This is Bali as it once was. Away from the crowds, noise, and traffic. A hideout on the meeting point of a jungle and a beach

Menjangan in English means – ‘deer’. This old Indonesian word for the species of wild deer inhabiting the area of the West Bali National Park is borrowed both for the neighboring island the animals swim to every year, as well as for the hotel spreading strong roots in the national park, just like the mangroves surrounding it.

The Menjangan, a member of Lifestyle Retreats, is a boutique property on the northwestern corner of the most popular Indonesian island. But this is Bali as it once was. Away from the crowds, noise, and traffic. A hideout on the meeting point of a jungle and a beach.

The unspoiled forests and the tranquil undersea provide a rich holiday arena for nature-inspired travelers. At the same time, one doesn’t have to follow Robinson Crusoe; The Menjangan is a jungle resort with all the luxury one would expect from the 4-star Bali hotel!

The wilderness of Bali will continue to be an appealing invitation card in post-pandemic times as well! In The Menjangan Resort review, find out all the benefits of staying in the heart of a national park! And then add it to your travel plans!

The Menjangan – National Park’s alluring outpost

Taman Nasional Bali Barat (West Bali National Park) covers 190 square kilometers of Buleleng Regency that follows the island’s northern shores.

Encircling the extinct volcanoes, there is a variety of habitats here. Montane forests, rainforests, lowland forests, mangrove forests, acacia scrubs, dry savannas… The rest of the park includes a kilometer-long beach, coral reefs, and several sanctuary islands.

The largest of these sanctuaries, Menjangan, was named after large populations of deer that migrate to and from the island every year. Javan Rusa and Indian Muntjac deer need to swim 2 kilometers between Prapat Agung Peninsula and this practically uninhabited paradise. The only humans who have permission for staying overnight are Hindu monks. Their temples are the only artificial structures on Menjangan Island.

Deer also love temples in Japan. Check Nara Deer Park, a place where more than a thousand deer congregate inside the city!

At the beginning of the 20^th century, there were also Bali tigers living in West Bali. The last one was documented in 1937, just four years before the nature park was upgraded as a national park.

In this millennium, another species was facing extinction. In 2001, there were only six Bali starlings living in the wild, all in West Bali National Park. But thanks to the breeding program of Surabaya Zoo and Taman Safari Indonesia, the endemic white bird was saved. Reintroduced to nature, Bali Starling, also known as Bali myna, is now “only” critically endangered.

With over a hundred wildlife species, the neighborhood of The Menjangan Resort remains a lively ecosystem. The fauna includes banteng cattle, wild boars, large flying foxes, leopard cats, hawksbill sea turtles, water monitor lizards, numerous birds and coral species.

Staying at The Menjangan requires purchasing a ticket for West Bali National Park. The entrance fee for foreigners is 200.000 IDR (12 Euros). Indonesians pay less than 1 Euro. Quite cheap for such bio-diversity at your doorstep!

Menjangan beach villas

In Menjangan beach villas, one wakes up in a peaceful setting. As the morning sunlight slowly spills into your room through large sliding doors, the first thing you notice are discrete stickers of stags and geckos on the glass. After all, birds could mistake your four-poster king-size bed with a perfect place to build a nest.

Outside, a daybed and beanbags on the wooden deck, and sunbeds and chairs with parasol-equipped café table on the sand. In a small jungle of outdoor furniture, someone is already enjoying the morning views. Sitting on your sun lounger, a macaque monkey is observing the low tide.

A deer on its way to the tree buffet breakfast walks into a scene. Cautiously following mama’s shadow, a playful Bambi explores the white sandy beach of The Menjangan.

This is how mornings on the water’s edge of the Bali Sea look like.

There are seven beachfront villas at The Menjangan Resort. Joglo-style architecture, traditionally associated with Javanese aristocracy, is a shell for a minimalist but modern interior. It includes an iPod dock and flat-screen TV that doubles as a 2D fireplace for romantic evenings behind the bed canopy.

Another cozy part of the spacious 105 square-meter villa is a secluded outdoor bathroom zone. Here, one can soak in a bathtub or enjoy the rainfall shower, all enhanced with fragrant soaps Lifestyle Retreats are known for.

Besides the beach villas, the coastal part of The Menjangan offers accommodation in a large 1000 square-meter Residence. This private estate offers three bedrooms, an infinity pool perched on a cliff, and a personal butler.

There is also The Menjangan Monsoon Lodge further from the beach and deeper in the forest. Fifteen minutes away by the resort’s always available double-decker minibuses, this complex of deluxe rooms and suites embraces the communal pool.

While on my most recent visit I stayed in a beach villa, in 2017 I reviewed The Menjangan Monsoon Lodge. If you want to know a bit more about it, read the article on top Bali resorts for recharging your batteries!

Things to do at The Menjangan

For those who would find chilling by a pool or lazing on a beach boring, a variety of options for active holidays will never leave you wondering what to do at The Menjangan.

Already the surrounding forest provides amazing grounds for exploring spirits. Just walking the trails will get you close to the wildlife. Face-to-face encounters with deer and monkeys, spotting monitor lizards among the mangroves, birdwatching with more than 120 species of feathered forest inhabitants, are all rewarding experiences.

If you want to pump more muscles while exploring nature, you can jog and train in the forest gym! Over a kilometer of a dedicated trail, different exercise points have been set, with well-explained instructions. This peculiar version of a street workout is not only placed in nature but also inspired by it. The exercises invoke the movement of birds, squirrels, monkeys, and monitor lizards.

The safari-style shuttle is always ready to transport you from point A to point B. But bushwalking over the 4 square kilometers of The Menjangan resort is more authentic. You can upgrade the experience by riding a bike (even a tandem bicycle is available!) or – a horse!

Horse riding is probably my favorite among the available on-land Menjangan activities. Bruce and Chippy are just two of many trusty Australian horses in the resort’s stables. Under the guidance of the trainer Semara, riding through these lush forests seems to be a piece of cake, even for perfect beginners. I’d recommend a late afternoon ride to the beach. Seeing the sun setting behind the volcanoes of Java, while your horse walks through shallow water, will be carved into your memory.

Menjangan Island – snorkeling and diving top destination

When staying at The Menjangan, reducing the sea activities to just an occasional swim would be a pity.

Word of advice: if you love swimming, beware that extreme tidal changes at Sentigi Beach happen as a consequence of its shallowness. The ocean floor is rocky here. While deer deftly navigate through this environment, it is not exactly the best entrance point. And you could even damage the corals! Instead, follow the boardwalk to the Beach Club, and access the water via a jetty.

Here, a plethora of activities awaits for you! Kayaking and paddleboarding are great ways to explore the mangrove maze in the Bajul Bay, and even visit the Banyuwedang Hot Spring.

But to fully enjoy the coral gardens of Menjangan, one needs to go under the surface. Already snorkeling in the resort area will open up worlds of abundant marine life.

For an even more outstanding experience, one needs to take a boat to Menjangan Island that offers excellent diving conditions. What Gili islands represent for Lombok, Menjangan Island is the same for Bali. And The Menjangan resort’s very own PADI-certified diving center has all the equipment you would need for exploring the undersea!

There are dozen world-class dive sites just off the coast of Menjangan Island. They include a 19^th-century shipwreck, eel garden, underwater caves, and spectacular reef walls teeming with life.

There are more than 50 coral species living in the Menjangan coral reef, sharing space with fish, sponges, and pygmy seahorses.

The life of corals around the Menjangan is greatly dependent on the rise of the water temperature. In global warming, the westernmost part of the Coral Triangle represents an important cornerstone of the threatened biodiversity.

Sustainable tourism efforts

With its privileged position in the center of a jungle and protected marine area, The Menjangan is logically focused on the practice of eco-tourism. Sustainable tourism is the only responsible approach to development here.

Guests need to adapt to the rules of the national park. These are directly linked to the protection of the area, but also to the richness of our experiences.

Feeding the animals is strictly forbidden. Because they live on their own, macaque monkeys in West Bali National Park are not as aggressive as those in Ubud Monkey Forest, for instance. If humans stop behaving like a source of food, animals learn to ignore us, and certainly don’t steal our sunglasses or purses, hoping to exchange them for a banana. This is the secret of getting close to wildlife and observing their natural behavior.

From “welcome” letters written with twigs on the bed, to “plant a tree” programs, we are constantly reminded how easy responsible choices are.

Metal straws in our cocktails, lack of single-use plastic bottles in toiletry, refillable water bottles made of stainless steel, are simple eco steps that immediately catch the eye.

Ecological solutions do not jeopardize the guests’ comfort at The Menjangan. From the already mentioned TV-fireplace to the Bamboustics loudspeakers made of bamboo, green solutions show that we can still enjoy modern life and reduce an environmental footprint while we do that.

Staying at The Menjangan eco-resort requires awareness that we are just visitors of the land that belonged to other species long before us. So if we do need to leave a trace, it better be a positive one.

A bowl of water filled with colorful flowers as a landing site for thirsty jungle bees is another example of how, instead of exploiting natural resources, tourism can easily support them.

For Lifestyle Retreats in other parts of Bali, check The Santai or The Balé!

The Menjangan restaurant offer

There are two restaurants at The Menjangan. Pantai Restaurant specializes in seafood and barbecue, while Bali Tower is a bistro-style restaurant. They include both Indonesian and international dishes.

Pantai Restaurant, literally a beach restaurant, is a pleasant place to start a day. Breakfasting on a wooden deck, with scenic mangroves and sea in the background, is a picture-perfect experience. But, most importantly, it will satisfy both your taste buds and stomach.

The breakfast menu is extensive, offering everything from homemade bakery products and yogurt with locally sourced muesli to Indonesian rice porridge or fried noodles. Vitamin boosters add another healthy note to the royal spectacle on the plate.

Watching the sunset by the ocean, with Frozen Strawberry Margarita in your hand, sounds like a great alternative to previously mentioned horse riding. But Bali Tower also has its sundown advantages.

This restaurant above the Menjangan’s open-air reception brings you literally to the treetops, with jungle panorama everywhere you look.

None of the trees had to be cut for the construction of this spectacular building. The owners transferred the 30-meter long logs from Borneo. They literally engaged workers to bring them in arms so that they wouldn’t have to clear the land for the trucks.

Bali Tower, besides offering an unobstructed Menjangan view, proudly defends its fast and simple dishes. Seafood curry with tiger prawns, barramundi and cuttlefish, served with crispy vegetables and homemade squid-ink noodles, is one of their newest favorites.

Next to your fork and knife, you will find a sling with stones, supposedly so you can defend your meal from the hungry monkeys. While it is a joke, it also reminds us that eating in the center of Bali’s only national park is a true privilege.

If you are still looking for post-pandemic holiday ideas, check the luxury escapes on Bali’s southern shores!

Reflection at the spa

Active holidays should always have some counter-action measures. The Menjangan’s spa has an answer for reducing all that tension that built up during our kayaking, diving, and horseback riding.

The Mangrove Spa is literally that – a spa at the waterfront, in the shades of the mangrove trees. One could think that open-air gazebos provide little privacy. But actually, it is a silent and rather intimate setting. Nature only elevates the experience of high-quality massage therapies.

The treatment becomes a multisensory experience fueled by nature. The ocean scents, the sound of the waves, the view is always there… That’s right, even when you are laying on your massage bed face-down! An ingenious add-on in a form of a mirror lets you observe the seascape while your back is being healed by a traditional massage.

In a sequence of treatments that can develop from footbath ritual to soothing and detoxifying body massage inspired by traditional techniques of Bali and Japan, only natural local ingredients are being used.

I thoroughly enjoyed the pampering at this discrete wellness nest! It doesn’t just give your body a moment to switch off and recharge. Just like with a massage-table mirror turned towards the blue sea, the treatment allows open space for reflections in your mind. I found this spa concept well-thought-out and exceptionally smart!

Check how that looks on Pipeaway’s Youtube channel!

How to get there?

Due to its remote location on the northwestern corner of Bali island, West Bali National Park is the furthest one can go from Denpasar.

The drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport to The Menjangan Resort takes up to 4 hours. I strongly recommend booking this transfer through the hotel. It’s not just a practical pick-up from door to door. It’s also the most pleasant way to travel the winding roads to the north. Just relax in your back seat, nibble on provided complimentary peanuts and fruits, hydrate with water, put your music on via Bluetooth, or even fall asleep with the help of provided travel pillows.

When I visited Kawah Ijen Volcano in Java, I also managed to easily travel to The Menjangan by ferry. The two islands are connected through Ketapang and Gilimanuk ferry ports. The Menjangan driver can pick you up at Gilimanuk. Just be aware of the 1-hour time zone difference between the two islands, something I totally forgot about on my first visit. Well, I even miscalculated the date I should get there, but that’s another story.

If you also easily get confused when traveling, don’t feel alone and bad about yourself. In order to understand why these things happen, I did personal research. I even named the phenomenon a travel fogginess, so we can all blame our brain for “behaving on its own”. Read more about traveler’s confusion here!    

The Menjangan Resort Review – Conclusion

With 382 hectares, The Menjangan is the largest resort within the boundaries of the West Bali National Park. As it has no immediate neighbors in this protected landscape (which also means no commercial restaurants you can easily walk to), this secluded hotel brings the advantage of the accommodation synchronized with nature.

The experience of staying here resembles entering a time machine. It catapults you to Bali before radical touristic exploitation, when trees were sacred and monkeys did not steal bags from humans.

As long as you behave as a silent and grateful observer, staying at The Menjangan opens a window into an unfiltered and unedited National Geographic Live

Protected by the national park rules, this part of Bali remains different than the rest of the island. It brings rewarding expeditions in its forests, fantastic undersea explorations, and amazing wildlife encounters.

At The Menjangan, shy deer, self-reliant macaques, giant lizards and rare birds will eventually say “hi”. As long as you behave as a silent and grateful observer, staying here opens a window into an unfiltered and unedited National Geographic Live. And without that tiger from the 1930s, it’s perfectly safe!

On the other hand, The Menjangan is still a hospitality project. It will not deprive you of modern luxuries. From the welcome spring rolls to the good-night message delivered at turndown service, the resort staff seems to be always available in supporting the upscale vacations that are both active and relaxing.

The ability to enjoy the benefits of modern civilization and the simultaneous awareness that negative effects on the environment are actively minimized bring another layer to your peace of mind.

Tourists come to exotic places with overweight luggage in the stress department. It is reassuring to know that there is a cure for these overpacked issues and that we can actually give something back in that healing process. Something beyond the loud parties and disrespectful temple selfies. Something that doesn’t end up as “Eat, pray, love, destroy”.

If you want to consider staying in the West Bali National Park, check the best available prices at The Menjangan here!

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Disclosure: My stay at The Menjangan Resort 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 Menjangan Resort Review: Beach Villas in Wilderness of West Bali appeared first on Pipeaway.

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!

The post Aria Villas Ubud Review: One of Bali’s Finest Romantic Sanctuaries appeared first on Pipeaway.

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!

Booking.com

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.

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