When it comes to healing and self-care, few holiday destinations provide the same ethereal vibe as Bali. If you’re looking to unwind this coming summer of 2024, take to the beaches, mountains, and valleys of Bali and lay down your head at these 10 best luxury resorts.
When it comes to cultural resplendency and natural beauty, few places shine like Bali with its plethora of the best luxury resorts for the picking. Fifty one years after the first international hotel was planted on its sacred terra, the island of the gods is now a closer paradise to the multitudes of pleasure seekers descending in droves, seeking out its secret gardens and sacred groves. Whether these havens feature dramatic cliff-side architecture or wall-less abodes raised deep within the isle’s primordial wilderness, they’re well worth a visit. Both old and new, these 10 luxury resorts in Bali offer the best getaways to retreat to for escaping the heat of summer.
10 best luxury resorts for families and couples to visit in Bali
Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape
A bold departure from conventional resorts, Banyan Tree’s first Escape property is an adults-only retreat designed to blend seamlessly into virgin topography. Famously eschewing walls and doors, the resort features a patchwork of sumptuous bales imbued with unobstructed 360-degree views of the surrounding valleys wherever one turns.
The lack of such essential features has elicited excitement, just as it has raised brows. While reviews have been somewhat mixed, Banyan Tree is on the brink of something sensational with this ground-breaking glam camp. But of course, this exposure to the elements is expertly controlled, as are all other operational aspects on and around resort grounds, thereby lifting Buahan to stratospheric new heights on the global register.
Address: Jl, Buahan Kaja, Kec. Payangan, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80572, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 6208181
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Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Mysterious, serene, and impossibly luxurious, Mandapa is a sprawling retreat boasting exquisite Balinese interiors, a bucolic escape that appeals to earth-huggers and the jet setting crowd alike. For a Ritz-Carlton Reserve of just 60 suites and villas, Mandapa feels like a behemoth property with far more keys — one arrives to an imposing stone entrance, a towering lobby, a full scale spa, a swathe of shimmering pools, a kid’s club with adjoining farm and farm animals, and oh-so-many restaurants.
Visitors are also greeted by a battalion of butlers who labour tirelessly day and night to connect the dots in the the resort’s grand expanse of operations. Factor in the padi patchworks, the pulsating river and the endless vistas of primordial splendour, and one is wont to believe that heaven is indeed a place on earth.
Address: Jl. Raya Kedewatan, Banjar, Kedewatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 4792777
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COMO Shambhala Estate
One of the most renowned private estates carved from Ubud’s famed terrains, COMO Shambhala is a verdant sanctuary set amidst lush tropical elements and stunning vistas. The estate is opulently framed by scenes both pastoral and wild — rivers, forests, gardens, lawns and even a holy spring make up the alluring topography here. COMO is a hospitality brand that extends from hotels to wellness and its Shambhala Estate embodies a holistic approach to the good life.
Wellness buffs habitually flock here both to salute and bask in the sun, and with such excellent milieu, this is the perfect resort to master yoga poses and luxuriate in the stillness. An estate of such expansive beauty is rare even in the verdant enclaves of Ubud, and Shambhala is one of the remaining hospitality landmarks that cradles our lofty aspirations to eat, pray and love in luxurious sumptuousness.
Address: Banjar Begawan, Desa, Melinggih Kelod, Kec. Payangan, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 978888
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Alila Villas Uluwatu
Inspired WOHA-designed architecture on an enviable perch has made this all-villa Alila property the comeliest Alila of the lot. Thoroughly modern, yet inspiringly lush, the linear lines of the buildings are fused with the lush silhouettes of the island elements, making this a garden haven of immense popularity with resort buffs and serial honeymooners alike. The stunning vista from its lofty perch alone is reason aplenty for repeated visits, for this isn’t a scene that one would easily forget.
The clear blue skies here embody tropical living in all its sunny splendour, while the stunning palettes that gradate with each advancing sunset simply take us out of this world. Without a doubt, Alila Villas Uluwatu is one of the best luxury resorts in Bali, worthy of a long, rejuvenating stay.
Address: Jl. Belimbing Sari Tambiyak, Pecatu, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80364, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 8482166
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The Apurva Kempinski Bali
This Kempinski property is a behemoth resort replete with ballrooms, club lounges, no less than 3 ‘main’ pools, an ‘underwater’ restaurant, and a wedding chapel; in short, it is a one-stop address in Bali fully equipped for your conventions and conventional holiday needs. The rooms are luxuriously decked, as one can expect from a Kempinski hotel, and we highly recommend the pool junior suite on a high floor which proffers enviable views of the surrounding dramatic vistas.
Address: Jl. Raya Nusa Dua Selatan lot 4, Benoa, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 2092288
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Andaz Bali – A Concept by Hyatt
Whilst Andaz hotels everywhere are attempting to craft a common identity, Andaz Bali – A Concept by Hyatt has deftly elected to base its conception on a collage of cultural and geographical elements instead. The resort is rustic yet plush, not entirely your Balinese thoroughfare, but not altogether out of this world too. With a tropical verdant village theme in place, the property comprises well-conceived restaurants, inviting pools, comfortable rooms and partially cloistered suites.
Unlike other swanky establishments on the island that are adamant about keeping out local intrusions, this is a retreat that leans into the uniqueness of its locale. Sanur’s lively neighbourhood sights and sounds, including beach joggers, dog walkers, and holiday makers, all form part of the resort experience via its open beach access. A stay here as such is not an escape from the world, but rather a splendid initiation into a brand new one.
Address: Jl. Danau Tamblingan No.89A, Sanur, Bali, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 3201234
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Raffles Bali
A magnificent cliffside sanctum that took over a decade to raise, every detail within a Raffles Bali villa is designed to impress. One can imagine the amount of time and attention poured into the thoughtfulness of the fixtures; from the subtle physics involving the bathtub headrest to the carefully curated amenities that subtly fit the feel, this resort is definitively top notch. The butler service here is truly deserving of its Raffles pedigree, an exemplary study of how this service should be seamlessly rendered within the modern context.
When enveloped within such luxurious elements, one can discern a palpable release from mundane living. The resort grounds are littered with exotic spots for intimate revelries, all meticulously staged and delivered, with Raffles panache, of course. Within such a dreamy escapade, the only reminder of the world outside comes from the distant airport facilitating endless landings and take-offs in bewilderingly rapid succession.
Address: Jl. Karang Mas Sejahtera No.1A, Jimbaran, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 2015800
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Hyatt Regency Bali
Fifty one years since the arrival of Bali’s first international hotel, countless new openings have followed on the island with each passing year, some stratospheric in stature, while others more humbly conceived. However, the lingering distinction of being primo extends beyond mere chronology for the Hyatt Regency Bali. Wrought through the mastery of architect Kerry Hill and landscape genius Made Widjaya, both extraordinary talents in their respective fields, the resort remains a testament to the concept of the Balinese Eden with structures and forms that are inventive, cultural, and timelessly bewitching.
Emerging recently from a substantial renovation, Hyatt Regency Bali’s nostalgia remains palpable even with the thoroughly updated rooms and suites. Standing still in time, however, are its mesmerising bales, moss-etched stone statues, cyclopean lobby chandeliers and imposing colonnades, and magnificent gardens which look to be from another world. Encapsulated deep within these enduring elements is the veritable ideal that heaven is indeed a place on earth.
Address: Jl. Danau Tamblingan No.89, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 281234
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Alila Manggis
Old is gold. In the over-crowded expanse of today’s resort-scapes, simplicity counts for little as the hordes descend all around, poised with their selfie sticks and garrulous poses, determined to lap up the excessive flourishes all around. Kerry Hill evidently had not anticipated such a world, rather fortunately, and the handful of serene hideaways he left behind clearly reflects a different world that needs less but aspires for more.
As it is with Alila Manggis, an understated Hill-designed retreat that is big on simplicity and minuscule on fuss, what was raised complements the grandeur and pristineness of the location. With Manggis being so removed from the thick of action and developments in Bali, nostalgia and memories are etched into the lines of this resort. Here, visitors can inhabit a faraway escape, a contemplative little oceanic outpost that isn’t so much about checking in (on Instagram), but rather checking out of the mundane doldrums.
Address: Desa Buitan, Manggis, Karangasem Regency, Bali 80871, Indonesia
Phone: +62 363 41011
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COMO Uma Canggu
As far as new Balinese resorts go, COMO Uma Canggu is poised for success. Design-wise, this beachfront resort exudes a contemporary residential feel, with most of its rooms and suites featuring amply-sized patios that point towards oceanic vistas. The larger residences come replete with kitchenettes, making island living a whole lot more viable on an extended stay mode.
Canggu is the place du jour to be. On any given day, the hotel’s visibly modish clienteles, some surfers and others poseurs, circulate in and out of its perimeters, imbuing the resort with a swanky, upmarket tribal chic that is very in tune with the fashionable front of a COMO property. Just be prepared to brave the endlessly horrendous traffic on and off the roads to bite into a slice of paradise within the calm of this oceanfront wellness pitstop.
Address: Echo Beach, Jl. Pantai Batu Mejan, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 6202228
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(Main and featured image: Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What is the nicest part of Bali to stay?
Those seeking luxury in Bali are best off checking into resorts nestled in the verdant greenery and cliffside crests of Uluwatu, the jungles of Ubud, and the lively beach town of Seminyak.
– What is the most luxurious area in Bali?
Many of the best luxury resorts in Bali are located in Uluwatu, Ubud, and Seminyak.
– Which is the most beautiful part of Bali?
Bali is surrounded by lush natural landscapes, majestic cliffs and mountains, and tranquil beaches. Those seeking to rejuvenate and unwind can visit Uluwatu, Ubud, and Seminyak.
– Where do celebrities stay in Bali?
Balinese Resorts like COMO Shambhala Estate are very popular among celebrities seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of life in the spotlight.
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