Warwick Ibah Luxury Villas & Spa

The Warwick Ibah Luxury Villas and Spa is a romantic resort geared toward travelers who want an authentic Balinese vacation that looks like a scene from the Tomb Raider, with five acres of tropical grounds, intricate stone carvings and archways, mossy brick-walled pathways, and fishponds. The grounds, however, have a lot of stairs and walkways are sometimes uneven and not always adequately illuminated at night. The 1996-built property is on royal land and blessing ceremonies on the property are often conducted by the prince of Ubud. IBAH is carved in stone above the wooden front desk in the elegant and minimally decorated lobby. The open-air lobby lounge is beside a koi pond, with books on loan and classical Balinese furniture. Cave cabanas -- draped in tropical flora  -- are beside the saltwater pool. On the deck, near the tiki poolside bar, are lounge chairs that overlook the forest landscape. A waterfall cascades down to the second pool, with a cabana on the deck. The overall atmosphere is enchanting and romantic. 

The resort’s five-acre property overlooks the River Wos. The location is at the beginning of the Campuhan Ridge Walk and in walking distance to the Ubud sights. The Pura Gunung Lebah temple, the Blanco Renaissance Museum, and Museum Puri Lukisan surround the hotel. Downtown Ubud -- with the palace, markets, museums, and restaurants -- is also in walking distance or a five-minute drive via cab or the resort’s free shuttle. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary takes 10 minutes by car. It’s an hour and a half by car to the Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Villas and suites have a private and stylish atmosphere, with traditional Balinese wooden furniture, thatched roofs, stone carved entrances, Indonesian artwork, four-poster beds, teak or terrazzo floors, and terraces with cozy daybeds and furniture. All five room types have flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, writing desks, ceiling fans, DVD/CD players, free Wi-Fi, coffeemakers, minibars, safes, irons/ironing boards, slippers, bathrobes, and hairdryers. Open marble bathrooms have soaking tubs, separate showers, and toilet hoses. Treetops Suites are the smallest, featuring sitting areas in bedrooms, bathrooms with glass walls, and indoor and outdoor showers. Two-Bedroom Pool Villas are the largest with open-air living rooms, two bathrooms with glass walls, indoor and outdoor showers, ponds, a pool, and garden lounge chairs. One-Bedroom Pool Villas feature a pond, indoor and outdoor showers, sitting rooms, and pools with lounge chairs on decks. Royal Suites feature mezzanine bedrooms, open-air living rooms, lofts, and valley views.

This hotel has two charming outdoor pools with pretty stone carvings. The Garden Restaurant serves Indonesian fare and Australian wines in a thatched-roof dining room with ceiling lanterns and a nearby koi pond. There’s also a gazebo, with a two-seat dining table, for candlelit dinners. The charming spa features one treatment room, with wood and rattan designs, and a stone-tiled bathroom with a garden window and shower/tub combo. A 24-hour business center offers computer access and secretarial services. The staff can also arrange airport transfers and moped rentals for an additional charge. A free shuttle bus provides round-trip service to Ubud. Wi-Fi is free throughout, but service can be spotty.