Guest User
January 14, 2024
We learned that Amandari turns 35 this year. It does not show. Everything is in impeccable condition. What a super smart choice Aman made when it decided to build this Balinese village-like retreat at the top of the Ayung river canyon. Other luxury brand resorts have opened in the vicinity, but their locations just cannot match the beauty of that particular spot. Guests enjoy a fantastic view across the canyon, for example from the beautiful and large infinity pool or the open air restaurant above. The suites are in fact houses offering generous open spaces, double amenities, outside bathtubs, separate (partly upstairs) bedrooms and terraces. Housekeeping is miraculous; whenever you return to the house, everything has been refreshed, a “signature” Aman feature. Daily breakfast was included in our rate (I believe it is always so). We opted all the time for the most delicious Indonesian specialties plus some healthy yogurt and granola kind of delights, also with a local touch. If you prefer Western style breakfast, many choices are available, too. We dined out once (which was nice), but preferred to stay “at home” all other evenings and indulge in the restaurant’s offerings of local delicacies including a suckling pig barbecue and a Nusantara style dinner. Every afternoon, complimentary tea and sweet and savoury Indonesian snacks are served in the open air bar area. The service staff are extremely attentive, friendly and helpful, responding to every wish you may have. The same is true for tour arrangements (we loved the water temple, but recommend to select the rice terraces well - the ones we visited had been turned into an adventure park; Amandari’s own paddies are small, but very beautiful) and the shuttle services to Ubud town and back. Make sure not to miss the SPA treatments. We had one described as deploying local flavours and techniques meant to help you relax and reinvigorate. It totally lived up to the description. Which leads me to a more general remark: Aman external communication is a lot about peace and the Aman family and so on. As far as we can tell from our Aman experiences in India, Thailand and Indonesia, it is real, also for Amandari. From the General Manager (Michel Bachmann) to any service staff, the drivers, the bar man (serving at Amandari for more than 30 years) or the pool attendants, everyone makes you feel welcome in a unique, very natural way. They make you wish to come back. But then, there are so many other places to explore, and life is short.