Royal Samaja Villas

Royal Samaja Villas is a boutique property with an intimate tropical garden setting decorated with tall trees, intricately carved stone statues, and flowing water features. The ambience is tranquil and the villa compounds are surrounded by tall walls, which offer guests a high level of privacy. The hotel is well suited to couples and honeymooners looking for a quiet retreat near the downtown buzz, though families may want to look elsewhere as there is little to do on-site. The only facility is the Kasava restaurant, a semi-open-air all-day dining venue with a trendy and modern industrial look, an alfresco dining section, and a full bar. Overall, this is one of the more modern hotels in the area, and there's little in the way of Balinese architecture or local charm. 

One of the hotel's biggest draws is the prime location, just a five-minute walk from Laksmana Street (Eat Street) and a 10-minute walk from the beach. Although the hotel is located downtown, it's positioned on a quiet side street that's far enough from the nearby nightclubs that it doesn't get too much noise pollution. Laksmana Street, or Eat Street, is one of the most happening locales in Bali and features a vibrant dining and nightlife scene, great coffee shops, and trendy boutiques. Some of the island's most popular beach clubs, including KU DE TA, Potato Head beach club, and W Bali are a 10-minute drive. Canggu (a 30-minute drive) has a more more laid-back vibe with bohemian beach bars, yoga centers, health food restaurants, and great surf breaks. Guests should budget around 45 minutes for transportation to Ngurah Rai International Airport. 

This boutique property features 10 identical One-Bedroom Villas, all of which have private plunge pools lined with tropical greenery, open-air lounges, bright and airy bedrooms, and spacious ensuite bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and rainfall showers. Villas have a large footprint that spans over 1400 square feet (130 square meters) and have tall walls surrounding them. Interiors are sleek and modern, with few decorations except for a couple of small pieces of local artwork hanging on the otherwise white or lime-green walls. Room furnishings are elegant and add some warmth to the spaces, with wooden furniture, cream colored upholstered couches, and subdued floral-patterned bed runners and throw pillows. Rooms are outfitted with comfy beds, cushioned window seats, work tables and chairs, wardrobes, upholstered couches, dining tables, and two pool chairs. 

Standard amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with DVD players, free Wi-Fi, safes, medium-size refrigerators, sinks, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and mineral water. Bathrooms have large glass windows with views of the plunge pools and gardens, plus they feature a clean contemporary look, long vanity counters and large mirrors, deep soaking tubs, and walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. Hairdryers and toiletries are provided.

One frequent guest complaint is that the bathrooms lack air-conditioning and can get hot during the day. The villas located closest to the street get much more traffic noise than villas on the opposite side of the property.

Royal Samaja Villas is an intimate property that doesn't offer much in the way of facilities or common areas. The hotel does offer in-room massage treatments and all villas feature private plunge pools that have plenty of lounge space in which to relax. Kasava Restaurant is a partially open-air, street-side restaurant with an elegant industrial-style decor. It offers a variety of seating options, an alfresco dining area, a full bar, and an extensive coffee menu. The menu consists of Western favorites like pizzas, pastas, burgers, steaks, ribs, and salads, as well as a few authentic Indonesian specialities. There is also a satay stand that serves a variety of grilled meat skewers, and the bar offers daily happy hour promotions on cocktails. Adjoining the restaurant is a small and simple lobby containing a couple of comfy couches, reading materials, and the reception desk. Motorbike rentals, tour services, and other bookings can be made through reception. Room rates include extras like daily a la carte breakfast, bicycles for guests to borrow, Wi-Fi, parking, and a twice-daily shuttle service into downtown Seminyak. Also included are honeymoon decorations, like flower arrangements on the bed, a flower bath, and cake.