Old but true, the Anvaya Resort Bali

Set on the spit between Kuta and German Beaches, 13-minutes’ drive from the international airport, The Anvaya Resort Bali offers five-star digs on the waterfront for less than $200 a night. Occupancy is above average for Bali. When I visited in late January after the Christmas/New Year’s rush, a time of year when metaphorical tumbleweeds roll across many five-star resorts in Bali, one of every two rooms at The Anvaya was full. Free child-minding might have something to do with it, so might the fact that the entire four hectare property is wheelchair accessible — another anomaly in Bali.

Here’s a closer look.

THE GROUNDS

In Sanskrit, anvaya means “connection”, and the hotel was specifically designed to connect tourists with different historical periods in Bali.

The street front and driveway are styled in the fashion of the Bali Aga or ancient Balinese. Think thick greenery, big stone walls, earthy tones and giant clay jars that were used by the Aga to store water, rice or offerings, and symbolise harmony with Earth.

The lobby with its grand reflective pools, decorative tiles, soaring columns, intricate artworks and ornaments represent the spatial harmony of Hinduism, a religion introduced to the island by Indian traders and priests in the first century.

Moving past the lobby, one enters the era of modern Bali with big green lawns, lagoon-shaped pools, decks with sun loungers, shady chill-out spots and sun-brellas.

Right on the beach is the waterfront Sands restaurant and bar with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, minimalist furniture and the same sleek look and feel you’ll find at modern Bali resorts.

THE ROOMS

The Anvaya has 492 rooms under seven room categories, starting with standard “Deluxe” rooms on the second, third and fourth floors. They’re 30sqm in size and equipped with flat screen TVs, coffee and tea makers, balconies with pool views plus free non-alcoholic drinks and snacks in the minibar. As the hotel was last renovated a decade ago, the furniture, fabrics and motifs are somewhat dated, and some of the cupboards and bed side tables are old and scratched. But everything works and the king-size beds are quite comfortable.

Higher up in the pecking order, the ‘”Premiere” rooms. They’re a bit bigger — 35.5sqm — while those on the ground floor have private little gardens or private decks with outdoor table settings direct access to lagoon pools. The family Premiere room is nearly twice the size: 62.2sqm, can fit two adults and two kids and one room has a supersize disabled bathroom.

The best and biggest room — the Anvaya Villa – has a whopping 440sqm of floor space, two bedrooms, dual rain showers, an open-air kitchen, living room, private pool, a massive balcony with ocean view and a price to match — $2500 per night.

AMENITIES & SERVICE

With seven pools, two restaurants, Kulit, which is Indonesian, and Sands, which does Western fare, free bicycle hire, a small but sufficient gym, ping-pong table, a day spa, a small boutique, business centre and the best kids club I’ve ever seen (it even has a 60cm deep kids pool and mini basketball court), the Anyava ticks every box on the 5-star hotel list.

But what leaves an impression on me is not the hardware but the software — the staff. They always say g’day to guests, always smile, they’re always cleaning things and go above and beyond to make my dad, who’s disabled, feel comfortable and respected. They push him around in a wheelchair from the airport where they pick him up and all around the resort, patiently pulling out chairs for him at the restaurant and laughing at his jokes. He loves the place — as do other guests I speak to.

“We were looking for a hotel right on the beach with a bit of luxury, and found this place had a good vibe and is very clean,” says Stewart Bailey, a teacher from Outback NSW holidaying in Bali with his wife.

“But the big reason we chose it was the proximity to the airport. We’d been all over the island and this is the last place we’re staying before we fly home. You just can’t beat the convenience of it.”

+ Dave Smith was a guest of The Anvaya. They have not influenced this story, or read it before publication.

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The Anvaya is 13-minutes’ drive from Bali’s international airport at Jalan (road) Kartika Plaza, Kuta. Rooms booked directly through the hotel’s website start at $197, including breakfast for two, though you can find deals on third-party platforms starting at $172. heanvayabali.com