Hi All, VERY sorry to bother but this is actually a topic there's an abundance of information on, but not a lot of up to date, recent info. At least, not that I can find. Most of the posts date back to late 90s or early to mid 2000, which leaves plenty of time for a hotel to lag/drag.

I spent my honeymoon at Amanjiwo, Chedi Ubud, and Amankila.
A partner at my firm is now asking for tippy top of the line recs on traveling in Java and Bali - no financial restraints. I have no hesitation pushing amanjiwo, but can't personally attest to the best places in Bali because I've only been to the ones I stayed at (i.e., I cant make comparisons).

Can I either get a link to a helpful post or a quick poll
re the best of the best in those spots for a trip this May
Amankila, Dari
FS Sayan
and whether anyone thinks either of these places are too dated or run down (by aman standards).

Assume ability to stay in the best suites/villa.

I know some posters also like one of the como hotels as the best bali stay.

(as a last point, he's not spending any time in the south near kuta or in nusa dua).
THANKS IN ADVANCE for advice (and in the past for helping me plan a fantastic honeymoon).

I just got back a week ago and stayed in all the Amans and saw just about everything else.

The Amans are in better condition than I have ever seen them. Amandari, although 20 years old this year is immaculate after its refurbishment (Love the Amandari Suite here - private pool, tranquil views). Amankila, too, is drop dead gorgeous (We like the Indrakila Suite which has fantastic sea views from up high), and Amanusa (love the Amanusa Suite, which is so private you can skinny-dip in your pool), Amanjiwo (front row Borobudur-facing pool suites are best) and Amanwana (front row tented suites) - fabulous.

No idea why people like Como Shambhala. Unless you take an entire villa (around 4 bedrooms) then you end up sharing your pool with strangers. The privacy aspect is awful here. Even the toilets are semi-open-plan.

Four Seasons Sayan remains an extraordinary experience and I personally prefer it to Amandari. A pool villa by the Ayung River is the thing, or one of the two Sayan Villas right at the top of the hotel - great views from these and more indoor living space than the Ayung River Villas.

definitely amankila. kilasari has infinity pool, indrakila has best view IIRC, amankila has 2BR and butler. comparison photos >
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/8739059-post13.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/8740916-post14.html

ubud >
amandari - experience
FS sayan - view
residences at como shambhala estate - accommodations

perhaps vuittonsofstyle can comment on whether amandari has dealt with the "tired" comments

vuittonsofstyle, you book the residences for double occupancy.. from ~$2K/nt. (bespoke programme)

No idea why people like Como Shambhala. Unless you take an entire villa (around 4 bedrooms) then you end up sharing your pool with strangers. The privacy aspect is awful here. Even the toilets are semi-open-plan


While if money is no object then its Tirta Ening, staying in the master suite which we happened to luck out and have no other guest in the other suites back in 2004. Book the whole residence. If you want to spend less then the Amans are the way to see Bali best.

Vuitton, which two Amans in Bali would you pick for a combo? Amankila and Amandari or Amankila and Amanusa? I like fabulous views.

I would pick Amandari and Amankila because since all the new resorts have been built around Nusa Dua (St Regis, Novotel, Conrad etc) the views from Amanusa are not quite as pristine as they were.

In answer to Kage's question, Amandari, since its refurbishment, looks superb and is certainly not tired. There are new pathways, new library (larger) and interiors and exteriors are now very fresh.

As for Tirta Ening at Como Shambhala, I too have stayed here, but although it is a striking villa, the rest of the resort in terms of service etc leaves me cold compared to the warmth of the Amans.

I never thought I would recommend an amanresort as the 'budget' choice over another hotel but I prefer amandari over Begewan Giri. We stayed at BG pre como and had an entire residence. I prefer amandari any day.
We (over many years) have stayed at the amandari suite, a pool terrace suite,and a pool duplex suite.
We will choose a pool terrace suite or any terrace suite (with a good view) for future visits.

paul2, did you find the duplex and amandari suites to have negative aspects?

any idea how amandari villa compares?

The duplex suites are basically a terrace suite with stairs up to a small bedroom and toilet. The terrace suite is spacious enough unless you want to have guests over, in which case the duplex leaves you with fabulous downstairs space to host a party! This is not a criticism, really just my preference.
The amandari suite has great views and can be booked as a one or two bed suite. The bedrooms are detached. It is perfect for a family or friends and is in the main hotel complex (village).

The amandari villa is outside the main complex and a driver is provided to take you to the villa which has three detached bedrooms and a staffed kitchen (similiar to the villas at amanpuri). The pool is two tiered with lovely views. Perfect for a family but a little isolated.
I quite like the village feel of the main complex.

Having stayed over the years in a single storey Aman pool villa, a duplex, the Amandari Suite and the Amandari Villa, my vote goes to the Amandari Suite, as it is right in the heart of the resort and is also better designed than the Villa, although, of course, the huge tiered pool at the Villa is really something special as it overlooks the rice fields. At night, they sometimes light hundreds of torches in the rice fields, which is an amazing sight from the Villa. You can, in fact, walk to Amandari from the Villa across the rice fields, although your butler will probably make a fuss and want to drive you.

The duplex accommodation at Amandari is great if you are with children, as the ground floor is very spacious indeed and is equipped with lots of day-beds, but for me, the single storey accommodation with pool is perfect for couples and less claustrophobic in the bedroom area, as the duplex bedrooms are really quite small and dark - great to look at but less so to sleep in.

One thing I would say - as the main pool at Amandari is quite small (beautiful, of course, but still smallish when there are a few people in there) I would definitely advise anyone to get a pool villa, as the pools are of a very respectable size.

One more question regarding the different suites at Amandari. I have understood that the village suites, valley suites and pool suites are identical except from differences in view + pool for pool suites. I have also understood that there are two different kids of suite options - i.e. (from Amanresorts site) "either a large combined bedroom and living room, or a ground floor living room with a separate queen-sized bedroom on a mezzanine level".

Can any of you tell me a bit more about the floor plans of these two options?

We will be travelling with our son (6 years) who goes to bed before us, i.e. need to take into consideration where the extra child bed would be located. Also I would like to understand where the walk in wardrobe and bathroom is and wether one could possibly put the extra bed in there. All of this because our son goes to bed before us and we would like to be able to use the suite while he is asleep (he is sensitive to sounds and light).

If he is sensitive to sounds and light, then you should take the Amandari Suite, so he has a separate room. If you take a Duplex, then he will be sleeping downstairs in your living room, so you will either have to go upstairs to bed when he does, or creep about downstairs, which would not work by the sounds of it. The same would be true of you took a single storey suite - he would be sleeping in the same room as you (albeit large).

Thanks for the answer.

Amandari Suite is outside our budget.

Where is the bathroom and the walk in closet located and would it be possible to fit a children's bed inside it? Or would it be possible to put a childrens bed next to the double bed upstairs in the duplex?

No, you can not place a bed in the bath area or dressing area.The only option for you is to put your son upstairs in the queen size bed and for you and your wife to each sleep on day beds on each side of the suite on the main floor.

OK and thanks.

I'm a bit surprised given the size of bathrooms in others Amans I have visited (normally huge). We have been able to fit our son's bed in the bathroom area in lots of other hotels we have visited in Asia, and I had expected the Aman bathrooms to be big enough.

But; Given the nice outside temperature, I guess our best option then is to take a one level suite and sit outside after our son has been put to bed since I think it is not ideal that he sleeps in another floor and also not ideal for me and my husband (I'm the wife :-) to sleep in separate daybeds.