Bondalem Beach Club is also a resort that is said to deliver a memorable family vacation, but we wanted to know was, if the beach club in this area of natural beauty was worth heading off the beaten path for?
So, our team got up early and went to check out what Bondalem Beach Club offers the casual visitor, to see if you might want to make the drive out to this part of Bali too.
This is what they learned.
Introduction – Getting To Bondalem Beach Club
Bondalem Beach Club is in North Bali, it’s a long drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport and the main tourist towns along the Bali sea road.
That means you might want to stay in the area (or even at this club) if you’re going to visit.
There is onsite parking and you won’t have any problem being dropped off at the door by your Grab or Gojek, either.
Where Is Bondalem Beach Club? Bondalem, Tejakula, Buleleng Regency, Bali 81173
Website: Bondalem Beach Club
Opening Hours:
What’s Inside Bondalem Beach Club?
Bondalem Beach Club is a small hotel beach club with an infinity pool, free Wi-Fi, a lovely terrace facing the ocean and bar and restaurant facilities. It also has direct access to the black sand beaches of the area.
Our Review Breakdown For Bondalem Beach Club
We try to conduct every beach cub review on the same basis so that we give you consistency as a reader, and that we treat each property in a fair and equal manner.
That means our team will visit the club (not always at the same time or date as each other) and rate the place against the list of criteria below.
Then, they meet up to discuss everything from the check-in to the garden view and to give a final rating from 1 (worst) to 5 (best) in each category.
Once that’s done, one team member writes up the final review based on the discussions and scores. After the review goes live, it remains in place until, at least, 12 months have passed and we revisit the property.
Pre-Club Advertising
We didn’t know that Bondalem Beach Club existed until we started doing the research for this site.
That’s probably because it’s a hotel beach club (even though they do allow walk-ins) and given the location, it’s probably hard to cost-effectively bring customers to this part of Bali except on the major hotel booking sites.
Location
North Bali is a long way from the main coastal towns of the island and if you’re in Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Nusa Dua, or even Ubud, you’re going to need to drive for 3 or more hours to get here.
If you do, you will find that the black sand beach here is lovely and while there aren’t many amenities in the local area, what is there is within walking distance.
It’s the sort of place that you go to when you’re ready for some peace and quiet away from the parties, nightclubs, bars, etc. of the rest of Bali.
Booking Process & Seating Options
As with many small hotel beach clubs, the website is firmly about booking a room and not a seat by the pool.
They do allow walk-ins, but given that this place is such a long way away – we wouldn’t drive across Bali with no guarantee of a seat.
That means for most people, they’re only going to check this place out if they’re already nearby in North Bali or have booked a room in the resort.
Entry Fee
There’s no entrance fee at the Bondalem Beach Club and we’d have been surprised if there was.
This is best practice, it means you can go in and take a seat and enjoy food and drink without paying a fee just to walk through the door.
Minimum Spend
There is also no minimum spend at this club and that’s a good thing because it means you’re under no pressure to spend more money than you want to.
But it’s a bad thing because as we’ve already noted, you can’t make a reservation here and if you want to guarantee a seat, you can’t.
Hotels will always prioritize their own guests over walk-in visitors (and they should do this) which means there’s always uncertainty that if you go, you will get a seat of any kind.
Welcome And Security
The friendly staff at this resort are genuinely lovely and you will be made to feel completely at home.
However, we have to note, there’s no security check of any kind and that’s not something we approve of.
Sure, this part of Bali doesn’t see much trouble, but bag checks help to ensure that things stay safe and peaceful too.
Inclusions
You can borrow a towel for free which is generous given that this resort doesn’t charge entrance fees or a minimum spend and it’s little details like this that endear a place to us.
However, it also means that there’s no availability of additional premium services and that’s a bit of a shame.
Make sure to take your own suncream (which is super expensive in Bali) or you will have to go running around neighbouring properties to find some.
Service
The service at this resort is excellent and while it doesn’t have the polish of some of the bigger beach clubs or 5-star resorts, it’s more than good enough.
We felt that the team here helped us unwind and made sure that we were surrounded by food and drink as soon as we signalled that we wanted some.
You can’t ask for more than that during a day of relaxation in North Bali.
Entertainment
Bondalem Beach Club isn’t the sort of place that you go for entertainment. It’s an all-ages place with adults and children enjoying a day by the beach.
So, if you arrive expecting live music or entertainers, you’re going to be disappointed.
They do have a little piped music but that’s about the extent of the entertainment here.
Pool Quality
The pool is large and enjoyable. It appears to be subject to regular cleaning and the area around it is well-maintained.
We’d be happy to go swimming here among the tranquillity of nature in North Bali, any time.
Menu/Drinks Pricing
The prices are a fair reflection of the prices at hotels and other properties in the area.
They are cheaper than the bigger beach clubs in the South, but then this whole area is cheaper.
Food And Drink Quality
We were very pleasantly surprised with the food and drinks at this place. They were very high quality and presented in an attractive fashion.
Sure, they weren’t fine dining or on par with some of the best beach clubs in Bali, but in North Bali? This is a first-rate place to come and eat by the sea.
They also have a barbecue here on certain days which is very good.
Sunset View
North Bali isn’t a great place to watch the sunset. If you head to Canggu or Seminyak in the South, you will see the kind of sunset that Bali is famous for.
Here, you’re going to find that there’s a little light show in the sky, but you won’t get the added drama of watching the sun dip below the horizon.
Music And Ambiance
This place is too small to have anything but piped music in some parts of the venue.
The vibe is very chilled and it’s a place to relax by the beach rather than to get your party on.
Payment Options
You can pay by cash or card in this beach club but we didn’t see any support for e-wallets or QRIS. That’s a shame given how popular these payment methods are in Indonesia.
Exit Process
Bondalem Beach Club is a very small beach club and you just go back out the way you came in.
The staff will give you a cheerful farewell before you head out the door.
Transportation
North Bali is best explored if you have your own transport. That means you either need to rent a car or scooter, or a driver with a car.
If you’re going to rely on Grab or Gojek, there’s very little service this far North and if you’re looking to move at a busy time of day – you will be waiting for a very long time, indeed, before the ride turns up.
You are unlikely to be hassled by any taxi mafia, either, there just aren’t enough customers here to justify their existence.
Social Media Presence
They have a pleasant Instagram presence that hadn’t been updated for about 2 months before our visit.
That’s OK, not much changes in this part of Bali from day to day and you can get a very good idea of what this place is like from their Instagram.
Other/General Comments
If you expect a small hotel beach club, you won’t be disappointed with what this place has to offer.
From the moment of your arrival to the moment you depart, this is a very chilled-out experience.
Our Overall Opinion Of Bondalem Beach Club
If we were passing through North Bali or staying at this resort, we’d definitely visit this charming little beach club.
It’s not worth a long trip by itself, but if you’re in the area, the food is good, the vibe is relaxed and it’s a nice break from the fast-paced life of the beach towns that most of our team live in.
About The Bondalem Beach Club Resort
This beach club is part of a bigger resort and the resort has additional facilities such as organized fishing trips, a fitness room, yoga classes, and of course, breakfast for those who stay the night.
We spoke to some of the guests while we were walking through the common areas and they said they felt it compared very favourably with other hotels in the area.
Apparently, if you have a room, it will be kept very clean and tidy. The property is directly on the beach and they have some friendly cats on the premises that are always delighted to make friends with their guests.
FAQs
Can You Swim At Bondalem Beach Club?
Yes, you can swim at Bondalem Beach Club. There’s an excellent pool and you can also go snorkeling in the ocean here.
You’ll find that the marine life is amazing in this area. If you want to go diving, you can arrange that with some local dive schools as well.
What Can You Do At Bondalem Beach Club?
Guests of the Bondalem Beach Club can swim in the pool, get a massage at the spa (for an extra fee), enjoy food and drink at the restaurant and bar, and lounge around in the sun.
This is part of an accommodation complex for families and that means this isn’t a place for parties.
Is Bondalem Beach Club A Family-Friendly Venue?
Yes, guests are welcome to bring their children to this place and they can stay in a room or standard villa with their parents.
However, while they can indulge in any of the available facilities and eat tropical fruits at the restaurant. there aren’t any specific facilities for kids.
Parents are expected to ensure that their children don’t annoy other guests as they play.
Who Owns Bondalem Beach Club?
We weren’t able to determine the exact ownership of this beach club but it appears to be owned by a local Indonesian family.
Final Thoughts On Bondalem Beach Club
Bondalem Beach Club is a lovely place on the North Coast and if we were staying at the resort, we’d be very happy to use this facility.
However, before you enter dates on their website and book a room – you should make sure that you have other things you want to do in the area as this club isn’t different enough, by itself, to make the long trip from the rest of Bali for.
It’s a charming, small, hotel beach club with a great view but it’s otherwise not that remarkable.
