Bidadari Private Villas & Retreat

Tucked in the jungle on the outskirts of Ubud, the Bidadari Private Villas & Retreat - Ubud offers a tranquil and luxurious refuge on a small property that allows staff to provide each guest with personal attention. Stone steps wind through the lush forest grounds, with lava rock walls that feature intricate high relief carvings. The Bidadari, Indonesian for "heavenly angel," was designed by architects Nyoman Miyoga and Mande Sudarta. The resort was built in 2006 and features a cobblestone driveway that leads to a small thatched-roof lobby, decorated in wood carvings and traditional Balinese furniture. A lounge offers floor cushions beside a chessboard, books on loan, and a display case with jewelry, beauty products, and souvenirs for sale. Mostly couples stay at the hotel, which offers the Bunga Matahari Spa. Treatment rooms have soaking tubs facing large windows that overlook the lush valley below. There’s also a lava rock terrace, with cushy lounge chairs, and an open-air nail salon. 

The property is in the town of Tegalalang, with a few other hotels nearby, but nothing really within walking distance. There are scenic walks and guided bike trips led by the staff through the rice fields. The resort’s free shuttle provides round-trip service to Ubud, giving guests a cell phone to call for their return trip. It’s 15 minutes to reach the Ubud Market, Ubud Palace, Museum Peri Lukisan, or the city center, where there are lots of shops and restaurants. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is a 20-minute drive. The Elephant Cave is a 23-minute car trip. Driving to Ngurah Rai International Airport takes an hour and a half.

Each of the intimate villas features distinct Balinese touches: carved doors, pitched thatched roofs, lava wall reliefs, red-tone wooden flooring, colorful textiles, and open-air living rooms. Stairs to villas can be steep, however. Features include private pools, small decks with lounge chairs, four-poster beds, kimonos, slippers, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, umbrellas, safes, and kitchenettes or kitchens with four-burner stovetops, water coolers, microwaves, and tea kettles. Indoor/outdoor bathrooms have hairdryers, and some have garden showers with knobs in rock walls. The one-bedroom Villa Tunjung has two floors. The one-bedroom Jepun Villa is particularly romantic, with a mosaic bathroom and an outdoor stone bath. The Villa Melati has a split level with an attic bedroom. The one-bedroom Villa Pucuk features a spiral staircase, a balcony, and a stairway to the Villa Melati. The two-bedroom Villa Kenyeri features three floors, a spiral staircase, a balcony, and an indoor/outdoor bathroom. The four-bedroom Villa Cempaka has an indoor/outdoor bathroom and two kitchens. The Cempaka and Kenyeri villas have larger pools.

Extravagant perks and catering to guests’ needs set this luxury resort apart from the competition in Ubud. Personal taxi service is provided, with drivers giving guests a cell phone to call when they want to be picked up. There’s no restaurant on-site, but 24-hour room service is offered and a personal chef can also cook meals in villas. Balinese cooking classes and packed lunches are also available. Bicycles can be rented, with guided tours through the rice paddies. The on-site spa offers peaceful treatment rooms with valley views as well as an open-air nail salon. Wi-Fi is free throughout.