Maya Ubud Resort and Spa – Review

There is no other word for it; The Maya Ubud is magnificent. From the moment you drive up the immaculately manicured driveway to the elegant reception area, your senses will be assaulted by the intricate way in which the Maya resort has been so cleverly sculptured into the landscape. It is simply breathtaking on every level and around each corner and down each step there is another surprise and something else to marvel at.

As we lay on our comfy terraced beds, adjacent to our own private pool, cocooned in the splendour of a blanket of greens of every hue, we most definitely counted our blessings. The only disturbances were the sounds of nature emanating from the beautiful river valley adorned by tropical flora and fauna.
There is a wide range of accommodation to choose from. We stayed in a deluxe pool villa, set amidst its own tropical secluded garden and overlooking the spectacular flowering trees and coconut palms of the Petanu River Valley. In a resort as big as this we have rarely enjoyed such a feeling of privacy and contentment. Sitting on our terrace, we felt as if we were the only people in the resort. Our room reflected the very best of modern stylish Balinese furniture with its huge canopied four poster bed, high quality stereo and audio visual equipment and of course the usual facilities you would expect in a top of the range 5 star hotel. The bathroom deserves a special mention with its sunken bath where you can have your own personal assistant prepare an indulgent relaxing bath with your choice of fragrance. There is also an outside shower which could be a cathartic moment for anyone accustomed to the confines of a regular bathroom. Imagine the purity of being able to bathe amidst the splendours of nature, yet still enjoy the luxury of hot running water and top quality toiletries.

One of the exciting features of a resort like this is the diversity of eating experiences, activities and packages on offer. We felt so comfortable and excited by what was available that we simply just did not want to leave. The Maya resort seems to cater for just about everything and everybody. We were overawed by the tranquillity and sheer romance that emulated from our stay. We met many couples enjoying their honeymoon or celebrating a very special event in their lives. The resort makes just about every conceivable activity available and has many special packages to tempt a wide range of clientele. These include a myriad of ways to enjoy a healthy lifestyle e.g. yoga, meditation (in their brand new purpose built facility), Pilates, village trekking, cycling, nature walks and Balinese cooking classes. In addition to this there is a spectacular spa and healthy eating restaurant located along the river bank and enveloped by the natural beauty of the rain forest. We enjoyed probably the best massage that we have ever had; the Soothing Maya Massage. This was 75 minutes of pure bliss in serene surroundings which cannot fail to touch the soul of even the most ardent sceptics. This was an out of this world unforgettable experience that featured the very best in holistic therapy designed to enrich your body and your mind.

Adjacent to the spa there is the beautifully located River Cafe where we enjoyed a very healthy meal. In the soft romantic candlelight, our only interruption was the song of the river below. For starter I chose the Vietnamese spring rolls whilst my wife had pumpkin potage with apple chips. The main course was a culinary revelation as we were presented with individual hot stones on which to cook our teriyaki sirloin steak with ginger and deep sea tuna steak with lemon pepper. The waiter was there to guide us to ensure our meal was cooked to perfection. The dessert was deceptively healthy, being made of the highest quality ingredients, despite being indulgently named Warm Java Dark Chocolate and Upside Down Caramelised Banana. To accompany our meal we enjoyed two of the refreshing speciality cold pressed living juices, enticingly called Vitamin C Spree and Ginseng Berry Clearer. After the meal we were able to explore the River Valley featuring the most awesome infinity pool sculpted so perfectly into the hillside and overlooking the river. This has to be one of the most unusual swimming pools we have ever seen. More formal dining is available in the resort’s other restaurants and there are many themed dinners accompanied by cultural shows. During our stay we enjoyed an exciting performance of the popular Balinese Kecak dance performed in the resort’s own open air Purnama Theatre.

The Maya Ubud is a multi-award winning resort, the most recent of which are the; Worlds Most Luxury Spa 2011 and The Green Award 2011. The management pride themselves in promoting sustainability and living in peace and harmony with the natural surroundings.

The Maya Ubud is located in the beating heart of the artistic and cultural centre of Bali. It is a truly unique experience combining first class accommodation, healthy and environmentally aware living and activities that will relax, rejuvenate and excite you in equal measures. This haven of tranquillity should most definitely be a resort high upon anyone`s `must visit` list.