anexpatabroad

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” Susan Sontag

Bidadari Private Villas and Retreat, nestled among the terraced rice fields above Ubud, promised an unforgettable experience in our own private hide-away and that is exactly what we got, unbridled luxury in our own enchanting two-storey villa in the Bali rainforest. A M A Z I N G!

One of the requirements of our trip was to see as much as of Bali as we could  in the limited two-week timeframe and to stay at different types of accommodations to experience what this beautiful Island of the Gods had to offer. Bidadari (pronounced Bee-da-dari) is like nothing I have ever experienced before, a new level of unadulterated lavishness. The high-level of service began before we even arrived when the courtesy car collected us from central Ubud and whisked us up through local villages to our rainforest sanctuary, where we were greeted personally by name by all the waiting staff. Check-in completed we were taken to Villa 5 called Pucuk (complete with quirky front door) located down a flight of steep steps, set into the lush manicured gardens where our butler (yes, that said butler) was waiting with fresh lime welcome drinks and chilled towels.

Bidadari (translated as heavenly angel/spirit) has just six opulent villas which are strategically placed across the steep ridge for maximum privacy and uninterrupted relaxtion. Our cozy self-contained mezzanine level villa had a large sumptuous open-fronted living area tastefully decorated with traditional dark wooden furniture, rich coloured textiles and bold Balinese art. A separate kitchen and dining area overlooked our own private pool, sunbathing and outdoor dining deck and the most amazing uninterrupted views. A spiral wooden staircase led up to a large master bedroom complete with four-poster bed romantically draped in white muslim (mosquito proofing), large bathroom and outdoor veranda. This first class accommodation houses modern amenities encased in beautiful Balinese craftsmanship and artefacts, the attention to detail was superb, I partially liked the authentic painted wooden Balinese doors which were so adorable. Wi-fi was surprisingly good too considering our more remote location, although sometimes a bit hit and miss upstairs.

All food and beverages are served in the villas as Bidadari doesn’t have a restaurant but the resident chef can cater to all dietary needs and whims which are available at the press of a button, nothing is too much trouble. Complementary afternoon tea was served on the deck by our butler (so awesome) as we soaked up the view of the greenery beyond from our elevated position. Further evidence of the unprecedented level of service came with the flexibility of the driver at our disposal for anywhere we wished to go in the Ubud area, they even issued us with of our own local mobile phone to contact him and the hotel at any point when off the property, how good is that! We ventured out using this service both nights of our stay as we had fell in love with Ubud and wanted to maximise our time there but those wanting to dine at Bidadari could enjoy a barbecue feast or romantic poolside dinner prepared by the chef.

An extensive breakfast, chosen the previous evening, was delivered at an allotted time each morning and served by the butler. The food was delicious, fresh and plentiful and included as part of our room rate. We spent a whole day relaxing and just chilling out by our pool after exploring the locality. Having ambled down to the Bunga Mataharai Spa pavillion, located at the bottom of the property deep in the rainforest by the gushing river Wos, I was glad our villa was nearer the top as there were so many steps! I had a newfound respect for the staff who bound up and down with trays of food perched on their shoulders! Balinese statues and cheeky moss-covered stone monkeys decorated the walkways and the tropical rainforest had a wealth of exquisite exotic flowers, plants and trees that were attracting butterflies and dragonflies, you certainly get in touch with mother nature at this resort.

It’s hardly surprising to learn that earlier this year Bidadari won a coveted and prestigious International Hotel Award for a five-star resort hotel in Indonesia. General manager Rani Diana and his whole team really go the extra mile with their Balinese hospitality, discreet yet professional and unobtrusive service. Simple yet effective extra touches like a personal good night written on a leaf and placed on the bed with the robes, freshly baked cookies left by the bed every evening, strategically placed fresh flowers and oodles of genuine warmth and courtesy.

Bidadari is a gorgeous rainforest retreat to escape, be indulged and revitalise. The high level of privacy (we didn’t see another guest) and personal service are unrivalled, we were treated liked royalty from the minute we arrived until they waved us off. Staff gathered again to see us on our way, presenting us with a departing gift of a local fruit basket and refreshments to enhance our onward journey. If you are looking for a different experience and don’t mind splashing some cash this is the perfect place for you, for me it’s an unforgettable few days that I was always treasure.

The Nitty Gritty

Jalan Raya Kelabang-Moding
Kelabang-Moding Tegallalang 80571 Indonesia
Telephone : (+62) 361 9000 401

Email address: info@bidadarivillasubudbali.com

I booked using Booking.com but you can also book with Bidadari direct and be rewarded with some special treats (based on the amount of nights you stay). Specific packages can also de designed when booking direct, visit the rates and packages page here 

The Good…….

Fabulous rainforest location

Unrivalled levels of attentive service

Special and Romantic experience

The Not so Good…….

Mosquito central (buy some local mossy spray to ward off the pesky critters and take anti-histamine tablets with you for Bali in general)

It’s not cheap

Remote but there is a complimentary driver drop off and pick up service to and from Ubud

Read previous Bali posts In Pictures – A Postcard From Bali, Discover Bali – Jimbaran, Beachside Beauty: Intercontinental Bali Resort Review, Rumah Desa: A Balinese Home and Cooking studio, Discover Bali – Ubud and Boutique Style: Alaya Resort Ubud Review. Unless otherwise stated, all photos on this page © Jo Brett 2015. All rights reserved. Photo of the hotel staff used courtesy of Bidadari Private Villas and Retreat.