Staying at Four Seasons Bali: 2019 Review of Four Seasons Sayan and Four Seasons Jimbaran

Back in 2015, we spent 2 months living in Bali, Indonesia. You might have read our Bali Travel Guide and used our tips to help you decide which of Bali’s incredible villages you would visit. Since 2015, Alex has had a chance to return to Bali with a girlfriend on a trip with the national tourism board, but it wasn’t until we moved to Australia that we had a chance to return as a couple. We missed Bali and our family at Four Seasons Bali so much that we have already returned twice after only having moved to Perth, Australia 3 months ago! Hey, can you blame us? $200 and a 3-hour plane ride are our escape plan when we have had enough of the southern hemisphere’s winter and need the tropical humidity of Bali.

Four Seasons Bali holds a special place in our hearts. After we launched Couple’s Coordinates in 2015, Four Seasons Bali was our very first press collaboration. We had never stayed at a Four Seasons property before and had never been media guests at a hotel, so as you can imagine, this was one of the most incredible experiences in our lives. To have the opportunity to work with Four Seasons only half a year after we started our blog was an incredible vote of confidence for us. We realized immediately we had made the right decision to quit our jobs and travel the world.

If you’re a regular Couple’s Coordinates reader, you know that Four Seasons is our second home. We got married at Four Seasons Bora Bora and we have been fortunate enough to work with the incredible teams at FS all around the world. To this day FS Bali remains in our list of favorite resorts in the world.

Returning to Four Seasons Bali felt like we had come full circle. 4 years later, we were back where it all began…and we felt right at home.

Four Seasons Sayan

Last year Travel and Leisure awarded Four Seasons Sayan #1 Resort in The World. We would be remiss if we didn’t take a moment to share our congratulations with the team at FS Sayan as well as the greater FS Bali team. If you have never been to Bali or you have never stayed at a Four Seasons property, this is a great place to start. After having visited more than a dozen Four Seasons properties, FS Sayan (the first FS property we ever stayed at) remains one of our favorite resorts in the world. Why? Well, the property is a perfect marriage between nature and resort.

The jungle oasis of Sayan converges with the resort in a way that one feels a sense of primitive privacy. Each villa is more of a hideaway than a hotel room. Each premium villa is equipped with a private pool, outdoor shower, a cabana, and an incredibly spacious outdoor living room/patio.

Four Seasons Sayan has…drumroll…in our opinion, the most comfortable beds and pillows of any resort in the world. There. We said it.

In the #1 resort in the world, you’d expect that everything is 5-star quality. FS Sayan takes that to the next level. The property speaks for itself: the jungle envelops the architecture, the villas feel as if they’re floating in the treetops, and the Ayung River encompasses the property providing the ultimate natural aesthetic. But then there is the spa, the fitness center, the yoga shala, the Balinese and international cuisine, the shower products, and of course, the world renowned Four Seasons hospitality.

Restaurants at Four Seasons Sayan

• Ayung Terrace
  • Our favorite restaurant on the property. Indonesian food is one of the most unique and flavorful cuisines in the world and Ayung Terrace is a great place to experience these delicious flavors.
• Riverside
  • Poolside restaurant down by the Ayung River that serves a delicious lunch and dinner menu comprised of fresh, local ingredients.
• Jati Bar
  • Great spot to have a drink and enjoy the view over the property!
• Chef’s Table at Sokasi
  • We haven’t had a chance to dine at Sokasi but we did experience a Chef’s Table with Four Seasons Westlake Village. These are interactive, communal, experiences with delicious food. Highly recommend!
• In-Villa Dining
  • This is one of our favorite options at any Four Seasons resort, simply because you get to enjoy Michelin quality food in the comfort of your birthday suit in your villa. What’s for dessert? Your partner.

Spa, Pool, Fitness Center, and Other Amenities at Four Seasons Sayan

FS Sayan has a world-class spa, plunge pools, and fitness center available to all guests. Without purchasing a spa treatment, guests are able to utilize the fitness center, jacuzzi and cold plunge pools (that overlook the river and sit in a jungle canopy), enjoy the sauna and steam room, and use the showers/locker room while enjoying the facilities.

If you’re keen on a spa treatment (which we highly recommend), you can decide to receive treatment in the main spa or you can rent a spa villa that is surrounded by a peaceful lotus pond.

The spa facilities team also offers yoga, meditation, sacred naps, chakra ceremonies, and other holistic wellness treatments.

Don’t forget to enjoy the 2 level pool near the Ayung River and enjoy an afternoon lounging in the jungle. If you’re up for more activity, check the resort’s website to see a current list of activities (typically ranging from white water rafting to rice farming, etc.).

Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay

From the jungle of Sayan to the fishing beaches of Jimbaran Bay, Four Seasons quality and hospitality remains unchanged. The fact that Four Seasons built 1 jungle property and 1 beachfront property is a testament to the unique and variant topography of Bali. One minute you’re on a volcano above the clouds, the next you’re deep in a jungle, and a few minutes later you’re on a beach. Well, these days, traffic is a bit more like Los Angeles sans traffic rules, so maybe its more than a few minutes.

Encompassing Jimbaran Bay, Four Seasons Jimbaran is an expansive resort of beachfront villas, beautiful swimming pools, and all the amenities you’d expect to see at a Four Seasons Resort.

Restaurants at Four Seasons Jimbaran

• Sundara
  • Sundara is one of our favorite restaurants in Bali. Indulge in a variety of Asian cuisine here and be sure to try the coconut crab salad!
• Jala
  • We highly recommend the cooking class at Jala that includes a tour of the Jimbaran fishing market. You’ll learn to cook Balinese plates and then, of course, eat when you create!
• Taman Wantilan
  • We actually haven’t dined at Taman Wantilan but it seems like a great spot for Asian and Western cuisine. It is a live, interactive, experience.
• Pool Terrace Cafe
  • Perfect spot for lunch by the pool
• In-Villa Dining
  • Again, remember, birthday suit and Michelin quality food. Win-win.

Spa, Pool, Fitness Center, and Other Amenities at Four Seasons Jimbaran

The spa at FS Jimbaran is an oasis of peace and relaxation. We had a 2.5 hour couple’s treatment and melted into Nirvana. Of all the types of massages around the world, Balinese are our absolute favorite. The technique combines the perfect recipe of long strokes and strong pressure. Our treatment included a body scrub, facial, couple’s rose bath, and a full body massage. Be sure to take advantage of the magical masseuses at FS Jimbaran.

As far as inclusive amenities go, FS Jimbaran has a 57 meter swimming pool with lovely cabanas right on Jimbaran Beach as well as 2 other swimming pools on the property, a fitness center equipped with all your workout necessities, and complimentary kayak/surf rentals.

Don’t forget to indulge in a Balinese cooking class at Jala (which includes a tour of the Jimbaran fish market), a stand-up paddle session, or a Balinese ceremony on the property.

This blog merely touches the tip of the iceberg. Four Seasons are constantly innovating to bring a fresh, memorable, experience to all guests. Four Seasons Bali is a perfect experiment between creativity and tradition. The team does a fantastic job in curating an experience that presses the limits of what is possible at a resort while ensuring guests are immersed in the local culture and tradition of Bali. Whether you’re planning a destination wedding, a honeymoon, or simply a romantic getaway, Four Seasons Bali needs to be at the top of your list.