Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, Bali, Indonesia

For twenty years the Balinese style ‘Bale’ villas, shielded from the neighbours next door with high stone walls, have created the perfect habitat for the moss and lichen to thrive. Lush green carpets the niches and crevices of the numerous statues, fountains and retaining walls central to the traditional Balinese village on whose plan the resort is designed. Devotional offerings, the throw-away art-pieces crafted daily by the women of Jimbaran village, litter the grounds, protecting the villas and their occupants from the demonic spirits thriving on earth and give some insight into the magical way that the Balinese welcome visitors into their culture. Even though you are but passing through, while you are here you are part of a community.

Each villa has a private plunge pool, an outdoor shower and a living sala facing the sea. Though these features are unremarkable now in villa properties around the world, this property was a pioneer at this level of private luxury. The aged mossy stone work is imbued with the village culture and gives Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay comfortable tranquility that’s incredibly calming. It’s all too easy to pass the day on the terrace beside the plunge pool without venturing from the villa but if you are so inclined, there are several reasons to do so.

The Spa offers a fabulous array of treatments including all the usual suspects but specializing in sea water combinations with seaweed and traditional Balinese scrubs and tonics. A wide range of activities including tennis (they will match you with a partner), aerobic classes, mountain bike riding, sailing, kayaking and other water sports along with cooking classes (including trips to the market) and Balinese dance can all be part of a day’s entertainment. Children are amused with classes in many of the adult activities and can add a few Indonesian language classes to the program.The library is extensive.

Across the way a two year old development offers a more modern take on a spacious family villa. Four Seasons offers eleven of these, plus four double roomed villas situated around a wide fifteen metre swimming pool with sundeck, ponds and a grand pavilion style living space underneath the upstairs master-bedroom. Teak inlaid marble floors, sleek wooden furniture and textured neutral soft furnishing accented with statues from Balinese mythology and lots of plants create ambiance.

Tucked away at the bottom of Bali on a relatively undeveloped promontory removed from the hustle and bustle of the busy tourist strips at Kuta and Legian, Four Seasons is perfect for a hideaway holiday, yet still just twenty five minutes from the best shopping the island has to offer. The clean sea and near-white beaches with a good but not adundant selection of beach-side bars and restaurants make this a good choice for some well earned rest and recuperation with the background noise of the sea lapping against the cliff on which the resort nestles.