WeekendinFEATURE
WeekendinFEATURE
HOLIDAY
An AWAY Spa Suite
A poolside like no other
Travel to the
W Retreat & Spa
Some things just belong together and like one
would equate Versace with Couture and Picasso with modern art, the W Hotel and retro
design belong together. Had Andy Warhol lived
today, W would be his playground! Amplified
entertainment, vibrant lounges, modern guest
rooms, innovative cocktails and cuisine define
the luxury lifestyle destination that is the W. This
is a hotel concept that allows guests exclusivity,
location, careful design, fine food and impressive service.
In truth, all 5-star establishments are rated according to the same basic criteria. What sets
them apart are the little extras that become the
brand’s trademark. At Starwood’s W Hotels, attention to the unexpected is that trademark.
“Whatever, Whenever” is the tagline that defines the W service and staff aim to get as many
“WOW’s” from a guest as possible.
Our visit to the W fell over one of Bali’s busiest
weekends. As a result, the hotel was full. Even
so, the management was able to accommodate
us in one of their 158 retreats and suites. Honestly, I would have been happy to just stay in the
room - fresh sage green accents against grey
and white interiors, created an impression that
makes one stop at the door and enter slowly,
just so you won’t miss anything. My first WOW!
All retreats have the signature W bed with 350
Weekendin 62
thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and a
goose down comforter, a BOSE® sound system,
an iPod docking station, access to high-speed
wireless internet, a deep soaking bathtub (that
the boys would be comfortable swimming in)
and a rainforest shower. Then we spotted the
wicked Munchie Box™ and the flat screened
LED TV – and because our room was on the 5th
level, we had a Skylight in the bathroom!
The view from the balcony showcases the Indian Ocean and its powerful waves that have
been the magnet to thousands of visitors for
decades, safely placing Bali on the list of top
tourist destinations. From the 5th floor, the pool
mirrors the shapes of the rice paddies seen in
the rural areas of Ubud and we had a bird’s eye
view of the restaurants and bars so that we
could strategise what we wanted to do next.
While the boys and their dad went to the beach
and pool first, I went for a general look see. I
visited the Wired and Words business centre,
library and the W lounge where I enjoyed a cappuccino and took far too many photographs of
the mad-hatter display of cakes and sweets. This
is afternoon tea at the W - impossibly high cakes
and bowls of sweets and cookies; mini mouthwatering sweet treats displayed ready for Alice
to enjoy.
Aerial view from Wet Deck
By Tanya Micallef
Lunch was at the Starfish Bloo restaurant where
we were escorted into an underwater fantasy.
Beautifully constructed, elegant, oversized bamboo lobster cages fill the room, with circular
seating inside each one. As my eyes followed
them up to the ceiling, my attention was diverted to the chandeliers fashioned out of bamboo
to look like jellyfish. Sea glass coloured pillars
support the room, rising up like coral sculptures
and everything finds its context when you look
out at the ocean’s spectacular view framed by
the open concertina doors.
There are no words to describe the Pan Asian
cuisine that was served. All I will say is that I ate
incredibly slowly so that I could savour every
morsel. When I asked my youngest, “how much
out of ten?” He said, “can I say twenty?”
The boys flew kites while I went to the 24 hour
spa. Yes – a 24 hour Spa. The walk up to the spa
is tranquil and fairly typical of a spa, but that’s
where the predictable element ends. Walk
through the doors and you feel like you are in
a time capsule that takes you into the future.
There is an Oxygen Lounge an