Alila Villas Soori Review: Soothing Black Sand On Bali’s Quiet Side

The first thing we notice when we walk into the villa is pool, glistening just below the French windows.

We’re being diligently shown round our new digs by a lovely smiling bellboy (who shows us proudly how he’s sprinkled rose petals in the bath as it’s our honeymoon – sweet!) but really all we want to do is send him on his way, open those doors and jump straight in, clothes and all.

The space: Alila Villas Soori, luxe villas set on the south west stretch of Bali, overlooking a stunning volcanic black sand beach

The vibe: Calm, soothing luxury – the slow paced, chilled out side of the Indonesian island

The brag: Wandering the deserted black sand Bali beach, coconut in hand #Balilife

The Instagram shot:

Away from the bustle of Ubud, far from the popular dives sites and a million miles from partytime in Kuta, the Tabanan coast is a quieter, lesser-developed part of Bali. And that’s the biggest attraction to the stylish Alila villas that sprawl along the coastline.

The low-rise structures don’t obscure the landscape and there’s a feel of real Bali in the air.

THE HITS

The beach. On arrival I fell completely for the black sand – glittering in the sunshine and stretching deserted for miles, save for the odd Balinese fisherman.

The private pool. The villas are luxurious in the way you find throughout Alila’s Bali properties, soaked in tropical temperatures, green and lush and with shiny modern interiors – all ergonomically designed and sleek.

And the pool is just fab. It feels like such a lovely treat to have your own one that you can jump into from your bedroom. It’s nice and refreshing and totally makes up for the fact that most of the time the waves are so strong the beach is best for paddling, not swimming.

Floating cushions: We thought we’d spend all our time in said private pool but with giant floating cushions in the main pool, we headed there to lie in the sunshine and drift around, the sound of the ocean hitting the beach below.

The pool has several booths you can commandeer for the day so make sure you nab one - but beware, you’ll need your sun hat as they come with little shade.

Spa: One of the main things to do in Alila Villas Soori is visit the spa on site. All the treatments you’d expect are on the menu and many incorporate the mineral-rich black sands from the beach out front.

Couples treatments are available (ideal for honeymooners) and involve an intense programme of foot massage, full body massage, exfoliation and a steam experience.

The spa ladies are lovely and the massages good and firm but the black marble set up does make the spa feel a little like a bachelor pad when you walk in – for all the frangipani floating in bowls and scented candles filling the air!

Treats: Let the staff know if you’re on honeymoon or a special occasion so they know to add the extra romantic touches – a rose petal bath here, a selection of chocolates there. As with everywhere in Bali, the staff are lovely and genuinely seem to hope you’re having a good time.

THE MISSES

If you get bored easily, you might prefer somewhere a little more happening. We spent a few days here on our tour round the island and it was a welcome break after the busy-ness of our first week in the country. But after recharging for a few days we were ready to explore further. (Alila does do combinations so you can arrange to stay at two or even three of its Bali properties to move around and get an idea of more of the island.)

If you want to be able to set up in one place for your whole holiday, get the best of both worlds and enquire about day trips and excursions that get you out in the local area with enough time to properly chill. (We had great fun Segwaying through the paddy fields.)

Spa: The exfoliation part of our spa treatment was a bit odd. You lie on a hot stone table and there are several shower heads above your body that are used to wash off the products. I peeked out from under my eye mask and thought my husband looked rather like he was on the X Files. But rest assured the soft-skin results suggest otherwise!

The deets: Rates start from £279 per night for a One Bedroom Villa. For more information visit http://www.alilahotels.com/soori