Again I start my review by saying I have been spoiled forever!

Eight weeks ago my husband and I received a cryptic email from my sister-in-law that said, "Do you have your passports? Jim and I have decided to get married! And we'll be going to an island where you'll need them!" Imagine our ultimate excitement when we found out that Jim was again generously paying for the whole family (plus a few friends) to go on a trip. This time it was to Necker Island!

What impressed us the most was not our guest room, or the food, or the location … it was the staff. They were there to assist with whatever you needed. My husband said it best when he said, “Necker Island is wonderful, but it’s the staff that makes it amazing!”

I know … you all really want to know about the island.
We arrived by helicopter, and were greeted by two men who drove us up to the main house where we met with the rest of the family for a wonderful champagne reception featuring hor devours of sushi and tempura shrimp. The kids traveling with us wasted no time in changing into their swimming suits and jumping into the infinity pool located just off the main house.

There are eight guest rooms in the main house. Each one of them is a little different from the next. And, there are five unique bali houses. Each bali house has access to a swimming pool. Guests in the bali houses also will have golf carts for their personal use.

My husband and I were lucky to have been placed in Bali Buha. Bali Buha and Bali Low are next door to each other and share a nice size infinity edge swimming pool. These houses face east so you get the morning sun.

Bali Hi, Bali Cliff, and Bali Beach are next door to each other and they share a smaller pool.

Guests staying in Bali Hi, Bali Low, and Bali Cliff will need to be able to climb stairs. There are no elevators on the island and the bathrooms in these three houses are located on lower levels than the sleeping rooms.

Without boring you with all of the details of our trip, I will give you these pointers.

1. Guests staying in the Bali Houses will be sharing their accommodations with geckos. They are harmless. The worst thing about them is the poop they leave behind.

2. You do not need to pack bug spray, sunscreen, after bite spray, shampoo, conditioner, or body wash. These are all provided for you. (They actually have a bug spray that is manufactured in South Africa that is excellent!)

3. Don’t miss out on the gift shop. Ask about it before your last day. Some of the items sold there are expensive (clothing) but it’s beautiful! If you see one of the staff wearing something that you love, they probably bought it there. They have everything from basic linen skirts to clothing and hats with Necker Island embroidered on it. (Can you tell that I didn’t know it existed until the day we were leaving? Talk about power shopping!)

4. If you need or want anything, just ask! If they don’t have something that day, they will have it brought to the island.

5. Don’t over pack. Seriously, you just need your swimsuit and a cover up. We dressed for dinner, but we didn’t dress up for dinner.

6. If you drink, you must try the Bushwacker, the Painkiller, and the Rum Punch! And don’t miss the snack menu located at the Beach Bar. The chocolate chip cookies are amazing and brought out while they’re still hot!

7. You can choose from many water sports (kite surfing, knee boarding, banana boat, ringo’s (inner tubes), snorkeling, and if certified for diving they can arrange dive trips for you. Also, the staff is available for excursions; just let them know where you want to go.

8. Don’t miss out on the chance to go snorkeling off Turtle Beach. The equipment is kept in a cabinet on the beach for you to pick up on your way to the water. There is also a wicker basket with fresh towels and a stocked refrigerator for refreshments.

9. This next amenity is one we didn’t learn about until the end of our stay. There are wicker hampers in your room with liners embroidered with either your room number or bali house name. You can put your personal laundry in them! They will take them in the morning and bring your clean clothes back that evening when they do the turn down service. (dry cleaning is not available, just regular laundry)

10. There is a 3 mile walk around the island that we wanted to do, but never found time to. Please do it for me! 

11. Last but not least, the spa! This was visited by each and every one of us. We highly recommend the “devils detox”, the stone massage, and the aloe and mint wrap.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me!