Undoubtedly one of the biggest perks of living in Jakarta is the fact that the beautiful island of Bali is just a stone's throw away.
There are many sides to the 'island of the Gods', most famously these are Kuta (a backpacker/sufer party area), Ubud (laid back town with magnificent vistas over rice paddies in the centre of the island), Nusa Dua (Luxury tourist enclave with white sand beaches) and Seminyak (a costal town area with a charming bustle, endless boutique stores, a myriad of great restaurants and uber cool beach bars) On this particular visit to Bali we were staying in the latter, Seminyak. The area has a few large hotels such as W Hotel and Anantara but the majority of the area is made up of charming villa complexes nestled on the sleepy back-streets.
Uma Sapna is one such place. Tucked away down a quiet street with an understated reception area at the roadside, you could easily miss it. But after checking in and being led though a small gateway beneath frangipani trees, we were greeted by a luxurious and tranquil hideaway. Stark white walls, draped with bright flowers, lead to wooden doorways, hidden behind them, individual villas with perfectly manicured gardens and private swimming pools. The place has a true feeling of serenity and calm. Our villa was 'Raja Ampat', one of the twenty-six villas on this property. Welcome drinks and fruit were awaiting us when we entered our villa garden with just the gentle trickle of water from a small fountain at the end of our private pool. On entering our villa, a wonderful smell wafted over us; the staff had set up essential oil over a candle in the bathroom and soft music played in the background. Immediately we felt totally relaxed and at home, it was clear right away that it would be SO hard to leave.
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Our beautiful villa bedroom - modern bright and airy minimalism |
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Spacious, open concept bathroom with a huge polished concrete tub and double vanity. |
During our stay it was the Mr.'s birthday. The staff at Uma Sapna were so kind to setup up gorgeous room decorations, and even gave him a birthday cake, which as you'd expect from a place as perfect as this, was truly delicious! It's small touches that make all the difference, and this was one of many that are done so well at Uma Sapna.
However beautiful the room may have been, the pool and garden area were something else. With an abundance of lush plants, two loungers, an odd passing lizard, and carefully enclosed to give you privacy, we loved every minute we spent in this space. The blazing Bali sunshine can sometimes get a touch too hot, but that's really no problem when you can take a dip in the pool so easily, or sit and enjoy an icy cool drink in the shaded areas.
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A relaxing nook with a daybed, perfect for a nap or some reading in the shade. |
A highlight of this trip for us was breakfast each morning. Each evening a breakfast card is placed in your room, on this card you could then tick whichever options took your fancy. You simply hang it on your villa door before going to bed and then the next morning the wonderful staff at Uma Sapna will deliver it to you at whatever time you choose. I've never been a fan of communal hotel breakfasts (and have always chosen room service when I could) but this stay really cemented that preference! Being able to roll out of bed and eat a delicious breakfast in without having to worry about the time, or even getting dressed is just such a luxurious pleasure, don't you think?
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Breakfast of your choice, served in the tranquility of your villa every morning. |
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Cooling off in our private pool. |
We spent much of our time on this trip just lounging by the pool, listening to music, reading and napping in the sun. And perhaps that's the only criticism I have of Uma Sapna... it really makes it extremely difficult to leave the place. But, with the some of the best of Bali's restaurants and bars within walking distance, a ten minute stroll to the beach, and so many unique stores to browse you do need to force yourself to leave this haven at least a couple of times, even though you probably really, really don't want to.
Uma Sapna Villa
Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia.
+62 361 736 628