LIFESTYLE: The Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts, Uluwatu, Bali

Cliff Wedding estate

If you have travelled to an uncomplicated destination such as Bali, you would understand how easy it is to get wrapped up in its come hither looks, making you want to spend your next pay check lounging in its daytime bars, cocktail in hand (or Bintang) .

Thousands of tourists flock to this Indonesian island , riddled with rubbled potholes, abandoned structures and mysterious little back alleys which hold up its thriving economy of unique little restaurants , sometimes pricey boutique apparel and accessory stores. There is something so magical about Bali, that you can’t stop yourself signing up for another ticket back to the lazy but beautiful skies of Bali.

Without doubt, there are different sections of Bali for every age range. Perpetually drunk Kuta, with its streets paved with youthful bodies, scattered amongst the busting crowd, where stepping over 16 year olds , gets slightly old after the initial entertainment of memories of oneself not being able to hold ones cheap liquor.

Going up market, is Seminyak, where you can waltz through the various shops of jewellery, home-ware, furniture  and even the seemingly over priced hair dressers , catering to the expats who have set up home. The crowd being some what older, paves the yellow brick road to Uluwatu.

Now I can’t say I am an expert in this area of Bali, but from what I saw, hill after hill of land snapped up for development of ultra, luxurious resorts and hotels, brings back the glamour and enticement of the rich and famous to this corner of the island. This was where I got my little taste of what heaven might have tasted to those living lavishly : The Bvlgari Hotels and Resorts.

Set in a fort, with double levels of security, the villas were tiered against the hillside , overlooking a cliff, with a stunning sunset background, as turtles paddled their way on to the beaches below. Sounding annoyingly too good to be true? It was exactly like the postcard perfect picture that I found when I Googled the name.

Each villa had its own pool, looking out to the ocean and the prices increased the nearer you got to the cliff side with an unblocked view. Story goes Angelina Jolie booked out a large number of villas at the Bvlgari and she would have got what she paid for. Though service seemed a little lagging at times in terms of speed, it was hard to fault the rest of my experience there.

The first thing I did was scope the grounds, infinity pool and restaurants, followed by a breeze through my rooms, with a colonial looking bathroom, with the bathtub as the centre piece, complete with foliage surrounding the floor to ceiling windows for privacy. Why couldn’t I wake up to this bathroom everyday? The bedroom faced towards the ocean , so at the first glimpse of sunlight, you were mesmerised with the breathtaking blue skies and rippling waters. An out door dining area, left you glued to your seat, dropping the need to venture out.

The whole experience, left me relaxed and hoping by some far fetched fantasy in my head that I could carry on curling up on the lounge with the sea breeze against my skin. The best was yet to come when I attended a wedding on an estate directly opposite the villas. Probably the most mind blowing backdrop, with the waves crashing below, as the sun set against the faces of the lovely couple, while they sealed their love for one another with their vows lingering on their lips.

If you are looking to get married, or go on one big trip of the year and feel like splashing out a little, the Bvlgari Hotels and Resorts is the way to go . The pictures speak for themselves.

Geoff & Renata

Mother of the Bride

Bathroom

The outdoor living area

The bedroom with ocean view

View from the restaurant

Private infinity pool