Modern and traditional. Minimalist and rich. Secluded in nature, but close enough to lively attractions. There is a harmony of contrasts at Aria Villas Ubud

Privacy has become a buzz word of hospitality in 2020, and it will rule even beyond it. Being able to distance ourselves from those we don’t know, and create more room for people we truly care about, seems to be the guiding principle for our future travel plans. Instead of letting paranoid thoughts shape our expectations, why not let the positive feelings influence our decisions? Why wouldn’t we plan something – romantic? Not because we want to be away from others, but because we want to dedicate more time to that “one and only”?

If you are a couple at the beginning of your relationship, or if you have already said ‘I do’ and look for a calm honeymoon location, bookmark Aria Villas Ubud! This is a modern high-end hotel that will let you discover Bali’s greatest traditions. Minimalist, but rich. Advanced, but respectful towards nature. Secluded, but close to major town attractions and hotspots. A great setting to love, and share the feeling with the loved one!

Minimalism respecting nature

Aria Villas Ubud is a collection of eight pool villas erected above a lush but quiet forested valley. The Singapore-based studiogoto, led by the architect Chioh-Hui Goh, designed the project in 2013. Following the natural slopes just north of Ubud center, they constructed the flow of buildings that complement the landscape instead of imposing themselves above it. Covered with greenery (landscape design by Huai Yan, Salad Dressing), they seamlessly blend into the surroundings. Each villa, even if close to others, has a convincing feeling of a private sanctuary.

The very entrance to the complex is not showy but simple. Clean architecture lines lead you to the harmonious reception area with a large table. There is no evidence of paperwork or even technology such as computers; only bare lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling, stripped of excessive chandelier décor. On the table, live orchids one can find in rooms and on trees too, and essential oils for picking the scent of massage. The table is surrounded by unpretentious cork chairs and sofa with colorful pillows precisely proportionally distanced from each other. It all seems to be a statement of minimalism, the voice against clutter. Only a gigantic root of a tree displayed on the wall as an art piece feels like it’s intentionally stealing the gaze.

The recycled timber is used in every villa too. From the bed headboard via carpet to the stump nightstands, the wood is the material the interior is growing from. Nature is in the roots of Aria Villas Ubud, and not only in the ones displayed as décor.

After a couple of stairs, just behind the reception corner, the property reveals itself in versions of a single-room villa, family villa with three bedrooms, or even in a combo of two adjoined villas with two pools.

If you’re looking for more infinity pools in the same town, let us introduce you to Sankara Ubud Resort, one of the top resorts in Indonesia for recharging your batteries!

Romantic sanctuary of a pool villa

I stayed in the Terrace Pool Villa. It is located on higher ground than the Valley Pool Villa, so it offers great green views. One could enjoy them from the fantastic private pool with sun loungers, or from the open-air cabana with a sleek concrete sofa and chairs inviting for a rest or a snack. But one could also retreat to the bedroom, which could be properly air-conditioned or completely open to the tropical atmosphere through its large sliding doors.

More secret areas open up with some snooping around. The lamps above the comfortable floating bed completely retract into the wooden wall. What seems to be a wardrobe door opens up into a walk-in closet. It continues to the bathroom with double sinks and special amenities “for him” and “for her”. From there, one door leads to a toilet, and the other to an outdoor rain shower. In the verdant courtyard garden, the alfresco bathtub promises to be a very romantic corner.

One almost feels like a kid in a toy store, not knowing where to focus one’s attention first. Would you pamper yourself in a private spa, browse through the book “Bali in the 30s” on the king-size bed, or jump straight into the inviting swimming pool?

Well, you might want to be considerate if you choose the last refreshment option; the water from the infinity pool spills right over the path between villas. It’s not a busy pathway, but it’s still good to be aware of it. Your innocent play in the pool could provoke an unexpected shower for your butler! On the other hand, if your neighbors are enjoying their swim, your attempt to get home dry could resemble the Bali version of the game “Floor is lava”, called “Sky is rainstorm”.

Spa escape to healthy self

The welcome to Aria Villas Ubud is truly special. Beyond the typical chilled towels and refreshing drinks, this property starts with a preview of the relaxing holidays that will restore your body and spirit. The ten-minute welcome massage will release any travel tension in your shoulders and, trust me, it’s good! I normally do not remember the names of the masseuses, but guess what? I do know the name of this one! Ibu Balik, what a fantastic professional therapist she is!

She passionately presents the concept of jamu, the Indonesian traditional medicine made of herbs, roots, flowers, and fruits. There are three different kinds in this tasting tryout. Rice and white turmeric drink should increase appetite, eliminate ache and fatigue, as well as enhance the vitality. Turmeric and tamarind drink is an ancient cure against inflammation and depression, and it has antioxidant and antiseptic properties. The drink with betel leaf can treat malaria, bad breath, joint pain, nose bleeding, sore mouth, and cough. Whether you believe in alternative medicine or not, trying out jamu drinks is a fun insight into the local life. It is definitely not something one can easily experience in other four-star resorts.

But Mme Balik’s expertise goes much beyond the theoretical lectures. I’ve enjoyed two of her soothing treatments. One was Aria’s signature massage with deep tissue techniques. The other one used warm river stones and herbal compress applied through acupressure techniques, followed by a relaxing herbal bath. All of that in the privacy of the villa! I do not like using too many superlatives in writing. But Ibu Balik made such a lasting impression on my stay at Aria Villas Ubud, that her massage had to be highlighted as probably the best treatment I tried in Bali! And I did try many!

To learn more about relaxing on the largest continent, check the Asian bathhouse called jjimjilbang, the one-of-a-kind Korean spa!

Bali day trips from Aria Villas Ubud

Aria Villas Ubud will take care of your wellbeing even outside of the resort. The attentive butler service will tailor any trip to your needs! This personalized service can include cultural attractions, adventures in nature, shopping time, or fine dining! It’s rewarding for anyone who wants some support in exploring, without that feeling of an over-organized guided tour!

During my stay in Aria Villas, we went to a couple of such unpretentious trips, in the comfort of an air-conditioned car. The stops included the famous landscape of Tegalalang rice terraces, the sanctuary of the Elephant Cave or Goa Gajah, as well as Pura Tirta Empul, the Hindu water temple frequented by many tourists for the purpose of ritual bathing in its holy waters.

While all of these would be perfectly enough for some memorable experiences to take home, the true highlight of our Bali explorations was something else. And it was really something else! In a very personalized visit to one local village, a priest performed melukat, the same purification ritual with water, but away from the tourists’ eyes. This non-commercial and authentic cleaning ceremony brought us through a range of emotions from a deep meditative state to the ecstasy of the laughter yoga. A truly peculiar afternoon that words can hardly describe!

Of course, one can explore Ubud even on one’s own. Aria Villas Ubud is just 500 meters away from the town’s main street. Ubud Palace is a 15-minute walk away while going on foot to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary will take half an hour, with many shops and galleries on the way to make the route more exciting. At guests’ disposal, there are also complimentary bicycles one can hop on!

Eating local and organic

Ubud has many great restaurants, but some of this culinary excellence found a home in Aria Villas too! Eelke Plasmeijer and Ray Adriansyah, the prize-winning chefs of Locavore Restaurant, transferred their appreciation of the local ingredients to the Aria Villas Ubud menu too.

Designed by Dutch and Indonesian, the meals in this hotel offer the exquisite tastes of both western and eastern cuisine. From beetroot salad with young goat cheese and grilled dry-aged beef with homemade fries to Soto Ayam chicken broth or Iga Bakar pork ribs with tomato sambal and lemongrass-infused rice, Aria Villas Ubud brings organic products with home-style cooking. Their healthy drinks add the element of detoxification.

The resort doesn’t have a common eating area. While larger villas do have a proper dining table, Terrace Pool Villa sadly misses one, which means one needs to hunch over a coffee table which is probably not the most comfortable idea of in-house dining. I guess staying here can stimulate you to relax and eat in bed, or even in the plunge pool itself! Daily changing menus of breakfast can be ordered in a floating basket. This means you can combine three passions in one: having a swim, eating a tasty meal, and taking very noticeable Instagram photos!

You should definitely order desserts from Aria Villas’ menu, be it a western-style chocolate mousse or local black rice porridge. But even if you’re on a diet and trying to stay on it as well, the resort will sweeten it up during the day! Every afternoon, they will deliver ice-cold popsicles made of chocolate or fresh fruit to your villa. The midnight snack such as Dadar Gulung (Balinese pancakes with grated coconut) will surprise you before you float away in sweet dreams!

Aria Villas Ubud hotel review – conclusion

Arriving at Aria Villas is quite an unsuspected surprise. Unlike the rice paddies of Tegalalang, which are a popular mainstream attraction, the peaceful Aria’s terraces of comfort, from the bed mattress to grass and infinity pool, feel like a well-kept secret. Tucked away behind the main Ubud arteries, with a minimal number of rooms, these tranquil upscale villas get discovered only by dedicated researchers of Bali accommodation options. And birds! Prepare to see some feathered beauties bending nests on your roof or drinking water from the pool!

But these days, one does not need a pigeon to spread the news! Good secrets are hard to keep, especially if they come with an appreciation of the concepts of privacy, relaxation, nature, and dedicated service.

The staff of Aria Ubud is willing to go the extra mile with a smile. Be it delivering and setting-up extra candles for your post-massage bath in the courtyard garden, or checking up that you are well-fed, relaxed, or full of plans for tomorrow, you just feel taken care of.

With the unpretentious luxury of this serene villa complex, Narnia-style surprises behind the wardrobe doors and relaxation galore for body, mind, and spirit, Aria Villas Ubud could have found a formula of a contemporary jamu. This revitalizing cure for whatever we find broken might be the restoring elixir of love and care. It has healing properties for our own wellbeing, but also for relationships that deserve being celebrated in Ubud, the authentic heart of Bali.

Bali might fully open for international tourism in 2021 only. But the good news is that you can already book Aria Villas Ubud, with free cancellation until the check-in day! Follow this booking.com link to see more photos of Aria Villas Ubud, read more hotel reviews, and secure the best price now!

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Disclosure: My stay at Aria Villas Ubud was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

Also, this post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway might make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

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Great both for introverts and extroverts, The Santai provides the feeling of a cozy holiday home

With 11 villas only, this property in Umalas, the quiet village in Southwest Bali, is the perfect hideout! Close enough to the popular areas of Seminyak and Canggu, but far enough from their noise, The Santai gives you free hand in designing your Bali holidays.

Great both for introverts and extroverts, it provides the feeling of a cozy holiday home. Therefore, it’s not strange the owners named it The Santai, which is the Indonesian word for relaxing.

When traveling to Bali, consider staying at this precious member of the Lifestyle Retreats! If you do not plan traveling to Indonesia any time soon, read on! The Santai Bali review might make you change your travel plans!

Monumental entrance to memorable welcome

The entrance to The Santai Bali resort is marked by an arc of monumental columns. Several dozen cuboids, erected like some Stonehenge of the modern age, bear the Balinese inscriptions celebrating calmness. These six-meters high totems are especially impressive when the sunset rays start playing with their shadows.

The whole reception area is communicating the same sense of airiness! The open-air lobby is spacious, dressed in wood, with modern furniture incorporating the traditional elements, such as the woven chandeliers. With a natural breeze instead of air-condition, and ever changing play of light throughout the day, the front desk is an inviting place to relax with a magazine in hand.

Indonesian snacks and fruits are available in jars displayed in buffet-style. Imagine peanuts coated in garlic, deep-fried savory Javanese crackers, mini spring rolls filled with fish, celery chips or a variety of homemade cookies! You’ll find the daily replenished cookie jar in your villa too!

As if this would not be enough, the check-in itself includes a plate with savory and sweet bites. This unexpected appetizer will make you ask questions about the working hours of the resort restaurant!

Tranquil oases dressed in hanging vines

If you developed an appetite for relaxing, the lobby opens up to a patio with an artificial water stream and Balinese gazebo. The high walls of the villas, abundantly covered with hanging vines, smartly hide the architecture of the compound.

Our personal butler Rini, a lovable young woman, brings us to our little nest for the next few days. Did I say “little”? The villa spreads on 600 square meters! The friendly staff will make an introduction to the villa’s perks. Available 24/7, they will answer any questions one might have about the stay in this area.

The centerpiece of each villa is a private swimming pool of an impressive size. Beside a decent space for swimming, it even offers a little lagoon, with a frangipani tree growing on an island. One can lay down in the shallow water, on one of Santai’s pool floats, or suntan on the deck equipped with daybed and beanbags.

If you’re looking for something even more cozy, you can find the extraordinary private pool villas at The Balé Resort, Bali’s perfect honeymoon hideout!

Concrete islands lead your way over the water to an open-air kitchen and living room. This is an area where one can enjoy a variety of delicious breakfasts, but also cook! We went through a Balinese cooking class with chef Gede, which was a fun and educational experience. It even left us with an official certificate of participation! You don’t only learn how to make the local meal (in carnivore and/or vegetarian version). You also get a fulfilling lunch that will certainly not leave you hungry!

The positive extras of the outdoor space are a water dispenser, espresso machine and large refrigerator. A smaller minus for the place obviously designed for spending days outdoor is a lack of exterior electrical plugs. Modern travelers need to connect their laptops and recharge their phones! Especially if you offer them so many tempting motives to photograph!

Rooms blending nature and technology

Each villa in this exclusive resort comes with two or three bedrooms, so it can easily accommodate an entire family or a group of friends.

Behind the gigantic sliding glass doors, the outdoor space naturally flows into the spacious rooms. A towel shaped into a form of Buddha sitting in a lotus pose, invites for meditation (by the way, you can learn the art of towel origami at the resort!). With a comfy mattress and calming essential oils, the room at Santai becomes the center of a good sleep! Iin case you didn’t doze off already by the pool!

Smart TV, iPod docking station, Playstation, DVDs… Try to use any of these in offer while an inviting swimming pool is at your doorstep!

The bathroom area remains the place of privacy, even if it practically functions as open-air. The master bedroom has both spacious indoor and outdoor shower, as well as the soaking bath. If that’s not enough, there is even a direct pool access! You’ll be able to pamper yourself with various-scented homemade soaps (cinnamon-passion fruit, ginger-honey, spiced citrus), practice your own asanas on a provided yoga mat, or prepare yourself for the beach. The Santai villas offers the use of beach bags produced by the pregnant ladies of the remote villages in East Flores. You can fill it with snacks if you decide to explore the local rice fields on a bike provided by the resort for free.

For those who cannot do without being connected to the world, besides free wifi, each room (even the outdoor living room!) comes with its own smart television providing satellite programs. There is also an iPod docking station, and Playstation and DVDs are available upon request!

With a selection of fruit and mini bar replenished with soft drinks on a daily basis, one cannot dehydrate while watching movies or playing games.

For more images of the resort, check The Santai Instagram!

Asia fusing in the plate

As mentioned earlier, meals at The Santai can be consumed in the privacy of the villa or in the in-house Gong Restaurant.

Start your breakfast with anything from natural granola to miso soup, from tropical fruit to hot & sour pork soup! For the main course, try eggs in various styles, teriyaki chicken bowl, nasi/mie goreng, or bento box with delicious grilled butter fish fillet, pickles and steamed rice! The menu offers a variety of Asian flavors, from Indonesia to China, from Korea to Japan! Add to this a morning booster with fresh ingredients, and your day can begin filled with energy!

The Gong Restaurant, sunken to the ground, which paradoxically enlarges its roominess, is open both for hotel guests and visitors. They serve Asian fusion cuisine, and the menu is more than solid. Imagine starting your dinner with spicy papaya salad or Japanese dumplings, diving into the tofu burger, Tasmanian salmon or Ayutthaya’s hot red curry with roasted duck breasts and lychee, and sweetening it all up with a chocolate fondant or orange parfait!

If this doesn’t make you drool, Seminyak restaurants are just a short drive away. And The Santai Umalas will provide a complimentary shuttle service!

Space designed in cooperation with nature

When the Indonesian architects Antony Liu and Ferry Ridwan from Studio TonTon designed The Santai space in 2014, they were aiming for a cutting-edge architecture that would provide an urban tropical retreat for families with a calming vibe.

While they obviously focused on motivating the guest spending time al fresco, they also did their best to do the reverse: let the nature into the rooms! The funnels in the roof bring the natural light inside, and the sidewalls are made of glass. So even if one is laying on a daybed in the room, one can still enjoy the feeling of bathing in abundant natural light flowing in over the vegetation-covered walls.

However, nature here is not just an inspiration for decoration. The Santai engages in actual initiatives that aim to preserve the environment, from solar panels and reclaimed water irrigation to biodegradable products, including glass water bottles. It also reminds its guests on the effects of detergent use; your bed linen will be changed only if you place an artistic stone on the bed!

The Santai Bali – the retreat for complete indulging

Just 40 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport (and return transfer for guests in complimentary!), The Santai resort is a practical base for exploring Bali’s buzzing neighborhoods, but without being forced to constantly expose yourself to them.

If your idea of an Asian holiday includes in-villa massages and pampering, chilling-out by an enormous pool, tasting a variety of flavors, and having the luxury of proximity to nature and temples, then The Santai Umalas may be the serene corner of Bali to consider! You can isolate yourself from the world here, but also start to explore it from this tranquil base!

If Santai’s special massage deals “pay 1, get 2” is not enough for you, and you want to experience the additional spa treatments, you can visit The Amala Seminyak, Santai’s sister property we wrote about on the list of Bali’s ultimate luxury escapes!

Release your prejudices of traveling to Asia, and find your safe heaven on the island known for its hospitality. The Santai hotel is definitely an ambassador of that hospitality. One of those luxury escapes that will not only restore your body and mind, but also the faith in people bringing the smile to tourism.

For the best available prices at this resort, book your stay at The Santai on Booking.com!

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Disclosure: My stay at the The Santai Bali was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

Also, this post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway might make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The post The Santai Bali Review: <br />The Indonesian Word for Relaxing appeared first on Pipeaway.

In January, I typically analyze the data of Pipeaway’s recommendations you’ve been following in the previous year. Basing its choices on the bestselling bookings of 2019, this article suggests ten countries you should discover in 2020! Follow the steps of Pipeaway’s readers and find the best place to sleep at in Asia, Northern and Southern Europe!

For more travel inspiration, check the bestselling bookings of 2017 and 2018!

Top accommodation choices in 2019

1. Indonesia

While Bali is definitely affected by the coronavirus outbreak in China and declining numbers of tourists from the world’s most populous country, it is still the star of Indonesia’s tourism. The turbulence in the market should lower the prices. Places such as Indonesia, Thailand, or Cambodia, could become even more affordable, once the epidemic concerns calm down.

These are the accommodation recommendations on the island of gods!

Kashantee Village – One of the bestsellers in Seminyak, this three-star property comes with a swimming pool.
Booking.com guests review – 9,0/10

Munduk Moding Plantation – This 4-star nature resort is set on a coffee plantation in Munduk and is known for its extraordinary Instagram-worthy swimming pool.
Booking.com guests review – 9,6/10

The Balé – Set in Nusa Dua, five-star private pool villas are an ideal choice for couples’ holidays or even honeymoons.
Booking.com guests review – 9,3/10

For more accommodation options in Seminyak and Canggu, check out these luxury escapes. If you are heading to Ubud, Sanur, or Banyuwedang, these are the resorts that will recharge your batteries.

2. Japan

Japan has always been at the top of my travel lists. A country with a great balance of tradition and modernity, amazing food, extraordinary festivals, polite people, and an extremely high feeling of safety, is the one I’d move to. Just waiting for someone to propose, lol!

While I didn’t have a chance to visit Japan in 2019, I’m happy some of you did!

OYO Hotel MUSUBI KYOTO Higashiyama Gojo – This hotel is set in central Kyoto, a city of numerous temples, gardens, and palaces.
Booking.com guests review – 8,9/10

If you want to explore Tokyo, check out these artsy places in Japan’s capital!

3. Malta

I discovered Malta only in December and, even in winter, the country had a lot to offer! If you love architecture and raw coastline nature, historical treasures, and movie sites, this Mediterranean island should get on your bucket list!

Meditropical B&B – This small bed and breakfast in Sliema is a solid base. One can cook in the well-equipped kitchen!
Booking.com guests review – 9,2/10

Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa – This hotel in Mellieha might not be the best 4-star hotel on the island, but comes with a tempting price.
Booking.com guests review – 8,5/10

1926 Hotel & Spa – The recommended hotel from my article on things to do in Malta is an eco-responsible enterprise. While it has space to grow and develop, if you want to support environment-friendly operations, this is the one to book!
Booking.com guests review – 8,5/10

4. Italy

While I’ve written only about Rome, there are places in northern Italy that are solid destinations but are also close to the airports serving low-cost flights. In 2019, Pipeaway readers were booking places in Treviso and Trieste, check them out!

5. Philippines

Due to its location, volcanic activity might affect travel to the Philippines, but once you’re there, the country’s beauty will certainly enchant you. Palawan is at the top of the list of places you should visit!

According to Pipeaway’s readers, Coron and Puerto Princesa are favorite bases from which you can explore the islands. If you wonder what that could look like, check my article about the boat trip to Coron Island!

6. Thailand

The Thai Baht is one of those Asian currencies that experienced a fall after the coronavirus outbreak in China. Every third tourist in Thailand was Chinese, and now that they stay at home, the market is thirsty for any visitor it can get.

According to Pipeaway readers’ bookings, the northern towns of Udon Thani, Phitsanulok, and Chiang Mai are especially attractive destinations! This is my list of things to do in Chiang Mai.

If you prefer visiting Thai islands such as Koh Samet, consider Mooban Talay Resort! Check their prices on Booking.com.
Booking.com guest review – 8,6/10

7. Laos

Laos is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia, yet extremely rich in its natural and cultural heritage! Luang Prabang and Vientiane have been at the top of your choices in 2019!

The country’s best 5-star property is Crowne Plaza Vientiane! Check their prices for your dates on Booking.com.
Booking.com guest review – 9,3/10

8. Norway

Norway is one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever visited. Many Pipeaway readers agree. Its incredible fjords, mountains, waterfalls, and lakes provide great opportunities for hiking.

I can especially recommend Aurlandsfjord and Lysefjord, with various attractive content that will fill out the whole length of your stay.

For those of you who prefer a mini-universe spared from big crowds, but with amazing hiking paths and even the longest staircase in the world, choose Flørli! For the best accommodation price, book your Flørli stay through this link!
Booking.com guest review – 9,0/10

9. Cambodia

Cambodia is a country I like to go back to. Whether you are into unusual traditions such as Songkran, the alternative insect meals, the ancient Angkor temples of the Khmer Empire, or even if you just want to travel safely as an LGBT visitor, Cambodia will be welcoming!

Treeline Urban Resort (the featured image of the article), which I wrote about in the article on plastic pollution fight pioneers, was my favorite hotel of 2019!
Booking.com guest review – 9,7/10

If you want to stay in the 2017 top hotel, check out Jaya House RiverPark!
Booking.com guest review – 9,9/10

Gay travelers should definitely check Rambutan in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap! Use the codes mentioned in the article and get your room with a 15 % discount!
Booking.com guest review – 9,4/10

10. Malaysia

The last country on this recommended list for 2020 is Malaysia. Due to its famous events such as Chap Goh Mei (Chinese Valentine’s) and Thaipusam (Hindu festival in Batu Caves), Kuala Lumpur and Penang Island were on the top of your booking requests!

My friends lived in the capital, and Malaysian stamps were often on my passport in recent years. They did move out, but I will definitely be coming back. There is a lot to discover!

I’d love to hear back from you if you stayed in any of the properties mentioned above! How did you like them? Please comment below!

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Well… If you end up in the south of the island (and this is very likely due to the position of Denpasar Airport), the convenient yet trendy neighborhoods on its western coast are – Seminyak and Canggu.

This blog post will introduce you to some of the best places to stay in Bali! If you choose these luxurious villas that will spoil both you and your partner, you will hardly even want to step out of the resort. Here are some great suggestions for your one-of-a-kind Bali holidays!

Hip, happening, and – pricy?

The hip and happening part of Bali is constantly shifting north of the mass tourism of Kuta. Seminyak already caught hold of popularity among tourists. On the other hand, Canggu, even further north, promises to be an upcoming hub for young, relaxed, and creative people.

The atmosphere in Bali’s most thrilling and vibrant districts may be laidback, but the accommodation can hit your wallet

Less crowded than Kuta, which is notorious for its nightlife, the upscale beach resort area of Seminyak is famous for its large number of upmarket spas, sleek boutiques, sophisticated fine-dining restaurants, chic beach bars, cafes, and clubs. The hip hangout spots and cool lifestyle shops, next to the traditional craft markets, made Seminyak an intriguing mixture of old and new.

However, this high-end lifestyle in Bali’s most thrilling and vibrant districts comes at a price! The atmosphere may be laidback, but the accommodation can hit your wallet in this quite fashionable area.

If the options of where to stay in Seminyak and Canggu overwhelm you, do not despair. Our luxury escapes reviews reveal some great options for your Bali trip. The Amala Estate, Origin Seminyak and Tugu Bali are among the best luxury escapes in Bali. These resorts in Seminyak and Canggu are worth affording!

1. The Amala Estate
Price per night: 370 Euros (two-bedroom villa)

The Amala Estate is the newest member of Lifestyle Retreats, the family of premium boutique resorts and hotels setting high quality standards of accommodation in Bali.

Developed just next door to The Amala, from its “residence with private pool” concept, The Amala Estate might not yet have reviews on Booking.com, but that’s only because they added it to the platform in the second half of 2019. Trust me; it will soon reach, if not outstrip the superb review score of The Amala Hotel (9,2/10, at the time of the writing). So you better claim your spot in one of the eight fantastic pool villas as soon as you can!

Butlers and chauffeurs at your service

The Amala Estate is located in a peaceful corner, yet close to the very heart of the Seminyak district. Restaurants, bars, shops and beaches are all within walking distance.

While all Seminyak hotels in this selection will organize a private airport transfer for their guests, Amala’s chauffeur will be at your service even during the stay! The resort provided all rides in Seminyak on a complimentary basis.

Additionally, butlers speak excellent English, and even some non-expected languages, such as Japanese! They are at your disposal around the clock, discretely catering to anything a guest may need. From cutting fruits or shining shoes to organizing private excursions.

Do you want to stay in the Seminyak area, but need to save some money? Not far from The Amala, just across the Jalan Sunset Road, there is Kosta Hostel we covered in our article on chill & cheap getaways in Southeast Asia!

Rest your body, mind, and spirit

I stayed in the two-bedroom villa, sometimes also referred to as The Amala residence with a private pool. This spacious unit of 375 square meters has a master bedroom with a king-size bed. There is another room, with two single beds.

The three-bedroom pool villa has even more square footage, and the third bedroom can alter as a yoga room.

One can also count on using the Wellness Studio at The Amala for yoga practice. Here, the resident wellness master Leona Chen, who specialized in traditional Chinese medicine, aromatherapy, and Ayurvedic self-healing skills, leads complimentary morning yoga sessions with mindful breathing, as well as sunset meditation with the enchanting Tibetan singing bowl. Additional programs for balancing body, mind, and spirit, such as ancient meridian energy work or Indian fusion dance classes, are always available.

The Amala Spa menu is very comprehensive. The range of body massage and care treatments, facials, and rituals, as well as holistic and life enrichment programs, is wide indeed. The resort’s name is Amala for a reason; the word means ‘clean’ or ‘pure’ in Sanskrit!

Just opposite the front desk, at Pure Boutique by Lifestyle Retreats, one can buy a selection of organic body oils, lotions, scrubs, or bath salts. If one can’t wait to enjoy a DIY spa treatment at home, the villa’s ensuite bathroom, besides the usual amenities collection (such as adorable ginger-green tea soaps), also offers aromatic herbs. A relaxing evening in a bathtub or a quick semi-open-air shower; the choice is yours!

Chill-out garden with a pool

The villa’s open living area is the most impressive. The luxurious living room centers around the large, but hidable flat-screen TV with satellite channels. I have hardly used this sort of entertainment during my stay. It would’ve been a sin to ignore the verdant surroundings abundant with tropical plants and trees.

In the center of this private chill-out garden, the decent-sized swimming pool with an inviting sundeck felt like a much better version of the Bali holidays.

The resort has a central swimming pool with its Jacuzzi and a little library. But reading a book in one’s own serene corner, without anyone’s interruption or gaze, is blissful!

The pools in the Amala Estate are atypically deep, so they allow safe jumping.

The Amala recognizes that the pools of today are not just swimming places, but also – Instagrammable brunch areas. So it joined those hotels in Seminyak that serve floating breakfast if desired by guests.

Decadent food in a tranquil hideaway

One can consume lunch or dinner in the privacy and comfort of the villa as well. The massive teak dining table is a beautiful piece of furniture that is stealing gazes as soon as one enters the Amala villa. Probably, only its size prevented me from catching hold of it and bringing it home! In the end, its design mainly added to the temptation of the seductive food that Amala’s Bamboo Restaurant, just a phone call away, readily delivered.

The villa also has a fully equipped kitchen for your own cooking. But resisting a pan-Asian/international menu with yummy salads, tofu burgers, red duck curry, or steamed fish in banana leaf (to name just a few of the all-day-dining choices) is not an option.

For those who want to have hands-on experience in preparing meals, the Amala cooking class can be a useful introduction to learning Balinese culinary secrets.

The butler explained the no-limits breakfast options as soon as I checked in. Every day at The Amala Estate starts with a feast! Besides daily specials (from egg frittata to burrito, from pan bagnat to salmon guacamole), the menu includes bakery products and pancakes with gluten-free options, miso soups, smoothie bowls… There is also a typical Bali cuisine, such as mie/bihun goreng, nasi goreng, or bubur ayam. Still, less-expected options of tamagoyaki, scrambled tofu, or egg whites are also available.

Add to this a welcome skewer with marshmallow, brownie, and strawberry, a complimentary tropical fruit basket, cookies, and soft drinks in a free mini-bar, with a possible order of some sunset cocktail, and the definition of indulging in this tranquil hideaway can hardly get more decadent.

Electric dreams in the oasis of nature

Amala’s shaded walkways dressed in greenery, its celebration of life at every corner, and its policy of not accommodating children at the resort, just like in its sister property The Balé Nusa Dua, really contribute to the feeling of an exquisite sanctuary.

They promise a revival experience during your holidays. And they will indeed bring you back to nature but never let you down with technology. Villas have multifunctional electrical sockets and even Bluetooth speakers, so you can connect your devices as you like.

Is there any downside to staying at The Amala Estate? Naturally, with so many plants and water at this lush resort, there is an increased interest of insects. That does include butterflies, but also – mosquitos! However, the resort staff does their best to treat the air regularly and safely.

Strong ACs protect both sleeping rooms. Also, mosquito nets encircle the plush white beddings like a baldachin on the throne of dreams.

During the regular evening turndown service, the housekeeping staff would leave a “sweet dreams” poetical message on the bed. Good sleeping at one of the best hotels in Bali was guaranteed.

For the best accommodation deal, check the prices of The Amala Estate on Booking.com!

2. Origin Seminyak Hotel
Price per night: 165-273 Euros (one-bedroom villa)

Are you looking for something with a more urban feel to it? Then Origin Seminyak villa can become your favorite Bali vacation spot!

Villas for keeping you fit and relaxed

Located in the very heart of Seminyak, a short walk away from Petitenget Beach and the iconic Seminyak Eat Street, Origin Seminyak Hotel is a collection of eight newly renovated pool villas and studios.

Managed by In Situ, the cutting-edge hospitality developer, also responsible for other members of the same family Origin Ubud and Origin Uluwatu, this stunning property opened at the beginning of 2019.

Its contemporary look got the signature of Arkana Architects. Bali’s top design studio interpreted architecture as an integral part of a lifestyle.

Here, the portrayed lifestyle put a spotlight on fitness enthusiasts. They also took care of those who just wanted to find a peaceful relaxation corner, away from the crowds. Possibly in the company of a lover or good friends.

While I stayed in a one-bedroom pool villa, they also had versions with two, three, or four bedrooms. These could also easily interconnect, for larger families or groups.

There were rooftop studios as well, with no pool, but with a bathtub and a shaded daybed.

Spacious and spa-licious

As soon as one walks in, it is clear that these are some of the most spacious villas one can find in Seminyak.

My pool villa had a surface of 188 square meters. The ceiling was high too, which meant there were quite some stairs to climb. This can get annoying if you are prone to forgetting something on the upper floor.

At the same time, the open-plan design layout is giving the whole unit a feeling of spacious airiness. Immediately it is clear: this place is meant for – breathing.

Blossoming frangipani, one of those sacred trees of Southeast Asia, is rooting this private garden with local traditions.

On the other side, a modern, large pool (8,5 x 3 meters) dominates the open-air area. The stone frogs spurting water are giving that spa-sound background that quickly activates one’s relaxation mode.

Next to the soft grass, there are two sun loungers. If you desire, the concierge service quickly brings a pool floatie to your timber deck, be it a pink flamingo or an orca whale.

Training in nature

Completely opened on one side, the living and the dining area naturally rely on the outdoor space.

Furniture materials such as wood or rattan, a stump for a tabouret, or tropical imprints on cushions such as fronds or banana leaves, are discretely overflowing this stylish villa with nature.

The living space even has a pond with golden fish swimming around the giant stepping stones, which eventually transform into stairs for the upper floor.

Natural elements are blending into the black-and-white geometric design. It is consistently present throughout the house, from pillows and blankets to storage boxes and tiles.

However, the biggest surprise on the ground floor is the cross-fit corner with a large mirror. It has some excellent training equipment you do not normally expect to find in a hotel room. I’m talking dumbbells, kettlebells, TRX, battle rope, pilates balls, yoga mats…

If you are a newbie to fitness, there is a display with workout ideas on the wall, with images.

For your convenience, there is a handy shower in the small bathroom on the ground floor. A powerful fan is also helping you withstand exercising in the tropical climate.

If you are a fitness junkie, The Samata in Sanur can be a great Bali accommodation choice too! I’ve never seen such a gym in any hotel! Check it out in our selection of top Bali resorts for recharging your batteries!

Keeping you hydrated and satiated

In the other corner, one can find a kitchenette/pantry with snacks and refreshments. The mini bar is stocked with soft drinks, but also chips, dry fruits, flavored cashews, and chocolates.

While most of the hotels would still be serving you bottled water, Origin Seminyak villas opted for an environment-friendly water station. You can use it to fill up your glass at your convenience.

Green apples give an additional nature touch to the modern seating area in front of the TV with Netflix content.

If you don’t feel like exploring an array of eating options in the neighborhood, Origin Seminyak offers simple lunches you can consume in the privacy of your villa.

Wayan & Gede designed the Western and Indonesian meals, but the grazing menu was still in the making during my “recently opened resort” visit. Therefore, I only tried the decent samosas and the beef burger from the “under construction” lunch menu.

A la carte breakfast had more elaborate choices, and options were changing daily. They delivered it in tasting portions. One could combine the offer of bakery products, tropical fruit, muesli, French omelet, nasi goreng ayam, French toast, and so on.

While the content is satisfying and focuses on healthy organic ingredients, the only problematic part of the concept is that one needs to select the items the night before, as well as choose the exact delivery time. For guests who prefer less planning during their laidback Bali holidays, this may represent an unnecessary complication. Hopefully, meal planning will get less formalistic when the hotel gets in full swing. Putting an alarm clock to enjoy your breakfast while it’s warm, is not the best way of spending the relaxed time that is promised by the rest of the resort concept.

Upper floor for sleeping and pampering

On the top floor of the villa, there is a large master bedroom with a comfortable bed, an open closet with sarongs for visiting local temples, discrete décor, another minibar, and a TV set.

The equally spacious ensuite bathroom has a double washstand adorned with a chic black chandelier. The bathroom products have the fragrance of amber, honey, and black tea.

For an authentic Bali feeling, there is a relaxing swing on the large balcony.

The metal shutters, as some post-industrial remnants, are accentuating the villa’s black-and-white stripe design. They are throwing shade in a similar pattern on the inner side and giving the same contrast from the outside.

Vast activity offer, from surfing to scuba diving

Origin Seminyak has a wide range of in-house services that cater for active holidays one can design according to one’s own needs.

For instance, I enjoyed a great massage by a local therapist who arrived at the resort and provided the service on a massage table installed in the villa. I didn’t need to look through the numerous spa options in Seminyak. The recommended one came over, and I could enjoy post-massage time in the privacy of the villa, without hitting the busy Seminyak roads.

On the other occasion, the concierge organized a private surfing lesson for me at Wayan Tembok surfing school on Double Six Beach. This 500-meter stretch of sand on Seminyak Beach was perfect for surfing beginners. And, to be honest, that was an incredible experience! It even made me reflect on the idea of moving to Bali for some extended period, and just – surfing!

If you want to have the same exhilarating vacation time, it is good to know that Origin Villas Seminyak offer free use of not only bicycles and skateboards but also surfboards!

If you desire a private lesson in yoga, aerial yoga, or even scuba diving, all of that is possible.

Origin Seminyak can organize your excursion that can include hiking in Bali hinterlands, snorkeling on some great beaches, rafting in rivers, or sightseeing with a private helicopter.

Even when giving suggestions on where to eat or drink, or which Seminyak beach club to visit, I find their staff very knowledgeable and helpful.

All itineraries could be personalized, so Origin can indeed make your stay in Bali island original, one of a kind.

For the best accommodation deal, check the prices of Origin Seminyak on Booking.com!

3. Hotel Tugu Bali
Price per night: 241-311 Euros (Rejang or Dedari Suite)

Unlike the first two 4-star properties in this selection of the best hotels in Bali for luxury escapes, Hotel Tugu Bali has a 5-star classification.

Located in Canggu, which is slowly taking over the hip gloriole of Seminyak, this unique accommodation is well worth the extra miles if you are coming from the south of the island.

Monument to heritage and romance

In the Indonesian language, tugu means ‘monument’. And indeed, if monuments have the function to honor and memorize, the legacy of Indonesia has extraordinary recognition in the project of Tugu Hotels. They are a very peculiar compound of accommodation and museum.

The founder of Tugu Group was Anhar Setjadibrata. In the 1970s, this dreamer couldn’t look at how his countrymen were discarding the antiques and artifacts, the silent witnesses of the Indonesian past.

In the times when Indonesians regarded being ‘modern’ as fashionable, a poor medical student turned into a passionate art collector. He became the owner of an impressive collection. Later, he decided to share it with the world through the projects of hotels, restaurants, and spas.

Set just next to the surf paradise of Batu Bolong, the most popular part of Canggu Beach, Hotel Tugu Bali is built by blending the architectural traditions of Bali and Java.

There are ten thatched pavilions connected by a maze of narrow walkways and koi-fish-rich waterways.

In the setting of a lush tropical garden, including the natural lotus pond of 700 square meters (see featured image), the art & antiquity collection is adding to the overall nostalgic atmosphere.

Tugu Bali Hotel is a monument to the romance of yesteryear.

Authentic luxury

The low doorways, discretely opened if the villas are not occupied, are giving a glimpse of the luxury that Dedari Suites with private pools are providing to the guests.

During my stay at the Tugu Hotel in Canggu, Rejang Suite was the one I called home. This type of unit is on the upper floor of a Javanese house, reachable by a wooden spiral staircase.

While it doesn’t have its private pool, this suite is a much better viewing point. Your gaze can travel freely over the resort’s flora, all the way to the blue Indian Ocean hitting Bali shores.

With its 75 square meters, the suite dressed in luxurious timber is large enough to accommodate a big bed and several seating areas, including a working desk (if you felt like working).

The TV set is smartly hidden under a white cover, as it would draw attention away from this authentic interior that spoke history.

The suite has a separate shower, toilet, and washbasin areas with a handcrafting touch of the local artisans.

The terrace (closed by both transparent and mat windows from all sides) is a perfect place to enjoy breakfast.

It also has an extraordinary surprise. With a large massage bed that could function as a daybed, and a unique round sunken bathtub filled with flower petals, this part of the suite resembles a private spa!

The chanting masseuse

While the room provides incentives to switch off at any moment of one’s stay, Tugu Bali Spa enriches the journey to a relaxed state of mind, soul, and body, in a very special way.

The spa is named Waroeng Djamoe, after an ancient apothecary producing healing jamu drinks. But there is much more to this concept than just providing traditional herbal medicines.

The ancient rituals of mystic healing triumph in Kamar Mantra. In this massage therapy, therapists chant hypnotic Hindu mantras while applying heating herbal oils onto one’s body.

In the old times, this “magic” process, believed to penetrate the soul, was reserved exclusively for the higher caste. At Tugu Bali, the doors to the state of inner peace, bliss, and harmony, are opened to anyone.

Well, anyone who can afford it. The most extensive treatment on offer costs more than 3 million Indonesian Rupiah (200 Euros). But it also lasts 8 hours!

Gastronomic events for various tastes

Hotel Tugu Bali digs into the forgotten, not only in its museum-type décor or ancient Oriental healing secrets. In the gastronomy department, old recipes come to life. They make the heritage of Indonesian cuisine, with various influences of the Asian neighborhood, triumph on the plates served in one of Tugu Bali’s three in-house restaurants. Not bad for the hotel that has 21 guestrooms only!

Do you dream of the imperial dining in the royal chamber of Bale Puputan, while sitting in the antique armchairs around the country’s largest 19th-century whole marble table? Possible.

Do you prefer experiencing dining as a theater? Then eating in the super high Bale Agung hall, next to the oldest 5-meter Garuda statue carved out of one tree trunk, while gamelan orchestra and dancers delivered a century-old choreography, can be your thing!

How about stepping into Bale Sutra 1706, a 313-year-old Kang Xi temple? This place is now housing a Tugu Bali restaurant focused on Japanese fusion, with fine wines and a sake bar.

If you want to feel the Indian Ocean breeze, JI Terrace by the Sea will deliver food from Indonesia, Japan, India, and Thailand with a view.

For a romantic dinner at Hotel Tugu Bali, eating in the candlelit hut at the lotus pond, in the bed on a torch-lit beach, or basically at any other intimate corner of the resort is possible.

Do you want to cook your own meal? Joining the Tugu Bali cooking class can be the best way to dig deep into the culinary secrets of Indonesia.

Eating well, anywhere, and at any time!

You can have a hard time choosing from the Tugu Bali restaurant menu. For a good overview of various Indonesian textures and flavors, try Tugu Rijsttafel! This famous dish includes a rice platter of Javanese chicken curry, beef in coconut sauce, prawn croquette, shredded beef, ‘tempe’ soybean cake, crisp grated coconut, yellow pickles, peanut crackers, garden vegetables in garlic and red pepper, and Javanese chicken satay. Vegetarian guests will find some fantastic dishes too, made after recipes inherited from famous cooks.

Besides the elaborated cultural dining experiences inspired by history, such as the eunuch dinner or almost forgotten satay parade, even the breakfast at Tugu Bali is an authentic culinary event.

Tons of gourmet dishes to choose from, from power breakfast bowls to Indonesian sweet and savory treats, can be enjoyed at ANY time of the day. That’s right! At Tugu Bali, one is not pressed to get up early to not miss the feast.

Another special moment would be the hotel’s Jajan Pasar afternoon tea session near the main pool. However, your complimentary selection of Indonesian delicacies, with a quality coffee or simply delicious chai latte on the side, can be delivered anywhere you liked.

Past treasures worth preserving

As the very first hotel in Canggu, Tugu Bali is raising the quality of accommodation in the whole Badung Regency.

In the market where Seminyak high-end hotels are competing in delivering new urban trends, Tugu consistently relies on the power of history and its secrets. Maybe this is the reason why the rooms at Tugu Bali have the biggest keyrings I’ve ever seen! Carrying a decorated wooden dagger around may be impractical. But it is a constant reminder of a treasure this unique boutique museum hotel is celebrating.

Can charming historic houses win the battle with beach clubs whose decibels hit them back with thousands of noise daggers until 2 am? I don’t know. I wish to believe that places such as Tugu Bali can find the solution to facing modern challenges if they want to continue delivering the romance of the past times.

From the very first moment at the reception desk with a shadow theater background, when they ornated my forehead with rice and tucked the frangipani flower behind my ear, until leaving the hotel when they gave me some souvenirs, water, and fruit for the road, all adorned with a smile, I believe it was indeed a ritual of making me Balinese.

Tugu Bali encapsulates the soul of Indonesia and thus deserves a sturdy spot among the best luxury escapes in Bali.

For the best accommodation deal, check the prices of staying at Tugu Bali resort on Booking.com!

Best hotels in Bali – conclusion

The accommodation market in Bali is exceptionally dynamic. New establishments are popping up all the time.

Sometimes, they are taking over existing spaces (as in the case of Origin Seminyak or The Amala Estate). They redevelop the property and elevate previous unsuccessful entrepreneur experiments into resorts that can answer the expectations of the tourists of today.

Then there are specific projects such as Tugu Hotels, which advocate for tradition. They take over even older houses and temples for a touristic make-over that nobody ever imagined.

While Origin focuses on modern urban travelers, Tugu targets those with more traditional expectations of what luxury is. The Amala finds its place in the market somewhere in between.

All of these 4 and 5-star hotels readily support the image of Bali island as a place where one can restore the body, mind, and soul.

Finding the best hotel on the island of gods is an ambitious task. As long as one can handle that Bali luxury escapes come in different forms, and with a variety of content, the quest itself can be an adventure.

If you have stayed at a place that deserves to be mentioned among the best hotels in Bali, please recommend it in the comments section!

But now… While you have some ideas about the high-end hotels in Bali, what are the places to eat some heavenly good food when visiting the island of gods?

Where to eat in Seminyak, Bali?

Seminyak has a great quantity of sophisticated fine-dining restaurants

Staying in one of the recommended hotels in Seminyak (and Canggu) typically means that they will cater to all your needs, including the need for good food. However, eating out in Seminyak can be a significant part of experiencing this area of Bali island.

Already mentioned, Seminyak Eat Street is a place with a high concentration of restaurants. If you are looking for buffet-style eating that could save some bucks and fill your stomach, all-you-can-eat establishments are easy to find.

For an elevated experience of eating in Seminyak, you should give a chance to the following restaurants!

1. Kilo Kitchen Bali

Kilo Bali restaurant opened in 2014 as the first overseas branch of the Singaporean Kilo concept. However, Kilo Kitchen’s founder is a Puerto Rican. Javier Perez moved to Asia and started opening restaurants where people would feel at home.

The architecture at Kilo Kitchen Bali is modern, concrete, and not pretentious. It goes green from the little hill in the garden to the plants on the rooftop.

Groups of young people, as well as older romantic couples, enjoy this comfy atmosphere. It’s smart to make a reservation before coming to Kilo Bali!

Drawing from its owner’s life experiences, the Kilo Bali menu is a fusion of tastes from Southeast Asia and Latin America. Portions are meant for sharing, so feel free to order more choices!

Definitely include the crispy tempura eggplant with balado sambal, prawn ravioli in sake buttercream and parmesan, homemade ricotta gnocchi with grilled mushrooms in miso sauce, and the most delicious grilled avocado in ponzu!

Kilo cocktails, as well as their homemade kombucha tea, are worth trying.

Side note: if you’re into unusual interior design, definitely pay a visit to the Kilo Bali restroom!

2. Merah Putih

Located in the heart of Petitenget, Merah Putih does not only look like a cathedral of fine dining. With high solar-filtered glass walls and a translucent ceiling that collects rainwater, this sustainable and functional architecture provides a roof for both tropical plants and Michelin-starred food.

Merah Putih, as proudly suggested in its name (‘red’ and ‘white’ are the colors of the national flag), serves Indonesian food, both traditional and modern.

It also suggests family-style eating, with plates typically set in the middle of the table and encouraging a social atmosphere.

I enjoyed mie udang (homemade noodles with sea urchin and yabbies), kembang kol (fried cauliflower salad), and sayur sayuran (local organic veggies that came with citrus & kemangi iced tea).

Their signature cocktails looked promising, and the Balinese white chocolate martini (vodka, chocolate liqueur, Balinese white chocolate) did not disappoint.

Cup holders with imprints of the kitchen staff portraits leave a friendly, human touch.

3. Sea Circus Restaurant & Bar

Sea Circus defends the less pretentious Seminyak restaurant scene. It was Melbournians who started it, after quitting their jobs in the advertising industry, moving to Bali, and deciding they needed a “restaurant, cocktail bar and coffee den”.

This colorful and artsy interior is full of little details evoking circus and seaside memorabilia as part of the interior. They also exhibit works by guest artists.

Sea Circus’ menu is a simple “fish & chips” type of offer, with a variety of burgers, smoothie bowls, and tacos.

I enjoyed my nourish bowl with grilled barramundi, that came with organic kale, baby spinach, chickpeas, red quinoa, beetroot, carrot, sprouts, cherry tomatoes, purple cabbage, roasted pumpkin, toasted seeds, cashews, and lemon agave dressing. I started drooling over the content description, so I wasn’t surprised the dish was equally mouthwatering.

Side note: to see another unusual washbasin, visit the loo at Sea Circus café too!

Did you like this article on the best hotels in Bali and Seminyak’s finest restaurants? Pin it for later!

Disclosure: My stay at The Amala, Origin Seminyak and Tugu Bali, as well as a dinner at Kilo Kitchen, were complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

Also, this post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway might make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The post Luxury Escapes in Bali: The Best Hotels on the Island’s Southern Shores appeared first on Pipeaway.

Munduk Moding Plantation offers infinity pools and infinity coffee cups

If you’re looking for a 4-star hotel in Bali, consider plantation villas in Gobleg village as your choice. They will stun you with natural surroundings and infinity pools, fill your days with loads of possible activities, and your cup with fine organic coffee. Read the Munduk Moding Plantation review and learn all the pros and cons of this unique mountain accommodation in Bali, Indonesia!

History of battlefields and coffee fields

The first Dutch explorer stepped on the island in 1597. Cornelis de Houtman called Bali “the young Holland”. He began the Dutch spice trade with Indonesia. In the following centuries, the trade focus moved to opium and slaves.

Dutch military expedition against Buleleng in Northern Bali in 1849 made the local king and his followers undertake a mass ritual suicide (puputan). Such an expression of revolt against the humiliation of surrender in front of the Dutch invasion was not the last one. Events became quite bloody at the beginning of the 20^th century.

Stationed in Singaraja, the colonial center of Bali, the Dutch colonists were looking to escape the tropical heat. In Munduk mountains, about 1.100 meters above sea level, they didn’t find just a perfect climate for themselves. They also discovered that the volcanic soil provided the ideal conditions to develop coffee production. They brought the trees from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

From the 1880s until the 1980s, Munduk hill stations were prospering as Bali’s most productive coffee plant growing area. But in the 1990s, the prices fell dramatically. Many farmers switched to oranges, cloves, flowers, and other cash crops that were bringing higher revenues. This caused soil erosion and falling water tables.

Roozen family found this Munduk plantation as one such failure site in 2007. They mortgaged their house in Europe, bought the land, cleared the old growth, and planted the shadow trees. The wildlife returned, and the coffee plantation was back as well.

If you love exploring the world through coffee, these are the coffee destinations you should visit!

From calm nature resort to an Instagram sensation

In two years, they built the resort from scratch. Munduk Moding Plantation owner employed the prominent Bali architect Popo Danes (the creative mind behind the Lelewatu Resort and Ubud Hanging Gardens). Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort and Spa opened in 2009.

The idea was to build a very low-density resort. That way, the guests could enjoy the natural environment but also have unobstructed privacy. Today, this Bali plantation hotel has only 21 rooms.

The buildings blend into the surrounding nature. Bali nature also blends into some of the buildings! The use of bamboo in constructing the unique elliptical activity hall, the spa, and the front office, pays respect to the ancient traditions in a modern context.

Many villas in Munduk Moding Plantation have private rim-flow swimming pools. But the main infinity pool quickly became the perfect backdrop for Instagram storylines that couldn’t go unnoticed.

The infinity pool at Munduk Moding Plantation

Munduk Moding Plantation infinity pool turned into the resort’s most excellent ambassador on social media! With some clouds in the background, the iconic pool looks surreal. As if it would be floating between the skies and the earth.

The panoramic view of the green hills and mountains, distant brown volcanoes of Java, and the blue Java Sea becomes magical, especially when the orange and pink colors of sunset and sunrise join the palette.

Golden hours are the most popular for shooting the reflective infinity pool, so be prepared for queuing! Instagram influencers and influencer wannabes wait for that “perfect” picture since the youngest minutes of the dawn. Stylists run around, yelling instructions. Cameras are on the stands. It all looks like a professional shooting set! Here, people check in prepared.

During the daytime, the pressure on the pool is much lesser. Most of the early risers are probably sleeping or editing photos (as if they truly need any filter). So if you just want to enjoy the pool’s 18 meters in length, you can take a swim when you don’t intrude on anyone’s shot, and nobody imposes on your swimming joy either. With often floating clouds in the mountains, the views get equally enchanting as in the first minutes of the day.

Just several steps downhill, Jacuzzi-deck offers another point to enjoy the spectacular landscape. Alternatively, you can consume your luxury hotel escape while resting in the sun lounger and reading one of the many available magazines and books.

While we can still claim that breathtaking views from the photogenic Munduk Moding Plantation infinity pool are unique, soon this will not be the case! Just a dozen meters downhill, the resort is building ANOTHER infinity pool that will blend the sky and the water!

If you are a swimming pool addict, check the unique silver pool at Jaya House RiverPark in Siem Reap, Cambodia!

Munduk Moding Plantation rooms

Only nine villas (1-4 bedrooms) and three suites are available to guests. With similar decoration, they mainly differ in size. The more luxurious ones can come with a private infinity pool, Jacuzzi, and always available butler, or even free minibar and laundry.

We stayed in one of the Garden Suites (precisely, Garden Suite number 5), which was the smallest available option. I can imagine that the oversized furniture looks very imposing in the more spacious villas. But in these 35 square meters, the organization of space felt a bit strange.

The room comes with a vast bathroom made of Sulawesi cream marble, with a large terrazzo bathtub in one corner, a partially walled toilet in the other corner, and a central open shower that can be curtained off. Above the shower, there is a skylight providing natural light.

Next to the small stone sink, there are luxurious bathroom amenities. They include mosquito spray, which I thought one wouldn’t need in the mountains, but surprisingly, it came in handy.

The poster bed comes with a canopy, which was also not just decorative. The fantastic views from the balcony are inviting you to keep colossal glass panel doors open all day long, and mosquitos feel invited.

The king-size bed seems gigantic in this room. While a small family could certainly snuggle up in it, that family wouldn’t have much space out of the bed. An additional massive couch made of tropical hardwood, facing the landscape views, looks lovely. But it is clear proof that one size does not fit all.

Equally, the balcony is unusually narrow. There is not much more space than to sit straight in the chair. Luckily, those sliding glass doors extend the balcony visually and functionally, so one can enjoy the view while eating welcome fruit on the couch.

Munduk Moding Plantation activities

There are plenty of available activities at Munduk Moding Plantation Hotel so your room hours can stay reserved just for the nighttime. Many of these are a part of the complimentary Munduk Moding Plantation Experience program.

I’d suggest you start your visit with a guided coffee plantation tour. A member of the resort staff leads you through the property, shows you the garden with fruit and vegetables, and teaches you the difference between Arabica and Robusta coffee that grew on the plantation. Traditional coffee processing demonstrations give a great insight into how it was all done before the advanced machinery era. It ends with the coffee tasting!

If you want to learn more about Bali culture, the MMP Experience program will teach you how to wear Balinese attire, how to make and fly a kite, how to make an offering, or how to play traditional music with bamboo gamelan. There are also kids’ activities on the plantation; they can watch movies, join the dance class, or learn how to play the spinning top game (gangsing). From bird watching to massage demonstrations, daily activities at Munduk Moding Plantation are numerous.

There are many exciting things to do in Munduk and North Bali too. The resort provides a free daily shuttle service to Bedugul, where you can visit the famous “floating” Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, Candikuning Market, and Botanical Garden. Another complimentary shuttle brings you to Tamblingan Lake and the magnificent Munduk Waterfall, where I recommend taking a dip. MMP also secures a car that brings you to Brahmavihara-Arama Buddhist temple (with scenic gates), Banjar Hot Spring (the water with supposedly healing minerals), and Lovina Beach (the black sand beach I personally don’t find that attractive, but it is a departure point for dolphin-watching if you’re into that).

What to do in Munduk for active Bali holidays

Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort & Spa can organize other tours for your active holidays in Northern Bali. Various treks will make you explore the rainforest. Waterfalls are always a good excuse for hiking with a refreshing mountain swim waiting for you at the end. Besides Munduk, the trek can lead you to Golden Valley Waterfalls, Melanting, Empelan, Banyumala, or Sekumpul mystery waterfall.

One can discover the area on foot, but also by riding a bicycle or a horse, canoeing on the lakes, diving in the sea, or even playing golf in the crater of an extinct volcano.

You can also hop on the tours that include trekking through the rice paddies, orchid or orange plantations. You can visit the remote villages whose inhabitants still practice animism. Or join the tours that bring you to the iconic selfie spots for that perfect holiday Instagram flow!

If you prefer to sweat ‘at home’, MMP has its own tennis/badminton court (one-hour use is free for all guests). There is also a small gym with weights, a treadmill, a stationary bicycle, and similar basic exercise equipment. For the playful and competitive guests, there are darts, billiards, table football, and table tennis.

If you are looking for more ideas on where to stay in Bali, check these resorts that will recharge your batteries!

Regain strength in the plantation spa

Munduk Moding Plantation resort spa has a modernist interior but is built mostly from bamboo, with alang alang (palm frond) roof.

In one of the two spacious massage rooms, various treatments with Indonesian herbs and spices as key ingredients are available. The homemade coffee body scrub sounds unmissable when visiting the coffee plantation resort. The scrub’s antioxidants supposedly soften the skin and remove its impurities. I wanted to try this two-hour treatment, but sadly, the spa was busy! There was no chunk of two hours available during my stay.

Instead, I opted for MMP Signature Massage, a one-hour combo of aromatherapy, hot stone, and traditional Balinese massage. The treatment cost me 30 USD (28 Euros), with tax and service charges excluded.

No aromatherapy could have covered the pungent smell invading my nose

My Munduk massage sadly didn’t start right. After laying on the massage table, I buried my head into a sweat-soaked headrest. I couldn’t blame anyone, as the towels were clean. But it seemed nobody was checking the equipment which over time took over the whole sensation. No aromatherapy could have covered the pungent smell invading my nose. I had to stop the treatment at the very beginning, as I couldn’t ignore the unpleasant odor. The masseuse was very professional and offered to move to the other table. The situation there was causing a bit less discomfort. This thing just didn’t fit the excellence of service MMP was aiming for. Luckily, it was fixable! I was sure they would pay more attention to these elements of the experience in the future.

The massage itself was very good and relaxing. So relaxing that I even fell asleep, which is always a good sign.

If you’re up for something different, MMP can provide a healing massage by a local healer who uses traditional medicines and holy water with a “mantra”.

Mountain resort blending ecology and luxury

Munduk Moding Plantation implements the idea of an eco-lodge in Bali, the island that banned single-use plastic in 2019. The resort led the way in replacing plastic straws with bamboo ones. Guests can even learn how to make them! It provides glass bottles of water in the rooms, uses natural water sources for bathing, and recycles waste. They also promote nature topics through movie screenings for kids and adults. The hotel practices sustainable agriculture on the plantation. Munduk plantation restaurant offers the organic Bali meal experience as much as it can.

If you want to check another mountain eco-luxury resort, read about the Limalimo Lodge in Ethiopia!

The responsibility towards the surroundings does not stop at maintaining the lush gardens in an environment-friendly way. The owners have also set up the Munduk Foundation, to support local schools, provide dance and English classes for Munduk children, as well as scholarships to talented but poor students.

At the same time, Munduk Moding Plantation is not just an idyllic hideaway behind the sights of the plant tunnels and sounds of the birdsongs deprived of modern traveler needs. The rooms have a CD, iPod, and DVD player (a large selection of DVDs is available). All guests receive a mobile phone for communication with the reception. The Internet connection was not always stable in my experience, but it does cover all areas of this award-winning eco-luxury resort.

Munduk Moding Plantation menu

MiMPi Restaurant is set just in front of the iconic infinity pool. It delivers beautiful views, both from the first-floor dining room and second-floor verandah. One can also enjoy the meal under the frangipani trees on the terrace. Private bale bengong (gazebo) is most popular among couples, where the heart-form-displayed candles lighten up their romantic dinner.

The coffee plantation menu offers Balinese, Indonesian, Asian, and some Western Fusion food. However, I feel that there is a discrepancy between Asian and non-Asian dish quality. Chocolate brownie so hard that one cannot cut it with a knife, or a truly oversized portion of spaghetti give an impression that someone is tapping into unknown territory, even if with the best intentions. On the other side, local dishes, and especially vegetarian and vegan selections are surprisingly excellent.

I like their Mimpi breakfast in particular! Try it if you want to have an overview of various local breakfast options, including the tropical fresh fruits, Jaffle with strawberry, tomato, banana, or cheese, Nasi Goreng or Bakmie Goreng with fried egg, toasted bread with onion, avocado, and tomato, Lak Lak, Biu Mekukus, and a pot of tea or coffee, of course!

Coffee – the resort’s darkest pleasure

Being the only Bali resort set on a working coffee plantation, Munduk Moding Plantation is an ideal destination for those who cannot start a day without a good cup of the dark booster.

If you want to immerse yourself in Bali coffee culture completely, you should visit this Indonesian hill station in July or August, when you can participate in the coffee harvest! For all other visitors, rooms come with Munduk coffee packs, so you can still enjoy drinking coffee in nature at your leisure.

For those who love afternoon rituals, every day, the hotel serves complimentary ginger tea or Bali coffee with homemade cookies by the pool.

If you are willing to experiment, you can try the pricy kopi luwak. The famous luxury coffee beverage comes from beans eaten and digested by Luwak fox (civet). Unlike in other facilities which cage and often force-feed this nocturnal animal, Luwak here is free and wild. The resort can barely harvest 2 kilos a year, in comparison to 1,5 tons of other processed beans.

Munduk Moding Plantation review – conclusion

From the flower leis with a welcome drink (coffee with lemongrass) to the evening chocolates with a bedtime story (well, one that ends with the king running around the palace and killing everyone was an unusual way to wish a sweet night), Munduk Moding Plantation overflows with attention.

The pampering starts with a golf cart-type vehicle for the short ride between the entrance and the reception. It does not end with any of the experience programs generously offered to the in-house guests. Sometimes, six employees stand behind the small reception desk, all eager to help, which may make communication confusing. The intention here is excellent; it just needs some polishing to make the resort staff equally relaxed as the guests they are taking care of.

The most rewarding part of staying at this remote Bali mountain resort is its design for privacy. Even if one building can house several suites, they will still have the preserved feeling of seclusion, all the way from the entrance to the balcony views. This makes Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort and Spa the perfect honeymoon or wedding place in Bali, away from the crowds. Private dinner or just a warm hug by the bonfire under the night skies of the Southern Hemisphere can indeed be romantic.

Finally, this Munduk hotel offers impressive panoramic views, but also hidden photogenic treasures at the plantation, with its infinity pool reaching the greatest Instagram stardom. It can be cloudy above you, and it can be cloudy beneath you. The visual setting will instantly catapult you into the dreamlike atmosphere that will fill your social media and your own memory feed with countless moments to cherish.

MMP essential info

Munduk Moding Plantation location

Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort and Spa is located in the hilly countryside of Northern Bali. It is the authentic corner of one of the most popular islands in Indonesia (and there are 18.000 of them!).

The resort site is just on the edge of the plateau at more than 1.000 meters above sea level, and close to the three central lakes of the island (Beratan, and the twin lakes of Buyan and Tamblingan).

Even if administratively belonging to Gobleg, the resort got its name from the neighboring Munduk village which offers excellent trekking, if you ever get bored with 5 kilometers of walking path through the plantation.

Lovina Beach is half an hour’s drive away, and going from Ubud to Munduk can take up to two hours by car.

How to get to Munduk Moding Plantation from the airport

Most of the tourists arrive in Bali through Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, in Southern Bali. The ride from Bali Airport to Munduk Moding Plantation should not take more than two and a half hours.

Taking public transport between the two locations is not easy, so your best options are renting a vehicle, or asking the resort to organize the pick-up/drop-off. The airport transport fee will be 50 USD (45 Euros).

The best time to visit Munduk, Bali

The proximity to the equator makes Bali’s year-round temperatures high. Munduk has its own microclimate. Even if you can expect warm weather during the day (22-26 degrees Celsius), prepare for the fact that nights can be chilly here (14-19 degrees). Bring an extra sweater!

Munduk weather is characterized by more rain than the rest of the island, especially in the wet season between November and March. August is the driest month, but October is the warmest one.

Munduk Moding Plantation day pass

If you are not staying in Munduk Moding Plantation, but would still like to visit it, the resort provides non-staying guests with day passes. Their availability depends on the occupancy. The priority to enjoy the resort and the spa is given to the overnight guests.

In case a day pass is available, an external guest will have to pay 500.000 Indonesian Rupiah (32 Euros) for the Blue Voucher. It will entitle you to a welcome drink, two-course lunch, and access to all facilities and activities, except the infinity pool and Jacuzzi. Those two are often the main reason for a day visit, so if you want to include them, you will need to purchase a Green Voucher for 900.000 Rupiah (57 Euros). Children younger than 11 have a 50 % discount on these prices.

Munduk Moding Plantation contact: sales@mundukmodingplantation.com or +62 (0)81 138 5059 (Whatsapp)
Website: www.mundukmodingplantation.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mundukmodingplantation
Munduk Moding Plantation booking: for the best prices, check Munduk Moding Plantation on booking.com

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Disclosure: My stay at the Munduk Moding Plantation was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

Also, this post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway might make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The post Munduk Moding Plantation Review: Bali Nature Resort Inspired by Coffee appeared first on Pipeaway.

World’s ageless mysteries

My trip started with a day-long ride from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi. Any train seat will get uncomfortable after 13 hours of use. The food on the train was quite disappointing, some tasteless rice and chicken. There was not much to do, besides trying to get to know your fellow passengers.

I felt like an astronaut about to launch into a deep space adventure

Harfa, a 19-year-old, was quite talkative. He really, really wanted to know how old I was. Encouraged by the fact that Indonesians never managed to get the right number from reading my face, I accepted the bet. And Harfa got it! I had to say goodbye to 10.000 Rupiahs that day. That young guy, who has barely seen the world, and even fewer white people in it, read my age like an open book!

I will bump into Harfa again two days later, at Kawah Ijen Volcano, on the most populous island in the world! What are the odds of that? Still, our mysterious pathway crossing will be overshadowed by one of Earth’s most beautiful spectacles, older than Harfa and me together.

Ijen Shelter on the tree

As climbing to Kawah Ijen Volcano is typically a nighttime activity, I decided to arrive in Banyuwangi the night before so that I can get proper rest. Especially after that train ride.

I have chosen to stay at Ijen Shelter, a brand new accommodation facility that offers sleeping in a – treehouse! This will be another of “my firsts”. Treehouses embody both fantasy and a return to nature, so I was really looking forward to sleeping on the tree.

It was getting late when I arrived, but Daniela, a German expat in Banyuwangi and co-owner of the shelter, still offered me a tasty Nasi Goreng wrapped in banana leaf and served in bamboo. Then she escorted me to the treehouse. As it was pitch dark, I just followed her nightlamp, trying not to slip on the wet ground.

The full magnificence of the place did not get me before the morning, when the songs of the birds, and clamor of the monkeys in the distance, woke me up. Surrounded by jungle, Ijen Shelter was providing an authentic getaway. I already felt sad that, after two nights, I will need to leave this perfect hiding place from civilization.

If you want to stay at this Javan treehouse, find the best prices for Ijen Shelter at this link.

Installations of art and nature

After breakfast (delicious fried bananas with cheese and chocolate), Daniela showed me the neighboring villages. It was surprising to discover quite a lot of sculptures and art installations in what seemed to be a rural environment and was inviting for more in-depth exploration.

But my primary focus for this visit was Kawah Ijen Volcano, one of the strangest Indonesian landmarks, a fantastic installation copyrighted by nature. I have already read about the blue fire, the acidic lake, and the amazing sunrises. But no reading could affect the feeling of the ultimate surprise that a live encounter with Ijen provides.

Even if there are possibilities to visit the most toxic place in the world with a guided tour, I have decided to do the climb by myself. I have never hiked a volcano before, but I think that advancing in fear management is beneficial for any aspiring traveler.

Daniela lent me her golden rain gear and a headlamp, and I felt scared and ready simultaneously. John drove me to the entry point at the foot of the volcano, I purchased the ticket and the gas mask and started walking.

If you like hiking volcanos, you will most certainly love Hallasan Mountain in South Korea too! Its crater lake is not toxic, but still enchants!

Earning for life by dying

In the darkness, some miners were waiting along the path, offering a taxi ride to the top. Later on the hiking path, I encountered three Indonesian miners, pulling the cart with a morbidly obese tourist up the mountain. Their wages are minimal, and this image was engraved in my mind as an example of degradation through exploitation.

These miners already have one of the hardest jobs in the world. Excavating chunks of sulfur, while toxic gases pour out of the vents, bringing the baskets with up to 90 kilograms of heavy loads to the crater rim and then three kilometers down the steep trail to the weighing station, provides them about 13 dollars a day.

They are not using gas masks while working. When I was climbing up the volcano, the distinctive miners’ coughs were ripping the silence that encircles this active volcano. No smoker sounds like that. Due to respiratory afflictions, their life expectancy is 50 years.

Hot sulfurous gases are highly flammable

Blue fire phenomenon

After a 1,5 hour climb (it might be 2 if you go more slowly, or less if you are really speedy), I arrived at the viewpoint where several dozens of tourists were already standing and observing a few blue fire flames playing on the volcano surface. Hot sulfurous gases are highly flammable and ignite when getting in touch with oxygen, burning with an electric blue flame. Flames are there actually all the time, but only visible at night. Sometimes. That evening the weather conditions were not perfect, so the blue-flames promise might have been a disappointment for some.

I sat behind one rock, trying to warm myself up. Speed walking toward the top made me sweat, and I was shivering in the absence of an additional shirt. To be honest, I sat down thinking that all of us are waiting for the blue flames to happen, while the flames have already reached their visibility peak. The rising sun was erasing them completely.

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Kawah Ijen Volcano in a surprising striptease

While I was observing the beautiful sunrise, behind my back, Kawah Ijen was quickly stripping off its cloudy clothes. In a matter of seconds, white clouds climbed over the crater rim, revealing the surreal, turquoise-blue crater lake. That was indeed deus ex machina. Literally, it appeared out of the blue.

One kilometer in width, this is the largest highly acidic lake in the world! On the PH scale from 0 to 14, this lake is 0.13! No life exists close to these waters.

On the day of my visit, the concentration of gases was extremely dangerous. Even if I put on a gas mask, descending the crater towards the lake was forbidden. If you are lucky (or if you are a miner who chooses to die sooner), you might experience the privilege of taking a look at this unique site from proximity.

If Ijen's turquoise color looks otherworldly to you, what would you say about nature's even craziest masterpieces - pink lakes? 

Perils for pearls

Before heading back, I bought several figurines made of sulfur. These miners have enough trouble with wearing heavy loads of sulfur and fat tourists up and down the volcano. Figurines shaped like Donald Duck, Hello Kitty, or a simple flower might not have a particularly smart use, but they are probably a nice souvenir of appreciation for one of the hardest jobs in the world.

Going down Kawah Ijen Volcano in broad daylight revealed some stunning views of the natural environment, as well as scary cliffs one passes more easily during the night. One starts to think about whether hiking an active volcano was a risk worth taking. Miners don’t have time to reflect on that.

Destiny wanted that I meet Harfa again when descending the volcano. This young gambler successfully guessed my age on the train. I lost only 10.000 Rupiahs in the bet. Kawah Ijen Volcano miners gamble with age with much higher stakes and more apparent sad outcomes.

At the bottom of the trek, John was waiting for me. Delicious Nasi Goreng with chicken and pineapple for breakfast at Pondok Indah restaurant. I hope that miners’ families also get a proper meal thanks to the sacrifice of their working men.

What was the most dangerous place you visited? I am looking for some travel inspiration! Feel free to share your ideas and recommendations in the comment section below!

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The giant dream

The mind behind the idea of building the biggest statue of Lord Vishnu ever was Joop Ave, Indonesian minister of tourism in the 1990s. He was dreaming of a monument that would symbolize humankind’s journey into the new millennium, but also become the iconic landmark of Indonesia. The new millennium has arrived and Mr. Ave has passed away. But his vision, after two decades of construction, financial crisis, and political changes, finally hits the finish line. The gigantic Vishnu statue should be dominating the Bali landscape in autumn 2018 or spring 2019, depending on if you ask optimists or realists.

The famous Indonesian sculptor Nyoman Nuarta is working hard in his Bandung workshop to meet the deadline. Hundreds of associates are involved in constructing the statue in copper and brass, cutting it in pieces, transporting those to GWK Bali, and reassembling them again.

Designed as a visual spectacle, Garuda Wisnu will present Lord Vishnu, the source of wisdom and the preserver in the Hindu trinity, riding on the back of his faithful mount Garuda, the divine eagle-like creature. The statue will stand more than 121 meters high, with its wings span of 64 meters! It will weigh more than 3.000 tonnes!

Vietnam is the least religious place in the world, yet they have one of the largest Jesus statues! Indonesia is the most Muslim place in the world, yet they are sculpting the largest Vishnu ever for 1,7 percent of Hindus living in the country

Religious or non-religious, size matters!

When we think of massive religious monuments, many will first recall the iconic Rio de Janeiro statue – Christ the Redeemer. Brazil is almost 90 percent Christian, which makes it perfectly logical to celebrate the Christian god. But in Southeast Asia, the laws of logic don’t work the same. The Vietnamese, one of the world’s least religious nations, have built Christ the King in Vung Tau, even bigger than his Rio counterpart! In the country where Catholics make 6,2 percent!

In Indonesia, the majority of citizens are Muslim, but we know that the depiction of Muhammad is a controversial issue. The tallest sculptures in Indonesia at the moment are those of the Virgin Mary in Semarang, Central Java (with its 42 meters, it is the world’s tallest Virgin Mary statue), Jesus in Makale, South Sulawesi (40 meters), and another Jesus in Manado, North Sulawesi (30 meters).

The tallest statues in the world are those of Buddha. When Indonesians, with barely 1,7 % of Hindus living in the country, finish Garuda Wisnu, the world’s top three will be richer for the first Hinduistic deity!

If you want to read more about one of the tallest Christ monuments in the world, check out the article Vietnamese Jesus Statue: Climbing the Christ of Vung Tau. 

Garuda Wishnu – tall, broad, and spiritually disturbing?

Dominating the GWK Cultural Park, Garuda Wishnu will be nearly 40 stories high, visible not only from Ngurah Rai International Airport but also from places such as Tanah Lot, the ancient Hindu temple on the rock, 30 kilometers away!

In the original vision, the enormous sculpture was supposed to be 146 meters tall! Balinese religious authorities complained that the statue’s immense size would disturb the spiritual balance of the island of gods. So the compromise was made to reduce it for 20 meters.

Even if GWK Bali stimulates the commercial development of the southern tip of Bali island as well, the team behind it claims that their intentions were always mainly cultural. Borobudur was built in the 9^th century, and they thought that Indonesia needed a new masterpiece.

Nyoman Nuarta – the master for the job

Nyoman Nuarta is one of Indonesia’s finest modern sculptors. His works displayed in the homonymous gallery in the northern part of Bandung, in West Java, astonish with craftsmanship. NuArt Sculpture Park opened to the public in 2000, and while it primarily exhibits Nuarta’s work, it also welcomes guest artists, especially the young ones.

The gallery’s Craft Boutique offers a series of Nuarta’s miniature artworks. But, walking through the 1.000 square meters of indoor space, and roaming through the three hectares of the park itself, it becomes clear that this man thinks big!

He placed one of his largest sculptures on the building in Surabaya’s naval base. The 30-meters high Jalesveva Jayamahe represents the navy officer greeting the ships passing by. It shares third place with Jesus on the top list of the tallest Indonesian statues.

Do you love art galleries of Indonesia? Have you read Pipeaway's most viral content of 2017: Selfies as Declaration of Stupidity: #Instaidiots Raping Art Galleries?

Bali icon born in patience

Two decades later and with a hundred million dollars spent, pieces of Garuda Wishnu are slowly being transported from Bandung to Badung, from Java to Bali. The trucks have to bring the parts 1.000 kilometers east so that they can install them at GWK Cultural Park.

Leaving the mark in Indonesia’s history is not an easy accomplishment. The process took longer, but the peaceful Vishnu’s face resting in Nuarta’s workshop, with his eyes half-closed, almost reassures. Gods can wait.

Java is home to another unusual monument - the Indonesian Chicken Church. Check it out!

GWK Bali history

• Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park opened in 1997.
• Park’s final purpose is to house the colossal sculpture in the making. Until now, visitors were able to see the separate statues of Garuda, Vishnu’s bust, or hands.
• Park’s scenic plazas, gardens, amphitheater, and cut-out limestone rock landscape have served for many private and public events. From weddings via Miss World contest to Iron Maiden concert, GWK is already building the identity of the icon of Bali.

GWK Bali location

• Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park spreads over 60 hectares in Ungasan, Badung Regency of Southern Bali.
• Park is easily reachable from Ngurah Rai International Airport. The car drive will take about 30 minutes.

GWK Bali opening hours

• The park is open daily, from 8 am to 10 pm.

GWK Bali entrance fee

• The ticket to GWK Cultural Park costs 100.000 Rupiahs (6 Euros), which makes it one of the priciest attractions on the island, even if Westerners should not complain. It is not known if the ticket prices will go up after one of the largest world monuments finds its permanent home here.

Searching for a place to stay close to Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park?
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The Balé is a place to get spoiled! Located on the paradise island of Bali, this 5-star resort is an excellent retreat for those looking for a getaway, whether alone or with their significant other! Balé is managed by Lifestyle Retreats, a Singapore-based company specializing in premium boutique properties. It would be an understatement to say that the Balé is only that! This luxury property exceeds expectations, whether you are planning a Bali honeymoon or a retreat on your own!

Zen experience is implemented throughout the resort

Nusa Dua is a tourist enclave that was constructed in the 1970s on the eastern tip of the Bukit Peninsula. In 2000, the Balé became a reality as a design brainchild of one of the leading Indonesian architects. On three hectares of land, Antony Liu (Studio TonTon) has imagined the contemporary white space with clean lines, simple yet refined, minimalist but elegant. From the futuristic entrance through the winding passage surrounded by water (is it a bridge then?) and metal tubes (is it an industrial version of the bamboo forest?) to the cascading rows of 29 independent villas in the most discreet layout, the serenity overtakes it. Space is urban, yet not pretentious, luxurious, but harmonious. The use of stone, greenery, and abundant calming water shows respect for Balé’s environment. The landscape designer was Karl W. Princic, and the zen-kind of experience is implemented throughout.

Would you prefer to spend your honeymoon in Europe? Here's why Croatia should be your choice for romantic holidays!

Water heaven at The Balé

Each stylish villa comes in the form of a thatched pavilion, with its own walled garden that is fitted with a large bengong-style daybed for lazy afternoons, and a private swimming pool one can enter by stairs directly from the bathroom. Bathtub, indoor and outdoor shower, twin sinks equipped with excellent quality signature soaps (based on coffee or sandalwood, for instance), bath salt, bath oil… Even candles are provided! This is a water heaven for anyone enjoying pampering!

The room is sleekly designed, very spacious, and bright. All wall surfaces are glass, which means there are a lot of blinds to pull down in the evening. But don’t worry! The Balé provides turndown service, which means your mosquito-protective baldachin will be set, and the complimentary supply of delicious cookies, fruit, water, and soft drinks will be replenished, in the most thoughtful way!

In and out of room entertainment

The bed is very comfy and, even if one is alone, there is an in-room entertainment provided with satellite TV, CD, VCD, DVD, and MP3 player! The only thing I actually missed in the Balé room was – an electrical outlet! Having only one free outlet in the whole room is not enough for the modern traveler, and hopefully, this can be improved. Electrical appliances aside, in the hotel library board games and books can be borrowed! If you lack anything else, there is a round-the-clock butler service. Your personal butler will cater to all your needs, even if it is just unpacking your suitcase or shining your shoes!

The pavilions are incredibly comfortable and quickly bring you into a tranquil state where you just don’t want to leave them. However, if it happens that you get bored of your private pool (how on earth could that happen?), the hotel has its own beach club at Geger Beach (which is just a 10-minute walk away, or a 2-minute drive by complimentary shuttle car). Additionally, in the heart of the Balé resort, you can enjoy two tiers of the central swimming pool!

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Bali honeymoon delight – honey massage!

This stylish sanctuary couldn’t provide the perfect relaxing getaway without spa premises! There is a range of massages, body and facial treatments, holistic programs, yoga, and meditation options! Sometimes, even great Masters are around! The gym is quite small but well-equipped for the size. With the possibility of booking a private sauna time, there are so many things to try!

I enjoyed the combination of long-stroke lomi-lomi and Balinese massage, with the aromatherapy oil of my choice. In addition to my 1-hour body treatment, the hotel threw in the 15-minute foot bath, which was a truly caring and relaxing ritual. Of course, you can go more experimental, and try the massage with seashells or crystals, body scrub with organic rice or exotic fruit, champagne bath, or green tea jacuzzi! If you are a couple on a Bali honeymoon, supposedly honey treatment is a very romantic experience!

Happy faces in the restaurant

While I was being pampered, the Faces restaurant was already preparing my dinner from its healthy menu option.

Rice paper mushroom ravioli in saffron-pumpkin broth for a starter and steamed miso-crusted barramundi with sea vegetables and soba noodles for the main course turned out to be truly delicious.

Healthy and detoxifying smoothies are served with paper straws, which is a commendable ecological approach.

It is not all raw, vegan, and strictly healthy here! Besides Indonesian & Thai specialties, one can order more classic fish and chips, pasta, salad, burger, or pizza. However, this gourmet restaurant promises one will get a balanced menu with fresh locally-grown organic produce, no matter which dish one chooses.

French toast – Balé way

The contemporary cuisine approach can be seen at à la carte breakfast too. Whether you eat it at the open-sided pavilion next to the main pool, or in the privacy of your own villa, the choices are plentiful: freshly baked pastries, yogurts and cereals, smoothie bowls, fruit, Asian specialties, various egg versions, and my favorite sweet signature dish of the Balé – French toast with strawberries, mascarpone, and maple syrup. It’s a delicacy you want to drown in!

The Balé hospitality

I must say I actually preferred in-room dining. For my taste, too many waiters are serving each table in the restaurant, which slightly depersonalizes the service, while in the room pavilion, I have experienced the full extent of hospitality that is obviously incorporated in the philosophy of the Balé. One can even opt for a candlelit dinner or private barbeque under the frangipani trees in the garden, which will undoubtedly secure a more romantic evening! Learning to make some seafood dish or soufflé at the restaurant’s cooking class, could be another great bonding experience for a couple on Bali honeymoon!

Bliss offers spa cuisine, Tapa Bistro serves tapas with music as a side dish, and Fluid Bar provides cocktails and wine. One could easily spend a very diverse holiday time in the Balé, never leaving its ground. However, the resort offers free chauffeur service, if you want to explore Nusa Dua. Turtle Conversation and Education Center, Bali National Golf Club, or water sports in Tanjung Benoa are also great ideas for a day out! It is worth knowing that the 30-minute drive to and from Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport is complimentary, with water, fruit, and wet towels included! So stressless!

Adult-only paradise

Bali is called the island of gods. The treatment one gets at an upscale resort such as the Balé is often a divine experience, adequate to the reputation of the so-called paradise destinations. With a no-children-allowed policy, the intimate and soothing atmosphere of this charming relaxation oasis for adults is genuinely seductive! This is what the Bali honeymoon should look like!

My main regret is that I have experienced this resort on my own because special moments are always better when shared with people we find special. Hopefully, I will return to this extraordinary place soon and share the escape experience with someone, hands-on!

Disclosure: My stay at the the Balé was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

Also, this post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway might make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

Special thank you: HotelieriQ - for the assistance in connecting Pipeaway with Lifestyle Retreats.

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The island of Java, the country’s business and cultural hub, is the home of the capital city of Jakarta, often portrayed in gray tones, and the cultural city of Yogyakarta, seen as a much more colorful counterpart.

They should definitely find their way to your travel list, and we have picked up some accommodation recommendations for both of them, so you can get rid of your backpack and start exploring the world’s most populous island with an incredible number of citizens – 145 million! Here are the best hostels of Java!

Looking for more great hostels in Southeast Asia? Check out our selection of chill & cheap getaways - everyone can afford some relaxing holidays in this part of the world on a shoestring budget!

Top 3 Hostels of Java

1. Abrakadabra! Artbnb, Yogyakarta
Price per night: 4 Euros

It would be a bit cheesy to describe the place named “Abrakadabra!” as magical, but this hostel literally follows one of the main principles of magic: turning things into other things! Sure, the rest of the world would call that recycling, but in Abrakadabra the goods receive new function, new meaning, and new quality. The whole place transforms into an art gallery with exhibits that are touchable and usable! Nigerian poet Ben Okri said: “Magic becomes art when it has nothing to hide.” And exactly this quote decorates the walls of this open guesthouse, welcoming you warmly upon arrival. There is also a board with your name on it, saying “Welcome, Ivan!”, just in case friendly hosts are not there immediately to say hello or share a can of beer with you.

The whole property is centered around the small, cute swimming pool. It is a social nucleus of Abrakadabra, the place to share thoughts and stories, itineraries and challenges, meals, and drinks. It is a highly pleasant place to socialize, with a positive vibe you have a hard time leaving! Bonsai and kokedama plants carefully grown by Jali, one of the dedicated owners of the hostel, infuse the yard with greenery, in this shared oasis of art and nature. Two adopted cats, Bonnie and Clyde, love to stretch there as well.

There are four double rooms and two dormitories in Abrakadabra. Each of the rooms comes in a thematic universe of its own. The decor invokes the beach, the jungle, or even the junkyard! You can sleep in a car wreck or under the surfboard! The bathrooms come with makeshift tropical showers – the water pouring through the holes in tin buckets! The water is not hot, as it fits the energy-saving principles Abrakadabra intends to promote. The rooms are therefore not air-conditioned either; they come with small fans, which are so loud you will not want to use them – your little concession to silence and tropical temperatures.

Lovely imperfections

With attention to detail, Abrakadabra is a nice place to explore, but it is never over-designed, so to say. Intentional in roughness, lovely in imperfection, always unfinished. Everyone’s artsy spirit gets the chance to flourish in this hostel (technically a homestay, because the owners also live in it). If you are an artist, this is a perfect destination for you, as the hostel will be happy to provide their space like an open canvas for your transformation ideas, or magical tricks, as we could call them.

The price of the stay is extremely affordable, and it even includes a homemade breakfast, different every day. We are talking about local recipes that you will want to know to imitate when you come home! When I woke up at 5 am to catch my train to Ijen Volcano, my breakfast was already waiting for me – a warm soup made of pumpkin, banana, and coconut milk! During my stay, I would suddenly be surprised by fried bananas and tofu, or a glass of wine. It was all offered as if the guests are old friends and not just customers. The accommodating staff can inform you about everything Yogyakarta offers, possible excursions, or local restaurants. They might even accompany you to one! One of the owners escorted me to the shop to help me buy my train ticket – that kind of dedicated service one can usually expect from friends. That is why, in Abrakadara, one of the best hostels of Java, it is really not hard to feel at home.

TIP: Abrakadabra might be a graffiti loving place you can sleep in. But explore the neighborhood, and you will find many more street art interventions! They don’t call Yogyakarta the cultural center of Java for no reason!

2. Wonderloft Hostel, Jakarta
Price per night: 8 Euros

Wonderloft Hostel is situated in Kota Tua, the colonial heart of the hectic Jakarta. Polluted with traffic noises and smog, with gray skies being the artificial protection from the sun, Java’s capital is a hard environment for backpackers’ navigation – just try to cross the road in front of the hostel, and you will know what I mean. If you have ordered your Uber, Grab, or Go-Jek moto-taxi, be careful to call it on the right side of the street, as otherwise, you might have a hard time reaching each other, due to the bustling streets of Indonesia’s capital.

When you close Wonderloft’s main doors, you leave all the chaos of the metropolis outside, however. Clean to a high level (like all hostels in this list, Wonderloft also demands you take off your shoes upon entering), with unpretentious details and bright colors of yellow and turquoise, this old building has been converted into a pleasant hostel space.

A huge lobby space fits the shared kitchen, TV and computer corner, and area for playing games, from pool table to darts, from twister to monopoly. One can even play the guitar, and friendly receptionists might even join for a song or two. On the first floor, there is another common area, a lounge with bean bags, and it is a beautiful and cozy place to enjoy a book, if not in the mood for socializing.

The best hostels of Java are incubators of friendships

Rooms in Wonderloft come as an 8-bed dormitory or as a twin. Dorms are capsule-style, and even if beds are comfortable, they might be a bit too narrow, slightly exceeding the width of the pillow. The lockers are spacious, yet placed on the back wall, which makes it impractical for storing bags, so most of the guests don’t bother and leave them in the corridor, probably using those big lockers for valuables only. On the other hand, a twin room provides much more space for both you and your backpack. Also, twin comes with windows, even if the lack of windows in dorms doesn’t seem to affect them negatively; all rooms are air-conditioned. My only suggestion would be to transform 8-bed dorms into 6-bed dorms, which would significantly improve the quality of staying in them.

However, Wonderloft still deserves its place on this list. Its hospitable and friendly staff easily blends in with different types of guests, engaging in conversations and delivering all the help one could hope for. One can buy an Indonesian SIM card at the reception, which is ideal for backpackers planning to explore Indonesia for a month or more. If you are coming with a toddler, there is a crib (with a mosquito net!) to help your little family. From the hostel, you can join free walking tours of Jakarta or even pub crawls. A simple breakfast with toast, spreads and cornflakes is included in the price of the stay. However, there is also a mini market, practically on the doorstep. For a rather new establishment that opened just this year, it is a fantastic start! With the ambition to become THE place to stay in Jakarta, the owners are continuously developing and improving their project of one of the best hostels in Java.

TIP: Even if you can explore the nearest vicinity of Wonderloft Hostel on foot, at some point you will need to use motorbike taxis to get around! Use my codes to register for Grab (https://invite.grab.co/ivan91589) or Uber (https://www.uber.com/invite/ivank2765ue), and get discounted rides!

3. Sae Sae Hostel, Yogyakarta
Price per night: 5 Euros

When visiting Jogja, Sae Sae Hostel is another centrally located hostel worth checking in. What starts as a Southeast Asian traditional guesthouse entrance with koi fish in the small piscine, ends up as a rather trendy environment with many retro chic and urban art details hipsters would love. Doors become tables, surfboards become ad boards, motorbike seats become chairs.

With collecting stuff some people might see as garbage, there is always a danger of over-cluttering. Revamped trash in Sae Sae is never in one’s way, however. All the artsy details just improve guests’ stay in this hostel, which actually provides significantly more space than its competitors. From rooms to shared bathrooms and kitchen, one can spread out as much as one wants. This applies especially to the chill area on the terrace and in the garden. Decent size yard, with hammocks, daybeds, and games such as table tennis, is meant for socializing, and maybe Sae Sae’s prime advantage on the list of the best hostels of Java.

Taste, humor, and social vibe

The price of the night in this hostel does not include breakfast. However, there is a well-supplied kitchen one can use to prepare any dish! Drinking water, tea and coffee are free, and everyone talks about smoothie bowls one can buy for breakfast. The hostel might be clearer with advertising its food options, as this missed me completely. And I am smoothie-addicted, by the way!

Besides friendly staff, funny messages on the walls might brighten your day as well, and bring back the smile on your face. Toilets: “If the towel dispenser is empty, please use your clothes.” Bathroom: “Save water, shower together.” Kitchen: “Please bring your Mom/Dad, or do your dishes.” Taking the hospitality business less seriously does wonders for relaxing the atmosphere, so this should be an easy place to find new travel friends!

Facilities are clean and comfortable. The level of comfort could be raised in the dorms though – curtains for privacy would be an excellent addition hostel management could think about. If you choose a double room for privacy reasons, beware that they do not come with A/C unlike the dorms, so weigh what is more important for you. In any case, Sae Sae Hostel will definitely deliver in its social aspect, and, especially if you are a solo traveler, that can be a truly valuable plus for making your further exploration plans of Java!

TIP: Elevate the smoothie bowl experience to the new level; just 13 minutes walk from Sae Sae Hostel, you can find Kedai Tombo Ngelak, Yogyakarta's freakshake central! Combine ice-cream, cookies, pastries, cream and shake into a colorful extravaganza you will not know how to eat or drink. Instagram-worthy!

Still didn’t find what you are looking for?
Check these hot deals on Java island! Various dates available!

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Disclosure: My stay at the establishments mentioned in this text was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

Also, this post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway might make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The post The Best Hostels of Java: Backpacking Indonesia in Style appeared first on Pipeaway.

Well, chill out! Pipeaway is bringing you a list of some of the most chilled-out places in Southeast Asia! Technically somewhere between the hostels and the guesthouses, these properties promise you can leave your worries behind, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and completely immerse in the chill attitude!

1. Man’Groove Guesthouse, Cambodia
Price per night: 4 Euros

Situated in the fisherman village close to Kampot, the riverside town in Southern Cambodia, famous for growing Durian (so much, in fact, that they even raised a gigantic monument in the shape of this fruit at the local roundabout), Man’Groove is a relaxed guesthouse by the road heading East of the town. The place name is the wordplay with the mangrove trees growing over the local brackish water and the groovy atmosphere this guesthouse provides to its visitors.

The 33-year-old Singaporean pilot Trevor Seah built this place three years ago when many were laughing at his vision; a guesthouse out of the town will never work, they were saying. Today, this dreamer has another Man’Groove – in the nearby Kep. But that one is more for drinkers, he says. Man’Groove Kampot is better at attracting smokers.

Ducks instead of the alarm clock

Eight simple rooms on stilts (equipped with basic furniture, such as a large mosquito-net protected bed or chairs on the small balcony) overlook the waters where fishermen repair boats in the morning, and one is awakened by nature – Man’Groove owns 300 ducks, all female! They produce 240 eggs a day that you can taste already at breakfast! A three-egg omelet with cheese, tomato, ham, and sausage will set you back three dollars!

Personally, I enjoyed the thick pancakes with ice cream and Nutella, but one can get them in a particular space flavor as well. The menu also offers space French toast, space milkshake, space coffee/tea, or even space Khmer chicken curry (priced at 6 dollars, it is the most expensive dish on the menu, but also the one that will quickly and efficiently bring you to the chill zone). The restaurant offers more classic burgers, sandwiches, and typical Asian dishes, for those who are not willing to experiment. Four times a month, you can fish for your own meal and get the catch baked in the restaurant!

One can enjoy eating dinner in front of the cinema screen; every evening Man’Groove prepares movie nights where visitors can enjoy some real treasures saved on the hard disk with one terabyte of films. The chilled atmosphere of one of the most relaxed Kampot hostels can also be enjoyed on the boat which takes the visitors on the sunset cruise – in this secret hideout one can swim with the plankton or enjoy fireflies if the season is right (November-December). The plan is to build the floating market and the bungalows that will be accessible by canoe only. Slowly the small “crap islands“ are being transformed into oases of chill.

Man’Groove’s roots go deep, the plans are big. They include the local community it provides the jobs for. Some forty people are employed on this project alone! Some are busy fishing, and some taking care of the pigs or ducks. In the low season, the employees are sent to the school, for further education. The owner even plans to launch a local school, giving back to the community of which he, as an expat, became a part.

TIP: Man'Groove guests can borrow the guesthouse bicycles for free! Use them to get to the nearby caves or the Secret Lake with a picnic area. Rent a motorbike for 5 dollars to visit the stunning Bokor Mountain with waterfalls and abandoned French colonial buildings. Entry to the area protected as the National Park (but at the same time rapidly overdeveloping due to the casino) is 0,50 dollars. Visit before it's all gone!

2. Island Life Hostel, Vietnam
Price per night: 5 Euros

Situated 25 minutes ride away from Duong Dong, the touristic center of the island, but only 10 minutes walk away from the touristically underestimated Ong Lang Beach, Island Life Hostel is a perfect base if you want to explore this slice of tropical heaven, without wealthy Europeans and Americans breathing down your neck. The Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc often gets to the world’s lists of paradise islands (that is the reason why I have chosen it as the final destination for my deceased Vietnamese walking stick). But paradises should not be overcrowded, so choosing to stay in the Northern part of the island’s West coast, instead of being closer to the more exploited Sao Beach, Khem Beach or Long Beach in the South, might be a smart choice!

Featuring two mixed 5-bed dormitory rooms and two double rooms, with the shared use of nature-style bathrooms, Island Life promotes a strong community spirit. Not only for the fact that fans in the rooms are not always working properly, making the stay inside these natural-material stalls often unbearable, not only for the fact that wifi and electricity often break down, moving one away from the contemporary electrical appliances, but Island Life is also one of the most social hostels of Southeast Asia I have visited. Spontaneously organized barbecues for the guests or night swimming and chilling around the bonfire at the beach are just some of those special moments where the guest stops feeling a part of a trading relationship, and the friendship starts.

The community of trust

The overnight stay price includes breakfast (scrambled eggs with onion), but the staff working in the hostel might offer you to join the lunch for free if the meal they cooked for themselves could easily feed more people – that is not something one can experience everywhere. Also, the hostel promotes a strong sense of trust. The bar is self-serving, with a notebook where one writes down what he/she drank, and pays for it at the check-out. Even if remote to the town (which means you will miss the buzz of evenings filled with the noise of Thai ice cream rolls making at every corner), you can easily find good quality and affordable street food operators nearby.

Beautiful Ong Lang Beach is a sandy bed you will want to lay around all day long. Not being overpopulated with tourists, it offers you the opportunity to find your own corner of the paradise, with nobody in sight (this means heaven for nudists as well!). The water is shallow, warm, and pleasant for swimming daytime or nighttime. Watching harmless crabs digging holes and walking over the beach before sunset is a fun and relaxing activity.

TIP: When landing at Phu Quoc Airport, choose Phu Quoc taxi company, one of the most affordable ones. Together with the toll, the ride to the hostel will cost you about 250,000 Dongs (less than 10 Euros). If you are lucky like I was, you will get an extremely thrilled female taxi driver who will be humming with the radio music the whole ride! With sand on the floor of the car, this was already the sign that I have successfully escaped much stressful traffic conditions of bustling Ho Chi Minh City! What a relief!

3. Kosta Hostel, Indonesia
Price per night: 10 Euros

So, you want to post your pictures on Instagram, bragging about your Bali holidays, while lying by the swimming pool and sipping on that passion fruit mojito? You don’t have to be rich to explore such a lifestyle! For the price of some of the cheapest European hostels here, you can get to sleep in the 4-bed air-conditioned dormitory, with a private bathroom! Kosta Hostel is a recently opened establishment in the center of Seminyak and provides neatly designed and functional homes aimed at adventurous nomads, especially surfers, as it is being owned and operated by them too.

This urban lodge consists of two floors of rooms overlooking the small but charming swimming pool, providing that essential feeling of a chilled Bali experience. The outside area offers rest in the loungers, on the large sunbed, or in the sedative swinging chairs. The whole property is recycled from the old Balinese houses, which, in combination with the bright turquoise signature color, gives it the appealing retro colonial chic look!

Breakfast = parfait!

Rooms come with comfortable beds equipped with three pillows (!) and night lamps that have adjustable light! Two electricity sockets are placed next to each bed (which is sometimes more than five-star resorts on the island offer!), and they are adapted to UK/Oz visitors as well! The internet functions impeccably, as well as the AC, which is a necessary requirement if, oh Lord, you need to work while being here.

There is an onsite cafe/restaurant called The Good Mantra, offering hot and cold, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, from matcha-banana smoothies to Argentinian wine. The food menu includes various salads, sides, sandwiches, burgers, and desserts. I only had the chance to try one breakfast. And even if strawberry parfait (vanilla marinated organic strawberries with whipped cream and granola) was just parfait (as French would say), the other options, such as the toasted bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese spread, red onion, and capers, also sounded delicious.

TIP: Bali airport is just 20 minutes away from Kosta Hostel. However, it is one of those airports where the taxi drivers are incredibly annoying, to the level you feel find ill at ease! However, if you use alternative transport such as Grab (https://invite.grab.co/ivan91589) or Uber (https://www.uber.com/invite/ivank2765ue), by registering via links in the brackets you will get both discounted rides and no hassle with the competitive and more expensive taxi drivers! Try it out!

Disclosure: My stay at some of the establishments mentioned in this text was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.
Also, this post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway might make a small commission, with no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The post Chill & Cheap Getaways: Relax in Southeast Asia on a Shoestring! appeared first on Pipeaway.