Rooms

Hidden behind high walls, each of the 27 private villas at The Elysian is essentially identical, with a large wooden sundeck, a private 8x3m pool and a flat-roofed, chalet-style bungalow in its own little garden. The doors are the first thing you'll notice: they're built for giants and need a good heave. Tall, thin windows concertina back to give you the option of making your day space indoors or outdoors.

The villas all feature a comfy chill-out corner with window seats and a pair of coffee tables made out of wooden cubes. This can convert to a second sleeping area for the kids if you've brought them. There’s a dining area and a kitchenette with tea and coffee-making facilities and, as well as the generously equipped minibar, there's a pantry of selected teas and coffees (and prophylactics too, just in case). Walk through the big dressing area, with cupboards deep enough to hang long frocks (hurrah!), and you'll find the bathroom, which is partly open to the sky. The power shower doubles as a square sunken bath, and clever use is made of smoked glass walls and mirrors to make you feel just a bit like a shrunken Alice in Wonderland.

Décor is cool, contemporary and bright (predominantly white and green, with splashes of orange). Subtle touches of Bali include the culturally significant black and white check cloth used for accessories, and the Kerobokan stone used for building. Good lighting ensures you won't strain your eyes over your bedtime reading, and natural light filters in exotically through netted, louvered windows. The beds themselves are a real highlight - they’re big and spotless and feel brand spanking new with their cosseting King Koil mattresses. The bedlinen is as soft as silk and will help you get over your jetlag (or your all-night partying).

There is also one 2 bedroom villa available - perfect for a family or couples travelling together. Each of its bedrooms has a kingsize bed, 2 daybeds and a Jacuzzi, with a living and dining area and a kitchen shared between them. Outside is a 14x4m lap pool, a sundeck with loungers, and a private cabana for shaded snoozing.

All mod cons - Smart TV's, WiFi and air conditioning come as standard in all villas.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Cots available
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

The hotel restaurant and bar are open-plan, with poolside tables and an open kitchen which gives you a chance to see that the chefs are smiling while they prepare your food (a good sign).

Breakfasts are yummy: Indonesian, American or Continental options are served alongside tropical fruits, juices and tea/coffee. For the health conscious, The Elysian Healthy is a favourite, with fresh fruits, yoghurt, muesli and honey or go for Eggs Benedict/Florentine. Expect a cosmopolitan selection of coffees, extending beyond the ubiquitous Bali Kopi found in most hotel across the island.

Afternoon tea is a big deal here - 3 tiers of indulgence (pandan steamed cakes with coconut and honey, chocolate cakes, mini sandwiches) are served up poolside. Trading the tea for bubbles seemed to be de rigueur.

Cooking later in the day, however, can lack flair: you get the feeling that each dish (from the standard spring rolls to the more adventurous chocolate samosas) is put together from a template. Never fear though, there are plenty of options for eating out and you're just two minutes from famous Jl. Laksmana (“Eat Street”), so you're not going to lose an ounce in weight while you're staying here unless you're trying very hard to do so. The staff can recommend the best eateries, but sunset cocktails at nearby Ku de Ta are a must. If you don't want to move from your villa, simply opt for the room service.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Take a walk on wide sandy Petitenget beach to catch the sunset at world-class nightspot Ku de Ta, or a sun-downer at the breeze-cooled celeb hang-out of La Lucciola
  
  
• Most of the area's upmarket bars and restaurants are close at hand on Jl. Laksmana (“Eat Street”) or on Jl. Petitenget. Bali's hottest nightlife is on Jl. Dhyana Pura and Jl. 66, a slightly seedy but interesting district about ten minutes away by taxi
  
  
• Work on your all-over tan on your private sun deck, chill in one of the shady poolside cabanas and take a dip in your pool when the going gets tough
  
  
• indulge yourself at the spa, where the treatments are heavenly.
  
  
• You can ride along the sands here on horseback, or take your surfboard to Kuta to catch the more challenging waves
  
  
• The Nusa Dua Bali golf course is about 30 minutes' drive and Bali Nirwana Golf is about 45 minutes away
  
  
• If you need a bit more adrenaline in your life, the staff will organise rafting (Ayung river in Ubud is 1 hour and 30 minutes by road; Telaga Waja is river about 2 hours away) or mountain trekking for you
  
  
• The island’s signature photo opportunity, Tanah Lot, with its dramatic ocean-front location, is a 45-minute drive away. Brave the tacky stalls that line the route there to capture the sunset shot of a lifetime
  
  
• Go shopping: Jl. Raya Seminyak is within walking distance. Try Havelli for housewares that will still look good when you get them home. While you're there, the upmarket Bali Deli is just round the corner in case you desperately need a tube of vanilla pods, a Chateau Lynch-Bages or a birthday card. Further afield check out the art town of Ubud

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Golf
• Horse riding
• Nightlife
• Rafting
• Scuba diving
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Well being
• Windsurfing
• Yoga

Kids

Children are welcome but due to safety considerations in the villas, reservations for children under 12 years of age are not recommended. Under 6s stay for free when sharing their parents' villa; those aged 6-12 incur a small charge for breakfast. Cots, babysitting and extra beds are all available on request.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Elysian is situated in the heart of Seminyak, approximately 20 minutes (depending on traffic) from Denpasar airport, on Bali's southwest coast. It's just north of Kuta, and 1 hour from Ubud.

By Air:
Denpasar Ngurah Rai (10km away) is the closest airport. It's served by many international airlines - click on the links below for further information. You can also fly to Jakarta, then travel overland (around 24 hours) or catch a connecting flight to Denpasar.

From the Airport:
Airport transfer is included if staying 3+ nights. If you're coming from another hotel, ask The Elysian for a transfer, or pick up a metered taxi on the streets anywhere in Kuta, Kerobokan, Seminyak, Jimbaran or Nusa Dua. From Ubud, the journey takes about 1 hour and, if you find a driver there that you want to use, agree a price beforehand. Download the Grab app (similar to Uber) for a no hassle taxi experience.

By Ferry:
There are frequent boats between Bali and the major islands in Indonesia, including Java, Lombok and Komodo. Take a taxi from the ferry port to the hotel.

By Car:
We don’t recommend renting a car unless you’re a very seasoned visitor to Bali, as some of the on-the-spot fines for ‘traffic violations’ can be annoying. Narrow roads and overtaking procedures can also be unnerving, especially through the mountains.

Getting Around:
The Elysian offers a free scheduled shuttle service within the Seminyak area and the ever-helpful staff are on hand to arrange day trips and taxis whenever needed.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Bali and getting around