COMO Uma Ubud, Bali

The Uma By COMO, Ubud is a luxury property with understated designs that lets the tropical seven-acre setting -- with views of the Oos River and Tjampuhan Valley -- shine. The romantic and secluded property is geared toward couples, but also families who want privacy. Stylish and minimalist interior designs were created by Japan’s Koichiro Ikebuchi. The thatched-roof lobby features stone floors, cushioned wooden chairs, and a raw wooden coffee table. The large pool is surrounded by tropical foliage, with white lounge chairs and umbrellas on a wooden deck. A vine-covered terrace offers shaded lounge chairs. The overall atmosphere is intimate, quiet, and serene. 

The Uma by COMO is on a quiet side street in the village of Sanggingan, giving the property a rural atmosphere. That side street connects to a main thoroughfare -- with restaurants, bars, other hotels, and shops. The Neka Art Museum is in close walking distance. A free resort shuttle goes into downtown Ubud (a bustling artistic city in Bali) in five minutes, where there are lots of vendors, restaurants, and sights, including Ubud Palace and the Museum Puri Lukisan. It’s a five-minute drive to Campuhan Ridge Walk. Elephant Cave, or Goa Gajah, is a 20-minute car trip. The Sacred Monkey Forest takes 15 minutes to reach by car. The Ngurah Rai International Airport is an hour and 15 minutes away by car.

Rooms have an understated elegance, with gray checkered floors, canopy beds, light wood furniture, and minimal decor. Features include flat-screen TVs, turndown service, free Wi-Fi, ceiling fans, DVD players, slippers, bathrobes, minibars, safes, yoga mats, umbrellas, free bottled water, and furnished terraces or balconies. Sleek bathrooms have hairdryers, bathtubs set against windows, and separate showers, some of which are open-air. Rooms with pools feel more private. Suites and villas feature Bose systems, iPod docks, private pools -- with chic lounge chairs, umbrellas, and wooden or garden decks -- and some have thatched roofs with recessed lights. Most villas have open garden showers and open-air sitting and dining rooms. There’s one Terrace Room with a pool. Water Garden Rooms offer fishpond courtyards and black-tiled open bathrooms. Pool Suites have offices with daybeds. Thatched-roof Uma Pool Villas have infinity pools. The One-bedroom COMO Villa is the most luxurious with a spa treatment area, infinity pool, and outdoor whirlpool tub.

The open-air Uma Cucina restaurant serves Italian cuisine -- including wood-fired pizza -- and features a lounge bar. The Kemiri restaurant serves breakfast and can be rented out for private parties of up to 70 people. Two-hour cooking classes are held in the Kemiri restaurant. The chic Umba poolside bar has stylish Balinese furniture and a small library. There’s also a meeting room -- fitting up to 30 people -- with modern audiovisual equipment, flip charts, and Wi-Fi, available upon request. Wedding services can be arranged. Free guided village walks are available. Hikes, temple tours, mountain bike rides, and Balinese workshops are available for an extra fee. 

The stylish spa -- featuring a fishpond courtyard -- offers four semi-open treatment rooms, a thatched-roof lounge, soaking tubs, and sauna and steam rooms. There’s also a bright, small gym that provides modern cardio equipment. The thatched-roof yoga pavilion overlooks the forest and offers free yoga classes. Pilates and meditation sessions are also available. The outdoor pool is surrounded by lounge chairs. Wi-Fi throughout is free.