Bali is one of the best places in the world. It is such an amazing island and there is so much to see and do. It is one of the premier backpacker destinations and known as a major party place, at least in certain areas of the island. It also happens to be one of the premier resort destinations anywhere. It boasts some of the nicest hotels and resorts in the world.
Main pool at the Ayana Resort in Bali
Bali is legendary for its late nights and reveling and I have done that before. In 2008 when I was in Bali I did the partying in Kuta thing, I went to Ubud, I saw the rice terraces and I saw the temples. What I didn’t really do was experience the Bali that makes it so popular with people older than 21. What makes Bali so popular for honeymooners. Why every major international hotel chain has a flagship resort in Bali.
Amazing flowers all over the Ayana Resort in Bali
So since I have basically been on the road for two straight months and have crisscrossed the globe a few times and driven half of it; I’m pretty tired! Moreover, I decided this trip to Bali was going to be me in Bali doing nothing. So that’s exactly what I did…and it was the best decision I’ve made in a long time.
Cliffside view of the beach below at the Ayana Resort in Bali
I arrived in Bali and went straight to the Ayana Resort in Jimbaran. As I passed through the gates of the massive resort I started to relax immediately. I knew right then I had made the right decision.
Secondary pool at the Ayana Resort in Bali
The resort is stunningly gorgeous. It has won numerous International awards for its excellence as a resort, value and for its amazing spa. I couldn’t have been happier…until I walked into my room.
The living room of my suite at the Ayana Resort in Bali
The Ayana gave me an amazing corner suite. The rooms were decorated so beautifully that if I tried to do that to my apartment, it would take two lifetimes. The living room was large enough to host a dinner party and connected to a great porch area that overlooked the ocean.
My Napoleonic style bed at the Ayana Resort in Bali
The bed looked like something Napoleon slept in back in the day but only updated for modern times; plus I’m a lot taller than Napoleon was! The only thing that could beat the bed was the tub in the bathroom; which was really the centerpiece of the suite.
Tub of roses in my suite at the Ayana Resort in Bali
When I arrived it was half full and adorned with white and red flower pedals. It really looked like the bath scene in American Beauty. I didn’t even know what to do with it. I’m not a bath person but with a presentation like that, I had to have a go at it. Needless to say I got covered in flower pedals but whatever. It’s not everyday you get that opportunity.
View of the bedroom and the tub in my suite at the Ayana Resort in Bali
So over the course of my 4 days, three nights at the Ayana, I didn’t leave the resort. However, I didn’t do nothing. I did several things but all of which were to my own personal betterment.
Small pool at the Ayana Resort in Bali
I got a two hour 7 Chakra Dhara massage. I had never heard of it either but it goes something like this. You walk in and you get a foot massage in some little tub thing. Then you hop on the bed face down and get an hour long back and leg massage with seven different types of oil. You then turn over and get a frontal massage, followed by the masseuse putting a bunch of hot stones on different focal areas.
Main pool with dragon statues at Ayana Resort in Bali
I’ve had many massages in my day but never one with the hot stones. It was pretty awesome; I’m not going to lie. The only thing I didn’t like was she banged this magnetic stick over me in different places and let it vibrate above me like it was a séance or something. I thought that was hokey and I’m not nearly hippie enough to go along with that kind of thing. It’s kind of like being hypnotized. I don’t buy into it so it won’t work. That aside the massage was amazing.
Aquatonic Therapy Pool at the Ayana Resort in Bali
Another activity I did at the resort was do a two hour session in their Aquatonic Therapy Pool. This was basically a massive pool obstacle course of goodness and relaxation. It is supposed to help combat jetlag and get your equilibrium back in order etc. Basically it was just a great way to spend a few hours.
Oceanside pool just after sunset at the Ayana Resort in Bali
You go from station to station in this pool. Each station has a different size/height water jet that massages different parts of your body. You’re supposed to do each for about two minutes. Some I did two, some I did fifteen. All were excellent and by the time I was done, I could barely walk my legs felt like mush-in a good way.
Sunset from Rock Bar at the Ayana Resort in Bali
After that and each day I used the world-class sauna and steam rooms. They also provided these fantastic cold ginger drinks that I loved. I have to find out what they were made out of because they excellent.
More sunset pool pics from Bali
Other than that, I just ate good food and chilled at the amazing pools around the resort. There were several to choose from. They were all good and I got a nice tan, a little burn and just chilled. After two months of straight going non-stop, it was so nice to do this-nothing. It was perfect.
My reserved table, protected by a large shell in Bali
Bali is just that, a great place to do nothing. Nothing is of course something but nothing compared to my usual everything. If you follow that then you know exactly what I mean. It was the best decision I’ve made in a while and I am grateful to the Ayana Resort for making my stay relaxing and memorable.
Green with envy! How amazing to go to Bali for 4 days and do nothing!! On my bucket list for sure!
It was wonderful…such an amazing island, so chill and relaxing
That sounds amazing! Looks even more amazing. I would love to just disappear to Bali for a few days!!! Ahhhh dreams….
haha ya it’s not a bad deal…do it!
I am doing excatly the same thing in Bali in 9 days!
4 nights of doing nothing but swimming in my private pool in my villa and having massages daily!
I’m jealous of you that you get to do it! I want to go back!…When I think of Bali I just think of massage, pool and chilling out
I so much like Your reports with awesome pictures, Your site easily became one of my 5 favorites off all time and the one I like to come back several times per day to check it out more and more !
Thank you, I appreciate that!
Only four days? I’ve been doing nothing in Thailand for almost a year now. I’d highly recommend it.
haha touche…
Great post.. Definitely a place my wife and I will visit once the kids get a bit older. Thanks for sharing
Great place for kids…can learn a lot around the island or just play in the pool/beach!
“I thought that was hokey and I’m not nearly hippie enough to go along with that kind of thing.”
This made me chuckle. You certainly have a way with words, Mr. Abbamonte.
I don’t know much about Bali, or Indonesia itself. Was there any trouble with language barrier? And I was curious, did you meet any other tourists there? What was the majority of the tourist make-up (meaning where were most people from)?
Just found your website after Ayana posted a link on their Facebook page and I’m so excited! I an completely envious of the opportunities and experiences you’ve had and wish I had the time and money to do the same…the problem is, I could have a lot of time but no money or I could have a lot of money and no time, such is life! My fiance and I are staying at Ayana for the last 6 days of our honeymoon next year-from Chicago, getting married on the island of Arran in Scotland, then honeymooning in Paris, Ubud, and Jimbaran (my mini version of around the world). This post and your blog has me even more excited! You’ve gained a faithful follower 🙂
Thanks Lauren, that’s very nice of you and it sounds like you’re going to have an amazing time and experience of your honeymoon! Please feel free to email me anytime if you have questions!
i’m from indonesia and yes I haven been goin to bali once. Bali is really an amazing island. we can can see everythin in bali. bali has lots of beaches and my favorite beach is Dream Land. the beach has white sand. I live in Semarang city in Java island. maybe you can visite Jogjakarta, it’s 3 hours from semarang and an hour flight from jakarta. Jogjakarta is an old traditional place, the 2nd destination place from tourist after bali.
if you want to see virgin beaches, you go to Gunung Kidul. it’s 2 hours from jogjakarta. gunung kidul is a place has lots of beaches spot and you can walk to go to another beach around there. well when you goin to gunung kidul, you might be surprised because there has no signal/ network.
in jogjakarta you can go to prambanan temple and you can see a triditional dance in the evening and it called “sendra tari ramiyana”.
I hope that someday you can go to those place and when you have opportunity to go those place, I wish you enjoy the place 🙂
I love this review,I love Bali and I love my Indonesia <3
Bali known for the island of God and island of love, when holidaying in Bali we have so many options what to do?? from do nothing or just our time is not enough for everything 🙂 the last time my do nothing holiday done in the end of the year 2012 in Lombok island then heading partying till dawn in Bali. If money is not the questions: Indonesia has so many beautiful island which still make me think when I can explore it, Karimun Jawa Island is my next list (known for Virgin island or Maldives version in between Borneo and Java)
Hi Lee…I’m considering an 8 day trip to Bali September 2016 which airline do you recommend?
All the best!
I Went There For 3Times..
Mr.Abbamonte, Have You Ever Go To Gili Trawangan?
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