Kayumanis Sanur Private Villa & Spa

If stone walls, winding pathways, emerald green gardens, and relative quiet are what you're after in Bali, then the Kayamunis Sanur could be a solid fit. Is it convenient to the sights of central Sanur or the beach? No. But most guests come here to while away their days by the pools in their private villas, or indulge in a spa treatment or two. This property has a tranquil, village-like vibe, though during our 2017 visit we saw almost no guests out and about on the hotel's grounds. And that's despite being nearly at capacity. The only sounds of note were birds and the breeze in the trees. With this away-from-it-all vibe, the Kayamunis Sanur is best for families or couples who like to keep to themselves and want to enjoy the indulgent atmosphere that comes with a private villa.

While it may not look far on a map, the Kayamunis Sanur is not near any of the major development in Sanur, or the beach. Even if you did want to make the 30-minute trek on foot, there's an almost impossible-to-cross highway between the hotel and the shore. With that in mind, the hotel runs a free on-call shuttle to its beach club at the Mercure resort, which is about a 10-minute drive away. It's the same distance to the main tourist drags in town by shuttle or taxi as well. There are a few warungs within a five-minute walk for travelers who want to sample down-home local fare, but otherwise there isn't much to see or do nearby. Budget 20 to 30 minutes to reach the airport by taxi, and about 40 minutes for a trip to the party hub of Kuta.

With configurations spanning one to three bedrooms, the private villas here are great for either families looking to bond or couples seeking a romantic escape. However, you'll want to check with the property to make sure that you're getting one of the more modern units, as some were looking a tad dated and worn during our 2017 visit. The older units have dark wood furniture and lots of gilded art that, while still reasonably attractive, lacks the breezy and bright decor found in the more contemporary units (which highlight softer tones, natural fabrics, and the like). All units feature Balinese details like handwoven alang-alang roofs, bamboo mats, and even local musical instruments (for which all villas are individually named).

Of course, the prized features in all villas are the private pools, which are pristine and an excellent way to cool off in Bali's oppressive heat and humidity. Butlers are available, but aren't exclusive to each villa and are instead shared with other units. All units also have full kitchens with minibars that are free and refilled once daily. Other standard features include in-bedroom air-conditioning, ceiling fans, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs in the living areas, safes, and bathrooms for each bedroom, many of which are outdoors or partially outdoors. The master baths include both showers and bathtubs. Robes and slippers are provided. In units with more than one bedroom, the extra bedrooms may have twin beds, which can be combined into doubles. 

Like most villa-only properties in Bali, common features here aren't too numerous. That's because most of the action takes place in the villas themselves -- and that often starts with breakfast. The a la carte meal is included in rates, and can be taken in villas or anywhere else at any time of day. Lunch and dinner are also available, with excellent Indonesian fare on offer. We definitely recommend trying some of the housemade Balinese sweets. Low-key traditional music takes place twice per week, and in-villa candlelight dinners can be arranged. The tranquil spa is in its own small walled-off garden and Balinese treatments are available. Otherwise, features at the hotel are limited to a free on-call shuttle that ostensibly runs until late, though some guests have complained that it stops earlier than the hotel claims. It goes to the beach club, which is set up next to the Mercure property, though the Kayamunis has its own private area with lounge chairs and towels. Keep in mind that the tides in Sanur are extreme, so the water won't always be swimmable. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.