Heaven on earth exists, it's in Ubud, and I've been there with my family. Here is the Mandapa, The Ritz Carlton Reserve

A small premise. I kept this review jealously in my drawer for months, almost a year. I wasn't sure I wanted to share it because certain experiences can't be the same for everyone, but in the end I decided to publish it, because I couldn't keep these emotions to myself. Arm yourself with patience, because this is not a short story.

We had been to Ubud before, 16 years ago, this time not having to wander around rice paddies and temples we chose instead to stay in a unique facility, a facility where we can relax and enjoy 100% the Balinese nature and culture.

We already knew that we were going out into the real world solely and exclusively to take my daughter to see the monkey forest. That is why we chose one of the most exclusive and most incredible hotels on the entire island. Needless to say, I would never have been able to afford a stay in such a facility had it not been for the points

We were thus able to see how one of the world's most famous locations has changed since 2000, and I must say that if the movie The Beach "killed" locations like Ko Phi Phi Le and Nui Bay, Ubud was also "hit" by the success of the movie "Eat, Pray, Love" and it is never the same.

Reservation

I Ritz Carlton Reserve are a collection of hotels. within the main sign that belongs to the Marriott group . There are only seven hotels in the world, super exclusive that raise the already very high level of what an RC normally offers its guests.

When this sign was created, it was not possible to make reservations using Bonvoy points, something similar to what happens with Bvlgari hotels, the most exclusive of the insignia within the Marriott family and where status benefits are reduced.

When I found out that, thanks to the points, I could book this facility, I wasted no time and emptied my piggy bank, Not having enough points in the account or even transferring a handful of points from my Membership rewards account And I made sure Two nights at a cost of 98,000 points each.

Certainly not a cheap price, a top-notch facility price, a price with which you can stay in the Maldives and other exclusive hotels around the world, but that is exactly what we are talking about-this is a unique hotel.

To get a term of comparison on the Marriott App, the only channel along with the website where you have to book to get points and benefits related to your stay, the same two nights would have cost us €1600 per night an amount out of any possible budget of mine, and that is the reason why the Poodle collects points in every possible mode. This is the classic location Where it makes sense to use the strategy of buying points, especially When there are promotions that also give away the 100% of points, which is quite rare in Bonvoy since they rarely go beyond 40%.

Don't have points? book using Stars & Luminous

This is a place to stay 2 maximum 3 nights, it is not the Maldives where you stay 10 days. If you do not have points and want to stay at this facility my advice is to do so through the Stars&Luminous program.

This sales channel is designed for people who want to stay in the U.S. chain's luxury insignia and allows them to get major benefits such as room upgrades, free credit to spend at the property, and free breakfast. Let's say that a couple staying at this hotel thanks to booking through the ACI Blueteam Exclusive team you guarantee hundreds in savings and a better vacation (as well as many Bonvoy points).

Location

We are located about fifteen minutes from the center of Ubud, for those who have never been to Bali we are in the center of the island, in kilometers we are not very far from the most famous beaches, but the traffic is something hellish and to get here from the airport you have to put in at least 90 minutes of travel time.

The hotel is a village hidden within the valley, or perhaps it would be better to say isolated, from all the chaos around it. It really feels like going through a secret passageway, like the track in Harry Potter.

We arrived using a grab, That is, the Asian equivalent of an uber, we could also have used the transportation offered by the hotel, which is certainly more elegant and comfortable, but at a cost more than double what we paid. Obviously essential to have data connectivity, and I only ever use Airalo's eSims that I activate in just a few clicks and ensure that I have data (and sometimes voice) whenever I am outside the EU.

Ubud

If you have read Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling memoir or seen the movie based on the book with Julia Roberts "Eat, Pray, Love" you know very well what Ubud is all about.

You have seen the rice paddies, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoyed the culture and spirit in Ubud, in the heart of the island of Bali. #Spoileralert if you want to book the villa where he lived you can find it on AirBnB.

The arrival

Like all resorts in Indonesia A security check must be passed before entering the hotel, this is an indelible memory caused by the terrorist attacks in early 2000, once you pass through the gate you enter another dimension, it feels as if you have passed through the Stargate.

Of course expectations were high, but As soon as I walked through the entrance I was overwhelmed by emotions, and I am not ashamed to say that at the sight of this spectacle. I got goosebumps.

What opens before the eyes is a paradise. Perched atop a promontory, the lobby offers spectacular views of the resort's fabulous grounds that cascade down a steep, lush slope to the sacred Ayung River.

If in Hawaii the welcome is given with the classic flower (or shell) necklace, here the ceremony involves being tied around the guest's wrist a bracelet with the three colors representing the local culture: white, black and red the colors representing God, nature and humanity.

Shortly afterwards we were offered a drink and the classic towel to cool off from the heat. I never wanted to leave that terrace was something truly indescribable.

The resort

The Mandapa Ritz-Carlton Reserve opened in 2014, is inspired by a Balinese village and offers a sensory journey to wellness and nature.

All public areas, housing, and pedestrian paths surround a magnificent terraced rice field, maintained by a group of local farmers.

Perfectly in keeping with what is Ubud's past, this cultivation allows guests to experience the ancient methods of planting, harvesting, and curing this food while enjoying the natural soundtrack of the rushing water of the Ayung River and the wind-whipped leaves.

Within the resort is a centuries-old mandapa, which means temple in Sanskrit, where guests can not only observe Hindu rituals but also participate in spiritual celebrations and ceremonies aimed at purifying the body, mind and soul.

Check-in

Each guest is assigned a butler, a butler who will take care of all needs during the stay. He is the one who escorts them to their room, takes them around the resort, and checks them in.

Because we arrived 2 hours earlier than we had communicated our butler was not yet on duty, so the reception and check-in was done by one of his colleagues.

After a tour, by golf car, around the resort we were escorted to our room. The facility has two types of accommodations the 35 Suites (reserve and Mandapa) and the 25 Villas. The reservation with points was for a "basic" room i.e. a Reserve Suite, unfortunately we did not receive any upgrades, but maybe that was good.

Of course the villas have private pools, but they are located either on the riverbank or in the middle of the valley. Our room, on the other hand, was on the third floor of the highest building, the one that undoubtedly had the best view of the resort and the sunset.

Word of the bum

As always. my reviews are honest and sincere at 100%, I am not paid by anyone to write what you are about to read and I paid out of my own pocket to stay at this hotel. That's a given, but since this is not going to be just another review I wanted to mention that. Happy reading.

Suite

This is the first time I have had difficulty describing a room, it was all there and this is normal since we are in a (much more than) 5-star hotel, but it is the way it was decorated that left us speechless.

All spaces were designed by renowned interior designer Jeffrey Wilkes, the interior marries elegant modern architecture with traditional Balinese details, reflecting the landscape and temples around the hotel by offering true luxury décor designed to appeal to the world's most discerning travelers.

Each design element is inspired by nature and sustainably sourced, all public areas and rooms feature artwork depicting Balinese culture and embracing the surrounding landscape. Natural wood walls, teak floors, and tapestries designed on site and therefore unique to 100%.

There is a huge walk-in closet; everything you need for the vacation is also in here. Bags, slippers, morning yoga mats and more.

The bathroom is as big as the living room in my house and it has two bamboo sinks, something never seen before in a hotel room. A state-of-the-art Japanese toilet seat completes the equipment. It has the proximity sensor that raises the lid when you approach it, the ability to set presets so that each guest can memorize the temperature of the board and water, the pressine for washes, and the intensity of sprays. Then there are all the classic functions and also the button to lower the tablet and lid. And it is impossible not to flush the toilet, because he thinks about the whole WC.

In the center is a huge bathtub, with a beautiful mosquito net falling from the ceiling. There is also a double shower. Being on the third, and last floor, our room It also had fantastic high ceilings, all strictly made of wood and other natural materials.

On one side is the living room, with the sofa turned into a bed for my daughter.

In the center was a wall, made of wood, that allowed the two rooms to be slightly separated with the TV in the center. TV placed on a movable wall that could be watched from the living room, from the bed, or from the bathtub.

The bed was a cloud, the pillows and sheets as if they had never been used. Unheard of stuff.

The bar cabinet is a true work of art, handmade by local artisans specifically for inclusion in this room, suite 335.

Technologically, too, there was everything and everything at hand, including also buttons to turn off all, but really all, of the lights.

One of the goodies was the terrazzino overlooking rice fields and with a view to make you envious At the best resort in the Maldives.

Nature

When I chose to book at this facility, I did so because I wanted to immerse myself, together with my family, in a setting light years different from our everyday life, I wanted a place away from everyone where we could be alone and detoxify from all the stress of everyday life.

The images of the paddy field at the center of this resort have like hypnotized me and the whole vacation was built around this living room. The only noises that can be heard are the river and the work tools of the field workers. nothing else.

Ah no there are also the cries coming from the river, where dozens and dozens of dinghies every day flow swiftly carried by the current, but everyone when they pass by the Mandapa cannot help but be captivated by the beauty of this place and someone, too absorbed even ends up flying into the water.

Attention to environmental sustainability is utmost, where possible local wood has been used, personal hygiene products are natural, travel is by electric vehicles only, all wet waste is turned into compost used to grow produce in the hotel garden.

The full moon ceremony

The choice of days when to stay at this hotel was not random, we chose right during the change of the moon. The reason was to participate in the ceremony inside the temple together with tourists and locals.

Needless to say, like everything else at this resort, it was really a crazy feeling.

The Pool

This pool the next time I will rank the best bookable with points Will be, probably, in the first place. Pure poetry, set in the green of the rice paddies, in a surreal silence.

Guests are pampered the minute they set foot in the pool. The staff helps choose their preferred accommodations, including loungers, sunbeds and pagodas. The pool is divided into two; one is slightly shallower and is perfect for children.

Then comes the "welcome kit" fresh coconut, sunscreen, towels and fresh fruit.

Every hour the staff comes by and offers guests small finger foods, all completely free, from spring rolls to fresh fruit popsicles. And every day there is a new drink always available to everyone.

The pampering does not end there, however. From time to time the staff drops by to offer ice-cold bags with which to cool off.

They even spend time cleaning their glasses of sweat.

The kids club

In the center of the resort, under the main rice field, is the kids club. A masterpiece of Balinese architecture all made of bamboo.

My daughter was lucky enough to be the only child at the resort during our stay, and all the staff were there for her.

No playstations or electronic devilry. Just slides (made of bamboo) games and contact with nature, including animals.

The Spa

At the furthest point of the resort is the spa, needless to say, we are really in the midst of Balinese culture here. One of the fondest memories of the vacation in the early 2000s with Marika was just a massage we had here in Ubud.

Now the memory is practically an indelible tattoo. The spa is a small sanctuary, built at the foot of the hill on the river bank. Here is the area with the pool, sauna and steam room. Absolutely off limits for children.

Then there are the huts where massages are performed that overlook the sacred river.

Last but not least there is the relaxation area, where you can enjoy a tea and quietly enjoy the massage you just received.

Food & Beverage

Ambar is the fusion restaurant of the resort, it is located at the top of the hill, and the singnificato of its name in Sanskrit is really sky, at sunset it is undoubtedly the best place to enjoy the peace of the place with a cocktail and the silence around

We tried a little bit of everything here, from lobster to caviar, from soups to meat. It was a dinner to be enjoyed with the palate and admired with the eyes, even though we were already full from our surroundings.

Kubu is the resort's elegant restaurant, normally not the kind of cuisine we like, but we definitely wanted to dine on the riverbank, so we tried this cuisine as well.

It offers both tasting menus and a la carte, at a New York restaurant price, but cuisine that does not live up to what was promised. When compared to everything else in the hotel.

Personally, the one, less happy note of our entire stay.

Pool bar is the classic restaurant that allows you to eat and drink while at the pool, as mentioned there are snacks that come in continuous mode, and then there is a menu where you can order something to eat without necessarily having to go to the Sawah Terrace restaurant where breakfast is also served in the morning.

Again, everything we ate and drank here exceeded our wildest expectations, especially the free snacks in a steady stream.

Breakfast

A separate chapter deserves the breakfast, because it is something gargantuan in every way.

We are in the heart of the resort, amidst greenery and the most unreal silence. Not only is it a gargantuan feast, but everything is perfectly manicured.

From fresh fruit to local flavors, from fish to dessert. There is everything you could want for breakfast as well as lunch and dinner.

For the lazy or undecided, there is also a menu from which to order freshly prepared dishes, and if you are in the mood for something off the menu that will come along as well.

Here too, as at the pool, the staff come by and offer tastes and flavors to taste, and again you have to taste everything to take home the most memories.

Service and travel

As mentioned inside the resort small electric golf cars are used, you call on the phone or ask an attendant and a few minutes later you are on your way. The resort also offers transportation to downtown Ubud in a very scenic, though not air-conditioned, vehicle.

What left us ecstatic, however, was the staff, of all ranks. Proving that it doesn't matter if you pay with points or a credit card, you will always be treated as a special guest.

Every night in the room we would find a new surprise, a sweet, a cuddle, a message or a little gift.

In conclusion

I am posting this review 11 months later, I am posting it because I realized that with every person I met and talked to about Bali I ended up saying "you have to go to Mandapa" better yet if you go there using points because you will be richer on the inside and less poor on the outside.

I am so glad to have had this experience with Marika and Bete, I am happy to have lived this dream with them since often with the trips I take I have (almost) no one to share memories with.