Experience world-class hospitality at Royal Kamuela Villas & Suites at Monkey Forest Ubud

Experience world-class hospitality at Royal Kamuela Villas & Suites at Monkey Forest Ubud

*Written by Axel Ritenis, Editor-Sydney Times

 

“KAMUELA VILLAS are designed for unique romantic and family holidays alike, pleasing each of the five senses and creating everlasting memories through highly personalized service reminiscent of twenty-first-century Southeast Asia. Whether it is the finely manicured exotic surrounding gardens, inviting furniture pieces, or the creative architecture, This Hotel is  crafted to the finest quality standards. Rich in sophistication, natural beauty, and elegance, KAMUELA means Bali getaway at its best.”

 

Royal Kamuela Villas & Suites at Monkey Forest – Ubud boasts 12 luxurious pool villas, 3 suites with pool access and 15 suites with balcony overlooking the tropical garden and outdoor swimming pool featuring a whole host of luxurious services and facilities, including a full-service wellness center, private butlers for each separate villa, and a stylish restaurant set amidst the backdrop of lush tropical gardens.

A short walk from the busy and noisy centre, the hotel is set back from the busy streets, nestled between ‘Bisma’ and ‘Monkey Forest’, with an entrance on both streets. The villas are on the ‘Monkey Forest’ road, whereas the suites restaurant, pool and bar on the opposite side of the river on the ‘Bisma’ road side, but the Hotel itself the hotel is “like an oasis of tranquility”

It’s  common to see many exotic birds, butterflies, dragonflies, squirrels, geckos and of course monkeys in the grounds of the hotel, as the small river which runs through the Monkey Forest, first runs through the hotel property, the monkeys navigate along the river as they seek out fruit in nearby trees, so be sure to keep your balcony door securely closed!

The hotel offers very generous space with floor to ceiling windows and functional curtains. The bathroom is huge,.. almost as big as the room, with a double bathtub and shower.

“The well-appointed villas at Royal Kamuela come with free internet hotspots, a large lat-screen TV with satellite channels and a minibar. A kitchen and seating area are also provided.The  bathrooms feature a double bathtub. and  bathrooms come with showers and are stylish in Italian marble and good quality towels.

I found it a great  place to stay in the heart of Ubud, like a little oasis amidst the noisy and chaotic streets of Ubud. The fact that this is an adult-only hotel add the tranquility and peacefulness of the place. The room and the  premises in general are very well kept and maintained. House-keeping was thorough and prompt everyday. I called into the reception late  one night requesting instant coffee for a 5 am start to my programme, and they resolved the matter instantly with their efficient room service.

 

This is what makes it  a 5 Star hotel!

 

The property has a 24-hour front desk and concierge service to assist guests’ needs. 

Guests can enjoy relaxing massages and spa treatments at The Royal Ubud Kamuela Villas. 

Meals are enjoyed at the restaurant or in the privacy of guests’ rooms. Local and Western menus are available. 

Royal Kamuela at Monkey Forest Ubud – Villas and Spa is 1-hour drive from Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Featuring a semi-open concept, every room has large windows offering spectacular views of the garden. The 5-star villas are cosy and tastefully decorated with luxurious furnishings and beddings. Ample lounging space is available. The well-appointed villas at Royal Kamuela come with free internet hotspots, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a minibar. A kitchen and seating area are also provided.

Every room is impeccable,..clean, spacious and comfortable ,..but iI think I still prefer a room on a higher floor for the privacy ,.which is exactly what I had,.. and a view. (I discovered  that there are no elevators ,..but I dont cnsider that a problem,.. but the staff generally  help you with getting heavy things up and down the stairs.

You’re sure to appreciate the recreational amenities, which include a large outdoor  swimming pools and a fitness center.

This  correspondent also participated in the Yoga classes in the Pyramid. 

From here you can step out into the heart of Ubud. The resort is very close to the main attractions of Ubud and just a short distance from the popular Monkey Forest. There are  dozens of attractive restaurants within walking distance, and many trendy boutiques and art galleries aplenty nearby,.Ubud which is famous for its Spas and Health resorts is the perfect place for the  Royal Kamuela .You can enjoy  the plentiful offerings of Ubud,..the ultimate vacation experience.

The correspondent with the friendly Balinese staff who made my trip so successful and memorable 

I found the Hotel to be  full of tranquility  and friendly Bali hospitality , colourful and both traditional and modern at the same time.

One advantage of this hotel,.. is there are no screaming children racing around the place creating mayhem ,..so that is definitely an advantage,and the Hotel claims  that makes it an “ideal hotel for a honeymoon.”

Whilst the villas with their own pool offer greater privacy, the suites in the main area have an open balcony overlooking the  large swimming pool and jacuzzi.

5 Star Breakfast at “Shrida Taste Of Ubud”

After a brisk morning swim ,… Breakfast takes on a special significance  for this corerespondent ,..frankly after fasting during the night for me it is the best event of the day,..and here they are really offering a 5 star Breakfast,..with so many options, including  the Korean breakfast.

Also most evenings there is live music or traditional Balinese dancing, including  the “fire dance”.

Shrida the Restaurant attached to the Hotel ,..offers some great dining experiences from the AL Carte Menu as well,..and there are some amazing upstairs function rooms for private events and celebrations.

Breakfast is a- la- carte with the many choices individually prepared and beautifully presented accompanied by juices, bakery options and unlimited barista made coffees of your choice.

 

I  certainly enjoyed my breakfast every morning at Shrida Taste Of Ubud, as  I was able to meet with my airasia Super App Media Group colleagues and have a “bit of a natter “about the days planned events and compare notes about our experiences , over a strong and tasty Balinese Coffee. Very civilized indedd,..and am not exaggerating when I reveal  that We were  treated like royalty every morning,but that was not specic to us as a Journalists and Travelk writers ,..I can assure you they treat everyone equally well.The Food was also exceptional!

Breakfast is served  la carte, with a “continental twist”- and you select  one main from a menu, for instance I chose Eggs benedict, and then you select a fresh juice, espresso coffee of choice either barista made Flat white or Latte but being a contrarian ,.. I rather enjoyed a very strong Balinese Coffee,…. Of course every guest  is brought a selection of Tropical Fruits, Breads and Pastries.The coffee was up there with Australian standards too.

The pool is a great size and very clean and the jacuzzi was so nice and relaxing. There were plentiful deck chairs, and towels available. We were offered drinks and food by the pool side.

Dining and Events Spaces 

The Restaurant Food and the Dining experience is good. On our first evening our group  had a formal sit down dinner in one of the tastefully decorated upstairs private function rooms. The Function rooms are designated for Private Dining,..but Guests can dine in the Restaurant,in their room or arrange a Private Event for a special occasion or celebration. upstairs . Hotel restaurant requires some notice of course to cater for  Banquets and Parties.The private function rooms  are  nicely decorated with tasteful art and furnishings as befits a true 5 Star Hotel.

Clearly the Hotel  takes pride in offering a unique blend of Bali’s traditional charm and modern amenities,  with a  colorful and authentic atmosphere.
I found the  f hotel ideal for some work on the side of the main event which was a Media experiential tour,.. so the  private villas with pools and suites with balconies overlooking the swimming pool offer all the necessary  the privacy and comfort I required,..I felt Blessed!

The live music and traditional Balinese dancing performances during your evenings was great and they clearly  aim to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Bali and provide guests with  memorable experiences.

Many hotels and resorts are rated 5-stars because of their facilities (pools, fitness center; etc.). Royal Kamuela made us realize that even though we’ve stayed in those resorts, we had never truly had an end-to-end 5-star experience. A 5-star resort isn’t just one with nice amenities, it’s one where the staff is empowered to bend the “rules” in order to provide exceptional customer service. That is exactly what we experienced here.

One of the peculiarities of this place is the fact that  upon arrival after being greeted and checked in I was  driven to my suite in a buggy-not complaining about that!

The pool is a great size and very clean and the jacuzzi was so nice and relaxing. There were plentiful deck chairs, and towels available. We were offered drinks and food by the pool side.

The best thing about this resort was the staff. I have never experienced such friendly, polite and helpful people any where in the world. Everyone we met was so caring and hospitable. They really made our short stay amazing.

Private Villas

The gardens and layout of this resort is so lovely, spread over two sides of the little creek (with a bridge) and adjoining to a street at the other end via the restaurant. Every room is impeccable – clean, spacious and comfortable – but if I had to choose, I’d choose a room on a higher floor for privacy and a view. (note that there are no elevators – but the staff will help you with getting heavy things up and down)

It’s a small property with about 30 individual rooms/villas, so it feels like a little exclusive community. Also love how it’s tucked away from the bustle of Ubud, and feels very quiet and calm after coming in from a day/evening out.

The hotel facilities were great, including a fairly good quality gym and pool. We used the gym every day and made sure to also lounge by the pool while reading a book. I noticed a a few very minor issues that didn’t bother us (no hand basin in gym toilet, toilet beneath the pool is a bit unclean and badly designed, and wobbly deck boards and ladders for pool coming away from the side). I observed plenty of maintenance and gardening being done though by the hardworking staff.

About the Monkeys 

Guests need to be aware the monkeys are all around and during your stay, they may traverse the property often and freely – using the little creek bridge, trees, and hotel buildings to find their way. The staffs will generally shoo them away humanely and will give you plenty of forewarning to not leave things unattended. They are not interested in you, but they will look for food anywhere, and that includes stealing your valuables as a means to trade for food. If you stay here, it is  recommended to  visit the Monkey Forest, to get a better understanding of the monkeys – they really are quite peaceful – and almost human if the truth be know.