Luna2 studiotel, Bali Indonesia

Going through the large white door, it feels like we are entering a spaceship. Well, a spaceship that has landed here in the 1960’s. A hallucinating combination of a minimalistic design with a touch of retro combined with a large dose of pop art and finished off with futuristic elements. Let’s say, Tintin meets Philippe Starck meets Tom Dixon meets The Pink Panther.

Our daughters are dazzled by the playfulness of the extraordinary 5-star Luna2 studiotel just like we are impressed by the hotel’s design. This took some serious thinking! The primary colours are green, yellow, red and blue. We recognise some elements from Mondrian and from popular games like Rubik’s Cube, Monopoly and Lego. Luckily, the hotel is extremely child-friendly, so it’s no problem at all to climb on the giant Lego bricks piled up in the corridors.

Luna2studiotel is situated in Seminyak, a somewhat crowded and lively place. Don’t come here for the authentic side of Bali. It offers, however, a fine selection of shops, tasty restaurants, nightlife entertainment and a sandy beach that stretches for a couple of kilometres. Obviously, this combination attracts a constant tourist flow. Once inside the walls of this design hotel, you won’t notice any of this.

Both the design and the lack of knick-knacks give the hotel an air of calm and even a sleek feel. One of the highlights of our stay, especially for the children, is the 25-metre long swimming pool. Not a standard white basin where you take a swim, but a real piece of art with a Mondrian mosaic of colour-blocks in yellow, red, blue and green on the bottom of the pool and on a very high wall at the end of the swimming pool with drawings of cartoon characters. For us, the most divine day beds to dream away on, the possibility of having a poolside massage or order something tasty from the Detox & Retox menu with a delicious variety of finger food, fresh juices, smoothies and cocktails.

Another highlight is the ultra-comfy 16-seat cinema in the hotel’s basement. The cinema has two showings per day; mostly a children’s film in the afternoon and a film for grown-ups in the evening. If possible, guests can enjoy a film of their own choice. And be honest, what can beat a private cinema. What’s more, with one push on the button, you can order fizzy drinks and popcorn.

The groovy Pop! lounge bar is also situated in the basement. When the children are sound asleep, parents can unwind with a drink and dance the night away to trendy beats. It is good to know that a babysitter can easily be arranged. Next to the lounge bar, a large glass wall offers a glimpse of an enormous wine supply. Wine lovers can choose from no less than 150 wine labels.

Leave the basement by going up the spiral staircase and you’ll end up in the award-winning Orbit restaurant. The restaurant seats only 20 diners and is thus very intimate indeed. The retro style from the 1950’s/1960’s with a touch of space futurism is entirely in line with the rest of the hotel’s design. The restaurant also serves breakfast in the morning. Apart from the usual breakfast foods, the bar is filled with a variety of one-bite snacks. A barista makes a perfect Cappuccino or Latte Macchiato for caffeine junkies. Not a bad start of the day.

Lune2studiotel has three types of rooms. There are 10 studio rooms, named after renowned London addresses like Piccadilly, Strand, Mayfair and Bond Street. Ideal for families because of the possibility of putting in an extra bed. Our daughters were immediately taken in by the playful decoration and bright colours. The studio rooms are not particularly large, but the decoration and facilities make it more than okay. There is an ‘in-flight’ dining table for 2 people, a work place, kitchenette, balcony overlooking the swimming pool, comfy lounge area and a bathroom with a Philippe Starck bath - so deep that it made the children think it was a mini swimming pool. Here as well, all sorts of funny gimmicks like a mega Smeg fridge, iPod preloaded with music, a retro TV with wireless headset, iPad filled with practical information and an essentials amenities bar for all the stuff you often forget to pack, such as plasters, dental floss, shaving kit and toothbrushes. Apart from the studio rooms, there are 3 grand studios and 1 sunset studio which is ideal for couples and with the same eye-catching design. If you rather prefer stylish exclusiveness, then book a stay at the Luna2 private hotel. What’s in a name; it is indeed a private 5-bedroom hotel at a beachfront location. Just as distinctively designed as the ‘mothership’.

Instead of a kids’ club, the hotel came up with something else. Each family can make use of a kid’s coordinator for a maximum of 2 hours a day. A sweet lady entertains the children with lots of fun activities. Playing games, arts & crafts workshops, painting and more. If the children prefer to play on their own, it is perfectly alright to borrow the toys. Not that there is nothing to do outside the hotel. Quite the opposite: Seminyak and its surroundings have much to offer. Just a few steps from the hotel, there are various stalls on the beach where you can rent surfboards and bodyboards. Luna2studiotel guests receive complimentary temporary membership to Canggu Club, Bali’s premier recreational club, which has a gym, 25m pool, indoor tennis courts, playing field, waterpark, ‘Bounce’ trampoline centre and a toddlers ‘Cubby House’ play room. It offers a wide range of fitness activities for adults and children and also has several bars and restaurants.

Or what about a visit to one of the two nearby water parks, riding an elephant in the national park, a clown workshop in a circus school, jumping on a trampoline, mountain biking, a zip wire ride through the jungle, dune buggy racing, a cooking class by a professional chef and so on.

Never a dull moment on Bali with Luna2studiotel!

WOW

# Although located in the touristic town of Seminyak, this hotel is all about peace and calm. Yet, if you want to be in the heart of the action, it is only a 10-minute walk to get there.

# The design brings a smile to your face which only vanishes after you’ve checked out of the hotel. The many references to cartoons and space adventures not only appeal to design-minded adults, but also stir children’s imagination.

# Who doesn’t get excited about selecting a film in a private cinema before jumping into a spacious swimming pool. No one has to get bored here and if you do, the friendly staff stands ready with suggestions.