Best of Bali: Three popular resorts on the island
I’ve never experienced luxury on this level - let’s just say I was lost for words when I was told I’d have my own butler.
Up until recently, I think I was the only Aussie left who hadn’t visited Bali.
Admittedly, the popular island wasn’t high on my travel wishlist, maybe it had something to with the hype of it all.
But, the moment I arrived, especially when staying at the uber luxe resorts The Mulia Nusa Dua, Double Six Seminyak and AYANA, I quickly understood what all the fuss was about.
The three properties, which happen to be the most-booked on Luxury Escapes by Aussies, were a great first introduction to the buzzing island – a destination that prides itself on culture, great hospitality and service.
Speaking of – I am going to explain my experience in reverse because I just can’t go past my time at AYANA. The five-star resort located in Jimbaran is the epitome of luxury and unlike anywhere I have stayed before.
It made perfect sense why I kept seeing trams whizzing past.
The resort is a massive 90-hectares featuring four interconnected properties, numerous swimming pools, 30 restaurants, cafes and bars including the Insta-famous Rock Bar, a private beach, spa, and a cultural museum.
The trams were used to transport guests to different sections of the resort.
I was lucky enough to stay in one of the 73 villas on site, perched atop the cliff’s edge, overlooking the Jimbaran sea.
It had its own pool, massive bathroom, lounge and bedroom that was uber grand and luxe. But perhaps the most impressive is villa guests have access to their own 24-hour butler, a term so foreign to me that I had to ask several questions on what exactly that meant and how it all worked.
“So, I just message him when I need to be taken anywhere on the resort?”
“Yes, Ms Shireen – just download the AYANA app and you can message him with anything you need. He can also organise to have your room cleaned.”
Absolutely wild. It was a level of luxury I had never experienced. As you can see from our texts, Edi was all over it. He would respond almost instantly whenever I needed to be taken to lunch, dinner or anywhere on the resort. When his message first popped up, I was like, “Wow, this is actually for real”.
During one of our rides to the beautiful on-site museum SAKA, named one of the World’s Greatest Places by Time Magazine, he told me a bit about himself.
He has been working at Ayana, the Indonesian-owned resort, since 2012, explaining how much he enjoys it.
“I was a receptionist for the villas for seven years – then I went to uni and studied hospitality management.”
He then returned, working as a butler, which he does for about nine hours a day, finishing at 3pm before tag teaming with the next butler who takes over until midnight.
Edi, like all the staff at the resort, takes great pride in his work. He was incredibly informative and punctual – taking no more than 10 minutes from the time I would message him to take me to a lunch or dinner reservation or even the gym or spa. And given the size of the resort, I was highly impressed.
“Ms Shireen, do let me know if you would like me to arrange housekeeping to clean your villa while you’re out?” he asked, as he dropped me off to breakfast.
Seconds later, I would receive a text in our chat confirming the time the villa would be cleaned.
OK – moving on. The food. Another wow factor. The resort has three restaurants you can dine at for breakfast but admittedly, I kept going back to the one place cause it was so good – DAVA.
I quickly made friends with Fingky, the super lovely waitress who ended up remembering most of my order before I had even sat down – flat white, soto Ayam (which a friend got me into) and the acai berry yoghurt smoothie bowl.
I was shocked to learn that as part of the Luxury Escapes package, I could order as many dishes as I wanted. It was the same for lunch/dinner.
No matter where you dine, you’ve got a view, be it the ocean or a tranquil part of the pristine and lush resort.
Lunch was no different – it was Damar Terrace overlooking one of the many stunning pools. I went straight in for the Rendang daging – a traditional dish from West Sumatra with spiced braised beef. It was so good, I wanted to order it again.
I also got to experience dinner at the ever so popular Rock Bar. It’s all over Instagram and TikTok and for good reason. It offers a pretty spectacular cliffside sunset as you knock back a couple of Bintangs and tasty food.
“As day transitions into night, the views continually evolve, unveiling new layers of beauty,” it states on the AYANA site. And it’s spot on. It’s a pretty special experience especially when the golden sunset casts its glow while the violinist plays live.
Another part of the resort worth mentioning is its popular pool. While it has many, there’s one where all the influencers flock to take pics. And to be fair it is beautiful. But it’s become so famous, the resort has erected a sign saying that “photo taking at the river pool is only permitted from 6.30am to 9am” – so you can imagine how busy it is during that time.
The resort also has a thalassotherapy pool – a heated seawater therapy pool. Instead, I opted to have a one-hour massage at their spa and I had no regrets.
Double Six Seminyak
The second resort I stayed at was the Double Six. It offered a completely different vibe and experience to AYANA.
It was among the hustle and bustle in Seminyak, with a pool that overlooked the beach and buzzing streets. It was fun, fresh and full of energy.
I really enjoyed my huge room that also had its own pool although admittedly, I did not use it. Not because I didn’t love it but only because I found myself out and about most of the two days. The hotel is in such a good location to shops, bars and beach clubs – but most importantly (for me anyway) to massage shops. Yes, I was averaging three massages a day for $8 for half an hour. Heaven.
Make sure you dine at Suzie Q inside the hotel. The food is unreal, as is the service. It is a rooftop bar that overlooks the beach and boasts some of the most tasty, local cuisines.
For something a bit more fancy head to their ultra-glam Plantation Bar & Grill.
The restaurant’s specialty is dry aged, exclusively sourced and imported meat and line-caught sustainable seafood cooked over custom made coal and wood grills and wood fired ovens.
Oh and expect to be wowed by a soprano. Unexpected but very cool.
You also can’t go past their buffet and ala carte breakfast at Rooftop Sunset Bar. Get yourself a good spot that overlooks the ocean.
The Mulia
This place I’ll also never forget. After all, it was my very first taste of Bali. I arrived at the resort quite late – close to 11pm. But when I woke up the next day, safe to say I was in Bali heaven.
My day started with a yoga session (I’ve only ever done three in my life) in the Eden Garden (true to title). I had he warmth of the sun hitting my skin as I really embraced the beauty of my surrounds. It helped set the mood and calmness of the day.
I headed straight for breakfast at the The Cafe. Of all the places I stayed, this was hands down the best brekky. There were nine different stations/cuisines. And you guessed it. I absolutely tasted my way around the world. Tip: wear stretchy pants.
Same for dinner. They have a bunch of different stations to choose from including Korean food, Thai and Indian cuisines and even had live cooking stations.
They also open up the dessert room. Think Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory.
I didn’t know where to start but rest assured I tried as much as I could as you can pick whatever your heart desires.
Be sure to also check out Table 8 – a restaurant featuring Chinese specialties. It was among some of the tastiness food I had on the trip.
As I was indulging in the variety of dishes, a young man walked over and began to pour tea in a way I had never seen before.
It was the first time I learned of a kung-fu tea master.
Dressed in authentic clothing and equipped with a long-funnelled teapot, he delivers an astonishing martial arts-based tea pouring show based on a traditional Chinese tea ceremony that comes from iconic Chinese folk culture.
He moved so fast I could barely keep up – pouring the tea with such incredible precision.
Packages
You can find all three resorts on Luxury Escapes with flash deals on each property.
AYANA currently has three nights on sale for its one bedroom ocean view villa from $3879. This includes daily a la carte breakfast, daily two-course lunch or dinner, unlimited rounds of gold, all-day butler and one 50-minute massage.
Double Six sale is also live with 5 nights for A$1,999 including daily unlimited breakfast, packages offering guests, Daily lunch, dinner or afternoon tea, One hour of daily free-flow cocktails, one-time set menu dinner at The Plantation Grill and a one-hour massage.
The Mulia’s flash sale is also live and includes similar offers such as daily breakfast, daily lunch or dinner, two hours of daily afternoon tea, cocktails and canapes and Canna Bali Beach Club entry with return transfers.
Flights
Virgin Australia currently has five daily flights to Bali from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Gold Coast.
The airline is currently celebrating 18 years flying to the popular island.
This writer was a guest of Luxury Escapes and Virgin Australia
