A beautiful private villa, stunning gardens and large pools, Jamahal is that barefoot luxury experience that you don’t have to share with anyone.
Bali is full of large, luxury resorts with famous hotel brands dotting the island. We’ve stayed in a few on our last trip and loved them all, however if there is one thing which we have a soft spot for, it’s small, private and boutique style hotels. We love the privacy and pure indulgence that you usually findin smaller hotels, as well as the unique experience and great design details that usually come with them!
Although the website for Jamahal describes their property as a resort and spa, it’s more like a private villa with all the amenities you would want from a boutique resort! While it is easy to get to, Jamahal is not a place which sells itself on its location. It is close to Jimbaran bay, but set back from the beach and the main clusters of bars and restaurants. Instead, the hotel’s selling point is that it is a destination in itself.
This is because of the way the place is set up. It feels much more like you're renting a private villa than staying at a hotel. There is only room for twelve couples, and there is not much common space. This is perfectly okay, because the villas themselves are huge and provide a truly exclusive experience! You are cocooned in your own beautiful little bubble, with no need to interact with the pressures of the outside world.
We stayed in 2 different villas during our stay, the ‘Frangipani’ and the ‘Banyu and Toya’. Both villas had a beautiful pool, and a large outdoor garden. They were also furnished similarly and had two bedrooms, however the Frangipani villa was arranged so that it had two completely separate living areas. There was a bedroom in each, and they were connected by the kitchen. This would be perfect if you’re travelling with a group or another couple.
Although you can book a villa with or without a pool, I definitely recommend getting one with a pool. Jamahal is all about settling in to your own personal beautiful space and not having to leave for anything. The whole vibe screams romance, and a private pool just makes it all that much more exclusive.
“Jamahal is all about settling in to your own personal beautiful space and not having to leave for anything. The whole vibe screams romance, and a private pool just makes it all that much more exclusive.”
To really make that feeling of seclusion complete, you can take the option of having all your meals brought to your villa. We loved eating alone, but the communal lounge is also a romantic place to dine as well. Wherever you choose, you will soon realise that the food here is excellent! The chef offers a menu full of vegetarian dishes, local favorites and a few western items as well. Also if there is something you want, don’t be afraid to ask and they’ll do their best to accommodate you.
Everything is exceedingly fresh, and this is something which the hotel prides itself on. They grow their vegetables in a garden up in the highlands near Bedugul, while their fish and fruit is brought daily by the chef from the local markets. This is all arranged artistically on the plate, and many of the dishes are served on top of banana leaves to give them a local twist.
We spent most of our time in our villa’s pool, however we did check out the main hotel pool a few times. Even though it for communal use, with so few people staying, it felt almost as private as our personal one. Just next door to this is the gym which has plenty of exercise machines and weights if you like to spend your vacations working out. It is possible to arrange fitness, dance and yoga classes as well with one of their instructors.
Jamahal also owns a section of the beach which is just a five minute walk away. Make your way down there and you will have access to sun loungers, as well as a team of staff to bring you anything you might need. What’s more, there are surfboards and dinghies down there if you want to get into the water.
“Jamahal also owns a section of the beach which is just a five minute walk away. Make your way down there and you will have access to sun loungers, as well as a team of staff to bring you anything you might need.”
We didn’t feel like being that adventurous, and instead spent some time at the spa. We have seen a few spas in Bali – it's almost compulsory for hotels on this spiritual island to have one – and this was as good as any. The entire space was very serene, and it made you feel relaxed before the therapists even started. They offer lots of treatments, including some specialized local ones like the Tawer Agung ritual or the aromatherapy massage with Javanese coffee. We went for a couples massage and loved every second of it.
As we were spending a while in Bali we loved just lazing around, and didn’t feel the need to get out much. This, coupled with the peaceful atmosphere was perfect for us as there isn’t too much on offer nearby to Jamahal. If we did want to go out, we would just stroll down to the beach. If you choose to stay at this hotel for the duration of your time in Bali, you will probably want to take the option to hire a car and driver. This is easy to do at Jamahal and for a very reasonable price you can explore the whole island. Jamahal is conveniently located near to many of Bali’s biggest attractions, and even the furthest corners are just a few hours drive away.
It never ceases to amaze me how much Bali has to offer. Just when we thought we had seen it all we got to experience this little private oasis, and it was exactly what we needed to finish off our time on the island.
Jamahal is the perfect place for couples and honeymooners thanks to the space and privacy it gives. It also helps that the hotel does not recommend children under the age of 16! With the large villas like Frangipani available, it also makes a good spot for groups looking for somewhere to base themselves in Bali’s south.
For more information about this hotel please follow the link below: