Looking to escape Hong Kong for a few days? The Santai in Bali is just a short 30 minute drive from the airport but feels like another place completely.
Bali is one of our favourite take-a-break-from-Hong-Kong destinations, and it just so happens that we have an amazing team on the ground there, to help keep us in the know about the best beaches, festivals and resorts available on the island. A hotel from the outstanding Lifestyle Retreats group, The Santai offers 11 stunning villas just a short drive from Seminyak, and Honeycombers Bali took one for the team by blissing out there to report on what the experience holds. Thanks, guys!
The Santai from Lifestyle Retreats
Nestled in the rice paddies of Umalas, The Santai offers 11 designed led, modern luxury villas located just 15 minutes from Seminyak, yet it feels like it’s another world away. With five two-bedroom villas and six three-bedroom villas, it’s perfect for groups of friends and families and is only a 30 minute drive from the airport.
With luxuriously-decorated surrounds, lush tropical gardens and serene garden paths connecting the villas with the hotel grand facilities – it really is the best of both worlds. We really enjoyed the convenience of the facilities, namely the 24-hour butler service (more champagne, anyone?), large swimming pools and the snazzy restaurant – as well as having completely private villas to ourselves (swimming in nothing but your birthday suit is absolutely possible).
The location is pretty stunning too. Think peaceful rice fields, cows strolling along the green, and significantly less cars and motorbikes than neighbouring Seminyak and Kerobokan. Umalas is where many of Bali’s expats choose to live. If you do go, we highly recommend you visit Nook, an open-air local restaurant that serves fabulous, cheap eats and overlooks the paddy fields – another of Bali’s great hidden gems. (Psst… for more of our favourite restaurants, see our full list of picks here.)
Need to book? We thought so. Email: [email protected]
The Santai, Jalan Bumbak, 88A, Banjar Kelod Anyer Kerobokan, Umalas, Bali 80361, Indonesia, p. +62 361 9002669