LUXE Villas Bali

Guests who want to be near nature, but not exactly one with it, will likely adore this intimate boutique property. Nestled among gorgeous green foliage and overlooking rice terraces, the hotel is certainly a tranquil escape from city life. The spotless interiors, combining granite floors with teak wood wall panels, and traditional Balinese sculptures with bright, contemporary sofa cushions and wall art make this a decidedly modern hotel among the rustic surroundings. Given the small size of the hotel, it has a certain exclusive air, but the overall relaxed vibe keeps it from coming off as pretentious. With an emphasis on being a quiet retreat rather than a buzzing hub of activity, and its minimum guest age limit of 15 years, the hotel is most attractive to couples.  

Planted in a narrow passage between sun-dappled rice paddies, the hotel’s location is nothing short of stunning, and a welcome change from beachfront resorts for some guests. The rather isolated area (the hotel has no neighbors) makes for a quiet atmosphere and beautiful views. Cars have difficulty accessing the narrow lane to the hotel, so the hotel provides motorcycles for the last few feet to the entrance. Although the location is secluded, the center of Ubud (and Ubud Palace) isn’t far off, only about a 20-minute walk away. Other attractions, like the Goa Gajah cave and the Monkey Forest, take upwards of 30 minutes to reach by car. Ngurah Rai International Airport is about an hour away by car. 

The five huge apartment-like rooms are available in four varieties. Padi Suites occupy one or two bedrooms; larger Emerald Villas take up two floors and have their own private pools and balconies; and Padi Sky and Sky Loft rooms offer sun decks among rooftop gardens with incredible rice terrace views. Room decor superbly blends natural, traditional, and modern elements, with dark wood and woven bamboo accents, Balinese statues and cushion patterns, and contemporary seating and lamps. Four-poster beds are draped with canopies for a romantic look. Huge windows make for lots of airiness, and there’s plenty of cool granite floor space. Walk-in closets are huge. 

All rooms are equipped with modern conveniences, including air-conditioning, ergonomic chairs, travel adaptors to go with sleek work desks, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, safes, Bluetooth sound systems, and free and fast Wi-Fi. Rooms have refrigerated minibars, and daily bowls of fruit are supplied. Butler service is also available. 

Huge, modern bathrooms are outfitted in granite tile, with two giant sink basins and large mirrors. All bathrooms have walk-in showers with handheld and rainfall showerheads, plus separate bathtubs. Exclusive Luxe toiletries and hairdryers are provided.

The best feature is probably the hotel’s small restaurant, with elegantly cozy wooden tables and bright pink and purple accents. The menu features mostly western cuisine. An a la carte breakfast is included with rates, and it includes egg dishes, pancakes, yogurt parfaits, and coffee. Lunch and dinner can be casual sandwiches and soups, or a seven-course menu reserved in advance. Food gets rave reviews across the board. A garden bar offers Champagne and wine. Free afternoon tea is also provided. 

The hotel has several eco-friendly initiatives, including minimal plastic use and a water purification system throughout the property that makes the tap water drinkable. The water is also used for the swimming pools. In addition to the private pools in Emerald Villas, a common pool is available for all guests. The area is small, and can easily feel crowded with more than three or four people on the deck.  

There’s no gym or spa, but private massages, sound healing, and yoga sessions can be arranged in rooms for fees. There is a small gift shop. Wi-Fi throughout the property is free.

As the hotel is inaccessible to cars, there is no parking on-site. Motorcycles can be parked along the outdoor path. Guests are also provided with cell phones when out on the town to call for the hotel’s motorcycle pickup service.