My husband and I recently honeymooned in Bali. We decided to go all out and we exceeded our expectations of luxury, beauty and relaxation. However, we felt that there were a few details that the travel guides omitted.

Here's an insider's view.

Our favorite hotels were the Four Seasons Sayan and the Amankila. The Four Seasons Sayan is located about twenty minutes from Ubud, Bali's cultural center. The hotel is breathtaking, a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired edifice clinging to a cliff. The view is of palm trees, rice terraces and river valley. It is relatively small (at least when compared to the Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay), allowing for more personalized service. While there are only two restaurants, there are numerous local dining options: Ary’s Warung, Murni’s Warung, Three Monkeys and the nearby Aman resort, to name our favorites. There are also several activities offered by the hotel that we really enjoyed: shopping in Ubud, yoga on a terrace overlooking the valley, hiking and a local dance group. Our only criticisms are as follows: our room, while equipped with a plunge pool and outdoor shower, was dark and somewhat sterile. The hotel pool is small, with a limited seating area. The spa and gym are also quite small and can be crowded. Finally, the weather during our stay was rainy, leading to mosquitoes of a strangely misogynistic bent: I was devoured while my husband remained untouched. None of these criticisms would prevent us from returning at the drop of a hat. On our next trip we will request an upper room. And more bug spray.

The Amankila hotel, located on the East coast of Bali, was Nirvana. It is situated on a cliff overlooking the Lombok Strait: neighboring islands shimmer in the distance. The hotel has its own black sand beach, accessible by a long staircase or by private jeep. We arrived in the late afternoon and were greeted by the manager. It seemed everyone in the hotel knew our names. The atmosphere was welcoming and not at all stuffy. The clouds that had followed us since our arrival in Bali parted and we were treated to blue sky. Each hotel had filled our bathtubs with flowers to celebrate our honeymoon, but the Aman went one step further: a split of champagne and two free massages. Every evening we discovered new treats in our room, such as fresh flowers, woven rattles, and local desserts on the pillow. The chef introduced himself and offered to prepare whatever we wanted. There were more activities offered than we had time for: snorkeling on the hotel's private yacht (we went twice), picnic breakfast in the hotel's private mountainside spot, tours of the local market, white water rafting, cooking classes, and more. If we could find a flaw, it was that there was no gym or spa. We were told that plans for them are in the works. (Several treatments are currently offered in the rooms or on the beach.) Also, the rooms were slightly dated when compared to those of the Four Seasons, and they did not come with pools or outdoor showers. However, the rest of the hotel is so inviting, our room was the last place we wanted to be—honeymoon be damned.

While these hotels are superb, they pale in comparison to what Bali itself has to offer. An indulgence of the senses, Bali is as close to paradise as we've ever been. The landscape is a combination of lush jungle greens, rolling rice terraces and vibrant flowers. The people, untainted by commercialism, are friendly and welcoming; the food is delicious (we especially loved the smoked duck—a traditional dish that must be ordered 24 hours in advance); the culture is rich and varied—we enjoyed hikes to the national temples (sarongs are required and arms must be covered), and trips to Ubud's incredible art museums; we marveled at the colorful wedding processions in the streets; the shopping is fabulous—we went with car and driver from village to village, each village specializing in a different craft, ranging from stone, wood and silver carving to basket weaving and Batik.

Best of all, the sound of flowing water and the scent of assorted flowers permeate the island, where almost everything from cows to banana leaves is sacred. The Balinese place a premium on bathing, yoga and massage as part of their highly spiritual existence. In Bali, beauty is worshipped and love abounds. Could honeymooners ask for anything more?

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