The coastal village of Seminyak is located just north of the Kuta and Legian Districts on the tourist coast of the beautiful island of Bali. In its entirety Bali is the epitome of paradise. The tiny Indonesian island has grown a reputation for high-end tourism over recent decades and is now considered one of the world’s ‘Hotspots’ for resort retreat tourism. It’s pretty unclear where each of the coastal villages spanning from Tuban in the south to Seminyak in the north begin and end. These days with so much development as a result of the tourism boom in Bali it is difficult to distinctly separate each of the localized areas as they tend to blend into one another. Regular visitors to Bali however can easily define each one of the village zones as they have a distinct character and flavor that attracts the hordes of tourists for vastly different reasons.

Tourism started to discover the village of Seminyak when Kuta beach rapidly became overcrowded with numerous hotels, restaurants and hundreds of small shops. Development in Seminyak has taken a vastly different approach to what took place in the earlier developed areas of Kuta and Legian. Focus has been more directed toward boutique style accommodation, shopping and dining. It has become the area of choice for the more discerning traveler looking for a higher level of refinement in the overall holiday experience. Apart from the tourism aspect Seminyak has become the location of choice for the expat population of whom the numbers are growing as more and more ‘Westerners’ choose to ‘set up camp’ in Bali on a permanent basis. The lifestyle is idyllic for so many reasons including the climate, cost of living, quality accommodation, the magnificent coastal environment and so much more. For many Australian’s it is not unreasonable to be living 6 months of the year at home and the other 6 months in Bali.

I personally know several people who have been doing this successfully for many years. As a tourist Seminyak attracts me for a number of reasons that combined create the perfect relaxation holiday experience. The five key elements include high quality accommodation facilities, superb dining options, an abundance of spa and wellness centers, magnificent beaches and fabulous boutique shopping. All of theses are essential ingredients for the perfect relaxation and indulgence holiday. So what does Seminyak specifically have to offer you may ask? The following lists are just a sample of the options available in each of the above categories. I have suggested these five particular venues in each category because I have had first hand experience and can comfortably recommend each and every one to you if you are considering a trip to Bali.

Accommodation:

1. Disini Villas (1 bedroom Private Villas with pools)
2. Kanishka Villas (1 & 2 bedroom Private Villas with pools)
3. Anantara Resort (1 & 2 bedroom Private Villas with pools)
4. Cicada Luxury Private Townhouses (1 & 2 bedroom Luxury Townhouses with pools)
5. Villa Laksmana (1 to 5 bedroom Luxury Private Villas with pools)

Dining:

1. Ultimo Restaurant (Italian cuisine and my personal favorite)
2. Ku De Ta Restaurant (Western Fusion cuisine/ Amazing location)
3. Breeze Restaurant at the Samaya Villas/Hotel (Western Fusion/ Amazing location)
4. Made’s Warung (Indonesian traditional cuisine)
5. The Living Room (Various Fusion cuisine)

Spa & Wellness Centers:

1. Jari Menari (Highly recommended but make sure you book ahead)
2. Chill (Unusual experience but worth it)
3. Bodyworks Day Spa (Traditional service/ Again, book ahead)
4. Espace Spa (Fabulous setting)
5. Zensation (Wonderful ambiance)

Beaches:

1. Kuta Beach (Busy but fun/great surf on its day)
2. Legian Beach (Quieter than Kuta)
3. Seminyak Beach (Much the same as Legian)
4. Canggu Beach (In the North/ Very peaceful)
5. Loivina Beach (A real attraction on its own)

Boutique Shopping:

1. Uma & Leopold (Women’s high-end fashion)
2. Biasa (Men’s & Women’s fashion)
3. Bali Deli (Up-market gourmet food & condiments)
4. Uluwatu Lace (Women’s fashion)
5. Renegade Republic (Modern Fashion)

It is such a difficult task limiting myself to just five options in each category. Realistically there could be 20 or 30 options for each but for the purpose of the article alone this gives you a head start and a very basic idea of what is out there waiting for you. If you’re contemplating a trip to South-East Asia then Bali has to be at the top of the list, and Seminyak the ultimate destination. As always I wish you the most enjoyable travels.