Maya Ubud Resort & Spa

Maya Ubud Resort & Spa is built for the part of your trip when you want Bali to slow down a little. Suites and villas sit among tropical gardens, rice-field views and the Petanu River, with traditional Balinese details paired with the practical comforts you expect from a modern resort. The setting is substantial rather than showy: 108 rooms across a large green property, with enough space between the central areas and the river valley to make a short walk feel like a change of scene.

English and Indonesian are spoken at reception, so you can sort out the useful things without resorting to semaphore after a long travel day. Butler service is attached to the suite and villa categories, while the resort’s layout gives you several ways to spend an afternoon: pool, spa, garden, yoga pavilion or simply a terrace with a view. Couples will find plenty aimed at slow days together, while families have a kids’ club and a separate children’s pool.

You are in Ubud, Indonesia, at Jl. Gunung Sari Peliatan, on the edge of a valley beside the Petanu River. This is an inland base, surrounded by jungle, hills, rice fields and river scenery rather than a beach. The resort sits close enough to Ubud’s cultural sights for a town visit, but far enough out for the grounds to feel removed from the main streets.

Ubud Palace is about 1.1 miles away, and Monkey Forest about 1.3 miles. The resort runs a free shuttle to Ubud city centre, which is the sensible option when you would rather save your legs for walking through the town rather than negotiating Balinese roads. Campuhan Ridge Walk, the museums around Ubud and the area’s rice terraces are also within reach, while Kanto Lampo Waterfall is about 2 miles away.

Ngurah Rai International Airport is 17 miles from the resort. Airport transfers can be arranged with Maya Ubud, and the journey is a road transfer rather than a simple hop across town. In return, you get a genuinely green setting close to Ubud’s sights, with a shuttle removing much of the transport faff.

The practical choice depends on how much space you want between yourself, your travelling companion and the contents of your dive bag. The Impressive Forest Suites are the straightforward option for a couple, with king or twin arrangements, a sitting area, air conditioning, a minibar, a terrace and garden or forest views. Corner suites give you more room to spread out, which is useful when the day’s clothing has been through several changes and the wardrobe is losing the argument.

For a more private stay, the Heavenly Jacuzzi and Pool Villas add a much larger living environment and a private outdoor feature. The two-bedroom pool villa and Presidential Villa are aimed at families or groups of up to six, with separate sleeping arrangements rather than everyone negotiating for the same bathroom. Some stay options include butler service, and selected offers include a complimentary spa voucher; one pool-villa option also includes a floating breakfast.

Every room and villa is air-conditioned, with a television carrying satellite channels, a private bathroom with bath and shower facilities, slippers, bathrobes and a hairdryer. There is a kettle for the first drink of the day and a minibar for cold supplies. Free WiFi is available throughout the resort. The beds were highly rated for comfort, but the more useful point is the choice between a compact forest suite, a twin arrangement or a villa where you can close the door on the rest of your party.

Breakfast is available as a buffet and à la carte at Mayasari, with dinner served there as well. The restaurant works indoors in air conditioning or outside on the terrace beside the main pool, so you can choose between a cool start and an open-air table. Evening meals can come with Balinese performances, including Kecak, Barong and Ramayana dance. It is dinner with something happening around it, rather than another anonymous plate eaten under a ceiling light.

The River Café sits in the open air beside the river and serves Italian-inspired favourites overlooking the Infinity Riverside Pool and the rainforest wall beyond. It is the obvious place for a lighter, unhurried meal when you want the scenery to do some of the work. The Tree Bar occupies an open-air pavilion above the Ubud valley, with international dishes carrying a Mediterranean influence, plus beer, cocktails and wine by the glass.

Tree Bar also serves complimentary afternoon tea between 16:00 and 17:00. A snack bar, coffee house and minibar add useful options when you are not ready for a full meal, while special-diet menus can be requested. The resort also offers themed dinners, teppanyaki, cooking classes, villa barbecues, romantic dinners and occasional full-moon dinners with Balinese dance performances.

Three pools give you different versions of a non-productive afternoon. The Infinity Forest Pool looks across the trees, while the Infinity Riverside Pool hangs above the Petanu River and rainforest. A separate outdoor Kids Pool keeps younger swimmers away from the adult-facing pool areas. Children are strictly prohibited from entering or accessing the Infinity Riverside Pool, so families need to keep that rule in mind when choosing where to settle.

Spa at Maya takes you down towards the river, with treatment pavilions reached by walkways through the foliage. Treatments include massages, facials, body treatments and purification rituals, and there is a spa lounge and relaxation area for the part where you stop pretending to be in a hurry. The fitness centre is air-conditioned and overlooks the gardens; the shaded yoga pavilion covers 187 square metres and hosts private and group sessions, including aerial and wall yoga.

If sitting still starts to feel suspicious, you can play tennis, hire a bicycle, join a cooking class or take a guided walk. The programme also reaches beyond the grounds, with rice-field walks, temple and museum visits, markets, waterfalls, jungle buggy trips, rafting and excursions to rice terraces. The Kids Club opens daily from 08:30 to 13:30, and children can also join cooking classes. There is enough here for a couple to fill several days without turning every hour into an organised event.

Check-in starts from 15:00 and check-out runs until 12:00. The reception operates around the clock, with concierge service, private and express check-in or check-out, currency exchange and luggage storage. Free parking is available on site, including valet parking, and WiFi is free throughout the resort. Car hire, bicycle rental, laundry and ironing services are available when you need to keep the trip moving.

An airport shuttle is available on request and should be arranged with the resort. The free shuttle to Ubud city centre is the useful everyday service, particularly if you plan to visit Ubud Palace, Monkey Forest, museums or the town’s restaurants. A tour desk can help with excursions, while an on-site infirmary and a doctor on request cover the less glamorous side of travel.

Children of all ages are welcome. Children aged four and over are treated as adults for occupancy purposes, while cots for younger children and extra beds can be requested, subject to the selected accommodation and availability. Pets are not allowed. The resort also has wheelchair-accessible facilities, including toilets with grab rails.