Mention Bali to anyone and I’m sure it will bring images of a picturesque paradise to their minds! Without a doubt, it’s a tropical destination that offers a perfect getaway for all ages and tastes. But when it comes to the quintessential luxury experience, there is but one place that you should go to make the most of your Bali vacation, the Ayana Resort and Spa.
The Resort: Ayana
A Prime Estate at the Perfect Location. Spanning at a mammoth size of 90 hectares, AYANA lies on a cliff-top land that is perched above Jimbaran Bay (just 10 kilometers away from Bali Airport). With over 17 restaurants and bars, a private beach, 11 swimming pools, and several world-class wellness and spa places, AYANA is sure to offer anyone a majestic experience.
With the addition of its sister property, RIMBA hotel, which is surrounded by a stunning lake and rice paddies, guests will have the choice of availing themselves of more affordable rooms but still with the same luxurious amenities. After all, guests from both locations will have full access to both of the properties’ amenities, as well as the complimentary resort shuttle service.
An Award-Winning Accommodation. The resort has consistently won various awards for years from travel organizations such as Travel & Leisure, Agoda, Booking, and Asia Rooms among many others — and I’m surely not wondering why because of the size and lavishness of the property, I surely think that they deserve such accolades. Besides, these awards not only applaud AYANA for its resort, amenities, spas, villas, and rooms but also for its world-class service.
That being said, this might just be the resort that will perfect it all, and you might probably never have the urge to leave the property at all!
Villas & Rooms
AYANA Resort currently offers 290 hotel rooms + suites, and 78 private pool villas. These are all spread out along a breathtaking 1.3-kilometer coastline, thereby offering every guest with magical views of the horizon in every single day of their stay.
Back in April, I was given the wonderful opportunity by AYANA to stay in one their cliff pool villas and I kid you not: I was in such utter bliss… I felt like I was in cloud nine!
I really didn’t think that I can elevate my notion of relaxation and luxury even higher than it already was until I got to stay in AYANA. Besides, right from the moment that I stepped into the resort, into their lobby, and up to my own private villa, I have felt like I was living the life of royalty. That sounds like an exaggeration, but it’s true! (It helps to note that I had my own butler all throughout my stay!)
Now, the different types of villas that you can choose from in AYANA are…
CLIFF POOL VILLAS
500sqm with a private garden and pool
OCEAN POOL VILLAS
298sqm with a private garden and pool
If you want to stay in AYANA’s hotel, they have 3 types of rooms namely…
CLUB ROOM & SUITES
Club rooms are at 48sqm and club suites are at 98sqm
GUEST SUITES
98sqm with choice of either ocean or terrace/garden view
GUEST ROOMS
These are at 48sqm with choice of ocean view, resort view, or Jimbaran bay view
Alternatively, in RIMBA, you’ll have the following choices among their 282 rooms:
POOL ACCESS
Offers direct access from your patio to a secluded public pool: choice of 55sqm suite or 38sqm guest room
OCEAN VIEW
Choice of suite (55sqm) or room (38sqm) with elevated views facing the ocean
JIMBARAN
The best of RIMBA, choose from suite (55sqm) or room (38sqm)
Amenities
Pools. As I’ve already mentioned, AYANA has over 11 magnificent swimming pools and that’s more than enough to keep you occupied during your stay! My favorites among these 11 would have to be the Ocean Beach Pool and the River Pool.
Golf Putting Course. There is an option for either an 18-hole course or a 64-course, and this whole space has been designed by Ronald Fream Design Group of California USA.
Tennis Pavilion. AYAN has two full-sized flood-lit tennis courts located within the Spa grounds. You can play here with your partner or ask an instructor to play with you or even give you lessons (charges apply).
Kubu Private Beach. Make time to visit this private stretch of white sand beach to enjoy a swim in the surf, read a book, or simply laze the afternoon away. Take note that this is 197 steps down from the cliff-top location of AYANA. For an added treat, you can order snacks or even a picnic hamper lunch from Warung Kubu — a dining area located at the entrance to Kubu Beach.
Retail Shop. Not only do they accommodate any of your personal needs but also your gift-giving desires. There are several artisan-crafted works or art, clothing, and home accessories for you to choose from here without having to leave the resort!
Gym. Stay on track on your fitness regime even while you’re on a holiday as both AYANA and RIMBA are well-equipped with air-conditioned gyms.
Spa Complex. Voted as Indonesia’s Best Hotel Spa by World Spa Awards in 2015, the spa services at AYANA are set to offer you the best of the best! One of the special services that AYANA offers is Thalassotherapy treatments which combine powerful anti-oxidants of seaweed and seawater. You can start with a 2-hour wellness journey in their special Aquatonic Pool — I experienced this myself and it was one of the most unique spa treatments that I have ever experienced. There are over 60 individual therapeutic jet streams here that helped improve circulation in my body!
Otherwise, you can try their Marine Healing Ritual that comprises a Hawaiian lomi-lomi massage and sea mineral facial. Other spa services you can avail of are Underwater Massage, Balinese Massage, Hot Shell Massage, Seven Chakra Dhara, or Lava Stone Reflexology. If you want to upgrade your massage even further, you can avail of their Spa on the Rocks package wherein you will be lulled to relaxation by the sound of the ocean as you get to relax in your own private spa villa by the sea.
Dining
Depending on your mood or fancy, AYANA has an extensive array of dining experiences for you to choose from! One thing that you should not miss out on? Surely that would be AYANA’s Rock Bar!
For a complete list of some of their restaurants:
- Dava = Steak and seafood
- Rock Bar = Tapas, bar and mediteranean food
- Unique = Mexican
- Kisik Bar & Grill = Seafood
- Sami Sami = Italian
- Padi = Pan-Asian
- Orchid = Afternoon Tea
- AhYat Abalone & Seafood = Chinese Food
- Kampoeng Bali = Traditional Balinese Food
- Damar Terrace = Asian
- Honzen = Japanese
- The Martini Club = Bar
- To’ge = International
There are also several cafes that are speckled all over the property such as the one near the spa, near the private beach (Warung Kubu), and near some pools (in Ocean Beach, the Pool Deck, in RIMBA, and in H20 Poolside).
If you’re going to stay in one of AYANA’s villas, you will have the exclusive chance to request in-villa romantic dining complete with the set-up of candlelights and flowers. Come the next day, you can even avail of the special Floataway Champagne Brunch in which brunch is served by your butler on a floating tray in your own private pool.
Romantic Dinners. If you want to step up your game with your partner, you can also book romantic dinners of various types and set-ups. [See here]
Service
As a villa guest, AYANA gave me a very warm welcome upon checking in at their floating lobby — which mind you, was the beginning of the many lux ‘eye-candy’ sights in their estate. After that, I was introduced to my personal butler who promised to attend to my every need, 24/7. I just needed to call him via my villa’s phone or via the loaded cellphone that he had given me. Sure enough… it was a promise that was kept and over-delivered!
You see, no matter the questions that I had, my butler was there for me. I also requested for a romantic dinner set-up in my villa and he was quick to do that. In the next day, I got lost somewhere in AYANA (it’s really huge there!) and he swiftly came to pick me up. My stay was also short so I really wanted to see and visit all the amenities and my butler was very enthusiastic in showing me around! To sum it up: he became my best friend during my stay! I was so pampered and spoiled that when it was time to bid farewell, I just didn’t want to!
I was told afterwards that each and every butler at AYANA were trained and certified by the Guild of Professional Butlers in the UK. They are also able to speak several languages so go ahead; try and see if he knows your home language.
Rest assured, this 5-star service also extends to each and every staff in the resort, and it is that kind of attitude that absolutely made my stay in AYANA an enjoyable and memorable one.
Basic Info: Ayana Resort and Spa
- Booking: See the best deals and prices at Booking.com
- Address: Jl. Karang Mas Sejahtera Jimbaran, Bali 80364, Indonesia
- Hotel Classification: 5-Star
- Check-In: 3PM / Check-Out: 12PM
- Disclaimer: Thanks to AYANA Resort and Spa for sponsoring my stay; but as always, all thoughts thaat are expressed in this article are fully my own.
AYANA Resort and Spa kept surprising me during my stay — their magnificent amenities, villas, dining options, and service styles… there was just too much to love about this place.
Truly, if you want to invest your money into a luxurious getaway that has it ALL, this is THE resort in Bali that you should book into. I guarantee you that you will NOT regret it at all, and you might just keep on coming back for more!
Thanks for sharing such an amazing article. After reading the article, I decided to stay on AYANA Resort and get Spa.
Thanks!
Awesome! Hope you had a great time :D
I am dying to stay there. I went there my last day in bali for sunset but I wish I could have gone earlier.
I’m so thrilled to visit these right now!! Thanks for sharing this post Aileen.
wow beautiful place, Bali is my one of favorite place, By the way, i am from Pontianak, WestBorneo..if you want beautiful place more, you must visit West borneo..see you