Waking up to 'pinch me moments' in beautiful Bali!

There really is no place like Bali - from the wave of heat that hits you as you step off the plane, to the crowds of friendly people trying to assist you in any way they can, to the incredible surroundings that take your breath away everywhere you go. If you follow me over on Instagram, you would have seen that last month I had the pleasure of spending a week in Bali - the most perfect combination of relaxation and vitamin D, it really doesn't get much better than that!

We arrived in Bali around 9pm after catching a post-work Friday flight out of Perth (how lucky am I that Bali is a short 3.5 hour flight away?!). Our first stop and where we would spend the first 3 nights in Bali, the amazing The Samata in the beachside location of Sanur.

I'm actually not quite sure if words can describe how amazing The Samata was. As we woke up in our Ocean View Suite, we took in the incredible view of the resort's main pool area, the villas, followed by the greenest rice fields and lastly, the blue ocean. The dictionary definition of paradise if I ever did see it. Sanur quickly became one of my new favourite spots in Bali and my version of paradise had been realised. Definitely a few pinch me moments, that's for sure.

The next few days went a little bit like this: waking up with the sun to breakfast on the balcony, admiring the aforementioned view, followed by some relaxation on the balcony day bed, poolside hangs (with a cocktail of course!) and exploring the grounds of The Samata and the surrounding area of Sanur. We even got to catch an early morning sunrise down by the water (a short walk from Resort itself) and I have never seen the most beautiful pinks and purples rising over the water than I had in that moment.

While I'm sure some of these images will have you booking a flight to Bali before you know it (take me with you!!!), here's 8 reasons The Samata, Sanur is my choice of paradise in Bali (and why I'll be going back super soon!)

1. The Room with a View

Waking up to the most incredible view over the rice fields and blue ocean was my favourite part of my stay at The Samata. A giant balcony, a bed with a view and landscape for days was everything I needed to give me the feeling I was in the middle of an isolated, relaxing, quiet paradise. Our room, aptly named the Ocean View Suite, was incredibly spacious (especially the bathroom which was about the same size of my living-dining-kitchen combined!), a King bed situated to take in the view too, a gigantic balcony and separate lounge and work area. When can I move in?!

2. THE VILLAS

While we stayed in the Ocean View Suite, there are also a number of 1 and 2 bedroom Villas on the premises at The Samata, and boy did they look incredible. Private pool? Check. Spacious living space? Check? No reason to leave your Villa, like ever? Check! I'd be quite happy to shack up in one of those bad boys for a week and forget about the outside world, that's for sure.

3. The Pools (yes, all 3 of them!)

The best part about Bali is the sunshine coupled with the relaxation coupled with the pool, so basically relaxing in the sunshine by the pool, haha. At The Samata, there's the choice of 3 pools, 4 if you're staying in one of the Villas that have their own private pool. Now that is what I call being a lady of leisure! The first two infinity pools are in the main area of the Resort and overlook the stunning rice fields. The third pool is situated outside the gym and yoga area, where there are also additional rooms for Resort guests. Probably a good place to mention that if you love exercising, the gym at The Samata is HUGE! There's even a boxing ring! I wish I knew how to exercise ... hehe.

4. THE ADDED EXTRAS

As if The Samata wasn't already blowing my mind, the little added extras were definitely the icing on the cake. From an Airport Pickup and local Sanur drop off whenever we felt like heading into the town, the tricky side of transport was taken care of. Things like a 3-course breakfast (we all know how much I love food!), welcome drinks upon arrival, fresh fruit in the room each day and choices between a 'normal' and an 'extra healthy' menu - The Samata had every little detail covered.

5. the seclusion of the resort

When I think of Bali I think of relaxation, so seclusion and quietness is something I definitely put first when choosing a place to stay. As The Samata is surrounded by rice fields, water, and is located on a quiet side street in Sanur, you could literally hear a pin drop in the distance. Relaxation at it's absolute finest. The best part is there are only 10 Suites / Villas on the premises, so there are also minimal people staying at the Resort while you are - meaning most of the time, it feels as though you are staying there all by yourself. Even better!

6. The RESORT grounds

The grounds at The Samata are absolutely to die for. When we first arrived it was night time, but despite that, I was already captured by the feeling of magic at what I saw. When I woke up that morning and had the chance to explore, what I discovered was even more beautiful than I imagined. All the Villas and Suites are positioned to take in the magical view of the rice fields and the main pool area is in the centre of the beautiful Resort. The check-in and reception area is located next to the pools, and as an outdoor area, enables you take in the incredible surroundings at your first encounter of the Resort. Perfection.

7. The location

While Seminyak and Kuta might be the "busy hubs" of Bali, there's a lot to be said about heading out to the beach for a slice of relaxation. As someone who usually does stay amongst the hustle and bustle of the main parts of Bali, I had heard a lot about the beachside towns and it was definitely something I knew I needed to experience on this trip.

The Samata is situated amongst the greenest rice fields and is a 10 minute walk from the water, a beautiful contrast to each other. A 10 minute car ride thanks to the Resort's driver gets you to Sanur town centre too, where boardwalks full of restaurants, hotels and beach-side bars line the waterfront. It really is a little escape from the hustle and bustle of the main parts of Bali, but with enough to keep you occupied and so you can enjoy the balance of what is relaxation but also the Balinese culture.

8. The HOSPITALITY

The amazing humans working at The Samata were nothing short of kind and helpful throughout my entire stay and that goes a long way! Always willing to answer questions, have a chat, or go above and beyond, it definitely made my time there that little bit (if it was possible!) more comfortable and enjoyable. Can't wait to see you all again sometime soon (I hope!).

So while I'm now back on Australian soil, I have been dreaming about this place ever since I got home and trying to figure out the next time I will be back. The Samata blew my mind and if you're looking for a relaxing stay in Bali - I could not recommend this place more! I hope the imagery did some talking for what I couldn't put into words. Until next time!

Ash x

A huge thank you to Lifestyle Retreats and The Samata for welcoming us - I cannot wait to get back to take in that indescribable view again! xx

WAKING UP AT THE SAMATA, BALI