Most people visit Bali to getaway; to enjoy the clear beaches, nightlife and to take in the gorgeous sunsets. But sometimes, you just really want to escape to that one place that has everything; so you don’t have to tackle the famous Bali traffic jams or deal with hustling with other tourists. And that’s where we discovered Raffles Bali, an idyllic resort that sits on 23 hectares of lush tropical landscape, and located in the south coastal area of Jimbaran only 20 minutes drive from Bali’s International Airport.
There are only private villas here, each with their own personal pool, butler and buggy to get around. Best of all, every villa has an exceptional view of the ocean. The airport landing strip is within sight as well, and you could spend the day watching planes land (at various speeds and angles, I must say).
When you book a stay at Raffles Bali, a concierge will map out a recommended itinerary for you, which includes dining experiences, wellness programmes, and any other request you have during your stay there. These photos were taken on our stay at one of the beautiful Panoramic Pool Villas, which had incredible views of the setting sun.
Above: The journey starts with welcome drinks at writers bar, which is located at the very top of the resort, and opens till past midnight.
THE VILLA
A buggy will drive you from Writer’s Bar direct to your private villa. Buggy rides are fun, and you can chat with your butler along the way and let him know of any requests you have during your stay at Raffles Bali.
Above: Walkthrough of Raffles bali panoramic pool villa.
Above: Buggy in front of the villa, waiting to take us anywhere in the resort we want to go. Many guests have actually asked to drive the buggy themselves, but this is of course not allowed for safety reasons.
Above: Every villa has its own private pool and cabana. most guests choose to have breakfast out on the patio to enjoy the stunning view.
Above: View from the villa — a lone fishing boat and the international airport landing strip in the distance (left) / the pool in the villa lit up as the sun sets (right).
Above: View from the villa — watching planes land at bali’s international airport.
Above: View from the villa — it’s quite therapeutic watching planes constantly fly in to bali airport.
There are only 32 villas in this entire resort, which guarantees privacy and peace. It’s the ideal resort to rest and rejuvenate yourself, even if just for a short weekend getaway.
Above: inside the villa.
Above: Me with two of the lovely staff at raffles bali, Irma and Julian.
DINING DESTINATIONS
During a stay at Raffles Bali, you’ll definitely spend time dining at Rumari, which means, the house of the sun and the full moon. It’s helmed by Director of Culinary, Chef Gaetan Biesuz, and the restaurant is the one and only Krug Ambassade in Indonesia (and one of the selected few in the world).
Rumari Restaurant opens for breakfast and dinner, and serves what Chef G (as he likes to be known) calls, progressive South East Asian cuisine; and his commitment for ingredients must include 80% of them from Indonesia to support the local community, and a maximum of 20% imported from other countries. Here are some of the highlights we recommend from the Degustation Dinner.
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One of the exclusive places to dine at Raffles Bali is the Purnama Honeymoon Bale. This open air gazebo sits on the rocks facing the ocean, and is a private dining experience for two. Dinner here starts just before sunset, so you can witness the gorgeous colours of the sky before it gets dark.
Above: One of the dining destinations, purnama honeymoon bale. This location has a special menu that’s only available when you book this spot for dinner.
Above: scenes from Raffles bali purnama honeymoon bale.
The menu is specially created just for this dining spot, and you can request for a bluetooth speaker to connect your smartphone to, so you can choose and play your own background music as you watch the waves get darker and darker. Here are highlights from the meal.
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Besides being extremely exclusive (it’s just you and your partner, plus a dedicated server), the incredible view is unobstructed and all yours. The waters are clear, the sky has the occasional plane, and you’ll want to take pictures while there’s still light.
Above: The incredible view at raffles bali Purnama Honeymoon bale.
WELLNESS
There are various wellness activities at Raffles Bali, apart from the private pool in your villa, and these include the main swimming pool, fitness centre and tennis courts, but also the famed Raffles Spa.
The spa features private treatment suites with integrated showers and locker facilities, and a view of the lush greenery surrounding the resort.
Above: Stairs leading to one of THe private treatment suites at the sanctuary spa.
Above: the sanctuary spa is at the edge of the hill and includes private treatment suites for two.
There’s a full spa menu comprising facials, massages, masks, Chakra balancing, meditation and singing bowl therapy; and if you prefer, you could request for an in-villa treatment so you never have to leave your gorgeous room.
Above: the polite and dedicated sanctuary spa therapists.
For your first treatment, we recommend the 90-minute Raffles Bali Signature Massage; it’s customised to your level of firmness, and is made to promote circulation, relieve aches and decompress your nerves. It ends with a warm coconut oil scalp massage that focuses on your third eye (a mystical invisible eye that is located on the forehead, which provides perception beyond ordinary sight).
If you’re into nature and interested in garden herbs, Raffles Bali has its own farm where they grow many of the vegetables you’ll eat at the resort. You can request for a Botanical Tour during your stay (it’s complimentary), and your butler will schedule it for you with one of the resort’s botanical experts, who will take you through the various plants they have on site.
Above: the botanical tour will give you a good insight into local vegetation and what you’re eating at the resort.
Raffles Bali is also an ideal destination for weddings (there was an intimate one happening the days we were there), or even just to dine at or book the spa if you’re travelling to Bali but staying elsewhere. The quality of service is one of the best you can find on the island, and that’s no surprise as it carries the Raffles brand name that Singaporeans are well acquainted with.
To discover more about Raffles Bali, visit their official website WWW.RAFFLESBALI.COM.
All photos shot on the OPPO RENO10 PRO+ 5G.
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