Matthew Danowski Review of Four Seasons Resort at Sayan
Stayed here for four nights in January (monsoon se...
Stayed here for four nights in January (monsoon season) for our honeymoon in a riverside villa. I can very much say that this was the best hotel or resort I have ever stayed in. The rooms are very well designed and equipped, the grounds are meticulously maintained and the service is first class and what you would expect from a Four Seasons property. There are only roughly 60 rooms and villas on site, so the overall feel throughout the stay is very exclusive with the staff remembering your name.
The villas are dispersed throughout the active rice patties and gardens of the resort. A free buggy (i.e. golf cart) service is provided between your villa and all parts of the resort on demand. Additionally, there is a free shuttle to Ubud center every two hours from 9AM to 5PM. Each villa is equipped with a private pool, outdoor terrace, outdoor shower and any amenity you may need is provided through the concierge service. Special thanks to Dewa at the front desk who helped us out throughout our stay with exceptional service. Each villa is also designed with specific sight lines to provide complete privacy between you and any adjacent villas. While the villa did not feel overly dated by any means, some upgrades to things like electronic door locks would enhance the experience.
We booked an airport transfer to the resort, and our arrival was almost choreographed down to the second. Our driver phoned into the reception desk upon our arrival and we were greeted by staff who welcomed us and seamlessly took our bags. Brought down the lobby, we were offered a welcome drink and cold towel, and were checked in. Next we were put on a waiting buggy and driven down to the villa. The staff gave us a tour of the villa, and two waiters entered to provide a free bottle of champagne and chocolate cake for our honeymoon. this was complemented with a rose petal display on the bed, and in the tub. Similar attention to detail was given to us throughout our stay,
The resort has numerous on-site and off-site activities which are provided directly through the Four Seasons. We participated in the on site cooking school and rafting experience. While we were at first sceptical on booking them through the resort due to the relatively higher price compared to alternatives in central Ubud, we found that the added cost was worth the expense. Both the cooking school and rafting were done as a private experiences, compared to being added to a group on other operators. Special thanks to Chef Suta at Sokasi cooking school who not only provided a great introduction to Balinese cooking and ingredients, but even provided us with some local ingredients to take home which are not readily available in our home country.
We also booked the multi-course "romantic dinner" on the rooftop lotus pond. While expensive by any standard, the food and setup was amazing, and the personalized service by a private waiter was really the climax of our stay here. My only relatively minor comment is that drinking water for dinner should probably be part of the dinner. Given the cost and "all inclusive" nature of the dinner, I found it silly for water to be a adder.
The Four Seasons is expensive, and that should be a surprise to nobody. If you are on a budget or annoyed by above average prices compared to the local market, then this is probably not the place for you. However, if you are looking for leading service and experiences that you will remember for a lifetime, then I wholly recommend staying here. Prices may be expensive, but you never feel like you are being cheated. The Four Seasons adds value in their operations and is very noticeable throughout your stay.
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