Villa Montana Payangan Bali
Guest Directory

Welcome to Villa Montana where our goal is to exceed your expectations.

After settling in, please review this directory with your Butler. The Butler lives on site and is available to assist you 24 hours / 7 days. Your Butler will coordinate all aspects of your stay from housekeeping requests to special dietary needs to transportation, etc. All of your needs will be handled by the Butler.

Housekeeping
Privacy Request - the villa is serviced by a team of nine staff members. Our staff are unobtrusive and discrete. However, if you desire total privacy, please inform the Butler.

Laundry Service - laundry is washed upon request. Please request this service in the morning before 10 AM for same day delivery. Pricing is nominal:

Outerwear: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RP 10,000 per item
Underwear / Socks: . . . . . . . . . . RP 5,000 per item
Pressing Only: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RP 5,000 per item

Dry Cleaning - dry cleaning service is available in Ubud (25 minutes away) and is billed at cost plus roundtrip transportation charges.

Towels - towels placed on the floor or in the laundry hamper will be removed for washing. Towels hung back up on the rack will be removed for drying only. Please assist us in our energy saving efforts and place clean damp towels back on the rack for drying only.

Linens - linens are changed every three days. If you desire more frequent linen changes, please mention this to the Butler.

Pillows - down feather or hypoallergenic Dacron pillows are available. Please request your preferred pillow type with the Butler. Extra pillows are available upon request.

Bath Amenities - shampoo, bath foam and lotion are available upon request via the Butler.

Bath Amenity Kit - if you forgot to pack the essentials, we offer razors, toothbrush / toothpaste and combs. Your Butler will gladly handle this request.

Hairdryers - available upon request; arranged by Butler.

Electrical Adaptors & Voltage Converters - available upon request; arranged by Butler.

Room Temperature / Humidity Control - Villa Montana is located in a high mountain tropical climate which is mild and humid. For your comfort, the air conditioning system may be used to dehumidify the room. Please ask the Butler for assistance with the A/C controls.

Television / DVD / Entertainment System - please ask your Butler for assistance in using Villa Montana's Indovision satellite system, DVD players and sound system.

Aromatherapy Burners - aromatherapy burners and tea candles are available upon request for evening turn down service. Please ask the Butler to arrange aromatherapy for your guest room.

Wake-Up Calls - may be arranged the prior evening via the Butler with coffee or tea delivered to your room at the time of the wake-up call.

Newspapers - The International Herald Tribune and the English language Jakarta Post are available in Ubud. If you desire morning delivery of the newspaper, the cost is $12 USD per day. We apologize for the expense but it is due to transportation costs roundtrip from Villa Montana to Ubud.

Romantic Flower Bath - If you are staying in the Master Bedroom or Owner's Suite you may indulge in a romantic flower bath. Our staff will fill the oversized bathtub with salts, essential oils, beautiful fragrant flowers and light an array of candles to create an amazingly romantic atmosphere. Your bed will also be turned down with a surprise gift. Cost is $40 USD for the romantic flower bath. Add a bottle of wine or champagne from our menu. Please ask the Butler to arrange your Romantic Flower Bath at least 24 hours in advance.

Bathrobes - lightweight Batik (cotton) bathrobes are automatically provided. If you desire a heavy weight terry cloth bathrobe, the Butler will gladly provide you with one.

Flowers - tropical flowers are provided free of charge on all washbasin countertops. If you desire tropical flowers throughout your bedroom and the entire Villa (11 large arrangements in total) the charge is $75 USD. Our Villa Montana florist is artistic and provides wonderful displays. Please request floral service one day in advance with your Butler.

Bedside Reading Lamps - extra lighting for nighttime reading is provided. Please request via the Butler.

Power Failures - frequent power failures are common in all areas of Bali. At Villa Montana they are frequent but of short duration typically lasting 30 minutes or less. For your safety and comfort a flashlight is located in each bedside table as well as emergency back-up lamps are provided for the living room and dining areas.

Insecticide - a bio-friendly insecticide is applied to the gardens and perimeter of Villa Montana every Monday and Thursday. The insecticide leaves a mild odor for a couple of hours after application. If you prefer the garden staff do not apply insecticide during your stay, please inform the Butler.

Housekeeping Service Hours
Housekeeping service hours are completely flexible to meet your schedule.

1st Service
7 AM to 3 PM

Your morning housekeepers will tidy up and serve you breakfast and lunch.

Please request via your Butler that housekeeping arrive at least one hour prior to your scheduled wake up time.
2nd Service - Turndown
3 PM to Bedtime

Your evening housekeepers will provide food and beverage service as well as turn down your beds for the night, provide fresh towels and perform light cleaning duties.

Upgrades
Definitely request via your Butler to see the Owner's Suite located at the front of Villa Montana. The Owner's Suite is the most luxurious accommodation offered by Villa Montana and is available for an upgrade fee of $150 USD per night. The Owner's Suite is 95 Sq. Meters (1,050 Sq. Feet) and features a supremely comfortable living room, canopied four poster bed, study with rice field views and a commodious bathroom. The Owner's Suite is modern and lavishly decorated. Definitely the finest accommodations available at Villa Montana and probably the finest sleeping room available in the Ubud area.

Phone Service
A Nokia Cellular phone is available for use during your stay with us at Villa Montana arranged via your Butler. It is free to receive calls both domestic and international.

If you wish to make calls both domestic and internationally a prepaid phone card must be purchased. This is simple and easily arranged via your Butler. Please note that a $150 USD charge applies in the event of loss or damage to the Nokia guest phone.

Internet Service
Villa Montana offers broadband internet service at Highway Internet Café located in downtown Ubud (25 minutes from Villa Montana). You are entitled to two complimentary hours of high speed internet access per day. Highway Internet Café is air conditioned and offers the fastest internet speed of any internet café in Bali. It is very comfortable and offers excellent coffee and crepes!

The village of Kerta, where Villa Montana is located, does not have land telephone lines and therefore internet access on site at Villa Montana is unfortunately impossible.

On-Call Physician
Villa Montana works with the Ubud Clinic located 25 minutes away. Ubud Clinic offers English and Japanese speaking medical staff available for 24 hour house calls at a reasonable fee. Your Butler will arrange any medical appointments necessary.

DVD Library
Villa Montana offers you a complimentary DVD library with over 400 titles available. Please ask your Butler for access to the DVD library and assistance in operating the living room home theatre system or the DVD player located in your bedroom.

Satellite Television
Villa Montana's three televisions all subscribe to INDOVISION satellite television offering you more than 70 channels of entertainment. CNN, BBC, MSNBC, ABC Australia, Japanese language programming and Chinese language programming in addition to countless other channels are available. Please ask your Butler for assistance in operating the INDOVISION satellite remote control.

Library
A small collection of fiction and non-fiction titles are available for loan on a complimentary basis. Your book donations to our small library are greatly appreciated. Please ask your Butler for reading materials.

Weather / Climate
Located at approximately 800 meters (2,600 feet) above sea level, Villa Montana has an ideal year round climate. Due to the mountainous elevation, it offers a much milder, less humid and more pleasant climate than do the beach areas of Bali.

Climate Guide:

November through April:
Daytime Highs: 26 to 28 (80 F to 85 F)
Nightime Lows: 18 to 21 (65 F to 71 F)

This is the warmest time of year at Villa Montana. Rainfall is abundant but never enough to be a hindrance to your travel plans. Most rainfall occurs late in the evening and overnight. The jungle is a lush green and the gardens are amazing during this time of year.

May through October:
Daytime Highs: 23 to 26 (75 F to 82 F)
Nightime Lows: 15 to 18 (52 F to 66 F)

This is the dry season in Bali. Rainfall rarely occurs during this time of year and humidity levels are lower. Days are sunny and pleasantly warm making it perfect for laying out by the pool while still offering a refreshing breeze. Nights, particularly in July and August, are pleasantly cool and make for perfect sleeping weather. Jeans and a lightweight sweater are essential for nights during July and August at Villa Montana.

If you came to Bali unprepared for an occasional chilly night, please ask your Butler for a sweater.

Check-In & Check-Out

Check-In
We kindly request a $100 USD per day deposit to cover incidental expenses (laundry, food and beverage, transportation, etc). The deposit is payable in USD cash or the equivalent in Indonesian Rupiahs. We do accept traveler's checks denominated in USD. Credit cards are not accepted for incidental charges. If your incidental charges do not exceed $100 USD per day, the unused portion of your deposit will be refunded prior to checking out.

Check-Out
Check-out time is 12 Noon. We are happy to provide the villa free of charge until 4 PM if an incoming guest arrival is not scheduled on the same day. After 4 PM a $100 USD late check-out charge is applied. If the villa is occupied after 8 PM, an additional night's accommodation charge applies. Thank you for your understanding.

During peak tourist season it is very likely that an incoming guest will be arriving on the same day of your check-out. If this occurs, we may offer you budget accommodations nearby in a basic motel suitable for showering and preparing for your upcoming evening flight home.

Staff Tipping
Villa Montana's nine staff members strive to surpass your highest expectations. If the service delivered has indeed surpassed your expectations and you feel a tip is justified, please know that all nine staff members equally share tips. This is the custom in Bali; Balinese firmly believe in sharing and teamwork. At the end of your stay, or during your stay, please feel free to leave a tip with your Butler. It will be equally divided amongst all nine staff members. You can be assured your tip will be greatly appreciated by our hard working team!

Massage & Spa
In villa massage may be arranged with four hours advance notice minimum via your Butler. Well trained professional male and female massage therapists are available. You may take your massage in Villa Montana's outdoor "bale bengong" pavilion or on a professional massage table by the pool. Couples massage is also available. Cost per 90 minutes is $45 USD per person payable at time of service.

Many of the best full service luxury spas in Bali are within 30 minutes of Villa Montana. A trip to Villa Montana without visiting one of the following world class spas would not be complete!

A.) "The Source" at Begawan Giri Resort is a world class spa located near Villa Montana and is a "must-do" for spa enthusiasts. Stunning setting.
B.) Kirana Spa is widely regarded as the best spa in Bali and is 25 minutes away. Highly trained therapists. Very popular with Japanese clientele.
C.) The Tjampuhan Hotel & Spa offers a wonderful setting and a relatively inexpensive spa with terrific treatments. Spa treatments include an all day pass to the Jacuzzi and terraced swimming pool.

Please request assistance in booking advance spa appointments with your Butler.

Tours & Transportation
Transportation and tours are offered using an air conditioned Toyota Kijang SUV which can comfortably accommodate six passengers.

Transportation is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week at the rate of $8 USD per hour. Please request tours and transportation via your Butler at least two hours prior to your desired departure time.

Picnic lunch baskets are available for all tours. Please refer to our lunch menu for picnic basket suggestions and your Butler will gladly arrange a picnic lunch for you. 24 hours advance notice please.

Bicycle Rental
Bicycle rental is available with 24 hours advance notice arranged via the Butler. Prices vary but average approximately $15 USD per day for a good quality bicycle rental.

Walking Tours
Tours within a short walk or 15 minute drive of Villa Montana

Within a short walk of Villa Montana there are many interesting guided or self-guided tours available. All of these tours are provided with an English speaking knowledgeable guide for a nominal charge of $10 USD. One day's advance booking is necessary and can be arranged by contacting your Butler. The following tours are a small sample of available options representing the "best" of Villa Montana's immediate surrounding area:

a.) Buhu Coffee Plantation: The Buhu Coffee Plantation is located 3 KM from Villa Montana walking along a very scenic jungle and rice field pathway. Buhu Coffee Plantation is an 8 hectare coffee plantation owned by local villagers. The tour is free and highlights an important agriculture tradition amongst Balinese highlanders. Coffee beans and ground coffee are available for sale at very nominal prices. The Balinese coffee blends are hearty and strongly acidic. A beautiful short walk. You can choose to be driven to the plantation roundtrip, walk one way and then be driven back, etc. This plantation is a genuine working farm and not a "tourist circuit" stop; you will be the only visitor present.

Mawang Rice Paddies: The Mawang rice paddies are 2 ½ KM from Villa Montana walking along the spectacular Ayung River Valley. The Mawang rice paddies are particularly beautiful and very steeply pitched along the river valley. Traditional Balinese village life is in evidence everywhere along with way - housewives doing the daily laundry in a rice field canal, Balinese "open air" bathing in the streams, farmers doing their chores and children playing. You will experience a colorful mosaic of Balinese life untouched by mass tourism.

b.) Penyabangan Area: The Penyabangan area is a 10 minute drive north of Villa Montana. A rich agricultural region featuring plantations of teak, cocoa, coffee, coconuts, clove and stunning tropical flowers. You will definitely be the only tourist in Penyabangan and the locals are very inquisitive and surprised to see an "outsider" in this remotely colorful area. Children will be shyly smiling as you pass by; the cultural photo opportunities are a prize.

c.) Pilan: Pilan village is a 15 minute drive east of Villa Montana on motorbike (included in the nominal $10 tour guide fee). Pilan is a genuine cultural experience - unique and something very few visitors to Bali experience.

Car access is not possible due to the small and winding dirt road leading to Pilan. Villa Montana provides transport on motorbike with driver. Pilan is a super traditional Balinese village without electricity and completely untouched by the economics of tourism. Life is based on subsistence agricultural farming and the simple routine of rural Balinese living. The entire village consists of walled "compounds". Within these compounds are members of the same family; up to four generations living together in one compound. Once married, the newly married couple build a private home within the same compound. All of Bali used to live in this traditional "family compound" way; now it is very rare and found only in a few small and isolated mountain villages on the island. Pilan is one of the few villages remaining where all members of the community belong to a family compound. NEVER visited by tourists unless they are from Villa Montana. You will have ample opportunities to meet the local villagers and observe or participate in their daily routines. Villa Montana's staff know the villagers well allowing a very reclusive and isolated world to be opened to you. An exclusive and unique experience not to be missed. Allow 4 hours total.

Kerta Village: The village where Villa Montana is located, Kerta, has a challenging hiking trail leading 200 meters down to the base of the Ayung River. Just off to the side of Villa Montana begins a steep yet well defined hiking trail leading through a dense jungle of bamboo forests, pineapples, bananas, papayas, cocoa and coffee down to the base of the rushing rapids of the Ayung River. Monkeys and tropical birds are omnipresent - a challenging short hike through pristine jungle.

Tours within 30 Minutes
Tours within a 30 minute drive of Villa Montana

a.) Bali Quad DiscoveryTour: A one hour "4-Wheeler" or "doon buggy" action tour through jungle and plantations using small "4-wheeler" vehicles down into the Ayung River Valley. You can self-drive or have a guide drive the four wheeler. The scenery is terrific and Bali Quad Discover Tour is less than a 10 minute drive from Villa Montana. Nominal 4 wheeler rental charge depending on the season and your negotiating skills.

b.) Kintamani: A MUST DO tour, the Kintamani area is a volcanic moonscape on top of the island located only 20 minutes from Villa Montana. Kintamani volcano is still classified as active with the last eruption having occurred in 1966. Located at 1,200 meters above sea level, Kintamani has a refreshingly cool climate and offers a unique volcanically barren topography on an otherwise lushly verdant tropical island. Visiting Kintamani for a sunrise tour is spectacular. The hiking is excellent; numerous ½ to full day itineraries are on offer from our knowledgeable tour guides varying from challenging hikes to leisurely strolls around the volcanic lake at the base of the crater.

Kintamani is on the Balinese "tourist circuit" but our expert guides will steer you away from the tourist traps and into the magnificent isolation and geographic splendor of the volcanic lake and crater. Allow 4 to 12 hours for the Kintamani tour depending on your hiking plans. Picnic breakfasts and lunches are available for this tour as dining facilities in Kintamani are exclusively for the tourist bus crowd and are predictably overpriced and offer poor quality fare.

Taro Elephant Safari Park: Bali's "Elephant Park" is approximately a 30 minute scenic drive from Villa Montana. The Elephant park is most definitely on the "tourist circuit". It's expensive, not culturally Balinese, and the elephants are from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Regardless, it's a wonderful experience for children and all those inclined to enjoy an elephant ride. The elephants are well tended to, the park is impeccably maintained being operated by an Australian expatriate with many years in Bali. Highly recommended for families with children young enough to enjoy this experience. A 30 minute elephant ride for up to three persons costs approximately $100 USD. Park entry fee varies; many coupons and package deals are available from the park operator, Bali Adventure Tours. The village of Taro, hosting the elephant park, is the only place in Bali home to the sacred white cows. Being Hindus, the Balinese hold the white cows as holy sacred beings. The white cows make for an interesting stop on the way to the Elephant Safari Park.

c.) Ubud - the cultural and artistic heart of Bali, Ubud is located 25 to 30 minutes from Villa Montana. Ubud is widely regarded by many expatriates and frequent visitors as being "the place" to experience Bali. Offering some of the best shopping, dining, spas and cultural attractions on the island, Ubud is a delight. Upon checking into Villa Montana you will find a comprehensive guide to Ubud shopping, dining, spas and nightlife in the villa's living room. Villa Montana's Ubud guide is constantly updated. In addition, Villa Montana's drivers are up to date on the "in" spots allowing you to experience only the finest of the Ubud lifestyle.

Further Afield
Points of Interest more than 30 minutes from Villa Montana

Bali is filled with activities and points of interest all throughout the island. Bali is a small island; almost all points of interest are within a two hour drive of Villa Montana. Villa Montana is located in the central highlands of Bali making it convenient to many points of interest.

Bali travel guidebooks are available in Villa Montana's library. Lonely Planet Bali, Fodor's and Frommer's guidebooks are all on offer to assist you with developing an itinerary to maximize your experience on Bali. Most valuable of all in assisting you to plan your adventures will be our Balinese staff; they know their island home well and are trained to anticipate your needs and expectations.

For "further afield" we will only mention beaches as they are the most frequently asked request for points of interest located more than 30 minutes from Villa Montana. Other information on points of interest further afield may be obtained from the Butler or from Villa Montana's knowledgeable drivers / tour guides.

Beaches:

Kubu Tambahan Beach: The closest beach (drive time not physical distance) to Villa Montana located in Northwest Bali is Kubu Tambahan Beach. Kubu Tambahan Beach is a direct one hour drive from Villa Montana but few guests opt to do the trip non-stop. Along the scenic mountain road there are many points of interest. Kubu Tambahan beach is a black sand volcanic beach; very clean with gentle waves not suitable for surfing but great for swimming and families. A super clean beach with clear ocean waters. Canoe rental and powerboat rentals are available. Traditional Balinese "warung" food is available on the beach or you can opt for a picnic basket from Villa Montana. A very "lightly touristed" area with extremely reasonable prices for food, drink and activities.

Sanur Beach: Sanur Beach is a white sand beach located 1 hour and 15 minutes from Villa Montana. Sanur was the first area of Bali developed for mass tourism. Still called a "village" but really a sizeable city, Sanur has a lot on offer from great dining spots to a good beach and large resort style hotels. There are many spots along Sanur beach offering food and drinks, parasailing, canoeing, fishing tours, beach massage, surfing, hair braiding to illicit activities. You name it, Sanur Beach has it on offer! If you enjoy a developed beach community with all of the conveniences, Sanur is a great choice. Our personal favorite is the Bali Hyatt Sanur. Go for lunch and a few drinks whilst enjoying their pool and facilities. As long as you're eating and drinking, the Hyatt Sanur is happy to host you. Terrific swimming pool and on a nice stretch of Sanur beach.

Other beaches within 1 and ½ hours of Villa Montana are too numerous to mention but our drivers and tour guides have their definite favorites to match your needs - gentle or surfing, developed or isolated, black sand or white sand, etc. Leave it to our tour guides / drivers to assist you in finding your perfect beach.