The Ubud Village Resort & Spa

Ten minutes from Ubud's center, the Ubud Village Resort & Spa is a Balinese-owned boutique resort situated among lush, hillside grounds with the atmosphere of a remote escape. The tone is set on the beautiful, long drive up to the main lobby, a path which is peppered with Balinese sculptures. Once at reception, guests walk up cream-colored stairs to a large open-air lobby with clusters of wicker furniture. On the other side of the lobby are the expansive gardens with aging paved pathways that lead to different buildings and villas. The green grounds even include rice paddies, tended by the hotel's gardener. There's an aging quality to the resort, with mossy wall facades and weathered traditional sculptures, but it has the impact of feeling more historic and charming than downtrodden. 

Despite its sense of seclusion, the Ubud Village Resort & Spa is actually conveniently located about 10 minutes from the center of Ubud. The hotel runs hourly shuttles to town and also has bikes available for use. Monkey Forest, a nature preserve and Hindu temple complex, is a 10-minute walk from the resort. Also nearby is Petulu, a village of thousands of herons and egrets, to which the hotel runs free afternoon tours. The Ngurah Rai International Airport is about an hour away by car.  

The resort's villas are simple and spacious, decorated in dark woods, whites, and burgundy accents. The cushioned, wood-framed couches and reading chairs are not overly comfortable, but there is plenty of comfy outdoor lounge seating in the private garden, including a covered daybed and sun loungers in each. In fact, outdoor space seemingly doubles the square footage of the villas, and is a significant draw. Villas also include outdoor tubs and sizable plunge pools. Bathrooms are spacious, with double sinks, beautiful sunken baths, and large shower areas which have windows that overlook the gardens. The larger Villa Suites have even more outdoor space than Garden or Rice Field Villas, as well as kitchenette setups with (older model) mini-fridges, microwaves, hot plates, and a few utensils. Rooms all come with flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and minibars, but Wi-Fi is only available in the common areas. 

The Ubud Village is a preservation-oriented resort sitting on over 12 acres of land, only thirty percent of which has been developed with buildings, while the rest remains lush and green. The resort encourages guests to enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings and to celebrate traditional Balinese arts and culture, inviting guests to participate in several activities free of charge, including daily spiritual offerings, morning treks, yoga, and tours of Petulu. More excursions and activities, such as cooking lessons or rafting on the Ayung River, can be booked for a fee. For relaxation and fitness, the hotel has a simple spa and small fitness center with a few cardio machines, weight machines, and free weights. The large common pool area is simply and beautifully designed with a subtly curving green infinity edge that overlooks the gardens, while islands of thin trees in the pool make it feel creek-like. There are plenty of sun loungers along the wooden deck, and the nearby pool bar offers some refreshments and shade. There's a small recreation area with billiards, ping pong, and a shelf of books, while an on-site boutique sells clothing, wine, and other gifts. The hotel's Angkul-Angkul restaurant, which is popular enough to draw outsiders, serves mostly locally sourced fare. There's also Paddy's coffee shop with pastries and drinks, in addition to the lobby lounge and poolside bar.