think of the heat and humidity, which can make it quite uncomfortable to travel with a bunch of other people in a van. This way, you’re also at the mercy of the shuttle times and must be back at the resort by a specific time. If you stay here, I highly recommend renting a scooter.

Getting to Alila Manggis

I took a Grab taxi to get to Alila Manggis from Alila Ubud, and it took about two hours. Luckily, Grab is inexpensive in Bali, so it didn’t break the bank. Unfortunately, the Alila Manggis was the only place we had trouble ordering a ride or using the app’s food service because of how few Grab drivers were in the area.

If you’re coming to Alila Manggis from the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, expect to spend 90 minutes to two hours in the car.

Check-In

When we got to Alila Manggis, the check-in process was easy. Our friends had already arrived a few hours before us, so the hotel staff was expecting us.

I gave the service desk attendant my name, and they looked me up. Immediately, I was reminded of my Hyatt Globalist status, which meant a complimentary breakfast for each day of my stay. Likewise, they upgraded me to a Deluxe 1 King Bed.

The superior king room was only 364 square feet and was located on the ground floor. There was a private terrace, and the pool was nearby. However, I was upgraded to the deluxe king room, which is the same square footage, but it’s on the upper floor with a balcony and outdoor daybed. We still got the beautiful view, but we had to walk a little farther to get to the pool.

My first impression when I walked into the resort was that it lived up to its promise of seclusion. I didn’t feel lonely, but I did know I was away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The Room at Alila Manggis

The vibe from my Deluxe 1 King Bed space was welcoming, and it had an inviting layout. We walked in and saw the beautiful bed, but there was a large couch/daybed directly opposite. However, the best part was seeing the open space out onto the balcony.

The balcony, which overlooked the pool, featured a table, chairs and a daybed, and it’s where we spent most of our time in the mornings and evenings when it wasn’t too hot.

I would say that the area was quite bright because of the light-colored walls and the smooth tiled floors. However, darker tones were added here and there with the plants, things on the wall, fridge and couch.

The air conditioner was individually controlled, which meant you could keep it at whatever temperature you liked. Since it’s a tropical setting, I felt it had to work extra hard to maintain a steady temp.

Likewise, the room wasn’t insulated much from the noise. Although you could close the patio doors, you could sometimes still hear the people in the pool and the wildlife. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing as the hotel was pretty quiet anyway—I never felt bothered by the noise.

Although there was no tub, the standalone shower system was excellent and produced hot water on demand. Likewise, I felt wrapped in luxury when I put on the plush slippers and robe.

The Alila Manggis offers branded toiletries from the KenetMD Signature Collection. They were designed specifically for this hotel, and the smells I got were of eucalyptus and lemongrass.

There were also excellent room amenities, which included a minibar, 32-inch flat-screen television, in-room safe, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, coffee/tea maker, and the robes and slippers.

While there were plenty of outlets, I did think they could have been more strategically placed. Regardless, I could plug in my laptop and smartphone, so I had no issues. Overall, they were slightly hidden so that they wouldn’t detract from the tranquility of the space.

Food and Drink

Typically, I eat at the hotel for breakfast only because I get it for free as a Hyatt Globalist member. However, it would have been quite expensive to call Grab for every single meal while I stayed for three nights, and it was tough to hail a ride anyway. Therefore, I did enjoy the on-site restaurant for dinner one night, and we managed to find a pizza restaurant that would deliver for dinner on the other nights.

Seasalt was the only restaurant available, but there was an Ocean Bar for beverages and a light menu.

Breakfast was served at Seasalt, and there was a set menu for that. However, our options for lunch and dinner were quite extensive. This place does serve Balinese cuisine, so be prepared to enjoy long beans, coconut, garlic and spices. However, the chefs here are willing to accommodate your dietary needs.

Amenities

The amenities were excellent at Alila Manggis, which is nothing less than I expected. Overall, we had access to free Wi-Fi throughout the property, and there were Tai Chi and yoga classes periodically throughout the week. Likewise, we could request a mini massage at the pool twice a week, and poolside afternoon tea was served every day.

Another interesting amenity includes bicycle rental to explore the area around the resort. There’s also a coffee shop and a spa. At the spa, one can get massages, facial treatments and mani/pedis. However, I didn’t use any of the spa services while I was there.

Snorkeling and fishing were also possible, and there was a picnic area where one could go to eat outside. If you need it, dry cleaning and laundry service are available, and there are shuttles that will take you to various nearby locations, but they do have a limited schedule.

Alila Manggis Family Friendliness

Overall, I would say Alila Manggis is family-friendly, but it’s a quiet place. Therefore, boisterous children might be frowned at, and specifically kid-oriented activities aren’t available.

Final Thoughts on Alila Manggis

I truly enjoyed my experience at Alila Manggis because I like being away from the action and bustle of the city. Although there were a few minor drawbacks, I see myself staying at this hotel again if it remains a Hyatt Category 1 property.

Want to explore more Bali hotels? This article is part of a larger Trip Report on Bali hotels, where you can learn about seven different hotels around Bali.