On my recent travels with the family we headed east to Bali via a stop-over in Kuala Lumpur with Malaysian Airlines, a long flight but most definitely worth it! 

Arriving at Bali airport we were greeted by the hotel driver with cold towels and iced water; we drove through picturesque villages and terraced rice fields for 1 hour before reaching Candidasa in the east of the island and the beautiful resort of Alila Manggis.

East Bali is an emerging destination for the more discerning visitor wanting an authentic experience with more natural attractions than any other part of Bali.  With dramatic scenery, dozens of beaches, coral reefs and WW2 shipwrecks for diving and snorkeling, ancient sites and a traditional Bali Aga village where the people cling tenaciously to their traditions the area has much to offer.  You will find tropical forests, beautiful rice terraces, royal palaces, trekking, quiet roads without wall to wall shops – and dominating the whole region is the brooding presence of Bali’s highest and most sacred volcano, the towering Mt. Agung.  The pace of life is slower here without the tacky nightspots and excesses of South Bali.

Alila Manggis is a secluded, stylish resort set amidst a coconut grove near the town of Candidasa.  All rooms face the ocean and are contemporary in design with all the modern amenities you would expect from a resort of this calibre; air-conditioning, minibar, handmade toiletries, tea & coffee making facilities and free wi-fi.  With only 53 rooms and suites housed in traditional two storey Balinese pavilions you can be assured of personal attention and excellent service.

The swimming pool is a central feature of the resort and is designed to create a relaxing atmosphere with comfortable sun loungers and attentive pool service with butlers serving iced cold drinks and bar snacks.  The Seasalt restaurant inspired by the neighbouring organic salt farm offers a diverse range of Balinese and international cuisine with an excellent children’s menu.

Shortly after our arrival we were met by the Leisure Concierge who had arranged the most amazing itinerary for us to ensure we made the most of our time with activities to suit all ages and abilities. The staff at the hotel were extremely attentive and really made the holiday, nothing was too much trouble.  This resort is not 5* prices at £275 per person per week inclusive of breakfast, a complimentary dinner and spa treatment it offers excellent value for money.

We went water rafting, an exhilarating experience and very reasonably priced at US$55 per person with lunch included.  The next day it was a mountain bike ride through villages stopping off at the water palace and ending with a swim off a sandy beach.

`          

Day 3 started with a trip to Klungkung market with the chef to buy ingredients for our cooking class.  We experienced amazing sights, sounds and aromas of one of the busiest village markets in East Bali.  We learnt how to use the ubiquitous Ulekan (traditional pestle & mortar) to make the embodiment of Balinese cuisine – Bumbu Bali (curry paste), peanut sauce, grilled chicken skewers and the infamous Nasi Goreng.  At the end of the class we sat down to savour the morning’s handiwork over a leisurely lunch – we were even presented with a certificate of achievement and an “Alila” apron.  

The following day it was the organic garden adventure with lunch.  Just 10 minutes from the hotel is the hotel’s organic garden, home to various vegetables, herbs and spices and managed by head gardener Mr Pak.  We were shown traditional farming techniques and armed with boots and rice hats we joined in the action in the padi fields.  Lunch was a healthy affair in a traditional shelter called a “Kubu kubu”.

The teenagers in the family enjoyed the “food for life” experience.  Using organic techniques they made coconut massage oil, coffee bean body scrub followed by a holistic massage.

So as you can tell there’s plenty to do at Alila and we only touched the surface – there’s fishing, diving, snorkeling, cultural tours, trekking and watersports.  The only downside is that the hotel is not located on the best beach but there is a sandy beach close by which the resort will happily take you – accompanied by a delicious picnic.

We went to the local town, Candidasa, twice during our stay, the hotel runs a complimentary shuttle bus to and from.  There are a handful of restaurants and shops there but don’t expect disco’s or clubs as this is not what this part of Bali is about but if you want relaxing, cultural and authentic experiences then this is the place to be.

Those of you who know me well will know I love my spas!  The spa at Alila is excellent and we each received a complimentary massage on arrival to assist with our jetlag recovery.  The setting was very calming and the outside salas provided a peaceful environment, all treatments ended with a delicious refreshing sorbet.

All too soon it was time to leave and as we headed back to the airport we stopped off in Kuta to get a feel for this part of Bali.  I have to say I am so glad we chose east Bali, Kuta was full of cheap shops selling fake goods, busy beaches and the whole area was very commercial.

If we had more time in Bali I would have twin centred east Bali with either Seminyak (luxury hotels, good beaches) or Ubud (central Bali, rainforest country).  We went in what is considered their low season however with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius and rain showers only occurring in the middle of the night it suited us just fine.

So most definitely we would visit Bali again!

We travelled with Jet2 from Manchester, for a low cost carrier there are some plus points: 22kg per person luggage allowance (very generous!), pre-allocation of seats available, pre-booked hot meals, the airline also offers in-flight entertainment at £10  – managed to get 2 films in!  The downside… the seats do not recline at all and are very basic – not at all comfortable so a travel pillow is a must!

Having landed in Tenerife we were whisked off to the Abama Resort, which is managed by Ritz Carlton.  This west coast resort is only 25 minutes from the airport and about a 10 minute drive from Costa Adeje.  The resort is set in the most beautiful landscaped gardens and the buildings are designed in a Moroccan Moorish theme, the buildings are the colour of burnt terracotta and boast excellent facilities – without a doubt the best 5* resort on the island!

The heart of Abama is The Citadel and this building houses many of the rooms, suites and main areas such as the restaurants, bars, shops, kids club, library – there is even a movie screening room, ideal for kids movies nights.  The Abama caters superbly well for the family market with all manner of interconnecting rooms and suites and has great family offers with discounted kids rooms and complimentary half board, the kids club is also free.  The restaurants offer great kids menus, colouring pencils etc and even a complimentary afternoon tea with items such as marshmallows and cookies.

Every room is furnished to a very high standard and the interiors make use of local materials.  What surprised me is the amount of wardrobe space and the size of the bathrooms, all of which had a separate bath and shower plus a double his/her sink unit.  Rooms have views of the Atlantic, the golf course or the beautifully manicured gardens. The Abama’s beds are the best I have ever slept in – they use 100% natural linen and these luxurious featherbeds also come with an extensive pillow menu! 

For those of you wanting more privacy there are the villa rooms which are located away from the main Citadel building and are designed for guests and families in search of the ultimate escape.  These villa rooms come complete with their own garden and shared pool as well as a private golf buggy to get around the property. 

Tagor Villa rooms which we stayed in are exclusive to adults only and are ideal for couples. Guests in these rooms receive complimentary soft drinks and beer around the villa shared pool.  These rooms also have additional amenities such as a Nespresso machine, and a butler to cater to your every whim.

For me the best selling point for The Abama has to be their golden, sandy, protected beach which is unlike any other beaches on the island.  Cut out of the cliff face and accessible by its’ own funicular and with its’ very own beach club restaurant serving lightly prepared lunches, cocktails and bbq’s makes this facility a unique selling point. 

The main restaurant Pampa y Verona, an Italian/Argentinian is very informal with a huge menu of choices for the half board diners and this restaurant tends to be the family choice.  Couples will enjoy M.B, the Michelin Star restaurant and Kabuki, a fine Japanese fusion restaurant, if clients opt for pre-paying half board they are given a credit of 30 euros per person towards the other restaurants.   There are bars abundant at this property….a Sports Bar, for sports lovers who don’t want to miss a single game whilst enjoying delicious burgers, fish ‘n’ chips and salads, a Wine Bar with a vast array of wines to choose from and of course a selection of tapas, Tanganika – a tropical, colonial style bar and the Lobby bar with access to a large terrace overlooking the Koi Carp lake.

This resort will keep you busy, tennis, golf, wellness programs, fitness classes and a host of activities for kids and a great selection of swimming pools some reserved for adults only, there is literally something for everyone!

Abama’s extraordinary spa offers a unique, holistic program with a huge menu of spa treatments as well as facilities which include a hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room, Turkish hammam, a cold plunge pool and an artificial snow cabin!

Our Tenerife experience would not be complete without an excursion off into the Atlantic to whale watch, there are also permanent pods of dolphins in the surrounding waters year round. Tenerife has become the top European destination in terms of the number of people that have seen whales in the wild. You can find up to twenty-one different species in Tenerife’s waters; from the colossal blue whale to the feared killer whale.  Other recommended excursions would be a trip up to the Teide National Park and a visit to traditional villages and hamlets.  Kids will enjoy Siam Park (waterpark) and Loro Parque, a unique animal wildlife centre.

Costa Adeje is home to many of Tenerife’s 5 * resorts and we also had the opportunity to visit Bahia Del Duque.  The resort was last renovated in 2009 and coincided with the opening of its 40 exclusive pool villas and its’ ESPA Thalasso-Spa.  There is a total of 356 rooms and 46 suites decorated in a traditional Spanish style with painted tiles and although the rooms are smaller than The Abama they could be considered authentic and quaint. 

There is a choice of 9 restaurants celebrating international cuisine, tennis, squash, gym, kids club and a selection of water sports – it’s worth bearing in mind that the beach is not a private one and guests are charged 18 euro per day for sunbeds/umbrellas which I felt was a bit steep but our contact at the hotel advised she could waive this fee with any bookings we make.

The pool villas at the resort are amongst the best I have seen, built with Volcanic stone and elegantly styled with individual pools.  Guests staying in these villas are welcomed in their own reception area with its’ own main swimming pool, library, lounge/bar area.  The villa complex is completed by Las Aguas Restaurant which offers an exclusive atmosphere and exquisite gastronomic choices.

All to soon it was time to head back home and so after a very pleasant trip with superb hosts we boarded the Jet2 flight back to Manchester.

Other hotels I would highly recommend in Tenerife would be , Villa Cortes in Playa Los Americas, Sheraton La Caletta in Costa Adeje designed by the same architect as The Abama.  My recommended 4* resorts would be Colon Guanhani in Costa Adeje and Vincci Tenerife Golf in Golf Del Sur.