Umalas Hotel and Residence

The public spaces at the Umalas Hotel and Residence have a contemporary feel, with white walls and big windows overlooking the pool and surrounding greenery of the area. Guests enter to a fairly nondescript lobby done entirely in white, and offset by chocolate brown soft seating, and several dark wood tables and wicker chairs. A few colorful pieces of art decorate the walls, while ceiling fans cool the airy space, which also has a rack of tourist brochures and a flat-screen TV. Off the lobby is an outdoor patio overlooking the pool, with tables and chairs similar to those in the lobby. The pool itself is set in an interior courtyard, lushly landscaped with trees and shrubbery, and with a wood sundeck lined with chaise lounges. The full-service spa is a colorful space with beige-gold walls, Balinese art, and burgundy-colored covers over massage tables. The highlight gathering space is probably the rooftop restaurant and bar, with a landscaped terrace decorated with Chinese paper globe lanterns, and furnished with wooden tables and chairs, and two four-poster daybeds. Guests can gather here to mingle, enjoy a cooling breeze, and take in sweeping views of the sunset and surrounding area. The hotel draws mostly tourists, who like its secluded location, spacious suites, pool and range of facilities, and comparatively low prices.

The Umalas is located in a peaceful area north of central Seminyak, next to a rice paddy and surrounded by greenery. Several other villas and residence hotels are nearby. The area has a bit more of a real Bali feel than the modernized city center. Guests will need a car to get to places from here, though renting a scooter or motorcycle is also an option. Seminyak Square with its restaurants and shops is a 10-minute drive south, while Pura Petitenget temple and Petitenget Beach are a 10-minute drive southwest of the hotel. Located about a 15-minute drive south, the heart of Seminyak city center offers dining, shopping, and art galleries. Seminyak Beach is a 15-minute drive southwest, Echo Beach surf spot is a 20-minute drive northwest, and the Kuta area with its pristine beaches and energetic nightlife is a 20-minute drive south of the hotel. Ngurah Rai International Airport is a 25- to 40-minute drive south of the Umalas.

The Umalas has 102 all non-smoking residence suites in a four-floor building. One-, Two-, and Three-Bedroom Suites are available, with options ranging from standard up to Penthouse categories, sized from 375 to over 1,500 square feet. Suites are quiet and clean, although some could use renovation and better maintenance, especially in the bathrooms. Suites aren't really luxurious, but they have a contemporary and slightly upscale feel. They're a bit nondescript in their decor and not really Balinese in flavor, with a largely white, beige, and brown color palette. There are splashes of color here and there, floral and geometric prints, and art on the walls. Suites all come with balconies, microwaves or stoves, coffee/tea facilities, stocked beverage refrigerators or full refrigerators, dining areas, living rooms, free Wi-Fi, and large wall-mounted flat-screen TVs with over 60 channels. Some suites have some combination of gazebo access, pool views, jetted tubs, dining tables on the balconies, bar tables, and board games. The Luxury Penthouse has a home theater and access to its own rooftop gazebo with sofa and jetted tub. Bathrooms in the suites are clean and well-lighted, with good shower and water pressure (either stall showers or shower/tub combos are available), but some bathrooms have limited counter space and are a bit small compared to the spaciousness of the rest of the suite.

The Umalas Hotel and Residence has a good array of property amenities. At 20 meters long, the outdoor pool offers the opportunity for a genuine lap swim. Guests can also enjoy a rejuvenating sweat in the wood sauna or a soak in the hot and cold jetted tubs. The full-service spa (treatments for a fee) incorporates Javanese and Balinese elements and offers shiatsu and stone massages, chocolate scrubs, manicures, pedicures, and aromatherapy. The small fitness center has room for up to five people, and offers a decent selection of cardio and weight machines, free weights, and a locker room with showers. The hotel's signature rooftop bar and restaurant serves coffee, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and Asian and European cuisine for lunch and dinner. The restaurant also screens nightly movies and occasional jazz music, and the terrace provides cooling breezes and panoramic views of the surrounding area and sunset. A breakfast buffet is free, and has an egg station, sausages, bacon, fresh fruit, cereal, breads, coffee, and juice -- some guests with fussy palates may find the breakfast quality in need of improvement. The lobby-level bistro restaurant serves a mix of Balinese, Indonesian, and international cuisine for lunch and dinner with locally sourced ingredients and house-made breads and desserts. The dining room has poolside seating and a view of the garden. 24-hour room service is available. The hotel operates a free shuttle service within a six-mile radius including to Echo Beach, Seminyak Beach, Pura Petitenget temple and Petitenget Beach, the Kuta area, and central Seminyak with its shops and dining. A roundtrip airport shuttle is available for a fee. The Umalas also has a business center, 24-hour front desk, concierge service, baggage assistance, laundry service (for a fee), and free parking.