Reviewed by Spa-beach-vacations.com
After planning and researching for 2 months for our spa vacation, my friend and I decided to choose the Maya Ubud Spa's riverside special package for this spa vacation. We have heard from various sources that Maya Ubud has a beautiful spa. However, one of the deciding factors for choosing Maya Ubud Spa for this spa vacation is the river side package which is famed for its lovely setting and superior massage technique.
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Together, we were chauffeured by our friendly driver from Alila Ubud (the beautiful and serene hotel for our 2 night stay in Ubud) to Maya Ubud Resort and Spa. The Maya Ubud Resort is only a short distance from the Ubud village where you will find many cultural and dining attractions. When we arrived at the Maya Ubud Resort, we were delighted by the stylish, chic but simple check-in area. We will readily greeted by the gentle and courteous lobby staff who promptly called the Spa Reception to inform them of our arrival. We were asked to make our own way to the Maya Ubud Spa. Frankly, this is an area that they need to improve upon as we almost lost our way while trying to get ourselves to the Spa. |
At that moment, we were too excited about the resort as well as with the anticipation of the forthcoming spa experience to be upset about this minor glitch.
View of Resort from the Lobby
The Spa at Maya is some distance away from the main resort. To get there we had to walk about 10 minutes to an unobtrusive elevator which will take us down to the river level where this enticing spa is located. Being our first time there, we were unaware of the availability of this elevator. Hence, we were looking for something that looks like a hut, which we imagine to house the Spa reception. We nearly walked into an occupied villa and intruded into someone’s privacy. Fortunately, one of the occupants, a man, came out of the door and starred at us with undisguised displeasure. Immediately, we realized our error and quickly walked out of the villa and grabbed a resort staff to ask for directions to the Spa. What a silly mistake!!!
The path we took to walk to the Spa
We found the really unobtrusive elevator and realizing that the Spa is located at the river level, were very glad to have modern technology available to bring us to the Spa without climbing down flights of stairs. Finally, we arrived at the enchanting spa.
View of Pavilions of the Maya Ubud Spa
Once we stepped into the spa, the spa receptionist greeted us with a smile and informed us to relax at the white day bed for a short wait while they prepared the riverside pavilion for our treatments. While waiting, we will serve with a glass of tea and a hot towel. We took some photos of the lovely surrounding which includes the riverside pool, the rushing river on the opposite bank of the spa and the lush tropical greenery of the surrounding. After snapping some photos, a slim young lady introduced us to the various body scrubs and aromatic oils, describing patiently the effects of each. We made our choices and soon after, the lady led us down an exotic paved path to our riverside spa pavilion.
The interior of our spa pavilion
We entered the pavilion through a teak door which opened into a spacious room where two long massage beds stood side-by-side under the tall thatched roof. A changing room was on the left. Facing us was no wall, just the lush green of tropical foliage cascading down the slopes of the opposite bank of the river. On the right, near the edge of the spa pavilion and right above the gurgling river waters, stood the metal bathtub, where we were to have our flower bath. Stepping to the edge of the pavilion, we saw the plant-covered ground falling away to the river. The roar of the rushing river was loud, and yet soothing, seeming to wash away all tension and stress. The air was balmy and humid, heavy with the scent of tropical flowers, dominated by frangipani and jasmine. It was one of the loveliest settings for a massage that we have ever enjoyed. We were simply charmed by the lovely, tropical, serene and peaceful ambience of the spa pavilion.
We went into the changing room and changed into the robe provided. We proceeded to the massage bed, disrobe ourselves and make ourselves comfortable on the massage table. My masseur started with a Balinese massage which was applied with just the right amount of pressure, neither too soft nor too hard. Using long palm strokes and thumb pressure applied to the pressure points of my body, the masseur release all the stress and tension from my body, bringing me to a state of total relaxation. The massage techniques were so skillful that we almost felt asleep.
Maya Ubud Spa's massage bed
Next to come is the body scrub. After applying the scrub, we were left to relax for about 20 minutes to allow the scrub to dry. During the 20 minutes, we were pleasantly surprised that the massage bed had a built-in heater that kept us warm though the surrounding temperature was quite cool then.
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20 minutes passed and soon, it was time for us to have our rinse. We took turns to have the open air rinse. Just imagine yourself bathing beside a river, amongst the greeneries, with beautiful music from the river waters and the chirping tunes of the birds. It was simply fabulous!!! After these rinse, we had our flower bath. The metal bathtub was right on the edge of the spa pavilion, facing the tropical green valley and above the rivers. We were served a plate of fresh tropical fruits and a cup of hot ginger tea, the perfect mix for relaxing in the flower bath. As the bathtub was placed right at the edge of the pavilion, we had a perfect elevated view of the river and the lush green rainforest and together with the sound of the river, the flower bath is pure heaven! |
In conclusion, The Spa at Maya Ubud Resort is a riverside haven of peace and tranquility providing exotic and invigorating spa treatments. Maya Ubud's riverside massage is one of the most superior we've ever encountered. From the hand technique to the gush of the river and water, it is definitely an experience. The massages are also best experienced in the evening, giving you maximum opportunity to enjoy the changing light and river sounds. It was a great spa resort that gives us a magical experience for our spa vacation in Bali.
Click here to make your spa resort reservation at Maya Ubud Resort and Spa.