Capella Ubud, a luxury tented retreat in Bali, set to the soundtrack of the jungle
- The resort was named world’s best new hotel at the 2018 Ultra Travel Awards
- Designed by Bill Bensley, each of the 22 tents is decorated according to a theme, but you might need help finding the ‘throne’
What is it? A luxury tented camp in the middle of the Balinese jungle (and when we say “jungle”, we mean jungle) a short drive up from Ubud, a town popular with tourists and yogis, and the Indonesian island’s arts and crafts centre. Capella Ubud was named best new hotel in the world in 2018 at the Ultra Travel Awards, in Dubai.
Tented? Yes, tents. Twenty-two of them, each designed according to a theme. The Photographer’s Tent, for instance, is decorated with vintage cameras and black-and-white photos of the island, while the Princess Tent pays homage to the refined accoutrements of Balinese royalty.
Sounds like a theme park. It’s not. Resort designer Bill Bensley was inspired by the first European settlers in Bali, who arrived in the 1800s. The decor represents an eclectic mix of mountain chalet, hunting lodge and traditional Balinese home. Even the toilets are Instagrammable.
What do you mean? Well, after we checked in and had the urge to relieve ourselves, we had to call reception to help us find the toilet in the bathroom. It turned out that the throne-like armchair in carved wood and black leather located next to the free-standing bathtub was, in fact, the “throne”. Talk about intelligent design.
Enough about the decor. What if we want to venture out? Ubud is a 20-minute drive away, and the resort provides shuttles. The town may be overrun with tourists and hippie expats but it’s worth at least half-a-day of anyone’s time, which can be spent in its souvenir shops, sipping coffee at one of its laid-back cafes or visiting the Monkey Forest.
