Luxury Resort in Ubud – Maya Ubud Resort & Spa Review

After an amazing and idyllic beach vacation at Sanur, we were all set to explore the cultural capital of Bali, Ubud — one of the most raved destinations in Bali. Ubud has an aura and a charm of its own and has been attracting dreamers, hippies, yoga fanatics and backpackers for ages now.

From the stunning temples to the traditional dance shows, from the breathtaking waterfalls to the lush green rice terraces, Ubud is truly unique and magical. While at Ubud, we stayed at Maya Ubud Resort and Spa which is one of the finest properties in Ubud and has won many accolades for its in-house Spa.

• • • Welcome • • •

As we drove towards Ubud from Sanur, the beautiful seascape gave way to lush greenery, the sound of waves from the ocean was replaced by the chirping of birds, the magnificent beaches were replaced by preened rice terraces. We reached Maya Ubud Resort & Spa after an hour-long drive from Sanur.

As our car reached the entrance of the resort, we were greeted by the smiling porters and our luggage was whisked away in no time. We were escorted to the lobby where we were handed a guava and watermelon mocktail and wet towels while the check-in process was done.  Even before we could finish our welcome drink, the check-in process was completed. That was followed by a brief overview of the resort and the facilities available at the resort along with a map. Post that, we were ushered to hop on a golf buggy that was waiting for us to take us to our Deluxe Pool Villa.

• • • Rooms • • •

Our Villa at Maya Ubud Resort & Spa was a perfect escape to tranquility. The villa was furnished in typical Balinese style with teak wood furnishings, had a gorgeous king size bed with canopy, a private pool, plush bathroom with bathtub that had a view of the private pool. A walk-in closet led to the bathroom which was just as luxurious as the rest of the villa with a large spa-like tub. The villa also had a TV, DVD player, sitting area, mini-bar, high-speed Wi-Fi and upscale toiletries. The outdoor area had a shower, a small lawn, and a sitting area.

Breakfast in Bed

We found a sweet message and bouquet of flowers waiting for us as we entered the villa. It was such a beautiful gesture to welcome the resort guests. Our absolute favorite part of staying at the Villa with a private pool was being able to have a quick dip under a moonlight sky on most of the days.

Tucked amidst the Petanu river valley on one side to the rice terraces on the other side, the resort is a relaxing retreat. From the open lobby to the beautiful wooden paneling, from the shimmering pools overlooking the forest canopy to the pond strewn with Lotus. An earthy and subtle theme threads around the entire resort and a stream that zigzags through the tree-dotted landscape makes it more serene.

The resort design perfectly blends into its surrounding.  Though the resort is just 2 km from the city center, yet the moment you step in, you will be secluded and away from the Ubud traffic scene.

From the city center, the walk to the resort is a great leisurely stroll and there are also regular shuttles from the resort to the city center and vice versa from 9 AM in the morning to 5 PM in the evening.

• • • Dining • • •

All of the other accommodations feature separate sitting areas and some have their own private outdoor plunge pools. The restaurant on-site needs a special mention too. Maya Sari which is the signature restaurant offers mouthwatering dishes and Asiatique that offers Asian food from India, China, and Indonesia. The in-house bar – Bar Bedulu has a traditional setting with thatched roofs overlooking the river valley. Another great place to spend time is the River Cafe which overlooks the River Petanu.

• • • Amenities & Activities • • •

The resort also offers amenities like a fully equipped fitness gym, tennis courts, and spa facilities. There are two large swimming pools and multiple dining options. Both the pools have unique views, one overlooks the forest canopy and the other overlooks the river.

The Main Swimming Pool

Spa Swimming Pool

– Sightseeing at Ubud –

On the very first day of our stay, we hopped on to the resort shuttle which took us straight to the city center which was just two km from the resort. Our first stop was Ubud Palace which was bang in the middle of the city center. The palace is beautiful inside out. A part of the palace is still owned by the royal family and is their residence.

Just a step away from the Ubud palace is the Saraswati temple which is one of the must-visit places in Ubud. On certain days of the week, there is also a traditional dance performance in the temple. We just couldn’t miss the opportunity to witness the traditional dance so we booked ourselves tickets for the show.

( Note:  Ticket Price – 80,000 IDR but don’t forget to haggle)

Warrior Dance

As we were already famished so we thought of checking out the Lotus Cafe which is in the same complex as the temple. The food was good though a bit expensive and the service was quite disappointing. Later we learned that people reserve seats in the cafe to watch the dance performance from the cafe itself as they don’t have to pay for the tickets. There is also a Starbucks next to the temple.

Our second day at the resort started with a breakfast which was an equally decadent affair. Served in the Maya Sari restaurant, overlooking the peaceful garden. It was a wonderful buffet with a large array of dishes and freshly baked items to fuel up for the day.

Everything was well prepared, fresh and good – and the service was definitely top notch. After a hearty breakfast, we headed out to the city center to do some street shopping and sightseeing. We rented a bike for just INR 350 and were able to cover the majority of the attractions in and around Ubud. We had a fun time wandering aimlessly and visiting few places like Goa Gajah temple, Tegenungan waterfall, Tegalalang rice terrace and some other attractions followed by a lot of street shopping and sampling local food.

Goa Gajah temple

Tegalalang rice terrace

Tegenungan waterfall

We called it a day with a relaxing milk bath with Frangipani flowers arranged by the hotel staff on our request.

Milk & Flower Bath

View of the Private Pool from the Bathroom

On the last day of our stay,  we were too lazy to leave the comfort of our room so we opted for breakfast in bed that was followed by few dips in the pool and later we booked ourselves a sixty-minute traditional Balinese massage to unwind in the blissfully tranquil spa. Maya Ubud Resort & Spa is known for its wide range of spa therapies that suits you from the top of your head to the tip of your toes.

Couple’s Massage Room

The treatment starts with a foot massage, followed by the masseuse kneading all the sore muscles, oiling, and gently scrubbing the entire body. The entire process lasts for about 40-50 minutes as per your choice. It ends with a flower bath in a huge bathtub overlooking a small stream meandering through the forest canopy… aah BLISS!!!

View from the Spa

The Bathtub and the view

After a revitalizing spa, we headed for the Riverside lunch. Nothing was more beautiful than spending our last few hours at the resort amidst nature. A little wooden pavilion with wispy curtains on the banks of the river was a perfect picnic set up. With no one around, it was no ordinary lunch. We could hear the burble of the nearby river, the chirping of birds and cricket of insects.

Picnic Setup

The Picnic Lunch

We had no clue how the two hours passed and it was time to leave this stunning property. The only struggle was to hike up after the heavy lunch.

• • • Overall • • •

If you are looking to unwind, stay connected to nature, wake up to tweeting of birds, the burble of streams or some “WE” time, we highly recommend the resort. The location is an add-on. Not just it is closer to the city center but away from the frenzy sounds of motorbike and vendor calls. The resort is designed keeping the surroundings in mind — be it the wooden walkways or the vantage point overlooking the river and Maya Spa. The moment you step into the resort everything slows down, and in no time you succumb to the tranquility.

The resort definitely offers an unrivaled combination of luxury, privacy, environmentally friendly design and experiences that will be etched in your memories and memory card.

Experiences Offered by the Resort:

• White Water River Rafting
• Elephant Safari Park Taro
• Bali Safari & Marine Park
• Village Trekking
• Rice Paddy Walk
• Cooking Classes
• Ubud Cycling Tour

Must visit Places in Ubud:

• Campuhan Ridge Walk
• Ubud Monkey Forest
• Goa Gajah temple
• Ubud Palace
• Tegenungan waterfall
• Tegalalang rice terrace

Contact :

Jalan Gunung Sari Peliatan,

P. O. Box 1001.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia 80571.

P: +62 361 977 888. F: +62 361 977 555

You can find more information about the property on their official website.

SHOP FOR BALI VACATION 

Related Posts:

Ayana Resort & Spa, Bali

Anantara Resort & Spa

Bali Itinerary

Maya Sanur Resort & Spa

Places to visit in Nusa Penida

[/box]

Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Youtube | Google+ for more travel stories, idea and photos from around the world.

Subscribe to travel stories, ideas, and contests: