With enough chic luxury to make you feel like a princess—or a prince—Adiwana Monkey Forest Resort is the perfect hotel for some chill-out time in Ubud. The last leg of a holiday further afield in Indonesia, Ubud, is like a decompression chamber for the body and soul, with a stay at Adiwana Monkey Forest Resort completing the picture of leisurely time out with a daughter.
Adiwana Monkey Forest Resort has taken the hard slog out of arriving at Denpasar International Airport and making your way up to Ubud by offering a transfer from the airport. Years ago, the drive was a picturesque tour through various small villages specializing in different craftsmanships mingled with open rice paddies. It's now virtually a sprawling urban affair leading into the lush hills of Ubud. The countryside vibe along the route has disappeared, and the roads can be bumper to bumper during peak hours. Still, it's worth the drive rather than staying in Bali's often overcrowded beach areas. Ubud’s air is fresh and scented, the ambiance is slow, and the possibility of endless rice paddy walks is grounding.
Adiwana Monkey Forest Resort sits on a street that has been completely refurbished since COVID-19. Wall-to-wall new whitewashed shopfronts dominate the once chaotic and ramshackle buildings leading down to the Monkey Forest, which is roughly a 15-minute walk. The street is a showpiece for affluent shopaholics, with only a handful of original buildings and temple archways left. Various cute cafes, bars, and contemporary restaurants decorate the street. If you turn to the right outside the hotel, you will head to the Ubud Art Market and the Ubud Royal Palace, which are located in the main drag of Ubud.
A boutique retreat of only 21 suites, Adiwana Monkey Forest has captured the essence of Ubud’s calm with a lush tropical garden surrounding a freeform swimming pool and a delicate wooden bridge amidst the pretty garden area beside the café and reception. It oozes charm and grace with a chic touch. Suites have hanging chairs, a daybed, and a sitting area with a table perched on verandahs. Massive glass doors open into a spacious bedroom area with all the necessary attributes to make you stay comfy, including a coffee machine, which always raises how much I like a place. A bar fridge is stocked with goodies and included in the cost of your overnight stay, which is a bonus. The ensuite is massive with a separate toilet and shower, plus a big bathtub for soaking in after doing the prance around Ubud’s streets. Personal bathroom products are all-natural, plus slippers and a robe are provided. A turndown service, free WiFi, Cable TV, and all the other hoo-ha you need are on hand. I could not fault the hotel as we were lusciously cocooned in its sanctuary.
Mother and daughter time is consumed with indulgent activities such as where to eat and where to spa with a bit of shopping thrown in. Literally across the road from Adiwana Monkey Forest is the stylish Honey and Smoke wood fire bistro that will have you salivating from the moment you walk into the establishment. The wafting aromas, the creativity on a plate, and the speakeasy vibe make dining here an exciting taste bud adventure. From grilled scallops drizzled with chili butter, mint yogurt, and sumac to the inventive dish of wood-fired grouper with charred kale, kacang lima, and miso beurre blanc, you will savor every mouthful. Another new kid on the block, Hujan Local, located down a side street opposite the Ubud Art Market, is a contemporary take on traditional Indonesian fare and should not be missed for its tempting grazing menu: wrap your lips around some dumplings such as slipper lobster with chili sauce and fried curry leaf, or slowly devour rich beef rendang, and treat yourself with salted caramel popcorn ice cream with caramelized bananas and burned Italian meringue. The menu is drool-worthy.
Adiwana Monkey Forest does have its own spa—Tejas Spa Monkey Forest. But, if you feel like going further afield, head to the luxurious Maya Ubud Resort's spa, which will leave you in a state of sheer euphoria. When booking a treatment here, you can arrange a pickup and return to your hotel. The spa hangs over a river valley, putting you in an exotic tropical world of blissful escapism where soothing beauty treatments for both him and her will leave you floating in a flower bath if you wish.
Mother/daughter traveling adventures are unique, with the roles sometimes being reversed. It's all about laughing when ice cream dribbles down a chin, having the odd clash of opinion when mum can't walk as far in the heat of the middle of the day when a daughter is desperate to try out noodles in a far-flung restaurant, spending hours in the late afternoons doing nothing but hanging out and chatting—simply enjoying each other’s quirky proclivities.
Ubud is the perfect place to have time out in each other's company.
Gail Palethorpe, a self proclaimed Australian gypsy, is a freelance writer, photographer and eternal traveller. Check out her website Gail Palethorpe Photography and her Shutterstock profile.
