BALI: Luxury Resorts
BALI: Luxury Villa-hopping
Written by Roy Stevenson | Photography by Linda Popovich
Global Living Magazine – Issue 6 | April/May 2013
The sparkling Indonesian island of Bali offers a rare convergence of tropical jungle flora, stunning, ever-changing landscapes overflowing with rice fields and temples, a deep and fascinating cultural heritage, and graceful, gentle people that seem born to welcome guests to their bustling island paradise.
Along with Bali’s rapid development as a world-class tourist destination has come a vast array of luxury villas and resorts providing idyllic accommodations for every taste. Native Balinese architecture, spacious air-conditioned rooms, beds draped with colorful mosquito nets more for decoration than function, marble tiled floors, private swimming pools, indulgent spas, gourmet restaurants – these resorts offer all of this and more.
While recently touring Bali I stayed at several luxury resorts. Subjected to spa therapies, Balinese healing treatments, and memorable gourmet meals, I inspected villas and luxury suites and cooled off in crystal clear swimming pools – all to give you my take on Bali’s top luxury villas and resorts.
Amarterra Villa and Spa, Nusa Dua
Designed to imitate a stylized Balinese Hindu Temple, the Amarterra Villa and Spa resort entrance is spectacular, with reflection pools leading to a grand staircase. Within the entryway you find intimate pathways surrounded by beautifully landscaped jungle and streams of water. It feels like your own private village where everyone knows your name.
Amarterra Villas is located in the exclusive resort community of Nusa Dua.
Newly opened in October 2012, Amarterra Villa and Spa is a private luxury resort where it’s possible to spend the entire day without seeing any other guests. Completely enclosed by 7-foot-high screening walls inlaid with quarried white stone and covered with lush layers of exotic jungle flowers and foliage, each villa provides a superb cocoon of relaxation.
Each of the villas also boasts a swimming pool adjacent to the outdoor living space which has a living room, dining room, flat-screen TV and a bar. One, two and three-bedroom villas are available.
Beautifully appointed, air-conditioned interiors have dark hardwood floors, large walk-in closets, a desk and a spacious bathroom with two rainshowers – one of them completely outdoors in the garden (don’t worry – it’s totally private).
The Amarta Spa on the property offers a relaxing variety of treatments, including Dharma Massage, Body Exfoliation, Stone Therapy, and Bali Healing Ritual, as well as a complimentary foot massage.
Amarterra’s Terrace Restaurant offers a selection of Indonesian and western fare, and they will customize a meal and serve it to you in your villa, if you prefer. Upscale designer shops are a few minutes walk out the door, along with additional restaurants and the Beach Club.
The Pavilions, Sanur
Reached by a shady, long, bamboo-lined avenue, The Pavilions in the Sanur resort area exudes understated class and comfort. Founded in 2000, this boutique resort has 24 gorgeous villas offering complete privacy and seclusion, each tucked away behind walls and lush tropical foliage.
One and two-bedroom villas are offered, all seamlessly landscaped into the 2.5 acre property. The villas feature dark hardwood floors, contemporary Balinese furniture, decorative Balinese artifacts, traditional thatched roofs, and plenty of large windows to enjoy the outdoor gardens and pool views when you’re inside.
Add to that the air-conditioned interiors, a spacious bedroom and bath with a double-sized bathtub in a garden setting, a living room with colorful furniture, a flat-screen TV with a DVD player, and Wi-Fi … and the villas leave you wanting for nothing.
The Pavilion’s outdoor Jahe Restaurant includes a large pavilion for dining plus several smaller, private dining pavilions – all romantically lit by dozens of candles on the balmy Bali evenings. Try the Balinese Set Dinner to taste eight scrumptious, traditional Indonesian dishes for a meal to remember!
Breakfast is served in your villa every morning, so you can wear your bathrobe while the staff makes fresh coffee and toast while the kitchen delivers your breakfast.
The Pavilions’ property manager, the gracious Miss Il Soon Kang, greets every guest personally and will do all within her power to make your stay comfortable and stress-free.
Sanur is the original Bali resort area, founded in the 1950s. Although well-developed, it’s not overcrowded like some other beach resort areas. A short distance away is the beachfront walking path that takes you past museums, shops and cafes. There is also shopping and dining along Sanur’s main road, a minute’s walk from The Pavilions.
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