Ubud villas attract art lovers, honeymooners

The Jakarta Post, Ubud

Lovers of art, culture, traditional villages or outdoor activities might well choose Ubud village to spend their holiday.

The once quiet, pristine Ubud has now been transformed into a dynamic and vigorous settlement filled with a wide range of activities from the arts and culture to business and sports.

A haven for both local and international artists, intellectuals and budget tourists, Ubud is now a paradise for the rich and famous, young executives and honeymooners.

The increasing number of new niche markets has encouraged the rapid development of luxury accommodation. The sprawl of villas along the Ayung and Petanu rivers is an obvious sign.

Onny Djatmiko, owner of Villa Anahata, located on the banks of the Petanu River, said that Ubud, as the heart of Bali's cultural center, was increasing in popularity among more sophisticated Indonesians and foreigners.

"Ubud has always been a source of inspiration for artists and lovers of art," said Onny.

First-time visitors to Bali will definitely choose to stay in Kuta, Nusa Dua or Seminyak. Many other places in the world offer beautiful beaches, such as Hawaii, Florida, the Gold Coast, the Maldives or Mauritius. Those who have done a lot of traveling might not find beach resorts in Bali anything special.

"But Ubud is indeed a unique place with its rich, unique culture and natural beauty that cannot be found anywhere else in the world," she added.

The flood of affluent clientele has affected the growth of the luxury villa business in the area. "The villa business is quite strong in Bali. Staying at a villa is becoming a trend in Bali, as it offers a different holiday experience," she added.

Even though the prospects for villa businesses are good at present, one has to be extremely careful now because there is dangerous tendency of a "me-too" business mentality.

"We can now see that many new villas are being built all over Bali. If we are not careful, there will be a serious oversupply," she maintained.

Kamandalu Villa and Resort general manager Wawan Dharmawan believes that the villa business is still healthy and the market is not yet saturated. "It is encouraging to see new market growth since early 2005," Wawan said, adding that the number of Japanese tourists willing to stay in luxury villas was increasing drastically, followed by Australians and Europeans.

"What's more, visitors from Malaysia and Singapore are beginning to find peace in Ubud," he noted.

Travel agent from the Netherlands, Cornelis Klesman, found that trekking along the yellow paddy fields was a soothing experience. "For many Europeans, getting involved in village and artistic activities of the Ubud community is a memorable experience," he said.

Chinese painter Yu Xiaou Fu extended his stay in Ubud to find more inspiration and to experience the tranquil atmosphere.

To attract clients to their villas requires a special strategy since hundreds of beautifully built villas are available in Ubud and its surroundings.

Onny of Villa Anahata said most villas in Ubud target newlywed couples, international movie stars, and top businesspeople." Our major target is families," Onny stressed.

Yoga courses are a unique activity offered by Anahata to its guests. "Moreover, we offer many other activities, not only for adults but also for the children, together or in solitude, such as barbecues and picnics in the garden, paddy field trekking or horse riding, as well as DVD players and video games in the villas."

Kamandalu divides its complex into two areas: garden villas for families and pool villas for couples and honeymooners. "This division will allow both types of clientele to enjoy a memorable holiday," Wawan said.

Yoga, meditation, body and soul treatments, paddy-field trekking, cycling, bird watching and rafting are among programs offered by most villas in Ubud.

Paul Blake, general manager of the award-winning Maya Ubud, for instance, said the property offered "To do Today" guest activities including pilates, a form of physical exercise designed to coordinate mind, body and breathing movements.

"In such a tranquil environment, away from the bustle of daily routine, the Maya Ubud creates the ideal setting to engage in light, healthy activities while vacationing on this magical island," Blake commented.

Numerous beautiful villas and resorts including the newly opened Ubud Hanging Garden are available if you decide to stay in Ubud.

Welcome to the village of the arts.