Written by Katie Mairs
Looking for a staycation in Ubud that includes a private villa, spa, pool bar, restaurant and a jungle adventure? Our mini getaway was all of that and more. We headed off with a spring in our step for 24 Hours in Ubud. Located just 10 minutes from the centre of Ubud are Abian Taksu Villas and Suites, benefitting from the best of both worlds, with access to the town while still being surrounded by green rice fields washed by fresh, cool breezes.
Arriving at the villa
We arrived at the villa serenaded by the tranquil sound of running water from a small water feature bordering the pool. Directly across from the villa was a nest chair (a well-known ‘Instagramable’ feature). It had everything we needed and more. A huge bed with pillows that felt like giant marshmallows;. a ceiling painted with traditional Bali characters, and a huge bath filled with rose petals next to a window that overlooked lush greenery.
Time for lunch
The villas are part of the Abian group that also owns the Jungle Pool Bar and Restaurant and Abian Adventures. Following check-in and a bit of exploring we were pretty hungry, I don’t know about you but I like to make the most of staycations and always feel a bit guilty if I just order room service and don’t leave the villa. Abian has you covered, a 2-minute scooter ride takes you to the Ubud Sunset Pool Bar, with a rooftop pool that sure lives up to its name. You have to climb a few stairs but it’s totally worth it for the panoramic views overlooking the rice fields. The pool bar & restaurant is just one year young and sadly they haven’t gotten the chance to put their name on the map due to the pandemic. However, I put money on it being an island favourite once tourism is back. The staff were just great.
With the 2 pm sun, it was the perfect time to order lunch and a cold alcoholic drink, because why not it’s a staycation after all. The menu was family friendly with both local and western dishes. Our choice was Balinese-style chicken with a side of spicy sambal and prawn laksa, it did not disappoint. We then settled in for a swim overlooking the endless views and another drink, this time something a bit stronger; my favourite spicy margarita!
Dinner in Ubud
For dinner, we headed into town for Chinese. Growing up near London, my family and I used to travel into the City on Fridays to meet my Dad for a meal in the heart of Chinatown. So my expectations for this cuisine are always high. The Golden Monkey met these, we had all-you-can-eat Dim Sum, duck Kung Po and Peking duck. If you’re a duck fan – it’s @balifood approved. It was an early night as we planned to get up early for our quad biking adventure.
If you’re seeking an adventure in Bali, head to Abian adventure camp. We were met by the enthusiastic Wayan, who was our tour guide for the day. He made sure we were comfortable and was happy to take us for a few test runs before we set off. The whole trek was about 2 hours with a break in the middle of the jungle to take in the endless green Jurassic views and enjoy a much-needed refreshment. The trek itself was so much fun. I had never been on a quad bike before and managed all the dark tunnels, steep hills (both up and down), cruising through a shallow lake by a waterfall before we were served up fresh donuts at the end – strictly for photo purposes. This was a lifetime memory made.
Winding down
Coming back for a warm bath and a snooze on those marshmallow pillows was a perfectly relaxing end to 24 Hours in Ubud. A huge thank you to Abian Tasku Villas, Ubud Sunset Pool Bar & Abian Adventures, we will definitely be back.
