Top resort in Kuta, Ramayana Suites

Do you want to read about a top resort in Kuta? Are you interested in a luxury couples getaway in Bali? Then keep reading.

2019 has been a busy year for us. Not just with our full time jobs, but also our travels. After taking 13 flights, packing, unpacking and cramming as much we could into trips to Melbourne, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Japan, Cairns and Darwin we were in need of some relaxation.

The choice for us was obvious. Bali. Like many people from Perth, Bali is the logical place if looking for a relaxing holiday in a well appointed hotel. So we booked a flight and accommodation and went off to Sunglass Hut to buy a new pair of sunglasses. That’s it, the trip was planned. Jetstar had a convenient flight leaving early afternoon to arrive in time for dinner. So I worked the morning and headed off to the airport. A mere 3.5hr flight and we would be enjoying some blissful relaxation.

Bali Tourism

The island of Bali is a true paradise, with its cascading rice terraces, vibrant sunsets and unique culture, the island has not only established itself, but has continued growth in tourism. Despite its tiny footprint, Bali’s 5 million tourists a year enjoy the islands’ reputation as a wonderful, enchanting place for rest and pampering. Bali is known as the island of the Gods and it has a unique culture. The people are gentle, humble and spiritual.

Why stay in Kuta?

So why would we choose to stay in the heart of Kuta’s commotion on one of Kuta’s busiest streets? After all, don’t most tourists who want to experience culture and spirituality head to Ubud?

Kuta gets a bad rap and is known as the party capital of Bali, where the traffic is chaotic, and entire families ride together on one scooter. The shops and markets are also crazy busy and many would recommend you give the area a wide berth. Frankly most people tell us not to stay in Kuta. But those who know us, now we like to make up our own minds. But Kuta also is a wonderful contradiction of calm, serene and spiritual with some beautiful hotels and resorts and depending on what you are looking it may be a worth a second chance.

Ramayana Suites, a top resort in Kuta

One such place is Ramayana Suites and we knew from previous stays, we would receive the serenity we sought. We were treated like we were the centre of attention from the staff, and it’s a place where the staff pride themselves on good customer service.

The resort is a lovely lux place to stay, where they listen to their patrons and during recent renovations, they clearly delivered. Ramayana has been in Kuta 30 years, and they not only know how to treat their guests, they also know how to treat their staff. A result of this is many of their staff have been employed there almost since their inception. One such staff member was Dewa, the pool attendant who chatted to us regularly while attending his duties. He was telling us he’d been working at Ramayana since it opened 30 years ago. We have been friends with Putu, the Team Leader at the Pool Bar and Gabah since our first visit 5 years ago and enjoyed meeting Richard, Host Manager and Tom, Guest Experience Quality Officer. It is great to see them not only visible around the resort, but both took the time on several occasions to sit and chat. There are many more staff who, during our stay, went out of their way to make sure our needs were being taken care of. So much so, it now feels like our second home and the staff make us feel like family, rather than patrons.

Location, location, location

The resort is a short drive from the Ngurah Rai International airport and our transfers were included in the rate. Trust me, walking into the arrivals hall and being greeted by a throng of drivers all vying for your attention (and business) can be confronting and not the ideal way to start a peaceful holiday. We located our driver, calmly standing with a sign showing our name and made our way to the awaiting vehicle. Our driver was very humble, welcoming and had great English, so during our 20 minute drive we had a lovely chat about our return to Bali and he was very grateful this was our 3rd stay at Ramayana. Despite being located in a prime location in busy Kuta, once we stepped inside the lavish Balinese resort we felt like we were in a secluded tropical oasis.

It was lovely to see the upgrades, the new foyer was stunning and our check in was very quick and efficient. We were soon shown to our accommodation, a Lumbung Suite on the upper level, overlooking the pool.

The luxurious property recently unveiled new premium accommodation in 39 new elegant rooms including eight signature Lumbung, Rama, One bedroom suites and Two bedroom residences. The details of clean white walls blend with modern Balinese decor, classy teak furnishing in each room which has a kitchenette, bath tub and terrace with a daybed overlooking the lush gardens and brand new swimming pool.

Ramayana truly lives up to its commitment to deliver an outstanding service and meets their guarantee to meet guests expectations down to the smallest details.

Staying here was the perfect indulgence for us to relax, rejuvenate and recharge and with our Lumbung Suite package we received complimentary private airport transfers and enjoyed daily afternoon tea in the suites lounge.

Ramayana really is a tranquil getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life but within easy access to the insanely beautiful, legendary sunsets that Kuta Beach is famous for.

And best of all, because Bali is compact, it’s easy to do daytrips to anywhere on the island easily from Kuta. And after a long day of white water rafting, parasailing, or hiking Mount Batur you’ll want a place to kick off your thongs (flip flops) and relax. We feel Ramayana is one of the best places to do that as it’s the perfect spot to unwind with a cocktail, cool off in the pool or loosen those knots in the spa.

I cannot recommend Ramayana Suites highly enough, with it’s superb facilities and staff who go out of their way to make you feel at home, there is nothing more you could wish for. Unlike other places we have stayed, at Ramayana you are treated as family not just another guest.

Nestled in the most prime location of Kuta, this resort is an urban sanctuary with all the 5 star amenities. This oasis is located near Kuta’s vibrant shopping and amongst numerous restaurants and a choice of various cuisines is right at the doorstep. Despite the hustle and bustle of the surrounding area of Kuta, you enter the resort to calm, peaceful sophistication inside the grounds.

It’s no secret that Bali is home to some of the most spectacular sunsets in the world so the best part of staying at Ramayana in Kuta is it’s a mere 3 minute walk to the famous Kuta beach where you can enjoy a refreshing Bintang whilst watching the iconic Bali sunset. Each evening we wandering across to the beach, found a local selling icy cold Bintang. As soon as you receive your Bintang from their Esky, they pull up a plastic chair to make yourself at home and you are welcome to stay for the next few hours. Enjoying the banter with the locals, watching the tourists have their surfing lesson and experiencing all the colours of the sky as the sun slowly sets is truly unforgettable. Every sunset is unique and each one is watched with awe, like it is the first sunset experienced. We have a local friend, Jenny, who since we met in 2014 has been a pleasure to spend time with. She is happy to assist with a little grooming, braiding, plucking, trimming and massage or just sit and chat. She has also been known to communicate with the occasional persistent local who continues to pester us to buy after we kindly and politely decline their ‘special sunset price’. This usually results in them quickly moving on so we can relax and enjoy the moment of another perfect sunset. Thank you Jenny.

Ramayana is a great location for couples on their Honeymoon, those seeking a good range of places to eat and enjoy the vibrant music scene, even Bali first timers who want to experience a village vibe, with colourful juking, (Balinese fishing boats) on the beach with many warungs catering to locals.

Energetic vibe

Ramayana Suites is exactly what you expect a tropical paradise to be, attention to detail, personal service, easy stroll to the beach, and amazing staff who willingly go above and beyond to ensure patrons enjoy their stay.

Accommodation

The suite was spacious, well laid out and immaculate, decorated reflecting the Balinese culture and all have modern amenities like wifi, satellite TV, air conditioning, inbuilt kitchenette with fridge, filtered water dispenser, pod coffee machine, microwave and terrace.

From the exterior of the resort, entering the lobby and arriving at our serene Lumbung Suite, we could see the attention to detail that had gone into the 39 new elegant rooms resulting from recent renovations, transforming the standard to a five star resort. Having stayed here twice before we had very high expectations, from the perfection of the service, to the quality of the food served to us, our expectations were by far exceeded.

Our suite was out of this world and the pictures speak for themselves, from the huge king size teak bed with Egyptian cotton bedding, huge marble bathroom with freestanding bath and large, plush towels.

We were originally in an upper level Lumbung suite, however Steve mentioned during afternoon tea one day his knees were painful from the stairs and before we knew it the staff member had graciously checked availability offered to show us a ground floor suite and have us moved. This is was such a kind gesture, and one we happily accepted.

Dining Options

There are great dining options at Ramayana, both onsite and nearby.

The onsite restaurant, Gabah, was our first contact with this resort back in 2014. Their impeccable service and quality food still provides a memorable experience. Open since 2000, Gabah offers a varied mix of traditional and modern Indonesian cuisine. The sounds from the ponds adds to the relaxation of the resort.

We ate regularly at their restaurant, Gabah. Not only are the staff friendly and efficient, but the food is outstanding.

Breakfast was a great start to the day and included in the daily tariff. It could be enjoyed at the Pool Bar, in a cabana, room service or at the onsite restaurant, Gabah. There is a choice of 9 a la carte meals or full buffet. We enjoyed the variety offered for breakfast. The menu offered traditional Soto Ayam, Indonesian Rice Porridge, Nasi Goreng or Indonesian style fried noodles and local stir fired vegetables and other choices of Smoked Salmon, Omelet, Eggs Benedict, Frittata, Pancakes, Waffles or French Toast. There were also the regular toast, with spreads, including Vegemite, pastries, fresh fruits and fantastic coffee. It’s hard to find a place that makes a great flat white outside of Australia, but these people have it down pat.

Other restaurants within the complex are Stadium Sports Bar, Al Dente Italian Kitchen, Bluefin Japanese Fusion & Lounge and Seafood House Restaurant. Within the complex there is a convenience store and an onsite Doctor. There is a chemist next door on Jl Kartika. We ate several times at other restaurants within the complex. At Al Dente, an Italian pizza/pasta place we enjoyed a mouthwatering lobster with creamy pasta.

 

Amenities and additional services

Physical wellness is important too, so Ramayana’s gym is just the place to ensure you don’t forget the importance of achieving a healthy physical state. And to ensure you are rejuvenated during your stay, a spa experience unlike anywhere else awaits at The Ritual by Ambiente Spa, where the experienced therapists can provide authentic Balinese spa treatments, luxurious body rituals, facials, aromatherapy, hair treatments, manicures or a romantic couples massage. If you want a bit of indulgence, an hour with one of these therapists and your tired, old body will be in a state of absolute bliss. But best of all to take the worry out of the unavoidable tasks, a 24 hour, self service laundry is now conveniently located onsite.

And no sanctuary would be complete without a breathtaking turquoise swimming pool. The whole pool area has been redesigned with pool bar, where guests can spend their day recharging, rejuvenating and relaxing on the sunbeds or in a cabana, sipping a refreshing cocktail. My favourite is the Cointreauversial which is not on the current menu, but is a favourite from our previous visits, and the staff were only too happy to make it for me.

The Staff

All the staff we have met over the years we have been to either Ramayana or Gabah restaurant have been incredibly friendly and you can tell they take great pride and care in what they do. Whether it is the housekeeping staff, waiter in the restaurant, the person on the check in desk or pool attendant, they do their job with a huge, genuine smile on their face. Regardless of our request and how busy they were, they were gracious and their interest in chatting was sincere. It is such a pleasure to see the staff so focused on creating wonderful memories for all who stay at Ramayana. We always received impeccable service from the dedicated team who have left a warm and lasting impression. It is like the staff have as much pleasure creating the wonderful memories that we have the pleasure of taking away with us.

Ramayana always was a wonderful place to stay, but since the renovations the resort is now on a whole new level.

Relaxation

One of the aspects about Ramayana we have always loved the most is how intimate and quiet the resort feels, especially considering Kuta’s reputation for hedonistic chaos. Relaxing by the pool we regularly spotted squirrels climbing through the frangipanis and palm.

The resort has successfully combined an excellent location, luxurious accommodation and through their recent renovations, proved they not only listened to their patrons, but provided an overall experience few can match. It’s not for everyone though. If you have a predisposed opinion of Kuta and can’t look beyond that or are expecting to compare with some of the Kuta hotels who do little more than provide a bed to lay on, then this urban sanctuary is not for you. If you appreciate value and are looking for a little pampering, or even a lot of indulging, then this is the place for you. Ramayana made our stay wonderfully memorable for all the right reasons and we can’t wait to return back again.

Ramayana is truly the place to come if you really want to relax, even though Kuta is not renown as a destination to unwind, but that’s honestly what we did. Other than an Asian inspired and extremely delicious lunch and a dental appointment in Seminyak, all our time was spent in Kuta and pretty much the majority of our time just enjoying ourselves by the pool.

While we could have easily spent the entire trip and been happily content at Ramayana when we weren’t on Kuta Beach watching the splendid sunsets. But we discovered two cinemas nearby. One was at Beachwalk shopping centre and the other at Lippo Mall. For as little as AU$3.50 each we watched latest release movies, like Maleficent, Addams Family, and Terminator, Dark Fate, not currently released yet at home. Steve also had a hot shave in a nearby shopping mall. One afternoon on Kuta Beach there was a funeral service taking place, where they later released the ashes to the sea.

We spent 12 days and our own money putting together this review so you can be assured our recommendations are genuine about our experience at the fantastic Ramayana Suites. We also took the opportunity to capture a memory of our time at Ramayana and have a little photo shoot. Some photos of us throughout this article were taken by D.A.R. Photography who we highly recommend. The photographer, Didit was really good at putting us at ease and we were very pleased with the results.

Do you ever book a trip that you plan purely for relaxation? Would you stay in a luxury five star resort in Kuta? Have you had a location photoshoot?

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