Bali… what an incredible little island full of adventure, great beaches and so much natural and historic beauty everywhere you look. It is no wonder this destination ranked the #1 in world on TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards for 2017, knocking out popular destinations such as New York, London and Paris for the first time ever. And its no wonder tourists around the world flock to this tiny Indonesian island full of wonders catering to all the masses. With so many diverse areas to choose from and incredible accommodations spend all over the island, all giving great bang for your buck, its tough to choose where to stay!
Being my first visit to Bali, I spent some time in advance researching the different areas and browsing some of the best luxury accommodations in the areas that sounded similar to my vibe. My search parameters included a luxury suite or villa close to the beach with either a direct sunrise or sunset view in a less touristy area. With this criteria in mind, I secured bookings in a few different areas of the island to make sure I got a good taste of what Bali had to offer. The areas I choose were all pretty spread out and included the Southern Coast in Jimbaran Bay, the mid-island jungle of Ubud and the South Eastern side of the island at Fairmont Sanur Beach where the vacation began. Sanur Beach turned out to be the perfect spot to begin the Bali adventure. With its laid-back vibes, the area is both vibrant and historic holding onto the charm of the old fishing town it once was. It was also the very first resort area of the island before tourism really took off. It is vastly different from some of the other areas as it is nestled away from the hustle and bustle of Kuta and vibrant with traditional appeal and more cultural and artsy vibes. However the main draw for me before deciding upon Sanur was the perfect sunrise view, and was it ever amazing!
If you’re an early riser like I am and can’t get enough of watching the beautiful sunrise on your vacation, the Fairmont Sanur Beach is the perfect resort for you for you. The sun rises directly over the beach horizon and beautifully lights up the entire sky and zen-like property with a golden pink hue.
The sunrise itself could have been enough for me to make for a memorable stay in Sanur Beach but the stay with Fairmont property made it unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, we immediately felt the warm and welcoming vibes of this Indonesian island. We were welcomed with a young coconut juice and promptly escorted by the kindest gentleman to our beautiful suite. As we walked to our suite from the main lobby, we couldn’t help but notice the stunning property surrounding us with its vast gardens and a striking temple in the centre. It was a lush paradise all around with with birds chirping and flowers blooming every where you looked. Upon arrival to the suite, we were overly impressed with the luxurious feel. The room was very spacious with both an indoor and outdoor area. The indoor area included a large bathroom and down the corridor entered into the bedroom with a king bed and double doors opening into the outside lounge area. The lounge area was enclosed with a large daybed and dining table and of course panoramic views of the garden grounds and the beautiful ocean. The decor was very traditional but sophisticated with intricate carved red wood with a rich colour palette. (see a tour of the suite here)
Now back to the resort! It was INCREDIBLE. The property was vast and the grounds were very well manicured. There was a large stretch of a somewhat private beach front and a large infinity pool perched slightly above the beach offering stunning views. On the resort were two fantastic restaurants, Nayla Beach Club & Grill offering a pool grill during the day and a mediterranean la carte at night. The other, Layang Layang was slightly more upscale and a more traditional Balinese/Asian fusion dining experience. The plates are suggested to be shared so you can get a good taste of several Southeast Asian dishes – I personally loved the laksa and green curry dishes. In addition to these two on the property, there were also plenty of great dining options along the beach boardwalk should you want to venture off and try something different. I found the options at the Fairmont quite delicious with a large selection and very reasonably priced. The amenities on the property were also great. The gym was spacious and comfortable with all the equipment you could need or want and the spa across from it was wonderful. I had booked a traditional Balinese massage (my first one ever!) and it was mind-blowing. I had heard many times to make sure to get a traditional massage on the beach in Bali for cheap but I had a strong preference to have the ultimate luxurious experience in the spa and to my surprise, it wasn’t that much more price wise. This is an experience in Bali that I very highly recommend.
The time spent in Sanur was beyond magical and truly set the tone for a memorable visit to Bali. Thanks to the wonderful stay with the Fairmont, when it came time to leave and head on to our next adventure in Ubud, we were totally relaxed and eager to see more of that this incredible gem of an island had to offer. I can’t wait to return to this slice of paradise again one day soon and create more #fairmontmoments
xo Tara
