This is the highlight of my entire Bali trip. I have been looking forward to checking out Hilton’s newest property in Bali. This was recently rebranded from Jumana located in the Ungasan region. Talks about creativity as it is now just named Umana! The property now falls under the Hilton LXR brand. These are selected luxury hotels and resorts around the world. They are unique from one another as compared to having a signature identity. It is the equivalent of let’s say Ritz Carlton Reserve. This is one of the two highest tiers in the Hilton portfolio. I am glad to see a new luxurious option for Hilton over in Bali as they are severally lacking in this area. Hilton could do with plenty more properties over here. There is a total of 14 LXR properties around the world and this is the first ever in Southeast Asia. I have high expectations for my first-ever LXR stay. The base level rates are very high here and in the region of 1000 bucks. This makes it a great use of points.
Booking Process & Pre-Arrival
I reach out to the hotel before getting all the information and also to make some arrangements. They have also arranged a one-tier upgrade. This is the standard Hilton Diamond benefits over here. They are rather stingy on this aspect. I was also informed of additional benefits like a seasonal exotic fruit basket upon arrival, an additional 30 minutes with a selected 60-minute massage booked at The Lohma Spa, 15% off Spa services and a 25% discount on laundry expenses. I booked directly with Hilton for this stay and got the entry-level garden-view villa for 90,000 points. This is a great use of points seeing how they were going at around 1000 SGD. I was upgraded to the One Bedroom Partial Ocean View Villa. This would usually go for around 1300 bucks! A day out from my stay, I also received a message from the hotel to check in and see if I required any assistance or information. Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts features 72 villas spread across 9 categories. All of them come with private pools and jacuzzi. You can find the breakdown below.
| Villas | Villa Size | No. of Villas |
|---|---|---|
| One Bedroom Tropical Garden Pool | 403 Sqm | 30 |
| One Bedroom Partial Ocean Pool | 403 Sqm | 14 |
| One Bedroom Ocean Pool | 403 Sqm | 5 |
| One Bedroom Panoramic Ocean Pool | 403 Sqm | 10 |
| Two Bedroom Tropical Garden Pool | 562 Sqm | 4 |
| Two Bedroom Partial Ocean Pool | 562 Sqm | 1 |
| Two Bedroom Ocean Pool | 562 Sqm | 3 |
| Two Bedroom Panoramic Ocean Pool | 562 Sqm | 3 |
| Three Bedroom Umana Ocean Pool | 1200 Sqm | 2 |
Checking In
I got to the resort here at around 11am ish am. I took a ride from the Kuta area where I was staying before for around 100K and it took about 40 minutes. Upon arrival, the bellboy came over to help us with our bags. We were then warmly welcomed by the staff with refreshing towels and Frangipani flowers. We were then ushered to take a sit in the airy lobby as check-in was completed.
It is very informal here. There are also some check-in desks to the left of the lobby area.
Welcome drink was offered and there were both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Both the local rose wine and coconut orange drinks are delicious! This came along with some tarts.
The host provided us with all the information and an introduction to the area. Late check-out was extended till 4pm and this ended up being further extended till 5pm later on. We were given a brief introduction to the area before the host took us on a tour of the property on the buggy and ushered us to our Villa.
You can find a map of the property here.
Partial Ocean View Villa
I was assigned a partial ocean villa in the middle of the property. Villa 101 to be exact! This makes it easy to get around with the main hotel restaurant and pool within walking distance. You can also request a buggy to take you anywhere you want around the property. This is a better idea given the weather and some places are rather hilly. The one-bedroom villa here measures a sprawling 403 Sqm, this includes 115 Sqm of outdoor space and the private infinity pool.
There are two entrances to the villa. Behind the first one, you get a clean and well-maintained outdoor area with a landscape garden feature walkway to the inner parts of your villa. I will share more about the outdoor area later. Then you come to the door of the indoor villa itself. It is accessible by the same keycards.
There are a couple of umbrellas left by the entrance just in case you need them in bad weather. The indoor area of the villas is spectacular and huge. They are nicely done up with high ceilings, huge window panels and glass doors to make the places so welcoming. Immediately, you are greeted by the spectacular ocean view! While this is classified as a partial ocean view, the view is still very good. Straight up is the living area with a chandelier in the middle and a L-shaped sofa that can fit 5 to 6 people comfortably. There are also two armchairs by the side. This makes it very suitable for a cosy party or gathering.
Towards the side, you have a huge 65-inch television. The quality is great and it comes with a good number of both local and international TV channels. It is located at an angle. I felt like this could be better mounted on a swivel mounting. Left on the coffee table is a welcome amenity consisting of a fruit basket, coconuts and some sweet treats. Accompanying it is a personalised welcome note. I did love the name thing on the coconuts. For a property commending this price tag, a bottle of champagne won’t be too hard to ask for.
Right by the bookshelf, you can also find a Bluetooth wireless speaker that can be used to play music both indoors and outdoors. Behind the sofa, you have a working desk that stretches alongside. Power outlets are readily available within reach and the wifi connection is excellent just in case that you need to get some work done. The armchair provides decent back support for a short period of work. Wi-Fi connection is excellent in most places around the property except for the spa area which I believe won’t be too much of a hindrance. Moving on to the next half of the living area. It comes with a full dining table with seating for four. This will be handy for room service or dining in the room. You can also prearrange for an in-villa barbecue.
The minibar and wet pantry are located at the other end of the living room. It is well stocked with multiple bottles of drinking water, a kettle, a Nespresso coffee machine, a wine cellar and a fridge. I would recommend ordering in some supply if you are here on a long stay. Coffee capsules and packaged tea are offered too.
The living area comes with a spectacular view of the outdoor area as well as the ocean in the background. You can access the outdoor area directly from the sliding doors in the living room. The powder room or half bath is found in the corridor connecting the bedroom and the living room. This certainly comes in handy if you are having guests over or at a gathering. It comes with a single sink and a bidet toilet.
The bedroom is equally as lovely as the living area. Straight up you have a vanity area with a lighting feature. This is a lovely space to get doll up. It can also act as another working desk. There is a hairdryer left here. The main bedroom area is located to the left and the bathroom to the right.
The bathroom is massive. This is bigger than some hotel rooms! The bathroom comes with double sinks, a wardrobe area, a gigantic soaking tub, indoor showers and outdoor showers. All sorts of amenities are provided and toiletries here are house brand and in pump size bottles.
Behind the sink area, there is a large luggage rack and multiple wardrobes. This will be great for any length of stay. The wardrobe comes well stocked with bathrobes, bath slippers, hangers, a yoga mat, a safe and beach amenities.
The huge amount of natural light coming in makes the bathroom extremely welcoming! The large soaking tub is accompanied by bath salts, candles and a bath pillow. That is something I appreciated.
Take your pick between the indoor shower and the outdoor shower. The latter provided direct access to your private pool.
The shower room is spacious and even comes with a ledge for you to wash your lower extremities. Water pressure and temperature control are excellent. It comes with both a handheld shower head and a rainforest one.
The bedroom area is in a squarish configuration. The poster bed naturally is the centrepiece. The plush king-size bed is right in the middle with extremely high-quality sheets and bedding. Pillows offer amazing neck support. Flanking both sides of the beds are nightstands with power outlets and lighting controls within reach. There is even a USB charging port.
In the corner of the room, there is a lounging daybed for lazing and reading a book.
The 55-inch TV is mounted in the corner with a swivel rack that allows you to pivot it towards the bed.
The bedroom equally boosts an amazing view of the ocean. You also have direct pool access from the sliding doors in the room. I certainly took a refreshing morning soak straight from the bed to kick-start my morning. That is so convenient.
The outdoor area is nicely furnished with a cabana. The double-size daybeds are lovely to waste your afternoon area in the shade over a glass of bubbles and gazing aimlessly at the ocean.
There is also a pair of sunbeds and a dining table for two.
One-bedroom villas feature a 10-metre private infinity pool and a jacuzzi. The pool is well-maintained and clean. It is so lovely having a private pool with this view. We spent the majority of our afternoon here.
Turn-down service is automatically offered in the evening and the white noise from the water feature outside actually works well in the night when we turn in.
Fitness Centre
The fitness centre is located on the first floor of the spa building. This is just next to the main building. The gym is open 24 hours. It is a very nice place and well-equipped. It boasts a good view of the surrounding area and the relaxation pool. The gym is well maintained and comes with all sorts of machines, you have some weight systems, yoga balls, treadmills and also a step machine. Water and towels are provided.
Yoga Pavilion
Next to the fitness centre is a yoga pavilion. It comes nicely arranged with mats and towels. It faces the lush greenery. This is perfect for some meditation or a morning yoga session.
Relaxation Pool
This is the smaller of the two pools and it is located just outside the gym area. It is very quiet here. The spot is great for working up a tan or just having some quiet moments. It is an alternative to your private pool and the main pool. The spot comes with some sunbeds and cabanas by the side.
Pool
The resort’s main infinity pool is open from 8am to the evening. It is located in the centre of the resort by the side of Commune. The space is lovely and comes with plenty of sunbeds by the side of the pool. The infinity pool stays mostly empty since guests here prefer to laze in the comfort of their private pool. I love the infinity edge and it is a nice change of environment.
The pool comes with some cabanas too. The place is well maintained and manned by the staff who readily come around to help us with setting up the sunbeds and offer cold water. They also have tanning oil and sunscreen available for guest usage. You can order food and drinks by the side of the pool.
Kids Clubs
The kids’ club is near the restaurant and the pool area. This offers a nice cosy space for the younger guests to enjoy in an air-conditioning environment while the adults go about relaxing themself. The place is staffed and they will assist in taking care of the kids.
Chapel
Destination weddings are a huge thing in Bali especially in luxury resorts. It is common to find a chapel in such places. The one at Umana certainly fits the requirements. It is gorgeous and faces the amazing ocean. This will be perfect for an afternoon or sunset wedding.
Lohma Spa
I was warmly welcomed in by the staff to take a seat. Soon they came by with a cold towel and some tea. I pre-book the Indigenous Massage which cost 1,600,000 IDR. They offer a 30-minute extension for Diamond members. This is rather pricey for Bali standard but a fair price for a property of this calibre. You can find the spa menu here.
We then filled out a consultation form and the therapist noted down our preference for the massage. We were then escorted to the second floor where the treatment rooms are located. They have both couple and single rooms.
The session started with a foot wash and scrub with lime and lemongrass sea salt. The singing bowl ritual then kick start the massage. The treatment was excellent! I wish it never ends! I just wish that the room could be cooler. We were then served some tea and biscuits. The spa is open daily from 9am to 9pm. Do make reservations ahead to get your ideal slot.
Melasti Beach
The resort boasts direct access to Melasti Beach. This is also known as the southernmost point of Bali island. Upon request, the staff can prepare a car to send guests down to the beach which is just a short drive away. Pick-up service is also available. You can do this on your schedule. Any time upon request.
I love that they have a dedicated staff on hand to help us set up the sunbeds and towels. Bottled water and sunscreen are available! These are only reserved for guest usage. The water is pristine over here and very clean. To get back to the hotel, simply inform the staff that is stationed at the beach and the car will soon arrive. This is a great initiative. I appreciate it.
Room Service
We got room service for lunch on the first day. We were enjoying the pool in our villa after the spa and that seemed the easiest. You can find the in-room dining menu here. Naturally, prices are on the higher side. We ordered the Pad Thai and Gai Yang. It took around 30 mins for the food to be delivered.
The staff then plated the table and nicely presented it with refreshing towels. Both dishes were excellent and we enjoyed it.
Oliverra Restaurant
Oliverra is a resort fine dining restaurant located on the cliff with a view of the ocean. It is right next to the chapel. They serve up Mediterranean-based cuisine. There is a bar area, the main restaurant and an outdoor patio dining area. They are open from Tue to Sun for dinner from 6pm to 10pm. You can find the menu here.
We sat outdoors since the weather was amazing and even got a short glimpse of the sunset. You should come here earlier when it is still bright for a view. We got a selection of dishes to share and the food was served in around 20 minutes or so. Service started with their in-house bread. Their sourdough was amazing and I asked for refills.
We got the Pasta Vongole, Lobster Catalan and Ribeye. We also ordered a side of asparagus and wedges.
Everything was delicious and we enjoyed it. My favourite was the vongole pasta and the sourdough. Prices are definitely on the higher side. Budget about 60 to 100 bucks per pax and more if you want to get drinks. Do note that the Hilton dining discount is not applicable here.
Breakfast at Commune
Breakfast is served at Commune Restaurant from 6.30am to 10.30am daily. Breakfast costs 350,000 IDR per person if not included in your elite benefits or rate. This is pretty good value for Gold and Diamond members. I was down for breakfast at around 9.30am. I do find the timing to be slightly early for a resort. Breakfast ending at 10.30 is too early when people want to have a lazy morning and sleep in on vacation. Breakfast should be extended till 11am at the very least or even noon for resorts.
We were warmly welcomed in and ushered to a table. The staff then gave us an introduction to the breakfast service and took drinks orders. Coffee and tea are served to the table and I appreciate them offering coffee from an actual espresso machine. They also provided cold drinks which was a lifesaver given the weather. The restaurant was rather stuffy and underventilated. Breakfast is in a semi-buffet concept. Here are some pictures of the buffet lineup. It is not huge but everything is high quality. The housemade jams, breads and grilled chicken are so good. Everything is in small quantity and frequently refilled. That maintains the food quality.
This is supplemented by an extensive ala carte menu you can order.
Chia Berry Bowl
Thai Beef and Eggs
Ungasan Rice Bowl
Umana Breakfast
Nasi Campur Rayunan
French Toast
Pandanus Waffle
Everything was really good and delicious. I wish that I could eat more. Some of the stand-out items include the Umana Breakfast and Nasi Campur. The Nasi Campur and Sate were so good that we went for seconds! The sambal was life-changing and so addictive. We even bought some to bring back. We even got some off-menu items such as avocado juice and sliced mangoes! They are happy with customisation and unique orders! Breakfast is a treat here! I would even come here just for breakfast and 350,000 IDR is a steal for this quality! I only had one complaint which is how humid and hot the restaurant is. I was sweating while eating.
Conclusion
This is a fantastic hotel and a great addition to the luxury portfolio in Bali. I love it! It belongs in the top 10 Hilton properties that I visited in the world so far. This is one of the most premium places and certainly, a stay here doesn’t come in cheap even on points. With points, it is about 450 USD a night and I spent about 1000 SGD in incidentals. You will still spend quite a fair bit on dining and massages. We did splurge a little given that we were celebrating an occasion. Service is excellent throughout the property and breakfast is top notch. It is now my favourite Hilton property in Bali. I would love to come again. I love the beach car service. I am already looking forward to my next trip back. There are little aspects for improvement but you won’t go too wrong staying here. Perfect for 2 – 3 nights or so.
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