The Amala Resort, Seminyak, Bali – Review

The Amala has got to be one of Bali’s best kept secrets. This enchanting hideaway retreat offers supreme tranquility amidst its lush tropical gardens exquisitely adorned with decorative bamboo plants. The continual soft Balinese music and soothing running water echoing through the resort adds to the gentle ambience. At night the soft glow of strategically placed lighting, instantly transforms it into a romantic haven, absolutely perfect for honeymooners. The hotel does not cater for children under twelve years of age, so peace and quiet prevail at all times.
It is hard to imagine that the main street of Seminyak is only minutes away on foot. Here you can find a vast array of exclusive designer shops, local crafts, cafés and restaurants.

The Amala is truly a 5 star resort consisting of 5 pool villas and 6 spa villas, in addition to The Amala Residence, a 3 bedroomed pool villa. Upon entering the villa our breath was taken away by the modern Asian simplistic ambience of the outside spa area. We had our own jacuzzi and a shower cubicle that doubled up as a steam room. Here we enjoyed a cooling and invigorating jacuzzi interspersed with a wild herb scented steam bath. In our experience a private and personal spa is indeed a rarity. Inside the villa we were equally delighted with the romantic 4 poster canopy bed, flat screen TV, DVD player, iPod docking station, complimentary WiFi and a good selection of luxury toiletries and handmade soaps.

In the ancient Sanskrit language the word ‘Amala’ means ‘pure and unspoiled’. What a perfectly apt name for this hotel, for at its heart lies a pure and serene holistic spa, where the emphasis is on creating balance and harmony in order to achieve an optimal healthy lifestyle. There is an extensive range of spa treatments available. I chose the lymphatic drainage massage; a gentle, rhythmic massage which eliminates toxins, reduces water retention, increases blood circulation and promotes weight loss. My wife opted for a facial, which was enchantingly named Chinese Empress pearl face care. This opulent anti-aging treatment lavishes your skin with pure pearl extract to improve elasticity and increase skin oxygenation. After 90 minutes of this totally relaxing experience, she emerged feeling at least 10 years younger! There are additional health promoting experiences at an added cost. These include yoga sessions, aqua wellness and healing touch, martial arts and healing arts programmes.

During our stay we enjoyed breakfast al fresco at Bamboo Restaurant, a very intimate and stylish venue in keeping with the modern ambience of the resort. The chef offers a wide variety of Asian and Western cuisine, specialising in organic and raw foods when possible to promote the hotel’s philosophy of healthy well-being. An added attraction is that individual guest’s likes and dislikes can be catered for as well as details of the ingredients, protein, calorie count and the amount of cholesterol present in each dish being available to diners wishing to ensure a healthy eating regime.
The hospitality and service shown to us throughout our stay was exemplary, once again illustrating the ‘lifestyle retreats’ commitment to an ethos of the ‘Amala Family’. This ensures a very therapeutic and relaxing stay and an experience that we would very much love to repeat.

The Amala is a member of Lifestyle Retreats, a fresh and dynamic management company specialising in premium boutique hotels and resorts.