The Amala

The Amala seeks to provide a tranquil respite in a bustling section of Seminyak. Though located off a busy road near a highway, once guests enter the open-air, wood and stone lobby of the Amala, a sense of calm exudes. The grounds are lush with bamboo and other greenery, and pathways are cut over cool, green pools accompanied by the babbling of small waterfalls at their sides. The calming, sensory experience of the grounds sets the tone for the whole hotel. The Bamboo restaurant, which sits on a covered patio among rectangular pools of water, seeks to provide healthy meals, and while it does serve alcohol, it is not openly advertised, encouraging a detoxifying respite. 

The Amala is conveniently located close to downtown Seminyak and there are a variety of shops and restaurants within walking distance, making it an ideal place for travelers seeking a dose of rest and relaxation, while being centrally situated. The beach and the pricier Petitenget area are about a 10-minute drive, while Seminyak Square can be reached in about eight minutes. It is under a 20-minute drive to the Ngurah Rai International Airport.

The Amala offers a mix of Deluxe Rooms, Pool Villas, Spa Villas, as well as a three-bedroom Amala Residence with a full living room, dining room, and kitchen. Deluxe Rooms are not overly large, but thoughtfully designed with a wood framed bed and a built-in seating area. The bathroom is behind sliding glass doors in an open-air private garden, which might not suit all tastes. The outdoor toilet and shower also rely on lighting from the bedroom, which can be challenging at night for guests sharing the room. But, as an added bonus, Deluxe Rooms come with free daily one-hour spa treatments. 

Villas offer much more space and added perks, like the personal plunge jet pools in the Spa Villas. These are located in private interior courtyards that are at the center of the open-air villas, along with beautiful outdoor soaking tubs and sun loungers. The bedrooms reside at one end of the courtyards and are equipped with large wood four-poster beds with mosquito netting, chaise lounges, toilets, desks, and flat-screen TVs, while steam showers (which can be scented with a selection of wild herbs) and large sink areas occupy the other end. Pool Villas are even larger and centered around private outdoor pools and small sundecks. These long rectangular rooms have a large living/dining area that includes a kitchen with a two-burner stove and dishwasher. A wicker couch and a cushioned bench offer a place to look out over the pool's rippling waterfall or watch TV on the flatscreen, and there's a four-person table for enjoying meals in-room. At the far end of the rectangle is the villa's bedroom, which also overlooks the pool and includes a gigantic stone bathroom with a large tub and steam shower. While sliding doors and hanging mats of bamboo can cordon off the different sections of the villas, generally the rooms are kept open to the courtyard, which can invite bugs and critters, particularly at night. The Amala has a proactive mosquito and pest control system to limit the intrusion, but it's something to be aware of, particularly in Bali's climate. All rooms come with butler service, free Wi-Fi, free minibar items, tea- and coffee-making facilities, LCD TVs, and iPod docks. 

The Amala offers a tranquil, restorative respite, with a health-conscious restaurant serving fresh, organic fare and a large, beautiful spa treatment center with rooms that include space for couples' foot baths, massages, and baths, among other treatments. While the villas have dipping pools of their own, the Amala also has a large communal pool cleaned with minerals, as well as a whirlpool tub. Surrounded by the gardens and next to the restaurant, this central pool area utilizes the natural elements to create a relaxed, restorative ambiance. The hotel also has an on-site wellness room for yoga and meditation. To encourage greater comfort, the hotel offers in-room dining and assigns a butler to each room that's on-call 24-hours.