Alila Villas, Uluwatu, Bali…Turquoise’s Best Contemporary Pool Villa Cliff Hanger
Stepping into the remote Alila Villas Uluwatu, on the very southern tip of Bali, is like entering a vision of a futuristic temple – contemporary, sleek, stunning in design and immediately tranquil and ethereal. The pristine lines of the
whitewashed buildings contrast with the emerald-green orchids and towering rough-barked palm trees. We had barely turned the corner into the reception building when we had our first jaw-dropping moment. The stillness of the infinity pool, reaching beyond the edge of the cliff on which the resort is perched, instantly enticed us to take a closer look at the lofty views of the Indian Ocean, which dropped dramatically below and beyond. Our smiling and fluent English speaking butler transported us to our villa, delivering us to an unassuming white block surrounded by greenery. Heaving open the heavy floor-to-ceiling wooden door, he welcomed us in… and so came our second jaw-dropping moment. Everything was wide open with the outside seamlessly blending with the interiors. Both the wall behind the bed and the window opposite were folded away becoming magically absent, allowing a natural cool breeze to f low into the space. There was a giant-sized day bed at the window and beyond our private pool was the oversized bale, a Balinese cabana. At first glance it looked as though it had been cleverly damaged in a storm but, on closer inspection, showed itself to be uniquely and strikingly designed with random overlapping slats of wood. Relaxing there on the mismatched batik-patterned scatter cushions, we felt instantly at home.
The resort prides itself on its sustainable eco-friendly design and the evidence is everywhere, from the use of volcanic lava rocks for the roofs (to absorb the heat of the sun), to the imaginative use of natural materials, such as painted bamboo for ceilings, smooth pebbles as decorative edges and beautifully crafted teak furnishings. We were barely able to tear ourselves away from our stunning villa, but we did manage to force ourselves to indulge in the Alila Spa, having already been tempted by the glorious scents of the ‘his and hers’ bathroom Spa products in the villa. Well worth the effort.
