This 2018 Amandari Review is from a site inspection visit during our recent trip to Bali. Aman Resorts has two resorts on Bali, Amankila and Amandari (Aman no longer operates Amanusa), and two other resorts in Indonesia, Amanwana on Moyo Island, and Amanjiwo near Borobudur, on Java.
TravelSort Clients enjoy these Virtuoso benefits:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Continental breakfast daily, for up to two in room guests
- A complimentary a la carte lunch for up to two people per room, once during stay, excluding alcohol, taxes and gratuities
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
Here's my Amandari YouTube Video Review:
Amandari Valley Suite
Amandari's Valley Suite is the same size as the Village Suite, but instead of being surrounded by foliage, Valley Suites enjoy a view of the Ayung River Gorge or of rice paddies. Even if on a budget, I recommend reserving this instead of a Village Suite, since it's nice to have this view, and you also are eligible for a Virtuoso upgrade to a Pool Suite, if booking with Virtuoso benefits and if one is available at time of check-in.
Each open plan suite occupies 2368 square feet, and includes a private garden.
The bathroom, with sliding doors that close it off from the living and sleeping area, features double vanities and sinks, a separate toilet chamber, a rain shower, and an outdoor sunken marble bathtub (see above video).
Amandari Swimming Pool
If you have a Pool Suite or higher category suite, you'll have your own private pool. But otherwise, if you're in a Village Suite or Valley Suite, you can enjoy the main swimming pool and pool loungers, located by the restaurant. In the evenings, the small covered pavilion is used by gamelan musicians, with traditional Balinese gamelan music accompanying your dinner, and sometimes, Balinese dance performances by the pool.
Amandari Dining at the Restaurant
Virtuoso benefits include a complimentary lunch for two guests once during the stay (excludes alcoholic drinks, taxes, gratuities) and, particularly for such an intimate resort, there are many tempting choices, both Indonesian and international. If you have the time and appetite, I highly recommend trying a number of dishes from across the Indonesian archipelago, via the Rijstaffel (rice table feast).
After I'd ordered, our friendly server brought cool towels for my son and me.
I had rather limited time for lunch and selected the crispy duck (bebek goreng) with sambal, accompanied by rice with fried shallot. It was simple but fantastic: hot, perfectly crispy skin, and tender meat. The spicy sambal and crunchy fresh green beens were the perfect contrast to the rich duck.
As a drink, I chose a mango lassi, refreshingly tangy:
The Verdict
This was a site inspection visit, so we didn't stay overnight at Amandari on this trip. Nevertheless, I found the setting even more peaceful than Mandapa, and liked that it was easy to walk around, no buggies needed to get from place to place if staying in any of the suites (only the Amandari 3BR Villa, is a further removed). Although nearly 30 years old at this point, the property's Balinese village style architecture is timeless, and the suite that I saw has been very well maintained, and no doubt periodically refreshed. I also liked that the suite had more light in it, with windows/glass doors on all sides of the suite, and used light colored wood.
GM Jann Hess is involved in the local community, so much so that on the day I met him, he was attending two different weddings, one of them of a staff member.
Our lunch was delicious, and service was more attentive and more prompt than at Mandapa.
If you've recently stayed at Amandari in Ubud, Bali, what was your experience?
Recommended Posts
Amanwana Review, Moyo Island, Indonesia
If you enjoyed this, join 200,000+ readers: follow TravelSort on Twitter or like us on Facebook to be alerted to new posts.
Subscribe to TravelSort on YouTube and TravelSort on Instagram for travel inspiration.
Become a TravelSort Client and Book 5-Star Hotels with Virtuoso or Four Seasons Preferred Partner Benefits