The surprisingly beautiful Arma Resort Ubud is part of one of the best museums in Bali, the Arma Museum.
While we can’t consider it an eco-hotel, the Arma Resort does focus on the cultural heritage of Bali and does all they can to conserve it. This is not only done in their museum but the resort pretty much breathes Bali.
The statues, the garden, the architecture is all very traditional Balinese. Even the pool has black and white tiles, something which you can see throughout Bali. The Balinese believe it resembles day and night, good spirits and bad spirits.
This luxury resort is tastefully situated just around the corner on the slopes of rice paddies. From your verandah, you can even hear the sounds of a small river running through the hotel grounds.
The Rooms
The resort is divided into standard rooms, superior rooms, deluxe rooms, Kokokan suites, and 8 private villas, all with large balconies or verandahs. All the rooms are decorated with heavy Balinese furniture and decorations.
The standard room seems ‘simple’ because of the type of furniture. However, compared to the superior room it feels more spacious. The bathroom in the superior rooms has stone walls creating a cave-like feeling. This does, in my opinion, make the room a bit dark
The private Villas
The villas are on the other hand in a league of their own. If you can spend some extra then consider staying here. The villas at the Arma resort were built in 2000. They can be divided into Superior Villas (4 units), Suite Villas (2 units) and Family Villas (2 units).
The villas are set in a lush garden with colorful flowers and various plants. This makes the whole holiday picture as tropical as it can get…
The one and two-bedroom villas are really eye-catching with their plunge pools, jacuzzis, romantic gazebos, sculpted sandstone statues, and spacious beautiful decorated rooms.
The rooms are not designed in a way you see a lot these days in Bali.
Unlike many villas that have the Balinese contemporary minimalist style, Agung Rai, the owner of Arma Resort wants the design to reflect Bali as it is with the Balinese Alang-Alang roofs, Balinese paintings, the use of dark wood and classy furniture.
And I think he has succeeded with this approach…
However, don’t expect to find modern audio equipment in the villa rooms. Agung Rai specifically chose not to place a TV or radio in the rooms. This ensures that visitors will experience a calm mind and return to nature during their stay.
The Restaurants
The villa resort has three restaurants. One is called the Kokokan Club, which is their Thai restaurant near the resort’s main entrance (there are three entrances). The other one is called Kafe Arma located at the museum entrance where Italian is served.
The Poolside restaurant serves tea and coffee all day, cocktails and light meals such as sandwiches.
The resort is as charming as it can be with its many statues, paintings, tropical gardens, a stream, and rice field views. It is a perfect place to stay if you want to explore Ubud and be surrounded by the Balinese atmosphere 24/7.
If you are an early riser try to go on the Golden Hour tour with the owner Agung Rai. Here you will experience the real traditional life by visiting Balinese villages (at 6 am).