The Damai is a special place. Its unlike any resort I’ve ever stayed at, private, lush and discreet.
I stayed in the Dragon Master Villa. It incorporates beautiful antiques without feeling tired or dated. It was very distinctive. The bathroom deserves special mention for its magnificent wooden bench top, and huge bath with table. In places, there were signs of age, but everything was beautifully clean and functional. It felt luxurious. The pool was stunning, overlooking a valley. It was perfectly private, with amazing views.
One of the staff members expressed concern to me that the grounds were less lush than in the rainy season, but I still found them beautiful. The hung lanterns provided a lovely atmosphere walking through the gardens in the evening.
The food was persistently the best I had in Bali. I ate seven (expensive) meals at the restaurant, and the only disappointment was the suckling pork, which was not as juicy or crisp as I’d expect. With that said, other than Mozaic in Ubud, the prices were also the highest. Entrees were more expensive than pricey mains at restaurants like Sardine, Metis and Sarong in Seminyak. Given the quality, I didn’t really mind.
My main concern with the Damai related not just to the cost of its services, but also the manner in which guests were encouraged to use them.
This resort is expensive. Room service was triple the cost of my (more) luxurious accommodation in Seminyak. The spa services were double, and the tour options, which I declined to use, were also very pricey. Everything was quoted without tax, and there was an odd habit of randomly switching between prices in US dollars and Indonensian Rupiah, which meant that I misunderstood the price of my transfer to Ubud.
I was also irritated on my second day when I was enjoying a chat with one of the managers at lunch, and subsequently felt like I was being badgered to order more drinks, and use the spa. I politely explained that I didn’t really want a massage, and was subsequently told repeatedly that that was because I didn’t know how good some of their options are. It was the sort of peddling I would expect on the street. Similarly, when I didn’t want a drink with my lunch, just water, I was offered four or five different (pricey) options. This was not from the members of wait staff, who were always wonderfully obliging.
The Damai allows its guests to hideaway in perfect seclusion in magnificent surrounds, but it comes at a price. I don’t necessarily mind that, but more attention should be made to ensure that guests are respected.