Escape to Paradise: Unforgettable Bali Eco Stay (Indonesia)
Escape to Paradise: Bali Eco Stay - My Raw, Unfiltered Take (Warning: May Contain a Lot of "Wow")
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I just spent a week at Escape to Paradise: Unforgettable Bali Eco Stay and I'm ready to spill the (organic, locally-sourced) tea. This isn't your sanitized, pre-packaged review. This is the real deal, warts and all, with enough "wow" moments to make your jaw drop.
First Impressions: The Good, The "Hmm," and the Flat-Out Gorgeous
Let's be honest, Bali is everywhere on Instagram. And this place? It lives up to the hype, at least visually. Picture this: lush green rice paddies cascading down to a valley, the air thick with the scent of frangipani, and a pool with a view that’ll make you question your life choices (in a good way, obviously).
Accessibility: Look, I'm no expert on wheelchair accessibility, but from what I could see, getting around could be tricky. The terrain is mountainous, and while they say they have facilities for disabled guests, you'd REALLY need to check specifics. Consider the "hmm" here.
Cleanliness and Safety: HUGE thumbs up. They're taking COVID seriously. Hand sanitizer everywhere, staff masked up, and the rooms? Seriously, every surface gleamed. Major relief, like I could finally breathe out. They're going HAM on the anti-viral cleaning products. And the staff? Trained to kill it with the safety protocol.
The Room: My Sanctuary (and My Biggest Complaint)
My room? Pure. Bliss. Air conditioning sang me to sleep every night (a lifesaver in the Bali heat!), and the blackout curtains? Genius! I'm a terrible sleeper, and those babies worked magic. The bed was comfy, the shower was hot, and the complimentary bottled water? Well, let's just say it hydrated my soul.
- Available in All Rooms: Extra long bed, air conditioning, alarm clock, bathrobes, bathroom phone, bathtub, blackout curtains, carpeting, closet, coffee/tea maker, complimentary tea, daily housekeeping, desk, extra long bed, free bottled water, hair dryer, high floor, in-room safe box, interconnecting room(s) available, internet access – LAN, internet access – wireless, ironing facilities, laptop workspace, linens, mini bar, mirror, non-smoking, on-demand movies, private bathroom, reading light, refrigerator, safety/security feature, satellite/cable channels, scale, seating area, separate shower/bathtub, shower, slippers, smoke detector, socket near the bed, sofa, soundproofing, telephone, toiletries, towels, umbrella, visual alarm, wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], window that opens.
My BIGGEST gripe (and it's a small one, honestly): the Internet. While Wi-Fi is "free in all rooms" and they have internet access LAN, it can be a bit patchy at times. For someone who needs to work (like me, ugh), it was a source of minor, yet frequent, frustration. I'm talking a "close the laptop in a huff and go get a massage" kind of frustration. However! The free Wi-Fi in public areas was much better, and you can opt for more stable internet service or utilize the business facilities to have internet access during your stay.
Food Glorious Food (Mostly):
Okay, the food. This is where Escape to Paradise shines. The Asian breakfast? Delicious. International cuisine? Yum. Western breakfast? A solid contender. I mostly ate at the main restaurant but found there was a snack bar and poolside bar for my late-night cravings. Their vegetarian options were actually tasty, not the sad afterthought you often get. I enjoyed the Asian cuisine in the restaurant. I heard from other guests that you could also order breakfast in your room.
- Dining, drinking, and snacking: A la carte in the restaurant, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in the restaurant, bar, bottle of water, breakfast [buffet], breakfast service, buffet in the restaurant, coffee/tea in the restaurant, coffee shop, desserts in the restaurant, happy hour, international cuisine in the restaurant, poolside bar, restaurants, room service [24-hour], salad in the restaurant, snack bar, soup in the restaurant, vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in the restaurant.
Things to Do (or, How I Became a Zen Master… Almost):
This place is designed to unwind. They've got everything you could want:
Spa Time: The spa is heavenly. The massage? Seriously, best massage of my life. (I'm still dreaming about it.) They offer body scrubs and body wraps, too.
Poolside Bliss: The pool with a view is the star. Spent hours just floating and staring at the rice paddies.
Fitness Center: They have a gym, which I, uh, visited exactly once. (Hey, I was on vacation!)
Sauna and Steamroom, Gym/fitness, Foot bath: Relax options galore!
Things to do, ways to relax: Body scrub, body wrap, fitness center, foot bath, gym/fitness, massage, pool with view, sauna, spa, spa/sauna, steamroom, swimming pool, swimming pool [outdoor].
The Shhhh Factor: No screaming kids running around, which was AMAZING. They've got kids' facilities, but it's not overrun. Perfect peace.
Services and Conveniences - Because It's the Little Things:
They've thought of everything. From the concierge to daily housekeeping. They have the facilities for disabled guests, if you have special needs. The daily housekeeping service was great, keeping my room neat. I loved the air conditioning and the air conditioning in the public area, also!
- Services and conveniences: Air conditioning in public area, audio-visual equipment for special events, business facilities, cash withdrawal, concierge, contactless check-in/out, convenience store, currency exchange, daily housekeeping, doorman, dry cleaning, elevator, essential condiments, facilities for disabled guests, food delivery, gift/souvenir shop, indoor venue for special events, invoice provided, ironing service, laundry service, luggage storage, meeting/banquet facilities, meetings, meeting stationery, on-site event hosting, outdoor venue for special events, projector/LED display, safety deposit boxes, seminars, shrine, smoking area, terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center.
For the Kids (and Those Who Are Still Young at Heart):
Babysitting service available and kids facilities. I didn’t have kids with me, but I saw families having a blast.
- For the kids: Babysitting service, family/child friendly, kids facilities, kids meal, access.
The "Other" Stuff (Because Details Matter):
Safety/Security: The 24-hour security and CCTV in common areas gave me peace of mind.
Getting Around: Airport transfer was seamless. Free car park, car park on-site, and taxi service.
Getting around: Airport transfer, bicycle parking, car park [free of charge], car park [on-site], car power charging station, taxi service, valet parking.
Check-in/out: The express check-in/out was a lifesaver. Very efficient.
The Vibe: It's overall a chill, relaxed atmosphere, perfect for couples, solo travelers, or anyone who just wants to unplug.
The Grand Finale: My Final Verdict
Escape to Paradise: Unforgettable Bali Eco Stay is a truly special place. Is it perfect? Nope. But it's close. The stunning scenery, the delicious food, the amazing spa, and the overall vibe? Unforgettable. (Sorry, I had to.)
My Recommendation: Book it NOW! (And Maybe Pack a Seriously Good Book)
HERE'S MY OFFER: To my dear traveller, I promise that this is a place you'll instantly fall in love with. Be ready to experience the best massage of your life!
Escape to Paradise: Arte Resort Sacheon's Unbelievable Luxury
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your cookie-cutter Bali itinerary. This is my Bali itinerary. Expect chaos, epic fails, and maybe, just maybe, some actual enlightenment (after a lot of sweating, probably). We're talking about eco-staying in Bali, so prepare for the real deal - the good, the bad, the bug bites, and the existential dread that hits you when you’re staring at a rice paddy at sunrise.
Bali Eco Stay: My Messy, Magnificent Adventure
(Day 1: Arrival & Immediate Regret – Kidding!)
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (Estimated, who are we kidding?): Land in Denpasar. Clutch the seatbelt, pretend I understand the customs form (nope), and get hit with a wall of humid, floral-scented air. Instantly, I’m in love. And also, already sweating. Note to self: bring more deodorant. And maybe a small fan. Honestly, I packed for arctic conditions, not a tropical paradise. Face palm.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Taxi/Driver (negotiating with a very insistent Balinese fellow) to the Bali Eco Stay. Ugh the traffic! It's a jungle out there. A beautiful, chaotic jungle. And I think the driver is trying to sell me a timeshare. Resist. Resist!
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Check-in. OMG, the view! Okay, maybe the Arctic gear was a bad call. The Eco Stay is… well, it's amazing. It's like a perfectly curated Instagram feed come to life (but with actual mosquitoes – they're part of the charm, right?). The bamboo architecture is stunning. My room is open-air, which means… bugs. But, the view! I'm overlooking a valley painted in shades of green I didn't know existed. Okay, I can deal with the bugs. Maybe.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch at the Eco Stay’s restaurant. Organic everything! I try to act like I eat this way at home. I don’t. But the food is incredible. Seriously, the best tempeh I’ve ever had. This is already better than I expected.
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Free time! Wander around the grounds, get lost (literally), and try to remember where my room is. Probably nap. Jet lag is a beast. Also, the heat. It's relentless. I'm starting to think my initial assessment of "in love" was premature. I'm now in "intrigued, but slightly melting" mode.
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Yoga Class - Epic Fail Alert! (or, "How I Proved I Am Not a Yogi"). Ok, I'm a beginner. I also thought yoga was, like, lying down and breathing. NOPE. Turns out, there's a lot of balancing, and stretching, and looking graceful. I was neither. I wobbled, I fell, I probably looked like a confused walrus trying to do the downward dog. The instructor was very patient. The other people were…very flexible. By the end of it, I was more stressed than relaxed. I did, however, get a good view of the rice paddies while upside down. Small victories.
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner. More delicious organic food. This time I actually eat it without shame. Watch a glorious sunset over the valley. Try to ignore the tiny scratches already appearing on my legs (mosquitoes are relentless), and decide I’m going to love this place.
7:00 PM onwards: Bedtime. Early. Like, embarrassingly early. But, I have to get up early to get my butt out of bed for a sunrise hike. Wish me luck; I'm going to need it. It is like my first day of school all over again.
(Day 2: Rice Paddies, Rains & the Great Coconut Debate)
5:30 AM (ish): Wake up. Hmmm, my body feels like it's been through a blender. Sunrise hike. Right. I am the worst morning person. Managed to drag myself out of bed, chug some cold ginger tea, and make it to the starting point.
6:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Sunrise Rice Paddy Hike! Glorious! The light is incredible. The air is fresh (for the first and only time this trip). The rice paddies stretch as far as the eye can see. I’m mesmerized. And then… it starts raining. A gentle drizzle at first, quickly becoming an actual monsoon. I was already a sweaty mess from the hike. This rain just made it worse. But… it was also kind of… magical. Getting absolutely drenched in a Balinese rice paddy at dawn? Bucket list, checked.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Breakfast. Warm, dry clothes. Bliss. Debrief the hike with some other eco-tourists. "Did you fall?" "Yes." "Did you nearly get swept away by the river crossing?" "Maybe." I had a near-death experience and learned to accept everything.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Free time. I decide to explore around the eco-stay. I'm determined to find the waterfall I saw on the website. It's either really far away or I've gotten horribly turned around. Still haven't found it, but I did discover a hidden swing! It was not the most graceful swing user, but it was so much fun.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch. More awesome food. Today, I had the best Nasi Goreng of my life. I think I'm addicted.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Coconut Tutorial. I learned the art of opening a coconut. It's harder than it looks. Seriously. There's a specific angle, a specific tap, a specific everything. I nearly took my eye out. I managed to get the coconut open and then drink it. It was the most refreshing thing ever. Then, I ended up eating the inside. (I loved it)
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Free time! Reading, sunbathing, and battling mosquitoes (which is unfortunately, an all-day activity). Maybe I'll attempt the waterfall again. Hmm, maybe not.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner. Relaxing meditation session. I'm starting to get the hang of this whole "relaxing" thing. I am definitely not the most Zen person, so this will take some getting used to.
7:00 PM onwards: Bedtime. It is getting cold!
(Day 3: Culture, Cooking & Goodbye (sniff, sniff))
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast. I'm already dreading leaving. This is my happy place.
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Balinese Cooking Class. Okay, so I can barely cook rice at home. This is going to be an adventure. But, oh my god, the food we made was incredible! We learned to make Gado Gado, Satay, and a delicious curry. And the best part? Eating it! I may have eaten my weight in food. No regrets.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Pack. Ugh. The worst part of any trip.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Free time one last time!
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Check out. My heart is breaking.
4:00 PM - onwards: Head back to Denpasar airport. Traffic! Final thoughts and goodbyes. Say goodbye to the amazing staff who was so helpful and kind and let me do an amazing job. Sigh. On the plane, plan my return trip.
Reflections:
Bali Eco Stay was an experience. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, made me sweat, laugh, and appreciate the beauty of nature (and the art of a good mosquito net). I'm leaving with a full belly, a slightly better yoga pose, and a deep appreciation for the simple things. Also, I need a serious nap. And maybe a lifetime supply of tempeh.
Postscript: I'll be back, Bali. I'll be back. And next time, I'm bringing a better mosquito repellent and maybe a book on yoga.
(Disclaimer: This itinerary is subject to change based on mood, mosquito attacks, and the availability of delicious tempeh. Actual experiences may vary. Reader discretion is advised.)
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