Banyan Tree Resort and Spa, Bali, Indonesia

The Banyan Tree Resort and Spa, along with the Angsana Resort and Spa, are two new clifftop resorts currently being developed in Bali.

The Banyan Tree Resort, scheduled to officially open on 15 December 2009, is situated in a secluded 10ha site on top of a 70m-high cliff on the southern Ungasan peninsula, overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Although private, the resort is located near to the busy tourist beaches of Kuta, Seminyak and Sanurand and the Uluwatu Temple. The resort has been designed around a 'village' concept and will have 73 luxury villas spaced around a central pavilion or bale (where the hotel facilities and spa will be based).

Each of the villas, located in its own private landscaped garden, will boast sea views and the latest facilities. The villas will have a built-in sunken bath, an open-air shower, a private infinity pool and an outdoor jet pool. The resort is a 35-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Banyan Tree Resort and Spa finance and design

The construction of the resort began in October 2006. It is being developed by Banyan Tree Resorts and Hotels in conjunction with the Indonesian developer PT Surya Semesta Internusa (subsidiary PT Sitiagung Makmur will own the resort).

The resort project requires an investment of $30m and is being financed by using an owner 'leaseback' scheme.

The scheme means that any investor who would like to purchase a property at the resort would have to invest anything from $650,000 for a one-bedroom suite to $2.7m for a presidential villa.

These units would then be leased back to the resort for them to rent out to guests at suite rates starting at $600 per night. The developer has extended guarantees of an 8% yield for the first two years of the investment, which will then be followed by a revenue-sharing scheme between the resort and the owners.

The resort houses three villa types – the Pool villa (one-bedroom), the Sanctuary villa (two-bedroom) and the Presidential villa (three-bedroom). The resort's one-bedroom villas occupy 240m² on a 399m² plot, while the two-bedroom villas have a floor space of 315m² on a 530m² plot. The three-bedroom villas have a floor area of 680m² on a 1,150m² plot.

The architects for the resort were Peddle Thorp Architects in conjunction with PTI Architects. The interiors were designed by Wilson and Associates Inc, of the US, while the landscaping for the villas and resort was designed by EDAW of Australia.

Bali resort and spa facilities

The resort is set in a natural forest and uses traditional architecture and finely landscaped gardens. Resort facilities include the Banyan Tree Spa, offering its own range of products and Eastern-based therapies, executive meeting rooms, a ballroom, children's play area, a supersized infinity pool, a gymnasium, a cascading swimming pool, the Banyan Tree Gallery and two fine restaurants (including the Cliff Top Fine Dining and Bar).

The resort offers a wide range of local as well as international cuisine in its six restaurants and bars. These are the Tamarind restaurant, Lobby Lounge, Pool bar, Ju-Ma-Na restaurant, Ju-Ma-Na bar and Bambu restaurant.

Recreation at the hotel is in the form of the Turtle club, a club for children aged four to ten.

The resort has its own private beach offering, snorkelling, surfing and a range of water sports (access by private road from the resort).

One-bedroom villa and extras

Although the one-bedroom units are the least expensive option, they have been constructed with a range of luxury facilities. The villa has a foyer, living room and a dining area with a fully equipped pantry. Sliding glass doors open from the living room onto a 40m² veranda, which also has a 4m by 10m infinity swimming pool with a built in jet-pool.

A marble bathroom offers either a full-size bath and glass-enclosed shower or a traditional open-air Bali-style shower. The bedroom has a walk-in closet, a king-size bed, solid wood parquet floor, sofa and variable lighting system.

The Presidential Villa also has a billiard table, swimming pool, piano, a library, separate wet and dry kitchen and maid's quarters.