As I sit here in the airport in Denpasar, Bali, waiting to check into my 1 am flight to Guangzhou, China, I am already reflecting on my first trip south of the equator. Out of all of the tropical destinations I’ve been (Thailand, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and now Indonesia), I can say with confidence that Bali has been my absolute favourite. A bit hot for my liking (it was approximately 31 degrees celsius during my entire stay!), but absolutely amazing nonetheless.

It’s pretty rare when I can say that a hotel was a highlight of my trip, but if you’ve been following me on Instagram, I’m sure you know by now that my stay at Bisma Eight definitely qualifies as such. Located in the cultural hub of Ubud, this oasis is just off the main strip but surrounded by serenity. You’ll understand by the end of this post why Bisma Eight is worth the splurge. The hotel is an absolute dream for design fiends like myself. But it’s hard to see why anyone wouldn’t fall in love with this boutique hotel.

As soon as I entered, I was greeted by striking contemporary architecture… and a welcome drink. No complaints here.

THE ROOM

The room was immaculate. And bigger than my apartment back in Vancouver. I’m not joking. It was 580 square feet… my apartment at home is 540 square feet. The interior design was stunning and used modern lines and plenty of texture. Wood details were everywhere – bamboo weaves and teak wrapped the room in warmth and style, and all furnishings were sourced from local makers with one exception, the Japanese style soaking tub (which I put to very good use). Everything was perfection.

THE BREAKFAST

Breakfast is included when you stay at Bisma Eight, and even if it weren’t, I would still highly recommend stopping by their restaurant, Copper, for a mighty fine breakfast/brunch. Breakfast came with amazing Indonesian coffee, juice, fresh fruit, pastries, a choice of many options (I opted for avocado on toast most mornings), and your choice of sides (my favs were the sauteed greens). I really appreciated the selection at the hotel restaurant, as it was very vegetarian-friendly. No compromises needed.

The setting was also beautiful. I got to choose between sitting in their airy indoor space, or outside on the expansive patio. I can say that I was very (VERY) excited for breakfast every day.

THE POOL

If you’ve checked out Bisma Eight on Instagram, chances are you’ve seen the dream-like infinity pool that overlooks the jungle. And yes, it really does live up to the pictures. The whole hotel has this really zen vibe, and it extended to the pool area which I appreciated. Never crowded, never too loud, it was truly a perfect place to find peace and also cool off from the sweltering Bali heat.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

The hotel offers a number of complimentary activities such as bicycle rides, cooking classes, visits to their gardens, and daily yoga classes at sunrise. While I didn’t have the opportunity to participate in many of these, I did make sure I made it to the daily yoga class most mornings. It was a great way to start the day and the instructor provided multiple modifications so you could adjust the class to your preference of difficulty.

Aside from organized activites, the hotel also has a gym for guests to use – equipped with a treadmill, an elliptical, an upright bike, free weights, and other machines. For those who like a little more ‘chill’, there is a cafe on site that makes a mean ‘anything you could ever want that involves coffee’, and a library full of books to cozy up with.

THE SERVICE

I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced service like that of Bisma Eight. At a hotel or anywhere else. It was truly incredible. The staff was so friendly, extremely polite, and attentive. They truly make you feel welcomed and always go above and beyond to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

 

All in all, Bisma Eight was hands-down a major highlight of my trip. I honestly could’ve just stayed on the hotel grounds during my entire stay in Ubud and had been more than happy. Mind you, I’m glad I did get out to explore, but you get the picture.

Bisma Eight provided a whole other level of hotel experience, and I’m already looking forward to returning someday.

*Part of my stay was complimentary courtesy of Bisma Eight, but as always, all opinions are my own.