The Santai
What We Love
- A truly boutique resort; there are only 11 villas
- Set in a very traditional part of Bali; this is a place for culture vultures
- Bikes, kids toys and yoga mats are provided free of charge
- Free WiFi
What To Know
- Umalas is relatively remote. The resort is surrounded by lush rice fields dotted with traditional villages
- The spa is at sister property the Amala, though in-villa treatments are available
- The restaurant can provide in-villa chefs
Amenities
- Babysitting
- Free WiFi
- Parking On Site
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Spa
Overview
The Look
With just 11 villas in a serene spot in southwestern Bali, the Santai is a true boutique escape. This very modern resort is an architectural feast that employs the gentle facets of Balinese design using superior materials. The lobby (which doubles as a round-the-clock executive lounge) and the main restaurant are covered by a vast sloping roof that allows the breeze to waft beneath. Statuesque gray stone columns are inscribed with Balinese script, and the villas are set well apart to allow for maximum privacy.
Bed & Bath
There’s a choice of two or three bedrooms per villa, but both sport an aquamarine-tiled private pool bordered by small trees and shrubs, a sundeck, a living room, a dining area and a kitchen. Subtle lighting and muted colors lend a calming vibe to the interiors, while the glass-walled bathrooms are deliciously airy and exciting. Butlers are on call 24/7 and will stock the fridge if supplied with a shopping list prior to arrival.
Beyond
Gong restaurant serves Asian and international dishes made from locally grown ingredients. The gado gado (vegetables in a peanut sauce), the earth-oven lamb, and the sharing platter of satay (barbecued meats) are all amazingly good. The chef’s team will also cook in your villa, whistling up anything from a degustation menu to an assortment of canapés. In general the staff is exceptionally well attuned to the needs of the guests, who are encouraged to compile a wish list when they check in.
In the Area
Inland from the coast, Umalas is the Bali of everyone’s imagination: lush rice fields dotted with small homesteads and villages and overlaid by an air of calm. The appeal is immediately obvious, and there are scores of private villas in the area, as well as spas and small resorts like the Santai. An organized bike tour with Bali Bike Baik is a great way to explore. Restaurants such as Lezato, which serves Mediterranean fusion, provide a tasty alternative to resort dining. And Tanah Lot, Bali’s ultimate seaside temple, is only a short ride away.
How to Get There
Reviews
The Santai was a class act from the beginning. The airport pickup service was a great start to our journey, and the building itself was very impressive upon arrival.
We stayed for four nights, and I really can’t think of anything that they could have done better. The service was very friendly and professional, the premises were stylish and very tidy, the villa was luxurious with a wonderful private pool and a very nice kitchen/dining/hang-out area with a microwave and a coffee machine (the free cookies and free minibar were a nice touch!), all the rooms were very comfortable and spacious, and although we didn’t have time to participate, there were lots of activities available.
The breakfast deserves a special mention - I don’t think I’ve ever had a breakfast that good and lovingly prepared at any place I’ve stayed, and the variety was amazing. The French toast was among the best I’ve ever had anywhere.
Overall, everyone in our party was very impressed with everything, and we would all definitely stay at the Santai again in a heartbeat. Thank you for everything, and keep doing what you’re doing, since you’re obviously very good at it!
We really enjoyed our stay in The Santai.
The size of the rooms was large, the service was great and warm, there were good facilities such as pools, bed, kitchen in the room.
The atomosphere of this accomodation is awsome.
This stay became memorable one for us. Thank you.
We stayed at 3 bedrooms villa for a total of 4 nights.
Initially, we stayed for 3 nights, and we moved to another competing villa in seminyak, and came back for 1 more night.
We would have stayed longer, had the 3 bedrooms villas not been all booked out afterwards.
Staffs were friendly and always ready to help.
The welcome food platter was nice and abundant.
We were always welcome to take drinks from the mini fridge when waiting for pick up at the villa’s reception/lobby.
The breakfast selection is a class in itself.
Plenty of choices. Western, asian and so on.
The must trys are the croissant with ham, the teriyaki chicken rice bowl.
Korean pork rice dish, chinese congee, and the fried indonesian noodle, banana pancake are all other options to die for.
We stayed at a total of 3 different villas for a total of 10 nites.
The breakfast foods from other villas are completely incomparable to those provided at the santai.
In terms of cleanlines of rooms and toilets, the santai also prevailed.
Pool is pretty big Nd long too.
One nite, my son got a bit sick. And when i asked the receptionist, they promptly helped me to arrange for a doctor to visit our villa.
It turned out to be nothing serious at all with my kid. But it was a complete peace of mind to have a doctor to investigate, who arrived within an hour.
Thanks
We had a greAt stAy
This was our second time staying at this place. Booked 2 bedroom villa and were upgraded to 3 bedroom villa for free. Amazing! We love everything about this place so much. The facilities, the romantic ambience, the service, the food. It’s one of places we would love to come back again, and again, and again.
The Santai ticked every boxes. The cleanliness is immaculate, especially with the turn down service. It is a complex of several villas and even though it was full house - but the privacy and the quietness are still intact. We stayed in a 3 bedroom Villa and our kids liked the very nice pool and the open design bathrooms. The food at the restaurants are very yummy too. Our daughter so happy with the birthday surprise that The Santai team has beautifully prepared for her. Shout out to Agus, Yulina and their team who was very friendly and helpful during our stay on 17 - 21 June. Our family loved the Santai so much - we already booked our next stay! Keep up the high standard and see you soon...