The Anatara
Jalan Abimanyu
Seminyak, Bali
+62 361 737 773
www.bali.anantara.com
Say it in a sentence:
Super slick suites with ocean outlooks and a rooftop sunset scene to stay in for.
Brush shoulders with:
A moneyed, jet-setting clientele who love the all-suite living, beach-front location and balcony hot-tubs.
Check in for:
Massive super-kings with space to spare– all the suites here come with extra leg-room, as it were, boasting 80 square metres with a living area, walk-in wardrobes and palatial bathrooms.
Get busy with:
The beach is literally on your doorstep, whilst two infinity pools should take care of ocean-phobics’ needs. The spa is incredibly indulgent and uses naturally found ingredients like coffee beans, sweet woods, powdered spices and vanilla pods fresh from the jungle – try the signature rooftop massage and bring your own iPod so you can choose what music you mellow out to.
You’ll love:
Even non-staying guests are paying to get up to the newly revamped rooftop bar, split into three areas for lounging, dining and dancing. Grab a red daybed by the deck’s edge and drink in the sunset – and a few signature martinis to boot – before hitting the glass catwalk to watch the club-scene hit fever-pitch below your feet.
We heart:
The personalised bed-time notes, massive towels, breakfast cards with daily egg specials spelt out in the ‘I like mine with…’ song style, and beach-side picnic baskets stocked with water, menus and a black flag to grab the waiters’ attention for that much needed sun-bathing smoothie.
UJ's Gripe:
The temperamental wi-fi; surfing the ocean waves would have been easier than cruising this network.
You won’t find:
Kids – but being popular with couples, you might be present for a few conceptions.
UJ’s Shared Secret:
Forgo the winding main roads (and the extended cab fare) and walk straight off the hotel’s private lawn and onto the beach, where cool beach club Ku De Ta is a short stroll down the sand. Think Nikki Beach meets Soho House, with great big daybeds, views to spare and some of the coolest DJs on the island. Get there before 6pm for the best sunset show.
Uma Ubud
Jalan Raya Sanggingan
Banjar Lungsiakan
Kedewatan
Ubud
Gianyar 80571
+62 361 972448
www.theumaubud.com
Say it in a sentence:
Intimate inland retreat where private villas and superb service will keep you calm.
Intimate inland retreat where private villas and superb service will keep you calm.
Brush shoulders with:
Honeymooning couples and the odd Vogue editor.
Check in for:
Indoor/outdoor rural chic – the thatched villas come with open-air bathrooms and big French windows which open out onto private ponds or spectacular views of the surrounding valley. Tip your head back in the shower and catch a glimpse of the crystal blue sky.
Get busy with:
The free morning walking tours around the rice paddies – they’ll even pack you a breakfast. Make sure to ask to see the daily dance schedule at reception to find out what performances are on that night – we recommend the Kecak fire dance. Or head to the colonnaded pavilion for Yoga classes overlooking the pool, followed by a restorative drink on one of the day beds in the cool colonial style bar. You can even borrow decks of cards and board games from the in-house library.
You’ll love:
The atmosphere. It’s a completely different world from the bustling beach-side resorts, enclosed in palm fronds, frangipani flowers and the odd iguana poking out from under an incense-laden shrine. The staff are pretty fantastic too, and seem to telepathically know where you are and what you need. And of course, there’s the COMO Shambhala Spa with its unbeatable treatments topped off with sweet ginger tea on the terrace. Bliss.
We heart:
The muslin swaddled standalone tub to keep beasties at bay, and the reading lamps hidden inside our voile bed curtains. UJ also loved the restaurant, Kemiri, where breakfast is served by a giant waterfall-fed carp pool; ask the staff to show you how the fish play football with hunks of bread while you eat organically sourced breakfast and sip the thick, freshly pressed juice of the day.
UJ's Gripe:
The unhelpfully placed sun-loungers which have guests playing musical chairs in an attempt to catch the roaming rays.
You won’t find:
Party animals; Ubud is quiet, cultural and calm – so count your blessings that you’ve left the Aussie alcoholics down in Kuta and enjoy the peace.
UJ’s Shared Secret:
You could go Michelin and eat at the much-hyped Mosaic, just down the road from the hotel. Or stop at the unassuming looking roadside stall, Naughty Nuri’s, and get the best grill and the finest martinis as sanctioned by Miuccia Prada, no less.
