Read the original article on Fiona and Bobby.
On our return trip back to Bali, we wanted to find a spot that oozes nothing but a sacred tranquility, somewhere that could be considered ideal for a couple that have gone through the throws of organising a wedding and now wanted to spend time in a place to completely unwind and disconnect.
We found that very place at Aria Villas Ubud.
Ubud is a stark difference to Seminyak, with a considerable amount of the lifestyle centralised around the spiritual essence of Hinduism. Much of everything in this part of Bali is about family, education and how to contribute to upholding the faith of the country and the ceremonies in honour of that.
Upon arrival, you are welcomed by the staff with cold towels to cool down and a freshly made welcome drink. The air is scented sweet from the burning oils on the table, of which you can choose the scent that suits your mood. Scent adds much to your memories of a place, which is a nice touch for honeymooners as your memories will be bound to the scent that welcomes you each day as you walk through the open air reception area.
Aria itself is made up of 8 private villas, each with their own private pool. There is a selection of 1/2/3 bedroom villas, with the option of creating a 4 bedroom private villa with two pools via an adjoining door. The villas themselves have been designed by Singaporean-based architect Chioh-Hui Goh and exhibits a sleek minimalistic vision alongside some very unique Balinese features and furniture. The way the villa has been designed to coincide with the natural environment in perfect synchronicity ensures that you experience the real essence of Ubud during your stay.
You are treated to a welcome massage in the comfort of your room upon arrival by the onsite professional masseuse. It’s a beautiful touch and incredibly welcomed after all the wedding planning and wedding day celebrations, and opens the door to the start of wellness and serenity.
If you check-in much later in the evening, like we did, and are too tired to explore the main high street for a place to grab dinner, you do not need to worry as Aria has a superb in house chef to cater for you. The menu has been carefully created by renowned chefs Ray and Eelke from Locavore (a well-established and highly sought after restaurant in Ubud) and the attention to detail in the meals does not go unnoticed. With food this great at the villa, there would be very little reason to leave the serenity of the grounds.
The breakfasts have a daily rotating 3-course menu which is hands down the best villa breakfast we have experienced. Honeymooners can choose to either have their breakfast served by the private pool in the villa or inside the villa snuggled in bed. This is not a place to skip breakfast at and we opted to have our breakfasts by the pool every day, graced by the sounds of the natural habitat and the signature Ubud climate — it’s all about starting your day off right, and Aria really knows how to do that.
Let me take a moment to talk about the exquisite design of these villas. Brushed concrete walls, petrified wood side tables and a neutral colour scheme that begs for nothing more than the simplicity of intimacy. The two adjoining walls of the villa are made entirely of glass sliding doors, giving you the option to completely open them out so that your villa spills out into the privacy of your garden and pool. Block out curtains can be drawn at night if you prefer to snuggle under the covers in the morning for an extra hour or so, or you can keep them pulled back if you prefer to wake with the native wildlife. Orchids by the side of the bed bring the nature indoors, and the pop out lights from the wall ensure that you do not disturb your partner at night if you decide to stay up a little longer to read.
Each villa is separated by beautiful ivy lined walls which create a real sense of seclusion from the rest of the world, even your neighbours.
His and Her sides of the bathroom give the villa a very contemporary feel, with other nice touches like plenty of bath towels on both sides of the bathroom, bathrobes and beautifully crafted hair and shower gels specifically for the two of you. Tea infused bath salts are also available should you want to take a dip in the outdoor concrete bathtub. The rain shower is also located outside and I can tell you that showers back home in our apartment are never going to be the same after our experience at Aria. Nothing will ever compare to that balmy outdoor heat and a rain shower set amongst the wildlife. This place is not for the fainthearted, you will see geckos but they are utterly harmless. Standing there in the shower and watching the bees and the geckos go about their business was honestly a highlight for the two of us. Utterly romantic, in every way possible. Take advantage of the bathtub amongst the stars, lay in there just the two of you lit by candlelight, unwind and enjoy this new life that the two of you have forged together. Aria is the perfect place to start this new phase of your lives together.
Celebrating the love bonded between the two of you in Ubud would just make sense, and the staff at Aria are there to take that experience to the next level. They genuinely care about your stay and try to assist at every given moment. The manager of Aria, Karim, has been there from the birth of Aria and is onsite 6 days a week to ensure that the standard is maintained and to be of assistance. The heart of Bali is alive here.
The perfect way to unwind after a wedding is to spend some time out to recharge and connect with one another. At Aria Villas you can do just that, and either lock yourselves away in the privacy of your luxurious villa, or venture out to the streets near by filled with delectables from local life to high end restaurants.
Love it.
