Astagina Resort Villa and Spa

Opened in 2014, Astagina Resort is located in a busy tourist area, but it has a quiet and peaceful setting, with the feel of a haven away from the hustle and bustle of Legian. With its large trees and attractive gardens, the immediate impression is hushed and lovely. Guests walk down a long entrance with vine-covered walls and are greeted with a free welcome drink and cool towel in the open-air lobby. That calming first impression carries throughout the property, and the open-air restaurant overlooks the lawns and trees, featuring wood-beamed ceilings, wood furnishings, and Balinese carvings and statuary. There are a few areas for guests to hang out -- the tranquil pools, lovely gardens, and mostly well-liked restaurant -- but the hotel's central Legian location means most guests are out enjoying the sights. The Astagina primarily draws couples, particularly Australians, to its pools, spa, and location not far from the beach. Families benefit from the large suites and villas. 

Astagina Resort is situated in central Legian, amid all of the town's hustle and bustle. There are tons of other hotels and villas in the area, and it's a short walk from numerous restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, massage and tattoo parlors, and art galleries. Double Six Beach is a five-minute walk from the hotel, and the Rip Curl School of Surf on Double Six is eight minutes away on foot. Legian Beach offers sunset viewing, beachfront cafes, live music, beach football, and surfing -- it's a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Jalan Melasti shopping street is home to boutiques, art markets, and Balinese handicrafts and is a 15-minute walk from the hotel, or a little more than five minutes by car. The nearly 200-year-old Vihara Dharmayana Buddhist temple is a five-minute drive or a 15-minute walk from the hotel. The Ground Zero Monument to the victims of the 2002 Sari Club bombing is a 10-minute drive. Ngurah Rai International Airport is a 25-minute drive from Astagina Resort. 

Rooms, suites, and villas at Astagina Resort have a fairly traditional, almost stuffy look despite the hotel opening in 2014. Still, everything is well-kept and pleasant, with an abundance of wood tones throughout, including wood trim, paneling, doors, and furnishings. Many rooms have teak hardwood floors, giving them an upscale finish. The color palette is done in simple whites and browns, with splashes of color in the orange bed runners and throw pillows on the all-white beds, many of which have romantic canopy beds. 

Rooms are all spacious, ranging from 334 square feet (31 square meters) to 678 square feet (63 square meters) in the entry-level rooms and suites, while villas range from 646 square feet (60 square meters) to 2,842 square feet (264 square meters). All come with desks, safes, minibars, electric kettles, free bottled water, free Wi-Fi, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs with DVD players. Some rooms have private balconies, with some balconies overlooking the pool. Suites and villas include sitting areas, and all villas and some suites have kitchenettes. Some villas open to small private pools, situated in a garden with trees, plants, and vine-covered walls. Each pool is set next to a deck with gazebo and canopied day bed. 

The spacious and stylish bathrooms have ample counter space and all come with hairdryers and make-up mirrors. Separate rainfall showers and tubs -- some of which are jetted -- come standard in all rooms, and fixtures and fittings are all contemporary. Villa bathrooms include bathrobes and slippers.

Despite its compact stature, there are a number of resort-like features packed into Astagina's small footprint. The resort features a large outdoor main pool set next to a spacious wood deck with cabanas and lounge chairs. The poolside bar serves cocktails, juices, and light fare, though the area doesn't get a ton of sunlight and isn't the best for sun worshippers. It can also get busy in high season, and towels run out on occasion. The resort also has a freeform outdoor family pool, shallow enough for kids to swim safely. Daily pool activities are available for kids. A full-service spa has several rustic treatment rooms, each with a deep soaking tub and shower. It offers a good range of massages, facials, and scrubs, including a traditional Javanese Lulur massage, Boreh spiced body scrub, and chocolate and coffee scrubs. 

The restaurant here gets mostly solid marks from previous guests. A breakfast buffet features cooked-to-order eggs, meats, pancakes, banana bread, pastries, salads, yogurt, coffee, tea, and juice, though it's not included in room rates. Asian and Mediterranean cuisine are available for lunch and dinner, with dishes such as stir fries, curries, risotto, and pasta. A wide selection of beer and wine are on offer. The resort offers romantic candlelight dinners under the stars, and also hosts satay nights with Balinese dancing and weekly barbecues in the hotel garden with live music. Room service is available. The cafe serves coffee, tea, and pastries. Other features include a business center/library, 24-hour front desk, airport transfers (for a fee), and free parking. Wi-Fi is also free throughout the property.