Our story of royal treatment starts from the moment we landed in Bali. There is nothing like being greeted as you exit the aircraft and being ushered through immigration as a VIP guest. The time you save waiting in lines makes the additional charge well worthwhile.
We then had a special surprise as the Ministry of Villas’ concierge team arranged a Mercedes S-Class to drive us to our new villa resort in Bali. The team gave us a warm Balinese welcome upon arrival. The team here are so lovely and made us feel very comfortable immediately.
The Royal Purnama is located 20 minutes from Sanur in Gianyar. This area is gaining more popularity as it’s on the coast and a lot quieter than other areas. There is a groovy beach club, butterfly park and equestrian centre nearby, so the area has plenty of things to do.
We stayed in the one-bedroom pool villa, which is super spacious and very private. The villa has a dining area with a kitchenette featuring a small gas stove, microwave and coffee maker.
The bedroom features a four-poster bed and lounge so you can watch TV or read a book. High ceilings give you a tremendous feeling of space, and with two air-conditioning units it’s very cool inside and a welcomed relief from the Bali sun.
The large ensuite bathroom features a bathtub and rain shower, plus doors that open out onto the swimming pool. The private swimming pool has a day bed at one end allowing you to laze around with a cocktail or two. I think the villa is a great size for a couple and has everything you need.
Breakfast is served in the restaurant which has a great beachfront location. I love the breakfast options as we had a choice of Indonesian, Chinese, American and they even had an Italian cheese platter. I’ll take that thank you very much!
Royal Purnama Resort Facilities
Situated on the beach, the exclusive resort has day beds scattered around the lawn. There is a black-tiled plunge pool which overlooks a black sand beach and is the perfect spot for the holiday snaps to make everyone back home jealous.
Standing Stone Restaurant
The restaurant is called Standing Stone, after the unique stone garden and has a diverse menu to cater to Western and Asian tastes. The team in the kitchen really work hard to source the freshest of ingredients. They had a wine list but was quite limited for someone like me who likes European red wine. If cocktails are more your scene though, you’re in heaven – the bartenders are fantastic!
Black Sand Spa
Royal Purnama’s Black Sand Spa neighbours the restaurant and offers a wide range of treatments from their talented spa therapists, honouring the ancient remedies of Bali. It offers designer couple suites with oversized bathtubs, a single suite, aroma steam, Thai Massage and reflexology and Bali’s first healing Volcanic Sandpit.
Gym
There is a gym on site and one of the better gyms that I have seen within a villa resort. They have a huge range of the latest equipment and lots of space for a good workout. The resort also runs complimentary yoga classes on the roof top of the spa at 7am daily. This one-hour class is great for those wanting to stretch and meditate – the perfect start to the day.
What’s new in Gianyar?
There is more and more to do in Gianyar. From amazing beachfront restaurants to cool relaxed resorts I think now is the perfect time to visit Gianyar and experience authentic Bali.
