The Amala | Seminyak, Bali

“I wanted The Amala to be a place of genuine serenity where peace and goodness are the overwhelming elements and where even the most stressed travellers can come and replenish their bodies, minds and souls in complete luxury.” The Amala

After a long journey from the north of the island, we were relieved to find ourselves entering a secluded almost hidden driveway off a main street in Seminyak to the final destination on our Bali Adventure, The Amala. Warmly greeted by manager Amelia Tran and her team, we sipped on welcome drinks while the seamless check-in procedure was completed and we were led by Amelia herself through this little calm retreat to our very own corner of private luxury, a much anticipated oasis of calm.

Our large sumptuous one-bedroom spa villa with muslin (mosquito net) closeted four-poster bed looked out onto its own private garden and open-air bathroom with a jacuzzi plunge pool, large bath and a shower that doubled up as a herb-fused steam room. A fragrant frangipani tree shadowed the pool and its beautiful white blooms were scattered around its edge on floating in the water, all very romantic and splendid, an absolute perfect spot for three days of relaxation after a hectic ten days of non-stop activities.

The Amala, part of the Lifestyle group, is a wellness sanctuary tucked away from the glitz and some say soulless glamour of Seminyak (read all about Seminyak in my previous post Discover Bali – Seminyak) offering guests a zen like experience and a holistic stay. Feng shui symbols are dotted around the bamboo clad pathways and hidden in the beautiful lush foliage and water features. The central open-air Bamboo restaurant offers an international menu of organic food and juices as well as breakfast that was included in our room rate (breakfast can also be served in the privacy of your villa and a 24 hour butler service is included too). Amelia and her team were very helpful with dining suggestions and booked a range of reservations on our behalf including some from my Seminyak ‘to do’ list. Nothing and I mean nothing (they even prepared the other half a chicken porridge, a Balinese sickness remedy when he was feeling poorly) was too much trouble at this hotel that prides itself on a personal level of service.

Massages and yoga classes were on my agenda so we booked a couples spa package at the Bliss Spa. With loads of treatments and holistic therapies available for balancing body, mind and spirit we were spoilt for choice but decided on a 90 minute (added on our 15 minute complimentary welcome massage too) couples ‘Relaxing Romance’ massage and treatment. Foot baths in large ceramic bowls of fragrant flowers were placed at the end of the massage tables where our feet were soaked and cleansed prior to the treatment, while we sipped on a homemade healthy juice of lime, cucumber and basil. Both our therapists were excellent and I really enjoyed our traditional Balinese massage combined rhythmic massage with stretching to relieve stress and tension and it certainly did the job. The finale was being smeared from head-to-toe in chocolate paste (which was a little chilly) and wrapped up to bake, quite a sight I can tell you but it was worth it as the cacao beans are good for hydration and left us with super soft skin afterwards (well I thought so anyway).

Now you can’t go to Bali and not partake in a yoga class so the following day we took a private morning class with the very flexible Mr Budi in the upper floor yoga/wellness studio. He really put us through our paces and I have never done so many downward dogs in my life, let alone in one class! Following the class, Mr Budi who is also a holistic healer, gave us some one-on-one stretches for some of our problem areas he had identified during the class, the other half was manoeuvred into quite some positions! After a really great class, I felt rejuvenated if not a little creaky and I would throughly recommend you give it a go if you find yourself staying at The Amala. The glass and wooden studio offers all types of yoga, meditation, pranayama, martial arts and additional fitness such as body toning in water and other holistic healing and body treatments, catering for individual and group needs. Like most hotels on the island, The Amala also offers Balinese cooking classes taught by the hotel’s Balinese Chef at the alfresco Bamboo restaurant.

The Amala has a four different accommodation options for different requirements and budgets as well as packages that combine room, dining, spa and wellness stays (couples resort, no children under 12 permitted). They offer Deluxe Rooms, Spa Villas (like ours), Pool Villas and the large three-bedroom Amala Residence. Along with the individual private pools the resort has a large swimming pool with a fancy colloidal silver mineral water filtration system (google it, I did) and a jacuzzi with feet and back massage jets. As well as the round the clock butler service there is a daily local fruit delivery and the room is mosquito proofed (as best they can) even evening as the pesky little critters a real problem here. A romantic candle-lit dinner can be served in your room/villa too if you don’t fancy exploring Seminyak’s amazing restaurant scene.

The Amala is a peaceful and relaxing environmentally friendly haven with fantastic staff and facilities, I loved staying here and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone. I would definitely stay there again given the chance which says it all.