Romantic Luxury
An amazing spa-resort with private villas, all with outdoor jacuzzi, and some with a private plunge pool. We've been there 2 times now, once staying in a sea-view villa (which only has the jacuzzi), and once in a one bedroom pool villa. The villa's rooms are luxurious, large king sized bed, and tastefully decorated hard-wood furniture. There is also wireless internet access if you must keep in touch with the outside world. The villas offer a lot of privacy - you'd really have to try to peer into someone else's villa, although it probably is possible. You'll probably find that you'll spend most of your day naked, the most you'll be wearing is the bath robe provided. Both villas we stayed at had generous sundeck areas, and with the warm, humid, sunny days in Bintan, it was perfect to lie back with a good book in the large sunlounges and work on an all over even tan, taking the occasional dip in our private pool to cool off. There are also two public pool areas, one at the tree tops, near the restaurant, and one at the beach club. Both pools are infinity pools (incidentally, so is the pool in the pool villas) and are set in idyllic surroundings. The public pool areas are usually quite quiet, often there'll be no more than 3 or 4 other people around. All the restaurants are of a very high standard and with reasonable prices. Since you will probably not want to leave your villa after a 'hard' day spent at the spa, you'll be glad to know that the room service menu is also absolutely delicious. As a special treat, the resort has four signature dinners - one is held at one of the holes on the golf course, one on top of the pool at the tree tops, one on the rocks by the seaside, and one on the beach and features a massage on the beach before dinner!
Unique Quality: A must do at Banyan Tree is their spa treatments. I indulged in spa treatments every day, and on some days twice. There is a special 7-hour treatment that is absolutely bliss. For the more prudish, be warned, as the therapists do insist that you are nude for the body treatments. The therapists are all female however, and are very professional in the way they drape you, although, in some treatments you are very exposed. My favourite has to be the rainmist shower - which has you exfoliated by coconut scrub, than wrapped with an avocado mask, then moisturised by a warm oil and then drizzled by a warm 'rain shower' all this is followed by a steam sauna and then a whole body massage of your choice. heaven. For this treatment, my modesty was maintained by a handkerchief sized towel covering down below. A little self conscious at first, but I didn't really mind this at all as the treatment progressed. Anyone that thinks they will feel a little shy about this, i recommend just get over your sensitivities and enjoy it. you'll be glad you did!