Amandari, Bali

(info pulled from Amandari's website and e-brochure, http://www.amanresorts.com/amandari/home.aspx)

Located in central Bali amidst the soft green curves of rice terraces and above the rushing water of the Ayung River, Amandari is perfectly positioned to offer guests access to both the artistic community of Ubud and the natural wonders of Bali’s interior.

The spacious open-air lobby with towering posts of coconut wood and a cool honey-toned stone floor is designed after a village meeting place, or wantilan. For more than 20 years it has regularly borne witness to colourful village processions, passing through on sacred ground to the holy shrine in the valley below.

Thirty free-standing thatched suites, some with private plunge pools, are located on either side of the lobby, separated by andesite walkways, traditional Balinese-style gateways and private gardens. Local teak and coconut wood, as well as Javanese marble and volcanic stone, is used throughout the suites, creating cool contemporary spaces with all the warmth of a true Balinese home.

cuisine

The Restaurant, open to the breezes and crafted largely of teak wood, overlooks Amandari's swimming pool and the Ayung River Gorge. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and specialises in Western and local Indonesian dishes. The Bar, with its terrace seating, features a wide selection of drinks.

library

A broad selection of books, newspapers, CDs, DVDs and games, as well as a desktop computer for Internet access, is available in the Library.

boutique

A wide variety of unique Indonesian handicrafts including baskets, silk, pottery and silverware, is available for purchase in the Boutique.

spa

Amandari's Spa is located at the end of a winding river-stone pathway, and offers two open-air treatment bales, a beauty room, sauna and marble steam room. Surrounded by a lotus pond, it seems to float peacefully on the water. 

yoga

Private yoga classes in a scenic outdoor setting are available with Amandari’s yoga teacher. These aim to improve physical fitness, mental clarity and general well-being. 

gym

The fully-equipped Gym is fitted with cardiovascular machines, and looks out onto the surrounding lotus pond.

swimming pool

Amandari’s signature 32m swimming pool is lined with emerald-green tiles and lies close to the lip of the Gorge, overlooking the verdant rice terraces below.

tennis

One hard court is available which can also be floodlit for night play. Balls, rackets and tennis shoes are complimentary and playing partners can also be arranged.

internet

Wireless broadband connections are available in all suites and public areas.

suites & villas

Amandari is designed in the same style as the charming local village within which it is located. While the 21st century has been accommodated with subtlety, Amandari's charm is bedded in its authentic architectural depiction of the indigenous lifestyle. The palette of honey, cream and white on simple fine lines, with handwoven batiks, is soothing, relaxing and appealing. Nothing interferes with the lush, tropical vegetation throughout the resort; the dense equatorial greens of the surrounding plants, palms and rice terraces are reflected in the resorts many glistening pools. Balinese-style stone gateways front Amandari's 30 walled, thatched-roof suites, each with a private garden courtyard. Wireless broadband connections are available in all suites and public areas.

All suites offer a garden courtyard, a living area and wall-sized sliding glass doors that open on three sides to the lush surroundings. The bathroom features twin vanities and dressing areas, a separate shower and toilet and an outdoor sunken marble bath behind a glass door. Walled but entirely open to the sky, the sunken tub is framed by large stone planters of ferns and heliconia. Suites come either as a single-storey or a two-level duplex. The duplexes have a queen-size, four-poster bed on a mezzanine level while the single-storey suites offer a king-size bed.

village suites

Village Suites feature either a large combined bedroom and living room, or a ground floor living room with a separate queen-sized bedroom on a mezzanine level.

valley suites

These are identical to Village Suites but offer views of the Ayung Valley or surrounding paddy fields.

pool suites

These are Valley Suites that feature their own private pool with views overlooking the Ayung Valley or paddy fields.

asmara and ayung suite

Both of these are duplexed suites with large private swimming pools and sweeping views of the adjacent rice terraces and valley.

amandari suite

This suite offers one or two detached bedrooms along with a separate living room pavilion. There is also a private swimming pool and an outdoor bale of teak and bamboo with outstanding views of the Ayung River Gorge.

amandari villa

Overlooking the verdant Ayung River Gorge, the villa includes five pavilions – three detached, terrace-style bedrooms, a separate living room walled entirely with windows, and a fully fitted kitchen. A garden and landscaped deck embrace the two-tiered swimming pool. The villa’s thatched-roof dining bale is reached by crossing an andesite pathway over a reed reflection pool. With marble flooring and coconut-wood posts, the bale comes with a round table and rattan chairs for six to enjoy alfresco dining. Located just behind the dining bale, the villa’s kitchen is fully staffed to provide meals at any time. Each morning, guests discuss the day’s dining plans with villa staff. Indonesian and Western cuisines are available. An Amandari chef will prepare all meals. The villa is less than a minute’s drive from Amandari and a vehicle is on call.

Amandari's Annual Temple Ceremony
Purnama Kedasa is a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of Amandari’s temple, celebrated annually with the 10th lunar moon. March 2010 is the second 10 year cycle and is therefore an extra special celebration for Amandari and Kedewatan Village. Preparations for this event start on 1 March.

Galungan and Kuningan
Galungan is Bali's major feast, symbolising the victory of Good (Dharma) over Evil (Adharma). This happens every 210 days and the whole island is beautifully decorated. Celebrations go on for 10 days and during this time, the Balinese believe that their ancestors come to earth for the festivities. The last day of the festival is Kuningan when the ancestors return to heaven and the Balinese express their gratitude to the gods. Every village celebrates Kuningan in grand style, with colourful festivals held at temples throughout Bali. The next Galungan falls on 12 May and 8 December, 2010 whilst next Kuningan falls on 22 May and 10 December, 2010. 

Concierge Service at Amanresorts in Indonesia
Amanresorts offers complimentary concierge airport services for all international arrivals at any of its five Indonesian properties. Guests will enjoy customs clearance assistance and complimentary transfers. 

Certified member of Green Globe 21
Amandari has successfully achieved Green Globe Certified Silver Status since August 4, 2008. Green Globe 21 is a worldwide benchmarking and certification programme which facilitates sustainable travel and tourism for consumers, companies and communities. It is based on Agenda 21 and principles of Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 governments at the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992. Amandari started Green initiatives in August 2005. 

Guest Book:

“We would like to express our sincere thanks to you and your staff for the exceptional service during our stay at Amandari. We were healed by your heart-warming care and attention. Wonderful hospitality given by Amandari's staff is very much appreciated. Trekking and rafting became experiences which we will never forget.”
Japan  

“Amandari is beautiful, but its real treasure is its staff. You served us beautifully, shared information and traditions of your village and people, and presented gifts at unexpected moments. You have made Amandari the best resort in our experience, deserving of all the accolades you have received. We will spread the word that Bali is safe.”
USA  

“Thank you for being such a fabulous and gracious host. We could not have has a better time. Magical!”
Australia 

"…As a frequent traveler, I have to say Amandari is the most wonderful hotel/resort in the world. I've been very lucky to have been a guest at many of the worlds' finest Hotels and Resorts, and if the ultimate measure is five stars, then I would surely give Amandari six. Perfection! From the moment I arrived, I was treated with grace and warmth by every Amandari associate I had the pleasure to come in contact with. The resort is physically gorgeous, the food spectacular, and the amenities brilliant - but it's truly the people that make the experience at Amandari so memorable and so special.”
USA  

“We found Amandari to be a superb property! Architecturally it is exquisite...but more importantly, people to people, it is a gem! Your staff could not have been kinder, more helpful or friendly. We know all of their hearts are as big as their wonderful smiles!”
USA  

Awards:

Condé Nast Traveller
2010 Readers' Spa Awards
Best Hotel Spa in Asia & The Indian Subcontinent - No. 3
UK 2010  

Zagat Survey
2007/08 World's Top Hotels, Resorts & Spas
Top Destination Spas- No. 6
USA 2007 

Travel + Leisure
The Annual World's Best Service Awards
In Asia - No. 2
Worldwide - No. 5
USA 2006 

Sexiest Hotels Inc
Second Second Annual 100 Sexiest
Hotels In The World List
Amongst Top 100
USA 2006 

Travel + Leisure
Our Guide to the Wrold's Best Hotels
Indonesia - No. 3
USA 2005

Condé Nast Traveler
2009 Gold List
710 World's Best Places to Stay -Top Hotels, Resorts, Cruise Lines
Bali, Indonesia
USA 2009  

Conde Nast Traveler
Gold 2007 List
721 Best Hotels, Resorts and Crusie Lines, Indonesia - No. 4
USA 2007 

Robb Report - Luxury Resorts
Most Exceptional Hotels In the World
Included in 1 of 100
USA 2006 

Forbes.com
1 of the Forbes Traveller's World's Top 400 Hotels
USA December 2006 

Zagat Survey
Top International Hotels, Resorts & Spas
Top Destination Spas - No. 1
USA 2005

Smart Travel Asia
Best in Travel 2009 Readers' Poll
Top 25 Leisure Hotels & resorts in Asia - No. 4
Asia 2009 

Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report
The World's Best Hotels, Resorts & Hideaways
25th Annual Survey of Sophisticated Travelers
Top 20 International Hideaways - No. 19
2006 

Conde Nast Traveler
Gold 2006 List
World's Best 700 Places to Stay
Best by Design - No. 1
USA 2006 

Conde Nast Traveler
2006 Annual Readers' Choice Awards
Top 75 Asia Hotels - No. 2
Top 100 - No. 16
USA 2006 

Travel & Leisure
The Annual World's Best Service Awards In Asia - No. 1
Worldwide - No. 2
USA 2005

Luxury Travel and Style
2008 Gold List
Best Overseas Boutique Property - No. 11
Best Overseas Spa - No. 15
USA 2008 

Smart Travel Asia
Best in Travel 2006 Readers' Poll
Best Leisure Hotels and resorts in Asia - No. 1
Asia 2006 

Conde Nast Traveler
Gold 2006 List
World's Best 700 Places to Stay
Indonesia, Asia, Australia & Pacific Nations - No. 2
USA 2006 

Gallivanter's Guide
Awards for Excellence
Best Resort in Asia/ Pacific - No. 3
UK 2005 

Gallivanter's Guide
The 2004 Gallivanter's Awards for Excellence
Best Small Hotel Under 100 Rooms - No. 3
UK 2005