Tag Archives: top hotels in Bali

Amankila. Manggis, Bali

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When I first pictured Bali I pictured lush rainforest, white sandy beaches, birds of paradise flying everywhere, and monkeys playing in the trees. Although my imagination got the best of me a little bit with this idea, for the most part it was true. The Amankila truly embodied most of what I had dreamed Bali would be, with a few differences. Located along the Manggis coastline, just an hour and a half from the airport, I loved how the hotel was located away from the hustle and bustle of the city area. Bali has gotten to be quite a busy place, so it was nice to see what Bali was like before it became so developed. Unlike most Aman hotels, this Aman has white-washed walls and is very open-aired, a little more Bali than Aman.

Located on the cliffs of Amuk Bay, this hotel has some of the best views I’ve seen yet. Located among vast rice paddies, high volcanoes, and the ocean, this is the near-perfect location I’ve been searching for. There are 34 stand-alone villas nestled among the rainforest with alang alang thatched roofs fashioned after traditional Balinese beach homes. There are 6 different types of suites: Garden Suite, Ocean Suite, Pool Suite, Kilasari Suite, Indrakila Suite, and the Amankila Suite. Opt for the amazing Kilasari Suite, while all the rooms are pretty identical, this suite comes with Ocean Views and a 12m pool.

Above the romantic three-tiered pool over-looking spectacular views of the coastline is The Terrace restaurant, which serves Asian and Western cuisine and is open for lunch. The other dining option, The Restaurant, is available for evening dining with cocktails or aperitifs enjoyed in the open-air bar. The Restaurant also offers cooking lessons, in which a couple will travel to the fish market in the early morning and then travel back to the hotel where they will learn how to cook authentic Indonesian food for their lunch.

One of my favorite things about the Amankila is there beach club. It is a very rare find in Bali, especially to have such a beautiful black-sand beach that is actually swimmable. A path leads to the resort’s private beach which offers eight bales, windsurfers, kayaks, boogie boards, Hobie Cats and two outriggers. The beach club also offers a private restaurant, 41 meter lap pool, and butler service. The Amankila also offers numerous romantic activities for couples and family-friendly activities for those traveling with young kids. My favorite activity would be the privately chartered yacht for a cruise around the coast with snorkeling and diving activities, followed by a picnic on a private beach, and a sunset cruise with cocktails.The Amankila truly embodies what I feel Bali should offer for an island resort and is the perfect destination whether you are 30 on your honeymoon or 50 and traveling with your family.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.

Alila Villas Uluwatu. Bali, Indonesia

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Alila Villas Uluwatu was the first stop I made after leaving the airport. I had heard great things about the Alila Villas, they were sleek and modern, without sacrificing Balinese culture. The first thing I noticed about Alila Uluwatu was how open-aired it was, it brought a sense of calm and well-being to my frazzled and jet lagged emotional state. The lobby was very clean and very white, with hints of dark recycled wood furnishings on the walls and ceilings.

One thing I have come to realize about the Alila villas Uluwatu is how different it is from all the other hotels in Bali. Most of the hotels use traditional dark wood paneling and Balinese stone to outline their hotels, Alila did the opposite. The hotel is clean and fresh white, with green from nature and blue from the sky and water. You feel revitalized just by looking at it. It is also, arguably, the most Eco-friendly hotel in Bali, without sacrificing luxury or service. They use recycled water for their fountains, locally source their food & ingredients, and hire people from the local village to support the economy.

The hotel boasts a huge infinity pool over looking their private beach (walkable but not swim able) and 9 “nests”. These nests are large wooden structures planted on the side of the building with a drop-down view of the cliff side and beach, along with some of the best sunset views imaginable. Alila Villas Uluwatu truly wanted to put an emphasis on structure, design, and most importantly, food. Their two restaurants showcase the best seafood and Balinese cuisine around. One of the best activities at the hotel is actually an all-day cooking and culture class. First you head to the local fish market to pick out your fish and tour the local village. Then, you head back to the hotel for a picnic lunch followed by the cooking class with the head chef.

With only 56 One Bedroom villas and 9 Three Bedroom villas, they wanted to keep the resort small and intimate. Each villa comes with a private butler service who is there for you 24/7. The villas are very open and flow nicely, any feng shui master would approve. They also come with private garden pavilions and private plunge pools in case you would like an intimate dinner from the privacy of your home.

The villas also come equipped with a gym, which offers daily sunrise yoga, and a fantastic spa perfect for any couple in need of some TLC after a long flight. What’s really standout about this hotel is the intimacy it provides. Alila wants to respect the privacy of it’s guests by maintaining it’s distance, but also wants to keep the hotel small enough so you’re never far away. Which vastly contradicts the humongous resorts that have planted themselves along the more populated beaches of Bali. This hotel is perfect for those who want a more modern hotel without sacrificing culture.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.