THE WATER SYSTEM IS BUILT AROUND A SERIES OF RAIN GARDENS
esc a p es BALI
of space for kids to play and enjoy themselves without bothering fellow guests. As you’d guess, the attention to detail is second-to-none; everything is prepared and executed to somewhere beyond even a five-star standard. Towels are soft and fluffy, the wardrobe comes complete with a chic beach bag and straw hat, and every afternoon sees a complimentary box of chocolates, cookies and strawberries hand-delivered to your room. Within minutes of arriving, we were lying on our private sun-deck, tucking into a delicious lunch with a side of lychee martinis, wondering if we could just spend the next three nights in our villa. Eventually, though, we decided the hotel’s two restaurants looked too good to miss. One, Cire, specialises in Western fare, and quickly became our go-to for eggs
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WE FEAST ON DELICIOUS BALINESE FAVOURITES AT THE HOTEL’S INDONESIAN EATERY, WARUNG
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and granola breakfasts, pizza, pasta and the like. At the Indonesian eatery, Warung, we feasted on delicious Balinese favourites, including fresh fish satay and nasi goreng. After dinner, there’s the Sunset Cabana, where guests gather to listen to live music, courtesy of a rindik (a traditional Balinese instrument made of bamboo), and sip on cocktails. On our second day we set out to explore the charms of the wider area, starting with a sunrise yoga session on the cliff’s edge. This was followed by a brisk hike down 620 steps to the hotel’s beach, monkey-spotting along the way. We were tempted to take advantage of the hotel’s chauffeured tour of the area but opted instead for a surfing lesson at the famous Padang Padang beach, where we were taught by a local pro. Our lesson saw more laughter than progress, but by the time we returned to our villa, we were exhausted. Later came a trip to the nearby Uluwatu temple, to watch the traditional Balinese fire dance at sunset. The hotel provided us with a tour guide – a must if you want to
see the grounds of the temple, get the best photo opportunities and ensure you get top seats for the performance. There were lots of tourists there when we visited, but it still felt like an authentic taste of the local culture – and it was clearly thrilling for the little ones in the audience. That night we ate at the lively Jimbaran Bay, where you can end the day with a Bintang beer and fresh fish straight from the barbecue. The food here was so good that even when the tide came in, restaurant-goers – a mix of locals and tourists – barely moved, ending their meals with their feet and chairs in the sea. The eating and drinking didn’t stop there, though, because on returning to the hotel we found they had set up a street food market in its tropical gardens, complete with a live four-piece band. For our final day, we headed to the hotel’s prestigious spa, which is surrounded by tranquil pools brimming with giant lilypads. We indulged in a 90-minute couples’ massage, which began with a luxurious foot soak and ended with a bubble bath under the palm trees – plus coconut ice cream and champagne. By the end of our trip, fully indulged, tanned and rested, we were just about ready for the 16-hour flight back to London. Later, when friends asked about the trip and the hotel, we almost described it as a once-ina-lifetime experience – such was the level of luxury. But then we thought that wouldn’t be accurate. Because we’ll most definitely be returning…
Rooms at Alila Villas Uluwatu start at £465.96 per night; alilahotels.com/uluwatu March 201 8
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