Nestled into the hillside, on the south coast of Bali’s Bukit Peninsula, The Ritz Carlton, Bali provides guests with a five star tranquil retreat on what can sometimes feel like a chaotic Indonesian island.
From the moment guests arrive, any problems and stresses that they’ve been carrying around will dissipate into the tropical abyss, as the hotel’s warm and attentive staff immediately start to make them feel like royalty. At check-in, there’s a much-appreciated cold, minty towel and a refreshing fruity beverage to enjoy while the delights of the new paradise are revealed.
What comes next is fairly breathtaking. Beyond the lobby, which sits majestically on top of a cliff, there’s a view to die for over The Ritz Carlton Bali’s expansive tropical gardens, and the Indian Ocean beyond.
A set of glass lifts provide an exhilarating descent down to the gorgeous main resort, which is followed by a quick 30-second ride in a golf buggy to the room.
The spacious ocean view suites ooze elegance from the moment you step in. Huge cream floor tiles contrast with the dark wooden sliding doors that separate the main room from the bathroom and the dressing area, while cute little Balinese touches can be found throughout, from the patterned throw at the end of the bed to the bamboo ice bucket next to the flat screen TV.
Outside, there’s a sizeable balcony with a plush daybed that’s deep enough to put your feet up on and watch the world go by. There’s also a couple of armchairs for when you’re worried there’s a danger that you’ll nod off if you go too horizontal.
Everything combines to provide a very pleasant nest that makes exploring the resort more difficult than it should be, given it has so much more to offer.
Down by the ultra-glamorous main pool, the luxury continues with two pagoda-like structures taking the centre stage. Each one has its own double pool bed beneath that sits on an elevated platform — you should be able to claim one of the pagodas at some point during your stay. Even though there are 313 rooms and villas, many of them have their own private pools hidden away in lush gardens so the main pool rarely gets too busy.
Over at the spa, there’s a hydro-vital pool with powerful jets and fountains that can help relieve some of the niggles picked up in day-to-day life. It’s also a great place to cool off as unlike the other pools, it’s kept out of the sun and unheated.
If you want to give your body some real TLC, book yourself in for an appointment at The Ritz Carlton Spa, which is an oasis of calm and serenity. The Balinese Ocean Dream (a 60-minute traditional Balinese massage) is a dream and you’ll undoubtedly leave wanting to book yourself in for another treatment.
When you’re all limbered up, there’s free surf lessons and morning yoga by the beach for those that are interested. Be warned, some of the yoga classes aren’t really for novices.
When the appetite has been worked up, The Ritz Carlton Bali has some mouthwatering dishes for you to eat. The breakfast buffet is substantial, with foods from all over the world happily sitting side by side waiting to be lifted onto your plate. There’s also a fun little kids buffet area with child-friendly fruit skewers and tiny little pieces of banana bread, among other things.
However, Bejana seems to be the star of the show, serving Indonesian cuisine and offering up its own cooking classes. The prawn cake and quail egg is a crowd pleaser from the starter menu, while the roasted duck in banana leaf makes for a flavorsome main. Sadly there was no room for dessert on our visit.
There’s plenty of luxury options on the Bukit Peninsula and it feels like there’s a brand new hotel going up every year in this part of the world including one right next door to The Ritz Carlton Bali.
But if you want somewhere trendy and sleek to stay while soaking up the Balinese tranquillity, go for The Ritz Carlton Bali. Article by Sam Shead / Images courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Bali
