KajaNe Mua

KajaNe Mua is luxuriously contemporary, yet retains its natural beauty, with Balinese-style pagoda buildings and grass-roofed villas sitting among landscaped tropical gardens. The hotel's land used to be rice fields and the terraces have been incorporated into the landscaping, giving the property a lush, authentic ambience. The lobby is entered through a perfectly circle created by stone slabs. It's a simple welcome, with wooden furniture and open walls, though not intended as a place to lounge. The three-story mansion houses the hotel rooms while private villas are accessed along a stone path that winds through the property. The restaurant is the only part of the hotel located near the busy road out front, and although it's interesting to sit and watch the bustle and passersby, it can get loud with the noise of motorists and pedestrian traffic. The spa is housed in a rustic wooden building with stacked stone walls, while a library that more closely resembles a book store with a wide selection of nicely arranged books is located in a modern building. The outdoor pool is relatively small but relaxing, surrounded by several umbrellas and lounge chairs. There's a swim-up bar in the middle and the area is framed by a vine-covered wall. The hotel is frequented by a broad international mix of honeymooners and families.

The hotel sits on the busy Monkey Forest Road in central Ubud. Although the restaurant faces the street and is subject to traffic noise, the rooms and villas are far enough off the road to be relatively quiet. The road is lined with shops, cafes, other hotels, and art galleries including the Komaneka Art Gallery across the street and the Nyomen Meja Fine Art Gallery, a seven-minute walk down the road. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is about a nine-minute walk from the hotel and Ubud Palace and Ubud Market are both less than a 10-minute walk from the hotel in the other direction (to the north). The property is about an hour and five-minute drive to and from Ngurah Rai International Airport in southern Bali.

The 22 elegant rooms at KajaNe include spacious traditional rooms in the main three-story building that feature wall-sized windows. These rooms have straightforward, artsy decor with Balinese touches, and include light wood floors, simple wicker furniture with bright cushions, funky light fixtures, and bathrooms with contemporary shower/tub combos or separate showers and soaking tubs. Rustic touches like handmade platform beds and wardrobes add plenty of authentic charm, and while many rooms have balconies or pool views, some do not. All rooms offer free Wi-Fi, a safe, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and coffee-making facilities.

The real stars of the hotel, though, are the 10 luxurious private villas that feature vaulted ceilings from which long white mosquito nets cascade into canopies over the beds with high-quality linens. These rooms embrace rustic-chic with enthusiasm and style, and furniture is made from handsome solid wood, including a large finished tree stump that serves as a table for the flat-screen TV and DVD player in the Beji Nara Villa that we visited. Polished tile floors come in light tones and wall art has a Balinese contemporary flair. Many villas have multiple rooms or several bedrooms. They are also surrounded by their own lush gardens, with handsome stone and pebble landscaping, and many have plunge pools as well as indoor/outdoor bathrooms and glass rainfall showers, stone carved sinks, and chic stone soaking tubs.

For a hotel with this much style, the wealth of freebies only add to the value. Breakfast is free and includes 10 different set menus to accommodate a wide range of tastes. It can also be delivered straight to the rooms or villas with no extra charge. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner, with a variety of Balinese and international dishes, and private candlelit dinners can be arranged. A free afternoon tea with snacks is served and there is daily happy hour in the bar that draws hotel guests and locals. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, though it can be spotty, and a free welcome drink greets guests upon arrival. The hotel provides a free shuttle around town, free bike and swimming tube rentals, and a fitness area. Kajane offers a refreshing outdoor pool with a swim-up bar as well as lush gardens and a spa with large selection of treatments including a signature facial made out of fresh fruit. The property also has a small library from which guests can borrow a wide assortment of books and DVDs as well as a computer station. The hotel offers free gallery tours and arranges treks and many other activities. Airport transfers are available upon request.