TRAVEL / WANDERLUST
BULGARI Uluwatu, Bali
THE HOTEL
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ven the most hardened traveller couldn’t climb the steps of Bulgari Bali’s breathtaking open-air reception pavilion without gawping at the panoramic view of the Indian Ocean. Perched on a cliff more than 150 metres above sea level, the very seductive, smouldering Bulgari resort resides on the island’s far southwestern tip near Uluwatu. Designed by famed Italian architect Antonio Citterio, the resort is a beautiful marriage of contemporary Italian and Balinese design. Here, dark exotic woods and hand-cut volcanic stones intermingle as effortlessly as the resort’s stunning cliff-edge infinity pool does with the ocean’s horizon. Which, by the way, is unmissable – from the restaurants to the villas to the pool, ocean views are everywhere. Whether it's solitude or socialising you're after, the resort balances both options with aplomb - you could spend an entire stay holed up in your very plush villa, but if seeing and being seen is your thing, then throw on your finest resort chic and head to the pool and adjoining lounge bar to be at the heart of it all.
THE ROOM
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here are no rooms at this resort, only villas, all with ocean views and plunge pools. And although villas are built close to each other, we feel a remarkable sense of privacy in ours, thanks to an intelligent design feature which encloses a very spacious outdoor living room and pool area within a highwalled lush garden setting. Inside, we love
the dramatically dark bathroom with its black Terrazzo floor, glass walls and inviting sunken bathtub, which takes centre stage. As standard, leisure concierges are on hand to help with activities like market tours and day trips to neighbouring islands. But don’t pack too much in – the area is known for its stunning sunsets, so you’ll want to be sitting comfortably on the villa patio, aperitif in hand, to witness the magical sight.
THE SPA
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An imposing antique Joglo house, transported all the way from Central Java, signals your arrival at the spa’s reception. Inside, a breezy courtyard with a serene pond and walkway lead to an open-air relaxation lounge, yoga pavilion and swimming pool. With its mesmerising unspoilt ocean views, my semi-al-fresco
The semi-al fresco CLIFFTOP
TREATMENT ROOM is an experience IN ITSELF clifftop treatment room is an experience in itself. But this spa isn’t just style and no substance. The Bulgari Balinese massage is positively blissful, as is the longer and more indulgent two-hour Balinese massage with hot stones.
DINING
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t doesn’t get any fresher than the winning combination of grilled seafood and a bracing ocean breeze at beach restaurant La Spiaggia, located under the cliff and charmingly accessed via a funicular railway. The resort’s all-day dining space, The Sankar, has prime position on a cliff edge and window seats overlook the island’s shores, so make sure you arrive early at breakfast. Naturally, given the Bulgari brand heritage, there’s also an Italian restaurant. Open only for dinner, Il Ristorante, with its pretty open air pavilions and ornamental lake, offers a fine dining experience. We were blown away by the elegant degustation dinner. Opt for the wine pairing menu option and request a table at the front, which affords a stunning view of the surrounding seascape. ◆
¢ Rates start at $1,000 per room per night for an Ocean View Villa. Reservations 62 361 847 1000 bali.reservations@bulgarihotels.com; bulgarihotels.com/bali
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NOVEMBER 2015
27/10/2015 14:16