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Raffles Bali aims to reimagine luxury
Raffles Bali aims to redefine what the resort experience means during pandemic times
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Blue all over: Ocean view from a Raffles Bali villa. (Courtesy of Raffles Bali) (Personal collection/Courtesy of Raffles Bali)
R
ight before the term “COVID-19” headlined every facet of our lives, the “it” word of the time was perhaps “disrupt”. Although this term was mainly attributed to technology companies such as the likes of Amazon, Uber and Airbnb, reinventing what we now coin as “traditional” ways of doing business, quietly there was also a brand setting its course on reinventing the traditional sense of luxury: Raffles Bali.
The writer was invited to visit and experience their property. The Raffles Bali experience starts even before guests set foot in Jimbaran. A few days prior to arrival, we were contacted by a Wellbeing Butler, who asked for our personal preferences including food restrictions, if any. A pro tip is for guests to request the Wellbeing Butler to craft an itinerary throughout the duration of the stay. Upon arrival in the resort lobby, all guests were greeted by Katya Herting, general manager of Raffles Bali. With more than two decades in the hospitality industry, it is her calling to ensure all guests have a memorable stay. The Wellbeing Butler then escorted us onto a golf cart that took us to the spacious private villa for the check-in process. As guests quickly learn, the Wellbeing Butler is a major part of the Raffles Bali experience. During our stay, the Wellbeing Butler fulfilled our needs in the manner of the best personal assistant that had known us for years.
Raffles Bali has a total of 32 one- and two-bedroom villas all with a dramatic wide view of the ocean. This ocean view is visible from the point you wake up from bed. Each villa is surrounded by a lush garden to serve both aesthetics and privacy. Right next to the villa’s pool is the oversized outdoor sheltered gazebo with daybeds, also with unobstructed views of the ocean. It’s all about space and privacy at Raffles Bali, with the majority of the one-bedroom villas at 470 square meters and the two bedroom villas double that size.
Of course for seasoned travelers, a stunning private villa is just one of many things to consider when making holiday arrangements. Fortunately, there is a lot to explore at Raffles Bali. One venue that surely cannot be found at any other resort in Bali is what Raffles Bali calls The Secret Cave. A five-minute walk from the lobby is a natural cave that the developer cleared while keeping its natural state with only adding flooring. This venue, for in-house guests only, can be used to do morning yoga or have a romantic dinner. Then from the cave to Raffles Bali’s private beach is just five minutes away by buggy, where on the soft sand guests can also opt to do morning yoga.
Some steps away from the resort’s private beach is a 25-meter infinity pool and the Loloan Beach Bar and Grill. This beachfront, open air dining venue offers fresh seafood sourced from the Jimbaran fish market located minutes away from the property. The menu is curated by chef Gaetan Biesuz, executive chef of Raffles Bali, a Frenchman who over the past 20 years has led the kitchens of five-star resorts, mainly in Southeast Asia. So you can be sure that the sandwiches, pasta and pizzas on the menu get a 5-star upgrade in plating and use of ingredients. While the restaurant operates till 5 p.m., the Loloan Bar is open till midnight. Guests can also have dinner in the Purnama Honeymoon Bale, a single table setup built on the rocks at the edge of the resort’s oceanfront. The open air Rumari restaurant is on the highest point of Raffles Bali with a vantage view of Jimbaran Bay. The restaurant has been recently appointed as the newest “Krug Ambassade”, the first ever in Indonesia and one among the selected few exclusive venues in the world. Here, guests will indulge in a gastronomic experience matched with Krug Champagnes.
As well-being is deeply rooted in the Raffles Bali philosophy, you can bet that the Raffles Spa is serious about relaxation. A must-do on the itinerary while staying at Raffles Bali is a bespoke experience at The Sanctuary, their spa hillside treatment suite overlooking the ocean. There is a comprehensive list of treatments on the spa menu to choose from, all designed to rejuvenate emotional and physical well-being. Treatments are inspired from the finest Asian as well as centuries-old royal Balinese herbal treatments.
How we best interpret the luxury experience of Raffles Bali is that it is designed as an intimate oasis of emotional well-being. Here, guests are inclined to pause from the world and to discover themselves through the many offerings of Raffles Bali. It is a seamless integrated approach to emotional reconnection and physical wellness through the resort’s sights, sound and taste that go well beyond the conventional four walls of a spa facility within a typical luxury resort.
