Last weekend the Ministry of Villas team were kindly invited to stay at the exclusive resort of Karma Kandara in Villa Karma Cantik in Uluwutu. This would be my first time visiting the south east coast of Bali, although Sara and Alastair had previously visited the resort so knew what to expect. The guys broke the news to me with a glint in their eye that screamed: ‘Five star luxury awaits!’
Travelling to Karma Kandara
We arranged for pick-up by a private car on Saturday morning from the town of Seminyak to drive via Sanur for lunch, and then on to the Karma Kandara resort in time for late afternoon cocktails at sunset. Travel time was less than 1 hour in total, which equates to approximately 24km. If you’re also planning on making this journey you may want to set off very early and use the toll road to avoid any unnecessary delays. Shown below is an indication of the journey time and distance.
Accommodation at Karma Kandara
Prepare to be amazed on arrival; the Karma Kandara resort is an exclusive plot of land overlooking the ocean that is usually frequented by high-flyers and celebrities. The complex contains approximately 50 villas that have direct access to facilities such as the spa treatment, indoor gym, library, outdoor restaurant with infinity pool, and cocktail beach bar. Resort golf buggies are the chosen mode of transport that take guests to and from the villas through the white cobbled lanes.
The Stunning 3-bedroom Villa Karma Cantik
We stayed at Villa Karma Cantik, a lovely three-bedroom villa with private pool and garden area. Staff were on hand regularly to clean and to see if we needed anything at all, plus always ensuring the property was up to high standard. The bedrooms are all equal in size so if you are travelling with 3 couples then nobody will be fighting over who get’s the biggest room.
Each bedroom had its own en-suite bathroom and king size bed, with an abundance of space. The en-suite bathrooms all come with a huge tub and complimentary shampoo, conditioner and soaps. If you have an event or just feel like getting dressed up, the villa manager can arrange for hair and make up to be done in the privacy of the villa.
As you enter the villa you have a small tv room on the right and then the main dining & living room with fully equipped kitchen with bi-fold doors. The villa can be opened right up but you have to be careful of the curious monkeys that come up to visit. The living room is the perfect size with a great lounge and chase for us all to sit back and relax on.
The swimming pool and outdoor area is perfect for 6 guests to enjoy. The villa comes with a BBQ outside so we recommend buying some sausages and steak for the perfect Sunday bbq. We forgot the meat but instead purchased cheese and dips for the perfect afternoon by the pool along with a glass of wine.
During our stay we also checked out two other villas that are privately owned and managed within the resort, Villa Karma Manis and Villa Karma Indah , both of which mirrored the fine qualities seen in our own private Bali villa: large living and dining area, patio doors leading out to the pool, air conditioning, fully equipped kitchen and flat-screen TV.
Facilities at Karma Kandara
When travelling around I try to take up exercise every other day so I was pleased to see that the gym was open to guests on our arrival. It’s only a modest set-up with several items of machinery, treadmills, loose weights and exercise mats which I found to be more than adequate for my needs.
For a more relaxing way to pass the time you can opt for a full body massage at the spa treatment. It’s located just above the gym and adjacent to the restaurant, literally meters apart. The massage table peers out onto the ocean so you really do feel at ease. Soft music plays as a trained masseuse works over every knot in your body, forcing out any sign of stress. I paid for an hour-long massage and left feeling totally rejuvenated. Sara also enjoyed the spa and said it was one of the best in Bali. But a tip is to be pampered during the day, as the views from this cliff top room with leave you speechless. It was the perfect preparation for our evening cocktails at the beach bar.
The resort also has a library that can be found above reception. Like other facilities, it’s a small but sufficient. I found staff at reception to be more than happy to assist.
Kids Club Karma Kandara
The kids club is perfect for families that want to keep the children entretained while on holidays. It’s the perfect way for the children to spend an afternoon while you enjoy the massage.
Eating Out in Karma Kandara
The main place to eat is the di Mare restaurant located at the peak of the resort, which faces out onto a picturesque ocean view. The food isn’t cheap but its relative to the cost of accommodation and expected for guest demanding of a certain quality of service. It’s wise to reserve a table a few hours ahead just in case as it can get busy during the evening. Or if you are visiting Bali in the high season book a few days prior. Alternatively, you may want to take the private cable car down to the beach restaurant and bar for a change of scenery. A BBQ buffet is available at the beach restaurant which compliments the vast range of long drinks and cocktails on offer. It takes less than five minutes to the beach in the cable car, well worth the journey down.
The villas are stocked with fabulous fruit bowl, snacks and cold drinks including water, beer, wine and soft drinks also which is especially convenient for families. The closest shopping center is a good drive away so stock up well if you’re planning on eating in during your stay.
Staying In Style at Karma Cantik Bali
Villa Karma Cantik cannot be rented through the Karma Kandara resort. This is a private villa along with Villa Karma Manis and Villa Karma Indah available through Ministry of Villas. If you want to stay in style without breaking the bank contact Ministry of Villas today for availability and to book an amazing villa holiday.
