BALI BELLES
Bali Belles - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Bali Belles | |||||
| By: Merry and Jennifer Kirkwood, Issue 35 – Winter 2008 | |||||
| (Bali) | |||||
| WARNING: GIRLS ON LUXURY TOUR. MAKE SURE YOU PACK YOUR PASSPORT, CREDIT CARD, AND A WICKED SENSE OF HUMOUR. LUXURY TRAVEL MAGAZINE ROAD TESTED THREE BALI RESORTS IN THE NAME OF ‘GIRL POWER’ RESEARCH. | |||||
| You could call it a ‘Yes, Mum’ holiday morning – only she (daughter, aged 20) doesn’t actually speak any words, so in sync is our thinking. Day One of the Big Bali Belle adventure, and the mother-daughter combo could not be tighter. “Breakfast by the pool?” I suggest. A gentle smile is proffered my way. “Shall we head for that bale by the water, to loll in the shade while we read for a bit?” An elevated thatched-roofed platform, it’s perfectly placed a saunter away from the Tanjung Benoa beach, Nusa Dua, on the Conrad Bali’s doorstep, the mega pool to our rear. A congenial nod of the head is her only reply. “A little smear of sunscreen perhaps.” (My Mother Lion instincts remain sharp.) Her hand reaches for the bottle before the words are fully spoken. | |||||
| The agreeable mood could be helped along by the swarm of (handsome) staff who jump to attention as we pass by: fluffing our towels and re-arranging our brightly coloured Indonesian silk cushions and sun lounges. Hmmm. Breakfast becomes brunch before we can turn too many pages of our trashy holiday novels, and ordering from the poolside menu seems to involve a mere wave of the hand. Could the impeccable service be helped along by Young Belle’s somewhat skimpy bikini, I ponder? | |||||
| The Yes-zone continues. “A little dip in the pool, perhaps?” Young Belle jumps up, and heads to the waters edge as I cast an eye across each of the towering wings of the three-storey resort that jut into the free-form pool weaving through the pretty tropical gardens. The mood is jaunty but relaxed: we are as one. | |||||
| This is holiday heaven, Bali Belle style. Not the same travelling experience to be had by large groups of rambunctious family members, or even dewy-eyed couples. Increasingly, small groups of women (friends, mother-daughter combinations, and even three generations of femme fatales) are discovering the joy of holidaying together. And Bali’s rich, diverse palette provides the perfect setting. | |||||
| Why Bali? What does it offer to female travellers? | |||||
| Mother Lion – If I had to pick a couple of words – they would be shopping, and luxury, and more shopping and more luxury. There are narrow shopping streets of designer fashions (the hand beading is to-die-for), trendy homewares, colourful necklaces and jewellery, original artworks, and literally dozens of open-air luxury resorts spilling over with staff that all know how to look after ladies-at-large. Tis true, Bali also has plenty of sweaty, crowded, cracked-pavement, mad traffic Asia-typical shenanigans that you expect in this part of the world, but it’s overlaid with a warm human spirit that flavours your daily experience. Expect ancient temples at every turn, and palm-sized floral ‘offerings’ littering the pavement every step of the way. | |||||
| Young Belle – Bali’s close to home, the airfares can be cheap, and mum helped out! This has always been a destination I’ve been interested in, to experience a new culture and to see new sites. Bali provides women a place to escape, indulge and pamper. | |||||
| What is the best part of travelling with women (friends or family)? | |||||
| Mother Lion – In a nutshell, the best part is the ‘I-want-what-she-wants’ simplicity of deciding how to spend time. Each day offers a chance to create a new female orientated to-do list: a little exercise while exploring the location (walking or biking is ideal), a touch of shopping, a little downtime by the pool, more shopping or a spa treatment (the Balinese are fine therapists). | |||||
| Young Belle – Waking up and being able to roll out of bed and into a pool without once having to worry about your appearance, as you would with the male species in-tow, is a definite plus. | |||||
| LUXURY LOUNGING - CONRAD BALI RESORT & SPA | |||||
| Located only 10km from Ngurah Rai International Airport (Denpasar Airport, in common parlance), travel time to the resort is 20 minutes (if the traffic is kind). This 298-room, five star resort sits cheek-to-cheek with other beachfront resorts near Nusa Dua, set on 6.8 acres of beachfront. Highlights are the 12- room Jiwa Spa, the spacious contemporary rooms and suites, the Club Lounge, the variety of dining experiences, and the easy access to local points of interest: Uluwatu Temple, Seminyak’s designer shops and special restaurants, and Kuta beach and markets (a taxi ride away). Hot Tip: As we go to press, a grand accommodation wing is being completed, perfect for larger groups. | |||||
| What were the highlights of the Conrad Bali? | |||||
| Mother Lion – The delicious dinner of scallop and shrimp tempura and lobster fricassee served up in a fabric-swathed beachfront bale at sunset, by our own waiter; the silky-smooth Jiwa Spa hideaway; and cocktail hour in the Club Lounge. | |||||
| Young Belle – As silly as it sounds, the beds and pillows were amazing. Probably the best sleep I’ve had in years. Conrad Bali has so much more to offer, from the forever-welcoming staff, to the meticulously kept grounds and pools. One of my favourite moments would have to be the ‘Romantic’ Dinner (spent with my mother…) in a bale. The food was delicious, we had our own personal waiter, and the night ended too quickly, with a torrential downpour that eventually sent us packing. Much laughter all round. | |||||
| Why would you recommend it to other Bali belles? | |||||
| Mother Lion – The Conrad is a seamless Bali experience for any luxury traveller, and has a cocooning affect for female travellers who want to dip in and out of Bali’s razzle-dazzle. | |||||
| Young Belle – The Conrad is big enough to keep you forever entertained, but small enough to feel intimate. | |||||
| PRIVATE LIVES - SENTOSA PRIVATE VILLAS & SPA | |||||
| Seminyak prides itself on being Bali’s current epicentre – a faster-paced mecca of boutiques, nightlife, and accommodation, and Sentosa Private Villas and Spa is located right near its heart, tucked away from the main drag that snakes behind the beachfront. A modern hub, the resort is made up of 32 contemporary, individually owned pool villas, each available for hotel-style use. Some may miss a beachfront location – but with their extreme privacy and fine finish, Sentosa villas more than compensate. | |||||
| One thing women like is change. So on a holiday, it’s great to mix it up a bit. From large resort, to splendid isolation – this is Bali at its best. So we road-tested a private villa where no one can interrupt you – and one that meets every girl’s needs. | |||||
| How did you find the Sentosa vibe? | |||||
| Mother Lion – What a contrast. This trendy resort is all concrete, shiny metal, and white walls and generous touches of classic Balinese architecture. A private villa pool where no one can see you, is very special. | |||||
| Young Belle – The Sentosa is perfect if you want to totally escape from it all. It is relaxed, and flexible in accommodation. | |||||
| What does this type of Bali belle experience that is so special? | |||||
| Mother Lion – Absolute privacy. Lock the heavy front door to your walled villa, and throw away the key if you wish. An open air living space (which includes a modern lounge, kitchen, and dining setting) is a clever indulgence, and would be ideal for bigger groups of gals to share. Each of the three bedrooms opens onto a central paved area surrounding the intimate pool. Leap frog between sun lounges, gossip mag in tow, and cool off whenever the going gets too hot. This is topless sunbathing territory. Or head for the uber-luxury Spa – an essay in futuristic spa indulgence. | |||||
| Young Belle – Total seclusion. And, fabulous bedrooms, indoor-outdoor bathrooms, a huge living area, sun-beds, and a plunge pool all in your own tiny ‘haven’. | |||||
| SUPREME SPA - SPA VILLAGE RESORT TEMBOK | |||||
| Spa Village Resort Tembok, a 31-room luxury resort in what feels like a near-secret location, is the antithesis of the hustle and bustle of the rest of the island. Calm and peaceful, its splendid isolation is perfect for spiritual healing and indulgent pampering. Sometimes, what a girl needs most is a total escape – an immersion experience. Inspired by the hotel group who created award-winning Pangkor Laut Resort in Malaysia, this is a ‘noshop’ zone, where guests can slip between spa treatments, yoga, cultural activities, and a quiet nap by the pool, all before lunch. Its oceanfront location makes its resort pool open to prevailing winds. Hot Top: The two ocean front private villas are a standout. | |||||
| Spa Village Resort Tembok is in an isolated corner to the north of the island. To travel there is special Bali experience. How was it? | |||||
| Mother Lion – A memorable pleasure; to sit back and have the driver cruise through scores of small road-side villages awash with a kaleidoscope of lush vegetation, spectacular rice paddies and soaring volcanic peaks won’t be forgotten. The trip offered a different experience to the better-known urban drawcards nearer to Bali’s main hub around the airport. | |||||
| Young Belle – Whilst a three-hour drive can seem quite long, the varied scenery and distractions meant that the travel was not too bad. Besides, it was the perfect chance to chat. | |||||
| What were the highlights here? | |||||
| Mother Lion – The spa treatments. Particularly the exquisite Penganten Melukat, usually reserved for a bride and groom prior to their wedding. Take single treatments, or enjoy joining a Discovery pathway program. Also, the delicious cuisine. | |||||
| Young Belle – The Welcome Foot Ritual. After a three-hour drive, arrive to a foot massage that sets you in a perfect mood for your stay. Plus the varied activities, such as various local crafts and yoga, that give you a sense of connection with the Balinese culture. | |||||
| Details: | |||||
| Conrad Bali Resort and Spa | |||||
| Sentosa Private Villas and Spa | |||||
| Spa Village Resort Tembok | |||||
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