Payangan Hideaway, Ubud
Interior of the 'Padma' villa at Payangan Hideaway
At one time or another, I'm sure you've run into accommodations with misleading names. You know what I'm talking about: the 'riverside' hotel that's nowhere near a river, the 'lake view' resort that's in a desert. Well, in the case of Payangan Hideaway, the word 'hideaway' is extremely well chosen. The small group of just six villas is located about 30 minutes' drive from Ubud. Getting there involves a drive down a narrow country lane just wide enough for one car, through rice fields, banana and cocoa groves, as well as a few villages.
The swimming pool with the valley beyond.
The Hideaway is set on the side of a steep hill in the Agung River valley. The villas are grouped in pairs down the slope. Each pair is a slightly different design, although all are large and airy. I stayed in the largest villas, called the 'Padma' rooms. These are actually a small collection of interior and outside spaces. The entire group is surrounded by a sort of small moat with ornamental fish. Inside the main building is a king-size platform bed, either side of which are small niches, one with a desk and the other with a window seat. There's also a large armoire with a big screen TV that gets all the major satellite channels, plus a DVD player and small refrigerator.
The headboard of the bed forms a small wall, behind which is a sort of walk through closet leading to the bathroom. The bathroom itself has a nice tub, plus two separate showers, one inside and one outside, reached through a small back door. There's a porch with an easy chair at the front of the room, while next to it is a large outdoor pavilion with some lounging chairs. Behind the pavilion is a small building containing a kitchenette for those that would like to do a bit of self-catering.
The other villas are not quite as big, but each has its own special feature, such as a jacuzzi. A winding stairway follows the hill all the way down to the river. Just above the river is a small spring, which some believe has healing powers. No matter what you think, it is a beautiful spot.
Payangan Hideaway is probably not for everyone. If you like to be within walking distance of the sights and shops, this isn't the place for you. If you want to really 'get away from it all' then you couldn't get further away than this.
Facilities include a swimming pool and children's play area. There is no restaurant per se, but there is a cook on duty who can make meals. There is also a car and driver on call.
Rooms feature air conditioning, hot and cold water, mini-bars, complementary coffee and tea, color televisions (more than 40 channels), DVD player, hair dryer and telephones. Most rooms also have kitchenettes.
Pluses: Extremely isolated and private. Friendly staff that will do their best to fulfill your wishes.
Minuses: Very isolated. Few 'facilities' for those expecting a five star hotel.
You can see more pictures of Payangan Hideaway at my Chieng Fa travel journal. You can obtain more information and book rooms at Payangan Hideaway at their web site.
