MATAHARI

Located on the north coast, which is considered to be the best dive and snorkel area in Bali, Matahari is a retreat from the bustling beach areas of the south. While most of the hotels in the north are more moderate, Matahari offers all the amenities and services that you would expect from a deluxe hotel.

A member of the Relais & Chateaux group of hotels, Matahari boasts beautiful, well-tended gardens, fine dining, a dive and watersport center and top-notch spa facitlities.

On a recent inspection of the property, we were plesantly surprised when the sales manager insisted on taking us on a tour of the hotel's kitchens. Over the years we've probably visited a couple hundred hotels in Bali, but this was the first time that we were invited into the kitchen. We were more than impressed with the spotless facilities and the obvious pride and care that the chefs and their staff put into food preparation. By the way, there's an on-site bakery that smelled heavenly!

The spa at Matahari offers a full range of treatments. Following your massage or facial, you can slip away to the spa garden, with its outdoor tea pavilion set in the center of a pond. It's a peaceful, relaxing way to segue into the real world following your spa treatment. (If you prefer an outdoor massage, there's also a massage pavilion by the beach.)

In addition to the tea pavilion, the spa garden has a large outdoor bed. Guests who want a unique experience can book the entire garden for a private overnight stay. Dinner will be served at the pavilion and the bed will be made up so that you can sleep with warm Bali breezes wafting over you.

The hotel also has a gym, a huge swimming pool, a library and even a putting green. In addition to diving and other water sports, the Matahari staff can arrange a variety of treks.

For the best diving and snorkeling in Bali, or just to get away from the the more touristy beaches in the south, we recommend Matahari for part of your Bali stay.

Room Categories:

• Garden view
• Premium garden view
• Deluxe
  
• Super deluxe