Komune Resort, Keramas Beach Bali

The Komune Resort is on a black-sand beach in a quiet area of trees and rice fields. Its eastern Bali location means it's a good spot to watch the sun rise over the sea. The resort is situated on well-tended, but not excessively manicured, tropical grounds with lawns, coconut palms, fruit trees, flowers, and a variety of shrubs. It all feels a bit like an eco-resort, with its lush greenery and organic garden that yields fresh produce that's used in the restaurant. With its surf beach locale and youngish clientele, the resort has a laid-back vibe. Guests gather on the beach and at the beach club, which features oceanfront outdoor dining and drinking. The beachfront and garden swimming pools are also inviting places to relax. The resort's rooms and public spaces are housed in traditional Balinese-style buildings, with well-designed contemporary interiors -- expect lots of hardwood, trendy minimalist furniture, and limited decorative touches. The Komune draws a healthy dose of surfers, yoga enthusiasts, and other younger travelers, but people of all ages benefit from the scenic beach, swimming pools, and boutique rooms. 

The resort is in a quiet area of Gianyar on Keramas Beach, a renowned surf spot which has hosted international surfing competitions. The location is a little isolated, with no major attractions within walking distance. Bali Safari and Marine Park -- with its zoo, water park, and theater -- is a little under a 10-minute drive. The resort is a little under a 15-minute drive from the Sukawai Art Market, considered one of the best art markets in Bali. Bali Bird Park showcases over 5,000 Indonesian, African, and South American birds -- it's a little over a 20-minute drive. The Gianyar Night Market and Kemenuh Butterfly Park are both about 20 minutes from the resort by car. It's about a 40-minute drive to Ubud for even more artsy, cultural things to do. Ngurah Rai International Airport is about a 40-minute drive from the Komune Resort, just south of the party-hard town of Kuta. 

Rooms, suites, and villas at Komune Resort have a light, contemporary boutique look, and are well designed and constructed -- hardwood abounds everywhere from the trim to the paneling and furniture, which has trendy, minimalist silhouettes. The color palette is white and brown, with generous use of light blue throughout. To honor the resort's location on Keramas Beach, rooms feature big color photos of surfers on the wall. The 66 spacious rooms all come with bathrobes, electric kettles for instant coffee and tea, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Some rooms have minibars. Beachfront suites take the amenities a notch higher, with private infinity-edge plunge pools and day beds. Villas offer living and dining areas, surfboard racks, and private plunge pools. Two- and three-bedroom villas feature sub-zero drawer refrigerators, gas stovetops, outdoor cabanas, and additional plunge pools (including one for children). Luxury suites come with sofa beds, a pillow menu, and evening turndown. Bathrooms are stylish, though some in the standard rooms are a bit snug. Some are clad in marble, and many only have showers.

Komune Resort is situated on a volcanic black sand beach. The water here is good for swimming and snorkeling, particularly when the tide is low, however, it's best known for its surfing, and the resort even offers floodlit night surfing. The outdoor beachfront pool is a fairly small, circle-shaped pool more suited to splashing and soaking than swimming. The second pool is situated in a tranquil garden area, and at about 25 meters long it's good for a lap swim. The fitness center has an excellent selection of equipment, and features a big indoor, open-air space for yoga, spinning, and other fitness classes. The on-site spa provides a wide range of treatments (for a fee) for both adults and children. 

The beach club restaurant serves an a la carte breakfast (for a fee) with hot, cold, Indonesian, and Western items. Lunch and dinner include a mix of Indonesian, Asian, Western, and international cuisines. The menu's emphasis is on pizza, panini, burgers, salads, seafood, and local Balinese fare. Items from the organic garden appear on the menu occasionally. The restaurant features occasional live music, as well as live TV surfing and sports events and beachfront outdoor movies. Poolside service and room service are available. The staff can arrange cycling and hiking tours, rafting, elephant treks and other excursions in Bali. The Komune also has a lobby computer, free parking, and wedding hosting, including beach weddings and traditional Balinese ceremonies. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.