With gorgeous beaches, famous rice paddies and a uniquely spiritual culture, this Indonesian island offers a diverse trip that will guarantee you leave feeling you’ve had a true taste of paradise.
- Currency: Indonesian rupiah
- Local time: GMT +8
- Language: Indonesian
Seminyak:
I started my trip in Seminyak; a coastal resort near the infamous Kuta. Much more laid back and glamorous than its neighbour, the beaches here were golden and the water lovely and warm.
Alila is a luxury boutique hotel brand, and the properties they own in Bali are guaranteed to make your trip one to remember. The first hotel on my trip was Alila Seminyak; an unapologetically luxury resort with three infinity pools, a beach front location, an amazing on site spa and a traditional temple in the grounds to top it all off. The restaurant is also incredible. I highly recommend ensuring your stay here includes a Sunday, as their Sunday Graze brunch sessions (12-4pm every Sunday) are out of this world. Think all-you-can-eat pastries, main courses and desserts with the option of adding free-flowing drinks to the package too!
Ubud:
Moving away from the beach, I headed to Ubud and checked into Alila Ubud, a secluded hilltop retreat boasting undoubtably the best infinity pool I have ever seen. Located 15 minutes from the centre of Ubud, this is the perfect base for exploring all that the town has to offer, whilst maintaining the tranquil feel of a relaxing break.
The hotel offers a number of activities, including an excellent cookery class. We were taken early morning to the market in Ubud to select our fresh local ingredients, then made our way back to the resort where we learnt to make a number of local dishes with an experienced chef. A lovely afternoon activity!
Another highlight of this hotel is the resident monkey tribe. They will greet you outside your door each morning, scamper around the pool while you’re sunbathing, and most certainly make an appearance each afternoon when the daily afternoon tea is served!
Ubud itself is worth taking a couple of days to explore. With hidden markets and cute garden bars, its a lovely place to stroll around and soak up the culture and atmosphere. There are also lots of local temples that can be visited during your time here, and the hotel are able to organise a private tour should you wish.
Tabanan:
The last stop for me in Bali was at Villa Soori, and let me tell you, I thought I had experienced luxury at the last two places. This place is next level luxury. With private one bedroom villas, each complete with their own swimming pool, a personal butler and 24hr room service, there is no need to lift a finger here.
The dining areas here are all about alfresco dining, and most tables offer view of the ocean. Offering varied menus, you’re guaranteed to find a dish you love, and the heavy emphasis on Indonesian cuisine at Cotta restaurant will allow you to sample local dishes with a Balinese focus.
The beaches here are volcanic sand, giving a unique black colouring to them. Walking along in the early mornings looking for shells washed up was great fun, and they showed up clearly, shining in the sunlight on the dark sand below them.
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