The Royal Pita Maha
Ubud, Bali

This hotel belongs to old Ubud royalty, and only local designers were commissioned to create the interiors, so naturally Royal Pita Maha is the epitome of Balinese grandeur. 

The entrance is nothing short of grand; towering colourful statues and a lobby full of huge ornate stone carvings, Hindu offerings, incense burning, huge fragrant bouquet’s and water fountains. The location of the resort grants fantastic views of the valley below, but the swimming pools are the real delight here. There are three in total, one standard pool, one spring pool (set inside a forest temple) and a lagoon that curls around the villas at the bottom of the valley. The mood here is very spiritual, an imaginative homage to Balinese history and tradition. Every one of the private villas has gorgeous views over the emerald, lush valley and its own pool or Jacuzzi. They are luxurious rooms, feeling very spacious and reassuringly private.

The activities here will leave you energised and refreshed with yoga every morning, farming classes, trekking tours in the local area and a stunning Balinese-Japanese fusion spa with nine private villas purely for treatments, hidden inside a maze walkways. Guests will feel completely immersed in this rainforest spa retreat. Royal Pita Maha is just right for those couples wanting to indulge in the local culture in a luxury setting.

I dislike feeling at home when I am abroad.
George Bernard Shaw