A beach in Bali? A retreat in the hills in Thailand? A volcano-clad Javan hillside home? A city-state hub? There are locations and styles to tantalize every traveler. Some have utilized vernacular building traditions and materials in their design, while others have relied on the beauty and serenity of site. All, however, have harnessed the innate grace of the local populations. Showcasing their culture and traditions has been an integral part of the package. After all, a gentle oriental smile that lights up the whole face goes a long way towards guest satisfaction.
Today, however, customers are demanding a bit more than a sweet smile. They want greater sophistication, better facilities, more entertainment. As a result, adding to the tried-and-tested brands, there is now a host of new hotels. Thrusting up-starts, they're tech savvy, cutting-edge design wise, snappy on the service, and more often than not intelligent and stylish too. Architecturally, some are very modern—think stark, cubist white boxes set against a glittering blue sea for example—while others appear more traditional, heavily disguising flat plasma tv screens, wireless internet access and other mod-cons behind a veneer of the vernacular. Whatever the style, however, the message is clear.
We are in a new world where the standards of the past are simply that. In the past. Nowadays, highly mobile travelers want all the conveniences of home and office when they are on holiday. In addition, they require drop-dead design, generous room sizes, personalized service, high-tech TV, internet and DVD systems, and plenty of choice—in activities, spas, cuisines, entertainment and more. The region is responding.
For the most part, it's these new kids on the block we feature in this book, though of course we don't neglect some of the older, top-end hotels too. Each has been selected for its sense of individuality and style, as well as its facilities and service. Be it a louche metropolitan oasis, a villa on the beach or a hangout in the hills—it has been designed with you in mind. Enjoy.
The Balé Nusa Dua
Originally intended as an island retreat for its three Jakarta-based owners, the Balé occupies a hilly rise on Bali's Jimbaran peninsula enclave. Holding a maximum of 40 guests in 17 private villas, many with ocean views to the east, it is an adult-only retreat. A rigorous, stylish haven for those in search of seclusion, the Balé opened in December 2001. Modernist, minimal, serene and exclusive, it quickly gained membership to the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group—and its international reputation was assured.
"At the Bale we want our guests to feel at home rather than in a resort," says the youthful general manager, Jose Luis Calle, "We want them to relax and spend quality time with their partner; the idea is to pamper them with personalized service, custom-made meals, spa treatments or programs and, above all, friendly and discreet service." This they undoubtedly get—and in a setting that throws conventional Bali style out with the bathwater. Certainly, this is made-in-Bali, glazed-in-Bali and carved-in-Bali, but it is more Zen den than trad Balinese balé.
Architect Antony Liu (with partner Ferry Ridwan) maintains a restrained palette throughout. A clean, pared-back look stretches across the compact 1.1-hectare (2.5-acre) plot. Outside, walls combine smooth paras Jogja stone with rough local limestone; landscaping by Karl Princic is of the rushes, reeds and cactus school; and simple cascading water and grey pebbles are used to cool what is clearly quite a hot site. Inside, villas are steadfastly monochrome, as is the lobby where the longest reception desk I've ever seen is punctured only by a single computer and one member of staff dressed in white.
Also oversized are the villas—and everything in them. The bed, raised on a terrazzo plinth, is huge; custom-carved cabinetry in dark merbau wood is solidly imposing. The television screen is 29 inch (73 cm) wide. Even the private plunge pool is less plunge, more pool. The adjacent cushioned balé seats six comfortably. Surfaces are unadorned, with a gold mesh panel above the bed the only decorative element. Bathrooms feature indoor and outdoor showers, twin vanities as well as an hourglass-shaped tub.
If all this sounds slightly puritanical, it isn't. Feminine touches, such as an aromatic selection of hand-made soaps and a floating flower and candle arrangement in the bathroom, humanize the villas. A bevy of butlers are on call, but if you fancy a snack, a jar of home-baked cookies is thoughtfully provided. Staff, 90 percent of whom are Balinese with 85 percent picked from the local banjar or village, are genuinely enthusiastic. A great selection of novels, magazines, and video and music CDs are available on request.
Children under 16 are banned from the Balé. This makes sense here and forms part of the ongoing commitment of management company Sanctuary Resorts in providing opportunities for guests to balance body, mind and spirit. The spa is a haven for the senses, and visiting yoga, Shiatsu and other alternative healers and practitioners make up a regular round robin of Masters in Residence. These, along with the adult-only policy, the sophisticated serenity of the site and absolute privacy, encourage guests to de-stress and rejuvenate.
Because each individual villa is set in its own walled enclosure, a high proportion of guests remain ensconced in their rooms for the duration of their stay. The heat of the day encourages villa siesta-seekers and spa-goers; even the main pool is often eschewed in favor of a quiet nap or a serious snooze plunge poolside. However, you may spot the odd couple beneath an umbrella, or at the hotel's aptly named restaurant, Faces. Here, light French food influenced with Asian flavors and organic produce form the dishes of the day. However, this is not a resort where guests go to meet and mingle. You may discover a few things about yourself, but you're unlikely to discover a new best friend.
Tempted? If a serious chill-out is in order, an anniversary with a loved one is coming up or you want to do some contemplative body/mind work, the Balé may be just the ticket. And as Calle says: "When we say goodbye to guests who after a few days look younger, more relaxed and positive, it means we must be doing something right." Hear hear.
Jalan Raya Kusa Dua Selatan, PO Box 76, Nusa Dua, Bali 80363, Indonesia.
tel: +62 361 775 111
fax: +62 361 775 222
Downtown Villas Seminyak
Seminyak is to Bali what San Antonio is to Ibiza—the hippest part of the island. It's where cool young things congregate to club, shop, chill and catch up. Appropriate, then, that it houses Bali's hottest hotel—a series of modish residences called Downtown Villas.
The usual combo of rice paddy views, thatched pavilions