Amana Villas

The picturesque entrance to the Amana Villas sets the Zen aesthetic of the luxury hotel with its wooden bridge traversing a water feature amid spare tropical plants and avant-garde statues. The airy lobby is sleek and modern, a study in understatement, with its geometric teak front desk, light stone floors and walls, and low brown couches. Welcome drinks and cakes are offered upon arrival. Greenery surrounds the hotel, and the walls are covered in climbing plants, accentuating the natural feel. The aesthetic extends to the Amana Spa, a soothing haven of dark wood, limestone, French doors, and a private bamboo-lined garden with a small plunge pool. Many of the materials used in the hotel's construction and decor are recycled and locally sourced.

The Amana Villas are ideally situated in a busy central area of Seminyak, surrounded by restaurants and boutique shops. Eat Street, Seminyak Square, convenience stores, Seminyak Beach, and supermarkets are all within walking distance. Legian Beach and Kuta Beach are each less than a 10-minute drive from the hotel, while the Discovery Shopping Mall and Waterbom Park are around 15 minutes away. Ngurah Rai International Airport is a 23-minute drive. The hotel offers parking, but spaces are limited; airport transfers are available for a fee.

All of Amana Villas large, modern villas are decorated in an understated, Zen-inspired style that feels private and luxurious. Villas are soundproofed with onduline roofing and have doors that slide to open walls entirely, for maximum natural light and breezes. Since this is a green hotel, all of the furniture and wood pieces are made from recycled teakwood, and the natural stone is from local quarries. Living rooms are spacious, outfitted with soft tan couches and flat-screen TVs, with DVD players and Bose iPod docks underneath. iPads and iPods are provided in the living rooms. All have minibars, coffeemakers, bathrobes, and slippers, and some have fully-equipped kitchens or stovetops and sinks.

Like in much of the hotel, the decor is thoughtful and spare, in a soothing monochromatic scheme. The bedrooms have dark wooden built-ins as headboards, which match brown bed runners and pillows, topping bamboo linens on Sleep Number beds. There are light stone floors throughout. The large bathrooms are also decorated in light neutrals, with white countertops, walk-in rainfall showers, and soaking tubs; some tubs are outdoors in the private gardens. Each of these gardens has brown wicker lounge chairs and a small private infinity pool; some have waterfalls that in front of the bedroom. However, villas have outdoor staircases so umbrellas (provided) are necessary in order to get between floors when it’s raining. Additionally, air-conditioners are only in the bedrooms, meaning that living areas can sometimes get warm and stuffy.

The full-service Amana Spa is a major draw, thanks to its private pool, outdoor sunning area, and full range of spa and beauty treatments, which can also be offered in rooms. All villas have full butler service, to organize multi-course dinners, spa services, breakfast, or special occasion room designs with candles and rose petals. There’s also an iPhone app, iConcierge, with a variety of information, including hotel information, a guide to Bali, GPS tracking, taxi information, and a one-touch call button for the butler. All guests get free access to the high-end Canggu Club (15-minute drive), a country club that has a large pool, gym, tennis and squash courts, kids' pool, and clubhouse with restaurant.

Plenty of free extras are also included in rates, including the excellent free breakfast that's served to guests' villas each morning, iPads to borrow, free Wi-Fi, and free area and beach shuttles. The hotel does not have a restaurant, fitness center, or business center on-site.