March 20th, 2012
For the Balinese, March 23, 2012 marks the beginning of the New Year with the celebration of Nyepi, one of the most sacred holidays on the calendar. Nyepi is a day of silence, prohibitions, meditation, and prayer, and it is believed that one’s control of earthly senses will increase the quality of life for the year to come. The whole island of Bali falls quiet; nobody leaves their houses, lighting is kept low and everything closes (even the airport)! Experience this auspicious occasion at COMO Shambhala Estate or Anantara Seminyak Bali, where indulgence continues as usual, accompanied by some special Nyepi surprises.
On the eve of Nyepi, every village partakes in some sort of ceremonial procession. At COMO Shambhala Estate, spend New Year’s Eve, or ‘Ogoh Ogoh Night’, with a traditional Noise Parade, where participants will carry the Estate Ogoh Ogoh, a traditional Balinese effigy, through the grounds. Using Balinese cymbals and other instruments, the noise of the procession is meant to awaken and ward off evil spirits.
Before the entertainment begins at Anantara Seminyak, guests can help purify the hotel by playing tek-tekan with the Anantara team. Then, enjoy the traditional Ogoh Ogoh and Joged processions throughout the resort. The evening concludes with a traditional Balinese Beach BBQ featuring famous Balinese dishes, such as Chicken Betutu and Lawar. The resort is also offering a special package to celebrate the New Year. With rates starting at just $330, guests can receive two nights’ accommodations in a suite, daily breakfast for two at Wild Orchid restaurant, and a choice of one three-course lunch at Wild Orchid or one 90-minute massage for two at Anantara spa, per couple per stay.
The Day of Silence begins at sunrise on March 23rd and continues until sunrise the following morning. Whether one chooses to ‘do as the Balinese do’ or not, both resorts’ on-site restaurants, spas, and other services will remain open. Guests who do not partake in the traditional rituals are asked to stay on resort grounds so as not to disrupt the unique celebration of the Balinese people.
March 1st, 2012
Vacations are usually a time for indulgence. A time when travelers don’t want to worry about how many calories are in that dessert, or when they’ll find time away from the rays to use the resort’s state-of-the-art gym. Instead, most days are spent horizontally on a beach with a good book. But what happens on that last day of vacation when the bikini fits a little snugger? Resorts are offering low-cal choices for holiday revelers, and at Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa in Bali, guests can indulge in delicious, health conscious meals, like the Garden Vegetable Terrine featured on BeatMag.com. Of course, Thai BBQ is also an option for protein-seekers, there’s always a game of beach soccer or yoga to burn off those extra calories.
September 27th, 2011
It can sometimes be a challenge to be ‘green’ and reduce our impact on the environment, but Anantara is making it easy even while on vacation! Its Bali property, Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa, just received Green Globe Certification, making it the very first hotel in Bali to be awarded with this distinction under the revised standards. Not only that, but the resort has also just won the ‘Green Globe Highest Achievement Award: Asia 2011.’ Green Globe rates hotels based on 320 separate sustainability indicators, and Anantara Seminyak proudly meets 76% of those requirements – an impressive feat! Anantara is serious about preserving the environment not only in Bali, but at all of its properties. Sister property Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa in Thailand has also recently achieved Green Globe Certification. So pack your bags and go green with Anantara!
June 15th, 2011
Pristine beaches, friendly natives, delicious local cuisine, and beautiful weather make Bali and Thailand two of the happiest places on earth, according to author Paul Theroux. On his quest for happiness, Theroux picked both of these locales as the most joy-filled spots in the world. And we’d have to agree!
Bali is known for its enticing beaches, but Theroux urges travelers to find traditional crafts and ceremonies sure to pique cultural curiosity. At Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa, guests can find their own personal Nirvana by enjoying a handcrafted cocktail at the chic Sunset on Six rooftop bar and lounge while watching a burning sun set below the Indian Ocean, or by exploring the rolling hills and local jungle by elephant or Harley-Davidson. If you’re looking for a more holistic approach to finding your bliss, COMO Shambhala Estate is a sanctuary for health and wellness where guests’ individual needs are met with a custom-tailored program of nutrition, exercise, therapies, and activities.
You’ll be all smiles in “The Land of Smiles.” With nine properties in Thailand, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas ensures that wherever you are in this beautiful country, you’ll have the chance to experience Thailand’s wonders for yourself. At Anantara Golden Triangle, the on-site elephant camp offers a rare chance to get up close and personal with these gentle giants while learning from experienced mahouts (elephant trainers) how to ride them. Explore the incredible coral reefs of the Similan Islands—some of the most renowned and best preserved in the world—on a dive excursion during your stay at Anantara Phuket. Or witness the excitement of Thailand’s bustling capital where the Metropolitan Bangkok offers guests both easy access to the hubbub of the city and a chic place to retreat.
June 8th, 2011
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas founder and CEO Bill Heinecke knows it’s better to give than to receive. Every year for his birthday, Anantara properties around the world give back to their local communities through a number of charitable outreach programs. This year, the annual Minor Founder’s Day celebrations during the first week in June included the release of 50 sea turtles into the wild at Anantara Seminyak in Bali, an elephant meet-and-greet and tree planting event at Anantara Golden Triangle in Thailand, and an Eye Camp for local residents at Anantara Kihavah Villas in the Maldives (including donations of glasses for those in need).
Kind of puts that pony we asked for in perspective!
June 3rd, 2011
The little dudes are just eggs, we leave ‘em on a beach to hatch, and then, coo-coo-cachoo, they find their way back to the big ol’ blue. – Crush the Sea Turtle, Finding Nemo
While Crush may be right, sometimes the turtles need a little bit of help. Tomorrow, the recently Green Globe Certified Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa in Bali will release one adult and 50 baby turtles into the wild as part of the resort’s ongoing wildlife conservation initiatives. While they may live for up to 80 years, these creatures are endangered and at high risk for extinction. By protecting the vulnerable eggs from predators until the baby turtles are ready to be released, Anantara is doing their part to make sure the sea turtle will still be surfing the ocean for many years to come.
May 23rd, 2011
Congratulations to Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa, which has become the first hotel in all of Bali to achieve Green Globe Certification. They are the second Anantara property to be awarded this distinction, after Anantara Kihavah Villas in the Maldives.
Green Globe Certification recognizes those businesses in the travel and tourism industries who comply with the highest standards of sustainability practices. Anantara Seminyak goes above and beyond in the realm of water, energy and waste management efficiency. Check it out for yourself, and take a vacation Captain Planet would be proud of!
March 4th, 2011
Bali residents celebrate New Year Day, or Nyepi, in total silence as a way to start afresh, contemplate, and reassess one’s values in life. On this day, Baliense abstain from traveling, working, and all forms of entertainment. No flights depart from or arrive at the airport, the streets are closed to pedestrians and vehicles, and even street lights are turned off for the evening. Guests and travelers are expected to follow the same rules.
Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa is a tempting silent haven. It will be easy to win the quiet game while relaxing in your Anantara Suite’s signature deep terrazzo tub or looking out at the Indian Ocean from the deck of an Ocean Suite. Don’t miss Anantara’s Thai Culinary Journey with a cooking class guided by Wild Orchid’s experienced Thai chefs, followed by a lunch of the students’ own creations. Spend a peaceful afternoon at the Anantara Spa with an expert therapist who will tailor a package according to guests’ needs, to be enjoyed in a single or couple’s treatment suites, each complete with private terrazzo showers or bathtubs, a personal iPod connection, and views of verdant tree tops and Mount Batukaru. Now that’s something to shout about.
Celebrate the “Day of Silence” at Uma Ubud with the Nyepi Package. To honor the tradition, the hotel asks guests to remain on the grounds of the resort where complimentary yoga is offered, the Kemiri restaurant is serving a traditional Balinese Rijstaffel dinner, and guests can experience quiet seclusion with a one-hour COMO Shambhala treatment. The package includes two nights’ accommodation and a daily a la carte breakfast, one two-course set lunch at Kemiri restaurant (excluding beverages), one thre-course dinner at Kemiri restaurant (excluding beverages), a 60-minutes COMO Shambhala or Indonesian massage treatment per person, a three-hour guided tour of Ubud, and private return airport transfers. Rates start at $756
February 4th, 2011
If the Super Bowl were Balinese instead of American, maybe we’d be watching sloths instead of puppies!
Parties for this Sunday abound, and every event planner (amateur or otherwise) knows that finding the venue is key. Forget the awesome band or to-die-for hors d’œuvres. If the location is lacking, everything else won’t seem quite as special. Don’t let that scare you, though! Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa now has the best of venues for your Bali bash!
The one-of-a-kind rooftop Penthouse suite promises distinct glamour and cool with an open pool and contemporary indoor-outdoor spaces. Attendees can enjoy views of the beach, local temples and mountains while sipping signature cocktails and enjoying live music. For when the music dies down, the suite offers two bedrooms with beds suspended on marble and stuffed with down. It will be easy to sleep off the party’s effects! Catering for 30 and hosting up to 70 is available beginning at $2,000. Now that’s a touchdown.
November 18th, 2010
Who wants to pay for a to-go coffee every morning on vacation? When you’re only alternative is the less-than-appealing packets of instant coffee and powder creamers, what’s a traveler to do? A recent article from USA Today observed that hotels are offering a more sophisticated approach to our society’s caffeine addiction with in-room amenities that really make the cut. Stay at an Anantara Hotels, Resorts, & Spas properties in Bali, Thailand, the Maldives, or the UAE, and get the cream of the crop; all 12 have Nespresso machines in each room. Let the buzz begin!