We recently stayed at Sanur Resort Watujimbar — one of the largest resorts in Sanur Bali and one of the most searched hotels in the area. Some know it as Swissbel Watujimbar Resort. It is a popular choice for good reason: big pools, a central location on Jalan Danau Tamblingan and a price point that sits around $85 Australian a night. This is our honest Sanur Resort Watujimbar review covering the things most reviews skip — air conditioning, noise levels, how dark the rooms are, WiFi speed and what the breakfast is actually like.
Jl. Danau Tamblingan No.99A, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Bali 80228
What was our room like at Sanur Resort Watujimbar?
We stayed in a Deluxe King Room with Jacuzzi — room 8250 on the second floor at the back of the resort, looking out over the pools towards the entrance. First impression walking in was good. Big bed, flat screen TV, small fridge, desk, kettle and a daybed for lounging. The room overall is a generous size with plenty of space.
The fridge was a disappointment — it couldn’t get cold enough and drinks needed at least 12 hours to cool down properly. The balcony had a table, two chairs and a spa bath. The spa bath was a letdown too. No moulding for seating so you ended up slipping around, and the water outlet had visible mould in it which was not great from a hygiene standpoint.
The bathroom layout was genuinely strange and hard to navigate. The door opened inwards, which meant if you were standing at the basin nobody else could get in. The toilet had no door, was very small and cramped — if you’re tall or carrying a bit of extra weight it becomes a real problem. The bum gun hangs almost behind the toilet making it nearly impossible to use in the confined space.
The bathroom was well stocked with towels and toiletries, but the shower drain didn’t cope well and flooded the floor on more than one occasion despite a small lip meant to contain the water. There was mould in the shower — common in a warm climate like Bali, but worth knowing. The handheld shower head had very little pressure; you’re better off using the rain shower head which was much more consistent.
The air conditioning was the biggest issue with the room. It is one of those older central cooling systems with a large ceiling vent rather than a split system unit. At no point did the room get anywhere near cool enough to deal with the Bali heat properly. We could have asked to change rooms but packing up and starting again mid-stay is a hassle we chose to avoid.
WiFi was okay without being fast. Running speed checks it came in around 43Mbps — on the slow side but enough for streaming TikTok and Facebook without issues.
If air conditioning is important to you at Sanur Resort Watujimbar, request a room with a split system unit rather than the old central cooling system. Ask specifically at check-in — it is worth the conversation before you unpack.
Book a stay at Sanur Resort Watujimbar
Check availability and current prices on Trip.com
The pools at Sanur Resort Watujimbar
The pool setup is genuinely one of the best things about staying here. Two large pools dominate the centre of the resort and they are well worth the price of admission on their own.
The bottom pool near the breakfast area has a pool bar serving food and alcohol. We grabbed a Hawaiian pizza and two cans of Singaraja Beer for 225,000 IDR — about $20 Australian. Given a single can of Singaraja is around $6 that means the pizza effectively cost $8, which is reasonable for a resort pool bar. This pool is the more family-friendly option with shallow areas and steps — you will find more families here.
The top pool is where the lap swimmers and serious floaters go. Ladder entry only and a constant depth of six feet throughout. Less crowded and a bit more peaceful.
The pool towel mafia is active at Watujimbar. Towels on sun loungers early in the morning means they are taken. If you want a lounger at the main pool, get there before 9am. The top pool is a quieter alternative with more lounger availability later in the day.
Facilities at Sanur Resort Watujimbar
Watujimbar is well stocked with facilities — you genuinely never need to leave if you choose not to. Onsite medical centre, money changing booth, day spa, a common area with couches and books, a pool table added recently, and a full range of activities including dance lessons, cooking classes and scuba diving programs. For a mid-range Sanur Bali resort at around $85 a night, the facilities list is impressive.
Breakfast at Sanur Resort Watujimbar
The Sanur Resort Watujimbar breakfast is genuinely one of the better hotel breakfasts we have had in Sanur. Around 10 to 12 hot food options plus fruit, breads, pastries, cereal and breakfast sweets. A proper egg station doing scrambled, hard boiled, fried and omelettes, plus French toast, pancakes and sausages.
We went at around 7.30am and found the food fresh and hot. Usually later in the morning you start to see variety drop off and food sitting in warmers too long — that was not the case here. A good mix of Indonesian and Western dishes. If you’re fussy, eggs, bacon, toast and cereal will never be hard to find at a spread this size.
The breakfast is in an open-air area so it does get warm — the hotel sets up large fans throughout which helps. Worth getting there before 8am for the freshest food and best selection.
The breakfast at Watujimbar was the best part of the stay. Ten to twelve hot options, a proper egg station, fresh pastries — all hot and fresh at 7.30am. For $85 a night all-in, the breakfast alone makes it worth considering.
Is Sanur Resort Watujimbar noisy at night? Are the rooms dark?
Watujimbar Resort sits about 100 metres back from Jalan Danau Tamblingan down a long driveway, and the rooms are set back even further from reception. This makes it genuinely quiet — a real plus for a resort this size in the middle of Sanur. The resort bar was directly under our room and we still didn’t hear any meaningful noise at night.
The thick dark curtains do an excellent job of blacking out the room — just make sure they are fully closed at the edges. The rooms have really good dark sleeping conditions, which matters more than people give it credit for when you’re trying to sleep in past sunrise. One small thing — we could not find the switch for the balcony light. It turns off automatically around 10pm.
Book a stay at Sanur Resort Watujimbar
Check availability and current prices on Trip.com
Housekeeping at Watujimbar
Housekeeping comes daily — bed made, bins emptied, towels replaced. We forgot to put our sign out one morning and they skipped us, but we found the housekeepers in the hallway on the way back and they came straight back to sort it out without any fuss. No complaints there.
Where is Sanur Resort Watujimbar located?
Watujimbar Resort is on Jalan Danau Tamblingan — the main street in Sanur, Bali where all the shops, restaurants, cafes and convenience stores are. The location is one of the strongest points of this resort. Everything is within walking distance and you are right in the middle of everything Sanur has to offer.
There is no direct beach access straight across the road. You need to walk a few hundred metres up to Jl. Pantai Karang or cut through Griya Santrian to reach the Sanur beachfront.
- Sanur Resort Watujimbar to Icon Mall Sanur — 550 metres
- Watujimbar to Artasendana Supermarket — 400 metres
- Watujimbar to Sanur Night Market — 950 metres
- Watujimbar to Guardian Pharmacy — 140 metres
Is Sanur Resort Watujimbar worth it?
At $85 Australian a night it provides good value — especially given the location, the pool facilities, the breakfast quality and the staff who were genuinely great throughout our stay. The pools alone are worth it.
The downsides are real though. The air conditioning in the Jacuzzi Deluxe room was not good enough for Bali. The bathroom layout is awkward. The spa bath had mould. These are not dealbreakers but they are worth knowing before you book.
One tip on drinks — alcohol prices at the resort are on the expensive side. Walk 140 metres to the Guardian Pharmacy or a few doors down to the Indomart or Pepito and you will pay significantly less for the same beers.
Watujimbar is worth a stay if you can get a room under $100 Australian a night. Good location, great pools, great breakfast, good staff. Just ask about the air conditioning when you check in.
Don’t forget travel insurance for Bali
Get a quote with Cover-More — trusted by Australian travellers
Plan your trip to Sanur
Everything you need in one place
FAQs about Sanur Resort Watujimbar
Is Sanur Resort Watujimbar worth it?
Yes — at around $85 Australian a night it offers good value for Sanur. The pools are excellent, the breakfast is one of the better hotel buffets in the area, the location on Jalan Danau Tamblingan is hard to beat and the staff were great throughout our stay. The main downside is the air conditioning in the older room types — worth asking about at check-in.
Does Sanur Resort Watujimbar have a pool bar?
Yes. The lower of the two pools has a pool bar serving food and alcohol throughout the day. We had a Hawaiian pizza and two Singaraja beers for around 225,000 IDR (about $20 AUD). Note that resort drink prices carry significant tax on top — for cheaper drinks, the Indomart and Pepito are just a few doors down on Jalan Danau Tamblingan.
How far is Sanur Resort Watujimbar from the beach?
The resort is listed as 300 metres from Sanur Beach but there is no direct beach access straight across the road. You need to walk a few hundred metres up to Jl. Pantai Karang or cut through Griya Santrian to reach the beach path. In practice it is around a 5 to 7 minute walk.
Is Sanur Resort Watujimbar noisy at night?
No — it is one of the quieter resorts we have stayed at in Sanur despite its size. The resort sits around 100 metres back from Jalan Danau Tamblingan down a long driveway and the rooms are set back even further. The resort bar was directly under our room and we still heard no significant noise at night.
What is the breakfast like at Sanur Resort Watujimbar?
The breakfast is one of the better hotel buffets in Sanur. Around 10 to 12 hot food options including a full egg station, French toast, pancakes, sausages, plus fruit, pastries, cereals and Indonesian dishes. Food was fresh and hot at 7.30am. The breakfast area is open-air with large fans to keep it cool.
What room types are available at Sanur Resort Watujimbar?
Sanur Resort Watujimbar offers several room types including Deluxe King Rooms, Jacuzzi Deluxe Rooms with a balcony spa bath, and Plunge Pool Rooms with a private pool. We stayed in the Jacuzzi Deluxe King Room. If air conditioning is a priority, ask at check-in about room type — some rooms have older central cooling systems while others have split system units.
Staying at Watujimbar and looking for somewhere to eat nearby? We have a full guide to walk-in breakfasts in Sanur Bali including options within walking distance of the resort.
Mark & Bec
Things to do in Sanur
Two Australians who have been to Sanur many times. We have enjoyed food and drink on the beach, sipped coffee on Jalan Danau Tamblingan, stayed in homestays and hotels in Sanur and made day trips to see the best of Bali. We keep our information fresh by continuing to visit and getting first-hand knowledge from our Balinese friends.