Ayana Resort & Spa: A Romantic And Luxurious Hotel In Jimbaran, Bali

Welcome to Ayana Resort and Spa

Ayana Resort and Spa was built on a 90-hectare (222.4-acre) cliff top, which makes this resort the largest in the area. It has a white and sandy private beach (Kubo Beach) and together with its sister hotel, ‘Rimba Jimbaran Bali by Ayana located within the same estate (guests can enjoy the shared facilities at both properties), they offer 572 guest rooms and suites, 11 swimming pools, 17 restaurants and bars, and 11 wedding venues! You may wonder how to get around the hotel’s huge area. Fortunately, you can save much of your time as there is free shuttle service (according to schedule) that will transport you to common spots such as the villa lobby and beach, and if you stay in one of their villas, you will have a free one-hour ride touring the whole hotel area.

Warm reception upon your arrival

As you arrive from the airport (there is an airport pickup and drop service for 390,000 IDR or 29.50 USD for 1 way), you will be welcomed by a gong to mark your arrival and a garland containing fragrant frangipani flowers (fragrant white tropical flowers with some bright colors on their petals) will be placed around your neck. Soon after checking in you will be transported to one of the hotel’s restaurants, named Rock Bar, located on the top of the cliff right by the ocean, to enjoy a welcome drink (they may give you lemon iced tea with mint) made just for you.

Fabulous bedrooms with views

Rates starts from 224.10 USD (2,964,000 IDR) for a resort-view room. All rooms are spacious and opulent and with a balcony overlooking either the ocean or the resort area (the ones overlooking the ocean have higher rates). It feels comfortable to walk within the room and like a regular 5-star hotel. Besides a cold air-conditioner, the room amenities include a latex bed, fully carpeted floor, a 32-inch plasma TV with a range of international channels, a mini bar (you can find imported beer like Corona) and an ample supply of bottled water. The private bathroom is just as luxurious. The bathtub and the tiles are made of sparkling and glossy marble and, if you stay at a villa, you will have a bathroom with the bathtub overlooking the villa’s private garden and swimming pool. I was most impressed by how spotlessly clean the room was. The cleaning staff clean the room twice a day and they really do their job well to make your room like brand new, as if no one else has ever stayed in the room before you!

How would you like to have your brunch?

The breakfast buffet (it comes with the rates), served at PADI restaurant, truly offers gastronomical delicacies. It has a very wide selection of Western, Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian food. For lunch and dinner, there are a wide variety of restaurants to choose from, from Kisik restaurant, which serves good seafood, to Sami Sami restaurant serving Italian food. However, if you stay in a villa (villa rates start from 540 USD, or 7,141,500 IDR), there is a fantastic way to eat. You will have the privilege of buying a floating bruch package (you can make it your lunch too if you like), which may include coffee, tea, juice, and cakes like donuts and the Japanese pancakes of dorayaki. It costs 140 USD (1,851,500 IDR) for the package with champagne.

Public swimming pool

If you don’t stay in a villa, no fret as there are 4 pools for you to swim. The highlight is the one situated above Rock Bar, overlooking the Indian Ocean! It’s so lovely to watch the sunset from the pool while enjoying the cocktails that you can order from the bar. On weekends the bar can be overwhelmed with customers ordering beverages during sunset, so it’s better for you to order several hours before sunset, otherwise your drink order may come out long after sunset.

Staff make a difference

Just like a donut without icing, this hotel would be so much different without its hospitable staff.

Some staff very quickly learn their guests’ names; on the day of your arrival you will be greeted by your name and everyone is so welcoming. When you pass by a gardener, he may stop his work for a while just to say hello to you! This is a small thing, but means a lot when you are in a faraway land. They even understand some guests may not be used to the outdoor heat and humidity, especially those coming from colder continents like Europe and North America, hence in some spots, like swimming pools and restaurants, they always have someone ready to give you a cold towel to refresh. When you are swimming, they can help you to take photos too. Let the hotel know when booking if you have a special occasion, such as a honeymoon or a wedding anniversary, as they will fill your bathtub with rose petals and make towel swans to be placed on your bed for free.