With between 1,500 and 3,000 hotels on Bali, the choice can be mind-boggling. Indonesia’s celebrated Hindu “Island of the Gods” is the realm of traditional artists, so you’ll often find a level of design flair and sense of hospitality that other tourism hotspots can only dream of emulating.
Location is all-important. Southern Bali – closest to the airport and capital – has become infamous for its traffic jams. If you’re aiming for a classic beach-resort holiday with little exploring, you can find some postcard-perfect properties almost within sight of the airport. But bear in mind that you’ll often get more value for your money if you avoid the tourist trail. It’s easy to escape if you head along the east coast, or to relatively unknown (and almost completely undeveloped) West Bali.
We’ve put together the definitive list of some of the best hotels, from tropical-chic boutique hotels to facility-rich beach resorts, with something to suit most budgets.
Two decades ago, I fell in love with the coconut groves, spice forests and empty beaches of West Bali. Since then, the island has become synonymous with over-development, overcrowding and traffic jams. Yet, even now, it still takes just a little tenacity to break away from the tourist trail. I still breathe a sigh of relief when I cross the expanse of paddy fields that separates West Bali from so-called ‘civilisation’. --Mark Eveleigh
Potato Head Suites and Studios hotel
Indonesian-owned Potato Head has become an island institution – not just for its very chic and fun beach club but also as a standout role-model in implementing sustainable tourism. Separated from the beach only by expansive infinity pools, this is the place to stay in Seminyak if you’re looking for something stylish, design-savvy and eco-friendly. Rooms are cool, airy, thoughtfully designed and blessed with spellbinding Indian Ocean vistas. All-inclusive resorts are rare on Bali (where there’s lots to entice you into the streets), but there’s so much activity and fascination at Potato Head that you might have to force yourself to stray beyond.
