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Not a new concept to Bali, "Boutique Hotels"
have become very popular with the traveler seeking something
special and exclusive. Known for providing and secluded
luxury, a boutique hotel is generally small and intimate
with it's own character and ambience. Also known as
being at the top end of the market, price wise, in recent
times, the more expensive boutique hotels have been
joined by a few up market places which are offering
something completely different to the five star international
chain hotels, but with a smaller price tag than the
likes of the Aman group and Four Seasons Resorts.
 With
it's unusual two storied guest pavilions, The Tanjung
Sari Hotel in Sanur is somewhat of an institution
and has long been popular with the "In" crowd.
In the early days, Campuhan Village in Ubud attracted
many expatriate artists including Arie Smith, Antonio
Blanco, Rudolf Bonnet, Walter Spies and musician, Colin
McPhee. Built on the site of Walter Spies' home, The
Campuhan Hotel has been attracting discerning
travelers ever since and has just under gone an extensive
face lift, which incorporated a unique spa designed
to blend with the environment of Ubud and the Campuhan
river.
Australian architect, Peter Muller designed The
Oberoi Bali in 1972 and what was originally
planned as a private residence with five bungalows eventually
turned info a 68 room hotel made practically from local
materials. In the late 1980's the luxurious Amandari
opened in Sayan, Ubud. The completion of the Amandari
fulfilled Muller's dream of building a luxury resort
by using local craftsmanship and materials. The Aman
group, brainchild of Adrian Zecher, continued it's growth
when Amanusa opened in Nusa Dua and the Amankila
in Candidasa. For golf fans the Amanusa
overlooks a world class golf course while the Amankila
overlooks the Indian ocean with a private beach club.
Next door, the Serai Hotel, set amid a coconut grove
features clean crisp lines, striking tropical colors,
coconut wood and natural fabrics.
The design of The Four
Seasons Resort nestled in Jimbaran
Bay is deceiving. Set within beautiful gardens
the layout of the property gives the occupants of the
140 plus private villas, the impression of complete
seclusion. Each of the villas features an outdoor plunge
pool, outdoor living and dining areas, outdoor bathrooms,
indoor bathroom and tastefully outfitted sleeping areas,
making this award winning hotel one of the top ten resorts
in the world. A spa exclusively for guests is an added
attraction.
Four
Seasons at Sayan, joined the growing number
of boutique hotels in Ubud, earlier this year. With
only fifty rooms the hotel's unique design has been
quite a discussion topic. Also with a spa exclusively
or guests, the hotel is nestled amongst rice terraces
o Sayan gorge and overlooks the Ayung River.
Further along the road is the Chedi set amongst
the rice fields. The restaurant and pool offer spectacular
views. It's architectural style is quite modern in a
very tranquil setting.
A few minutes drive from Ubud, the Waka
de Ume has 16 rooms only, where natural products
are accentuated such as stone, alang-alang grass roofs,
homespun fabrics and smooth unpainted woods. With TV's
and a meditation room, the Waka De Ume is a place to
forget the stresses o the outside world.
The Ibah
in Campuhan has ten individually designed villas with
Balinese exteriors and luxury interiors. The hotel boasts
a beautiful salt water swimming pool, spa and the spacious
and well laid out gardens all combine to make a delightfully
peaceful setting.
The
Pita Maha also situated in Champuhan has twenty-four
Balinese villas set in traditionally styled walled compounds.
The design, based on a Balinese village, was created
by a member of Ubud's royal family who have been hosting
guests since the beginning of this century. Overlooking
the River Oos, rice terraces and tropical forests, Pita
Maha also features an infinity pool and most of the
rooms have private pools.
The
Matahari Beach Resort on the north west coast
of Bali has sixteen luxurious bungalows and gardens
that were voted the best in Bali. The bungalows have
their own private courtyard and the hotel offers diving
and snorkeling trips to the surrounding reefs and nearby
Menjangan island. At Tulamben, another popular diving
spot in the east of Bali, next to the budget accommodation,
scuba divers will be pleased to find Mimpi Resort, a
small and simple hotel on the beach.
For those who really want to get away from it all, try
the Lorin
Saba Bai Resort. Located on the south coast
of Gianyar regency, the drive from the main road to
the resort is quite long, rather bumpy and potholed
but once you arrive, you'll agree it was worth it. Located
between rice fields and the oceans, Balinese style villas
are set in four hectares of tropical gardens in a very
isolated area.
Bali's first "Boutique museum hotel" Tugu
Bali, located in Canggu near a fishing village,
features 25 villas each furnished with antiques from
the owner's private collection. While working as a medical
representative or a pharmaceutical company, Anhar Setjadibata
was sent to small villages throughout Indonesia, where
he met many people wanting to discard their old furniture
and cultural relics, believing them to be out of style.
He has spent his life collecting antiquities and "Tugu
Bali" was built to house part of his collection.
Two of the suites are dedicated to two foreign painters
who made Bali their home, Walter Spies and Le Mayeur.
The dining room is actually a Chinese temple bought
over piece from East Java. The 300 year old temple had
been scheduled to be knocked down to make way for a
shopping mall. Although built in Java, the temple was
to honour ancestors who come from China through Singaraja
in north Bali. Designed to introduce guests to the many
facets of Indonesian culture, Hotel Tugu Bali is a unique
boutique hotel.
Villa
Lumbung's concept was to create a place for
close friends to meet in a beautiful setting but without
the high price tag of most of a boutique hotels. The
design for the 20 villas is taken from the traditional
Balinese Lumbung- or rice barn and the villas are set
in a tranquil garden setting with a friendly village
like ambience.
Another hotel taking a similar concept is Villa
Kendil offering moderately priced traditional
stylevillas with modern amenities and comforts in Kerobokan.
Casa
Padma has a distinct Mediterranean feel with
walls adorned with trompe l'oeil paintings by Stevent
Little. Set in the heart of Legian 500 meters from the
beach, Casa Padma is a nice alternative to a huge hotel
or small losmen. With emphasis on guest comfort the
rooms are tastefully decorated with unique furnishings
with many special touches. There is a plan or a spa
in the near future.
Puri Bali Villas is located on the Bukit near
Uluwatu. With only 5 huge rooms in a very secluded area,
this is a very private place and the bathrooms alone
are big enough for a party!
So go ahead and try another of Bali's pleasures staying
at one of the many boutique hotel.
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