Gending Kedis Villas & Spa Estate

The vibe at Gending Kedis is private and relaxed. Because it's an all-villa property, there's not a lot of interaction among guests.  That said, the common areas are lovely and appealing. The entrance features a unique palm-leaf sculpture, beyond which sits an open-air lobby that's decorated with a plush purple settee, indigenous art, rich rugs, wood floors, and abundant greenery. The grounds are also lush, with tropical gardens and stone pathways connecting the various villas. Guests, most of whom are vacationing couples, are greeted with welcome drinks and free 10-minute massages. 

There's little to see or do within the immediate surroundings of Gending Kedis Villas & Spa Estate, which is located up on a hill above a number of lovely beaches. The factory outlet stores at Jenggala are a three-minute drive from the hotel. Jimbaran Beach is a five-minute drive (or 20-minute walk) away, Benoa Square shopping center takes six minutes to reach by car, and the Ngurah Rai International Airport is a 15-minute drive from the hotel. 

Gending Kedis offers 21 villas with one to four bedrooms, each with its own pool, fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, a microwave, and an oven. All villas have flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, air-conditioning, and ceiling fans -- useful as mosquitos can be an issue at times. Decorated with dark-wood floors and furnishings, shuttered windows, Persian-style rugs, and rich fabrics, the villas blend in well with their Balinese setting; little authentic touches like vases and statues contribute to this vibe. The French-lace canopy beds and gigantic bathrooms with deep bathtubs and separate walk-in showers add an element of luxury to the spaces. Daily turndown service, fruit plates, and afternoon tea are elegant extras included in room rates. The filtered water machines and daily bottled water supplies are also nice perks. Note that most villas are issued only one key which can be a problem for groups/couples staying in the larger villas who might have differing schedules.

Though the villas are not beachfront, anyone staying at the Gending Kedis has full privileges at the Jimbaran Beach Club, which is about five minutes away on a free shuttle and sports a vast expanse of white-sand beach and lounge chairs for guests. 

The full-service Malkoha Spa features three treatment rooms, a dedicated reflexology room, and a variety of pampering options. The salon is also topnotch, and is owned by the sister of Rudy Hadisuwarno, a famous Indonesian hairdresser. A spacious wood-floor fitness center with enough room to stretch out is also available for those seeking a workout while on vacation. It includes a couple pieces of cardio equipment, free weights, pulley machines, medicine balls, and yoga mats. There are also event spaces available for corporate functions and weddings. The lovely al fresco Alcedo restaurant looks over the lagoon pool and is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks. Room service is also available and candlelight dinners in the private villas can be arranged.