Jumeirah Bali – Hotel Review

Water, water, everywhere. At Jumeirah Bali, an almost impossibly luxurious villa-only hotel that peers out over the Uluwatu coast, you’re never far from the tranquil trickle of water. Built to evoke a Javanese-Hindu water palace, the hotel features indulgent spa treatments and ultra-luxe residences. Read on for the full review.

It begins with the extensive network of ponds and ever-flowing fountains amid established trees and grand, chalk-white pavilions. It continues with the babbling of a brook or the splash of your private, in-villa plunge pool. The pinnacle is, of course, the ocean that’s splayed out underneath the resort like a shimmering silver blanket.

Where is Jumeirah Bali? 

Jumeirah Bali, overlooking Dreamland Beach on the island’s south-west coast, is perched on a cliff some 35 minutes south of Ngurah Rai International Airport (on a good day in traffic). 

What’s near Jumeirah Bali?

Uluwatu’s temple, Pura Luhur Uluwatu, and the spectacular scenic route that leads to it, is about 20 minutes drive away. Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, an impressive space dedicated to the Hindu god of Vishnu with towering statues and natural limestone columns, is also just 20 minutes inland. If you get tired of the kids crowding your private villa pool (or bringing chaos to the main one), take them down the road to Dreamland Water Park, a three-minute car ride, to burn off their energy.

Room types 

Jumeirah is a villa-only property, ensuring the utmost luxury no matter the room number. Each self-enclosed villa, topped with a peaked wooden roof, has a generous living space, modern kitchenette, plush separate bedroom and enormous bathroom with a huge central bathtub and outdoor shower. It’s all very elegant, with tonal colour schemes, intricately carved teak furniture and 600-thread count linens.

One edge of the villa is all windows, casting a glance out over the deck, shaded pavilion, private pool and view — either of the ocean or the lush landscape. The other notable villa inclusion? A butler who attends to your every request, such as buggy transfers (this property is huge and more commonly traversed by golf buggy than foot), water deliveries and questions about spa appointments and babysitting services.

Restaurants and bars 

The spectacular Segaran Terrace, a sprawling eatery open to the ocean and the ’grammable curves of the main pool, is the site for the hotel’s breakfast (and beyond). In the morning, there’s a buffet and à la carte service, with light and fresh options from avocado toast crowned with edible flowers to fresh French pastries. 

In-villa dining can be the standard room service or the very non-standard in-villa dining experience, which sees careful staff plant an intricate ring of fallen tropical blooms and candles around your pre-prepared outdoor table. No matter where you consume it, the food from executive chef Vincent Leroux and his team is exceptional: the lawar ayam, a salad of young coconut, minced chicken and spices, has the right balance between heat and acid, and the pandan pancakes with coconut ice-cream and palm sugar syrup is a light but indulgent finish. The food is exceeded only by the attentive service of your in-room waiter, who is literally on stand-by for anything the evening needs.

Travel for work

All villas have complimentary wi-fi and full-sized desks stationed in the living spaces. The in-villa kitchenette is also nearby for coffee top-ups (there’s a serious looking pod-powered machine and fancy, soundless kettle for all hot beverages). 

Spa, pool and gym  

While there’s little necessity to visit the main pool — all villas have their own, after all — you’d be remiss to skip a plunge. The double-layered beauty (with a smaller infinity option that thrillingly appears to hang almost over the cliff edge) sports a gate festooned with bougainvillea that signals private access to the beach below.  

The tranquil Talise Spa, again ringed by ponds and the ambient sound of spilling water, treats guests according to the appropriate chakra based on Balinese numerology — oils worked into sore muscles are blended according to the chakra balancing properties of every scent. 

The fitness centre, with the standard rows of equipment, overlooks a lush garden. Yoga can be arranged.

What you need to know

There’s a spacious kids club so you can happily skip to the spa while the little ones are in very good hands. 

SEE ALSO: 18 of the Best Luxury Villas in Bali to Bookmark