It’s my fourth time back in Bali and the beauty of this culturally-charged place just never fails to enthrall me. I did have that nostalgic feel when I was back in Ubud where I’ve visited this place for a couple of years back. Back then, I was staying at this guesthouse along Jalan Haloman which is the main street in Ubud center has housed several well-known cafes and shops. It stretches all the way from Monkey Forest area to Ubud Market. I was certainly elated to be back and staying along Jalan Haloman once again as it brought back a lot of pleasant memories.Alaya Resort Ubud is one of the most established resorts along that street and the moment you stepped into the resort you can’t stop but to explore this resort which has a massive rice terrace field located just right beside it. I have not come across any resort which could marry both modern with traditional Balinese decor so subtly with pleasant juxtapositions that made this resort so unique in its own way.
Thanks to Perth-based architects Grounds Kent, they are able to develop such a stylish resort which can represent the Balinese culture really well in its own manner. In fact, Ground Kent is an award-winning company responsible for numerous culturally unique resort projects worldwide.
And the landscape art within the resort is designed by Made Wijaya and the signature pieces were made by acclaimed Indonesian sculptor, Pintor Sirait, along with décor by Moroccan-born interior decorator Zohra Boukhari, in its DaLa Spas, Petani restaurant and Herb Library.
The Location
Alaya’s Welcome
The meticulous attention that goes into the interior design of the resort is evident. From the material of the furniture to color combination, everything is carefully selected to decorate the bespoke hotel lobby.
Our welcome drink was Snakefruit juice (or Salak) and it was mixed with some honey, This was a much-needed refreshment after an hour and half of car ride from the airport. We wanted to hitch for a Uber but we didn’t manage to get one so we took the airport taxi. I was breaking out in cold sweat when the driver was driving recklessly on the road and speeding through narrow alleys.
We were overwhelmed when we were brought up to our deluxe rooms which were so inviting and well-furnished. Everything in the room was well-maintained, clean and pristine. It almost looks as if the rooms have been recently refurbished.
The open bathroom concept is something that I really like because it opens up a lot of space in the hotel room. If you want some privacy, you can always draw the curtains to separate the bathroom from the bedroom area.
The deluxe room also comes with a balcony which allows most of the natural light to stream in, lighting up the whole room.
There’s a marble table with chairs and sofa right outside where you can laze around if you would like to enjoy some fresh air. We are blessed with the scenic view of the rice terrace fields and the view was exceptionally beautiful during sunrise with the crowing of roosters in the early morning.
Room Amenities
A basket of fruits is replenished every day. There’s also a personalized welcome note for the guests too.
You will find the Kimono, bathroom slippers and safe in the wardrobe.
There’s an LCD flat-screen TV airing both international and local programs.
You will be well-entertained at their resort if you really just want to spend the whole day in the resort, you could.
For fitness junkies, here’s some space for you to exhaust all your energy. All the gym equipment are the latest in the market and they looked new too. During my stay here, I did frequent the gym a couple of times and there’s no one else but me. It is also very well-equipped with mats, Bosu balls, weights and treadmill.
This award-winning spa combines luxury spa treatments with traditional health and beauty practices and natural ingredients and it is a must-visit if you are staying at Alaya Resort Ubud or dwelling in Ubud. The spa, with 6 private treatment rooms, is rather popular among the guests and the slots are usually taken up quite quickly so do book in advance. You can read more about my DaLa spa experience here.
There is a total of 3 pools at Alaya Resort Ubud – 2 adult pools and 1 kids’ pool. And it is not just a modern pool with chlorinated water but it is designed to be part of the charming village landscape. There’s also a bamboo bridge and the pool ridges are made from natural stones.
It’s a pity that I didn’t have the chance to swim in one of these pools which are against the backdrop of the rice terrace fields. The traditional Balinese pavilion in the backdrop is actually a private seating area of the resort’s new restaurant called Manisan. It is also a perfect space for wedding solemnization, candlelight dinners, and other events. You can read more about my review for Manisan here.
This was where we enjoy Alaya’s breakfast every morning. Petani serves a generous set menu breakfast and home-style regional cuisine with a modern twist throughout the day. It opens daily from 7 am until 11 pm.
You will be able to savor the diverse flavors of the Indonesian archipelago here in Petani and I highly recommend you to try out their specialty, Nasi Raja.
AFTERNOON TEA-TIME
Another unique Alaya treat is their afternoon tea which is served every day from 3 pm to 5 pm. You will get to enjoy some coffee or tea with traditional Balinese kueh-kueh or sweet treats.
THE BREAKFAST
For breakfast, you will get a plate of fresh fruits with homemade yogurt and a basket of pastries like croissants and Danish pastries with butter, cinnamon jam, and strawberry jam.
For the mains, you can choose from their western or Asian ala-carte menu. I ordered from their Asian menu which features some of their local dishes here served in Bali. If you want to try some Balinese food, I recommend that you go for their Balinese dishes which turns out to be really tasty too.
Their Nasi bubur or porridge is really delicious!
ALAYA RESORT UBUD
Jalan Hanoman
Ubud
Bali 80571
Indonesia
tel. +62 361 972200
fax.+62 361 972210
email: experience.ubud@alayahotels.com
Website: http://alayahotels.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alayahotels
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alayahotels/
