Bali has always been a favorite destination among all types of travelers in Southeast Asia. Bali not only offers beautiful sceneries of rice fields and beaches but its culture and people are the reasons why people keep going back to Bali. One very special cultural holiday in Bali is its New Years Day.
Bali’s new year is called Nyepi Day, translated as “Day of Silence”. On this day, quiteness takes over the island. According to the Four Nyepi Prohibitions, there should be no fire, no travel, no activity and no entertainment. No lights are turned on at night. For some people, no talking and no eating either. Hotel guests are allowed to walk around the grounds in the hotel and use facilities as usual, and major hotels operate and provide food for hotel guests too.
Even though Nyepi is all about peace and quite, the day before Nyepi actually has a lot of noise. On New Year’s eve, each Balinese household participates a ritual called “Pengrupukan” where they chase away evil spirits. People create noise by hitting pots or pans or any other instruments and along with fiery bamboo torch. Balinese people then make “Ogoh-Ogoh” which resembles the evil spirits, and they will parade the “Ogoh-Ogoh” around the village, later burn them to extinguish these spirits.
Nyepi Day is on March 21st in 2015. People interested in participating in this special cultural event should start planning on it.
As for accommodation, most luxury hotels and popular choices are either located in the mountain (Ubud area) or near the beach. I’ll recommend two hotels in Ubud area and two hotels near the beach. I am very familiar with most hotels and several private villa rental options in Bali, so if you have any specific needs and need recommendations, feel free to reach out to me.
1. Bambu Indah
http://bambuindah.com/
Ok, not a very obvious luxury choice. But I’m sure you’ve all known all about Four Seasons and Amans in Bali, so I’d skip those. Bambu Indah is a one of a kind eco-luxury hotel that perfectly combines nature and culture of Bali. The owner of Bambu Indah is the famous jewelry designer John Hardy. With only 11 houses on property, each house is antique Java house individually decorated. The hotel and the houses are John Hardy’s dream and vision of creating a sustainable green environment. While the hotel may not be able to over the top service you used to experience with the FS and Amans, Bambu Indah delivers an authentic and unique Bali experience.
2. Mandapa
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Mandapa/Default.htm
Ritz Carlton creates a premium line of its properties called Ritz Carlton Reserves, and the newly opened Mandapa in Ubud is the third Ritz Carlton reserve property. Two types of rooms are available, suites or villas. However, for guests who are interested in enjoying the famous Ayung River view of Ubud, this is only available in the villa room type. Mandapa obviously positions itself to directly compete with the two hotels that dominate Ubud: Four Seasons Sayan and Amandari. I have not been to the resort personally but was told that the location of Mandapa actually blocks Amandari’s view. It’s been a while since a new player joins the luxury hotel competition in Bali, and it’d be interesting to see the reviews on Mandapa.
3. Legian Club
http://www.ghmhotels.com/en/club-legian/
There are a lot of beautiful beaches in Bali, but the most “happening” area is definitely the Seminyak beach. Most of the hip design hotels are all here, and you’d find lots of trendy shops and restaurants in this area too. Different from most of the cool design hotels on the beach, Legian Club offers a serene and peaceful getaway on the beach. The room types are all Balinese villa styles, and while the villas may not offer direct ocean view, they provide better privacy. Guests of Legian Club can access its sister property, Legian Hotel’s beach club.
4. Amankila
http://www.amanresorts.com/amankila/home.aspx
Ok I just cannot recommend Bali hotels without mentioning at least one of the Amanresorts. Amankila’s iconic 3-tiered swimming pool has been featured in several travel and architecture magazines. Located in Manggis, far from all the Bali touristy hustle, you’ll find peace and relaxation at this beautiful hotel. Amankila overlooks Lombok strait, so there are ocean-view rooms, but no rooms directly located on the beach. There is direct private beach access for hotel guests though.
Aside from luxury hotels, there are unlimited choices of luxury villa rentals in Bali that actually take the prime locations on the islands. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any specific request in mind.
Bali’s new year is called Nyepi Day, translated as “Day of Silence”. On this day, quiteness takes over the island. According to the Four Nyepi Prohibitions, there should be no fire, no travel, no activity and no entertainment. No lights are turned on at night. For some people, no talking and no eating either. Hotel guests are allowed to walk around the grounds in the hotel and use facilities as usual, and major hotels operate and provide food for hotel guests too.
Even though Nyepi is all about peace and quite, the day before Nyepi actually has a lot of noise. On New Year’s eve, each Balinese household participates a ritual called “Pengrupukan” where they chase away evil spirits. People create noise by hitting pots or pans or any other instruments and along with fiery bamboo torch. Balinese people then make “Ogoh-Ogoh” which resembles the evil spirits, and they will parade the “Ogoh-Ogoh” around the village, later burn them to extinguish these spirits.
Nyepi Day is on March 21st in 2015. People interested in participating in this special cultural event should start planning on it.
As for accommodation, most luxury hotels and popular choices are either located in the mountain (Ubud area) or near the beach. I’ll recommend two hotels in Ubud area and two hotels near the beach. I am very familiar with most hotels and several private villa rental options in Bali, so if you have any specific needs and need recommendations, feel free to reach out to me.
1. Bambu Indah
http://bambuindah.com/
Ok, not a very obvious luxury choice. But I’m sure you’ve all known all about Four Seasons and Amans in Bali, so I’d skip those. Bambu Indah is a one of a kind eco-luxury hotel that perfectly combines nature and culture of Bali. The owner of Bambu Indah is the famous jewelry designer John Hardy. With only 11 houses on property, each house is antique Java house individually decorated. The hotel and the houses are John Hardy’s dream and vision of creating a sustainable green environment. While the hotel may not be able to over the top service you used to experience with the FS and Amans, Bambu Indah delivers an authentic and unique Bali experience.
2. Mandapa
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Mandapa/Default.htm
Ritz Carlton creates a premium line of its properties called Ritz Carlton Reserves, and the newly opened Mandapa in Ubud is the third Ritz Carlton reserve property. Two types of rooms are available, suites or villas. However, for guests who are interested in enjoying the famous Ayung River view of Ubud, this is only available in the villa room type. Mandapa obviously positions itself to directly compete with the two hotels that dominate Ubud: Four Seasons Sayan and Amandari. I have not been to the resort personally but was told that the location of Mandapa actually blocks Amandari’s view. It’s been a while since a new player joins the luxury hotel competition in Bali, and it’d be interesting to see the reviews on Mandapa.
3. Legian Club
http://www.ghmhotels.com/en/club-legian/
There are a lot of beautiful beaches in Bali, but the most “happening” area is definitely the Seminyak beach. Most of the hip design hotels are all here, and you’d find lots of trendy shops and restaurants in this area too. Different from most of the cool design hotels on the beach, Legian Club offers a serene and peaceful getaway on the beach. The room types are all Balinese villa styles, and while the villas may not offer direct ocean view, they provide better privacy. Guests of Legian Club can access its sister property, Legian Hotel’s beach club.
4. Amankila
http://www.amanresorts.com/amankila/home.aspx
Ok I just cannot recommend Bali hotels without mentioning at least one of the Amanresorts. Amankila’s iconic 3-tiered swimming pool has been featured in several travel and architecture magazines. Located in Manggis, far from all the Bali touristy hustle, you’ll find peace and relaxation at this beautiful hotel. Amankila overlooks Lombok strait, so there are ocean-view rooms, but no rooms directly located on the beach. There is direct private beach access for hotel guests though.
Aside from luxury hotels, there are unlimited choices of luxury villa rentals in Bali that actually take the prime locations on the islands. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any specific request in mind.
