
Private pool villas, a remote rainforest location and impeccable service – these are only some of the reasons why we’ve fallen hard for this new Ubud hotel!
If like me, you typically rely on vacation rental websites for all of your holiday needs, you may have forgotten what swanky hotels have a leg up on: seamless service. On a recent trip to Bali, I made a pitstop at Samsara Ubud: a 17-villa five-star resort located deep in the heart of a rainforest. My stay was one I’m unlikely to forget. Here’s why…

You won’t want to leave your villa…
My stay for a night was at the one-bedroom pool villa. It had all the nuts and bolts of a luxury abode and more: a private infinity heated pool with unobstructed rainforest views, a massive bedroom, a sumptuous king-sized bed, and a bathroom as large as the bedroom, with both indoor and outdoor showers. Sounds like heaven? It sure was.

…much less the resort
Located 20 minutes from central Ubud, Samsara Ubud is easily one of the most isolated places I’ve ever stayed at. It’s the perfect locale to get away from Bali’s bustle –all you’ll see around you is acres and acres of trees, with sounds of the rainforest accompanying your every move. It’s the perfect basecamp for your ‘eat pray love’ adventure or romantic couple’s retreat.

It’s also home to all the facilities you’ll need if your priority is fitness: you’ll spend hours doing laps across the stunning outdoor heated infinity pool, lifting weights in the gym, or downward dogging at the yoga area to soothing jungle views. For a spot of pampering, book a rubdown at the Chakra spa or have your ah-and-ah from the comforts of your room.
And if driving out to central Ubud (located 20 minutes away) for food is too much of a stretch, the resort’s restaurant, The Kelusa, serves up some of the island’s best Indonesian food for breakfast, and fusion meals by night – we’re still thinking about its delicious Balinese take on Italian ‘arancini’ – instead of stuffed with rice, they were filled with tempeh (a soy vegetable native to Indonesia).

24/7 butler service
You can’t say you’ve experienced the good life on vacay until you’ve had your own butler. At Samsara Ubud, we left all the nitty gritties of our stay to our butler and he aced each task with top marks, from smoothly checking us into our villa, handling my random requests with military efficiency to organising our restaurant and pampering reservations.

It’s the little things that count
All the luxuries of Samsara Ubud would not have been complete without its impeccable personalised service and warm atmosphere. On returning after dinner at The Kelusa, we found our room thoughtfully prepped for bedtime: the lights were dimmed, soft Balinese music chimed from the speakers, and the sheets were delicately folded at the edges for easy access, with the mosquito net elegantly draped over them.
Notes were also left behind by our butler and other staff, brimming with well wishes and nuggets about Balinese culture, including one about the Canang Sari (the fragrant Hindu offering seen everywhere in Bali). We even had a surprise delivery of a candle bearing the resort’s signature scent right before bedtime.
In a place so wonderfully isolated, what kept us feeling so at home were the beaming smiles which greeted us at every turn, and the many genuine conversations we had with staff who went above and beyond to check in on us as we explored the grounds over the course of our stay. I’m confident I’ll say this over and over again: if you’re looking for Balinese luxury with heart, this is the place to go.
Samsara Ubud, Br. Ayah – Desa Kelusa Payangan, Gianyar, Bali 80572, Indonesia