Bali Paradise
If you’re looking for some peace and quiet for your next holiday destination with a luxury eco resort surrounded by beautiful black volcanic sands and lush green rice paddies, Alila Villas Soori in Bali is the idyllic spot. Located about one and a half hours from Denpasar Airport, this lovely paradise sits on the southwest coast of Bali, away from the hustle and bustle of visitor magnets Kuta and Seminyak.
Arriving on a late afternoon flight from Hong Kong, we were greeted by a friendly escort at the airport and our Alila Villas Soori driver who welcomed us with cold towels and water. The van was even equipped with insect repellent and sunscreen from Alila Living, a touch of some of the finer details we love so much about Alila. Whizzing by busy roads, markets, and villages, we drove through the quieter rice fields before pulling up to the resort’s entrance. Designed with cool grey and natural sand colours, Alila Villas Soori’s architectural style gives off a sense of tranquility that we instantly felt. We were brought cold towels and welcomed with some refreshing facial mist as we admired the glistening reflective pond and were pleasantly surprised with frogs hopping around the steps, just part of the natural fabric the resort blends so well into. After sipping on a warm cup of lemon ginger tea with honey and lemongrass stirrer, a typical Balinese drink that we’ve started making since we’ve been back, our personal villa host showed us to our Beach Pool Villa which has direct access to the glistening black volcanic sand beach.
Beautifully furnished with Balinese wooden furniture and plenty of candles for a romantic atmosphere, the spacious villa has a set of doors that open directly to the infinity pool which is great for watching sunsets as well as a separate door that leads to a deck area overlooking the crashing waves from the Indian Ocean in the distance. Each villa is complete with modern luxuries including a Nespresso coffee machine, an Apple TV, his and hers Alila Living products (including some lovely lavender bubble bath perfect for soaking into the villa bathtub), not to mention speedy wi-fi access.
Awakening to the sounds of waves the next morning, we walked along the volcanic sand beach and sauntered around the lush greenery on the property, admiring the natural beauty of papaya and coconut trees along with the recent addition of an organic herb and vegetable garden. We especially love the moss and tropical greenery along the resort’s stone walls and were greeted with friendly smiles from the resort staff, many of whom come to work from the local Kelating village. Guests are encouraged to stay active with a 90-minute yoga class in the morning and if you want to practice your mobility skills, venture on a car-free trip in the rice paddies on a Segway, but be sure to practice on the property before taking off!
After some morning exercise and yoga, we were looking forward to a delicious breakfast at Cotta, Alila Villas Soori’s open-air restaurant that serves Western favorites like egg benedicts, muesli and freshly baked croissants as well as traditional Balinese dishes such as Nasi Goreng. Unlike breakfast at other hotels, breakfast menu items change daily and are made when ordered. The tapas portions enable guests to try a selection of everything. One of our favorite desserts at Cotta is the black sticky rice with fresh mangos and coconut ice cream, perfect for any time of the day. If you feel like having a snack in the afternoon, the Reading Room, which is stocked with magazines and plenty of sofas and outdoor seating, offers a complimentary afternoon tea set beautifully and includes a selection of sandwiches, jams and sweets. For a lazy afternoon treat, we couldn’t resist a Balinese massage at the spa sanctuary.
Alila Villas Soori doesn’t just blend into the local environment in its physique. Being a socially responsible neighbour, it provides financial assistance to neighbouring elementary schools for repairs, educational materials and supplies. It also supports SOS Children’s Village, a harmonious village that helps children who cannot be cared for by their biological families to develop skills and capacities, including cultural traditions such as Balinese music and dance.
If you’re looking for some peace and quiet for your next holiday destination with a luxury eco resort surrounded by beautiful black volcanic sands and lush green rice paddies, Alila Villas Soori in Bali is the idyllic spot. Located about one and a half hours from Denpasar Airport, this lovely paradise sits on the southwest coast of Bali, away from the hustle and bustle of visitor magnets Kuta and Seminyak.
Arriving on a late afternoon flight from Hong Kong, we were greeted by a friendly escort at the airport and our Alila Villas Soori driver who welcomed us with cold towels and water. The van was even equipped with insect repellent and sunscreen from Alila Living, a touch of some of the finer details we love so much about Alila. Whizzing by busy roads, markets, and villages, we drove through the quieter rice fields before pulling up to the resort’s entrance. Designed with cool grey and natural sand colours, Alila Villas Soori’s architectural style gives off a sense of tranquility that we instantly felt. We were brought cold towels and welcomed with some refreshing facial mist as we admired the glistening reflective pond and were pleasantly surprised with frogs hopping around the steps, just part of the natural fabric the resort blends so well into. After sipping on a warm cup of lemon ginger tea with honey and lemongrass stirrer, a typical Balinese drink that we’ve started making since we’ve been back, our personal villa host showed us to our Beach Pool Villa which has direct access to the glistening black volcanic sand beach.
