Review of Bisma Eight - CHSE Certified 5*

As soon as you walk into Bisma Eight, you feel a sense of calm, all contributed to by the design, lighting and music of the hotel. The welcome and check in wasn't very smooth, and there were quite a few miscommunications from the woman that checked me in throughout my stay. Otherwise, all other staff members were super friendly and genuinely helpful, the most authentic I’ve had in Bali so far. I walked into my Canopy Suite and I could hear meditation-like music from outside playing. I asked the staff walking me through the room about it, and if it would be playing all day/night. She said it wasnt very loud and that it shouldn’t be an issue. I tried to take a nap but could not block the music out. I called the front desk and asked if there were any other rooms available. She said there was only one room left but it was being used for a project. Otherwise I would have to pay for a Forest Suite upgrade. I declined and tried to go back to sleep. I couldn’t fall asleep so I went to find the source of the music. It was coming from the restaurant right above me. I called back to see if/when the other Canopy Suite would be available. A manager checked on the status, came to me in person to apologize and said I would be able to move in within the hour. He personally helped me move to the second room which was further away and thankfully super quiet, exactly what I needed. Thank you to the manager for being so accommodating! The use of different woods, textures and natural hues with colored accents made the room warm and welcoming. For me, most hotel room living rooms are for show and don’t really serve a functional purpose. I lounged in mine at Bisma Eight for a few afternoons, reading and waiting for the rain to pass. The floor to ceiling windows overlook the canopy of the trees and I loved waking up to the feeling of being in the trees. The bed is settled in the center of the divided room. I absolutely loved the amount of natural light that flooded the entire space in the mornings and afternoons. The bathroom is spacious and has a huge Canadian cedar wood hot tub-like bathtub that is perfect for that Instagram shot ;). Although not completely my own personal design aesthetic, I loved the overall look and feel and felt right at home. Once I was settled in, I could finally take in the fullness of Bisma Eight. The grounds are beautiful, and they lead down to the infinity pool and bar overlooking the jungle. Upstairs is the Copper restaurant, bar and event space/yoga area. I enjoyed my morning yoga sessions, had my breakfasts at Copper and I loved hanging there in the early evenings to watch the sunset. The yoga mats do need a bit of a cleaning though. It's a good thing I brought my own. There was a photography exhibit titled Raw on the main floor. I walked through the exhibit and felt the impact of the subjects and their stories of loss. I looked up the photographer, Vanessa Van Houten, and her work and found that the exhibit opening happened just a week before. I was bummed to miss it, but thankful to have discovered her work through Bisma. The food from Copper was very good. Breakfasts were simple but flavorful and the ingredients were super fresh, and I was told that most of the produce came from the organic garden. I ordered in a few times and I was surprised at how fast the staff made and delivered the food. Bisma offers a car to go wherever you might need. I had to go into town a few times and normally I would have walked, but since I was recovering from a sprained ankle, having the car drop off and pick up was much needed. You definitely get the sense of holistic wellness that Bisma Eight is all about. Their mission stands true and was reflected in my experience. Though there was a bit of a transition in the beginning, all was smooth and I was very happy with my stay.