This has to be one of the best boutique hotels around, partly because the design director was none other than the renowned milliner Philip Treacy (my all time favorite milliner). His aim was to make it feel like a film set – looking at the photo’s I’d say he’s achieved it. In 2006 the spa received an award for ‘The Best Spa, Health and Leisure Interiors’.
The hotel’s web site claims that their pink salon is destined to become their signature room. It is certainly distinctive with its black and white vortex carpet, but a little busy for me. For me I prefer the Grand Salon – a calm oasis in oyster and silver with stunning mirrors and a light installation by Tom Dixon. The blue lounge is a more masculine public room adorned with gilded mirrors and sumptuous furniture. Shells, glass tables and ammonites seem to be a pervading theme and all add to the tranquil atmosphere.
The Grand Salon
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Situated a couple of hours by ferry from Singapore (see things to do in Singapore) Bintan Island, and especially the Banyan Tree Resort, is a little piece of heaven, and a popular week-end escape for Singaporeans who can afford to visit. The resort is situated at the north western tip of the Island.
The hotel has a great spa - I indulged in a lovely ‘Lomi Lomi’ (Hawaiian) massage which was extremely relaxing rather than the more ‘sports style’ massage. The Banyan Tree also has an outdoor yoga pavilion overlooking the sea – well worth a visit. You can join in group sessions or book a private yoga lesson for up to 2 people. The hotel has 2 beautiful pools, one is circular on the ‘middle level’ near where the spa is and the other is down by the beach – a few minutes walk from the central areas.
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This is one of the nicest hotels I have stayed in – ever!
Sayan is very close to the cultural Balinese town of Ubud and the hotel is set in an exquisite location, in a valley with a river at the bottom and terraced rice paddies across the valley. My lasting impression of the hotel is that is it very sympathetically designed to fit in with the surroundings and everywhere you go in the hotel you seem to hear trickling water, whether from the river at the bottom of the valley, or the man-made ‘river’ at the back of the main part of the hotel.
Along with our driver we were a bit bemused on arrival because we couldn’t see the hotel, and weren’t sure we were in the right place! We quickly discovered the hotel is below you – accessed by a wooden walkway that leads to a large circular lotus flower pond which is actually on the roof of the hotel. You walk down some steps through the middle of the pond, past reception and down to a lounge and bar area that manages to be both colonial and modern at the same time.
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