The ultimate guide to the best Bali accommodation

Whether you want to spend your time doing the downward dog in Ubud or surfing the island’s best breaks, we’ve found the best Bali accommodation to suit your needs.

The best Bali accommodation depends on what type of holiday you have planned as well as your means and aspirations. Be it a haven of contemplation in Ubud, an exclusive villa in Pererenan or a stylish over-the-top stay that will accommodate your entire entourage in Uluwatu, we’ve rounded up the best accommodation in Bali.

Pererenan | Uluwatu | Seminyak | Canggu | Kuta Beach | Ubud | Nusa Dua | Keramas

Pererenan

This up-and-coming area of Bali is like Canggu without the crowds. The Balinese village is close to Echo Beach and Batu Bolong and is surrounded by crayon-green rice fields. It’s the next village across from Canggu and popular with digital nomads looking for a more tranquil place to live.

Akashi Residence

Have some cash to splash? The Akashi Residence is a luxurious two-storey, six-bedroom, seven-bathroom villa that will accommodate your entire entourage.

The luxe residence designed by renowned architect Alexis Dornier is an oasis of calm just a short drive away from Canggu.

The swanky villa is built around a central courtyard containing a pool with a spiral silver slide and includes an open-air yoga deck and fitness area as well as sitting areas in the sun and shade, a pool table and ice bath and incredible artwork.

The villa comes with a team of lifestyle assistants dedicated to handling any requests as well as one meal prepared by your own private chef who is also available to host cooking classes.

The upscale property managed by The Luxe Nomad is the former BOSS House Bali, the first lifestyle concept for the brand.

Tribe Bali

If anything screams ‘Bali’s new hotspot’ in Pererenan it’s Tribal Bali, which has a dedicated zone for coworkers looking for a place to work, play and stay. Tribal Bali is aimed squarely at those who left behind the corporate grind in search of greener pastures in Pererenan, Bali’s latest exotic locale.

The coworking hostel will also suit flashpackers who appreciate the amenities that have been harmonised here under one roof such as an onsite cafe and pool as well as a mix of dorm rooms and private rooms to suit all budgets. Those dreaming of being crypto bros in a tropical paradise can also road-test the coworking space where you will always find a cohort of workers in bucket hats and beads bent over their MacBooks. Want to live your best life as a digital nomad? Tribal Bali is one of the best places on the planet to try out the ‘workation’. It’s also close to Sol, one of the best sunset bars in Bali.

Premadhan Cottage, Bali

Those looking to immerse themselves in cultural experiences in Bali will find it at Premadhan Cottage. Guests at Premadhan Cottage are invited to join everything from a hands-on rindik music lesson to a workshop where they will learn the art of making a canang sari, one of the daily offerings made by Balinese Hindus.

The accommodation at Premadhan Cottage includes a two-bedroom Uma Bokulu, which translates to ‘Big House’ and includes a sun deck patio and private infinity pool; five Gadang House cottages, known for their distinctive pointed roofs that have quick access to the main pool; and the Rumah Joglo, which has a private terrace and views over the rice fields and tropical gardens.

Uluwatu

The soaring cliffs of Uluwatu are iconic, not least for gifting surfers with one of the longest left-handers in Bali. The cliffs, scored and scoured by the elements, have been featured as a backdrop in surf magazines for decades. As well as being one of the best places to bunker down in Bali, it’s one of the island’s best locations at sunset.

Karma Kandara

Karma Kandara perched atop the cliffs of the Bukit Peninsula near Uluwatu is more like the kind of fancy eyrie where a peacock might decide to nest. All up there are 54 luxury villa residences of two to four bedrooms, each with its own private pool enclosed by lush walls of greenery. Sit in silence. Watch the birds swooping over the trees in long loops. Or get your steps up wandering around the resort, which spirals like the whorls of a seashell, down to Melasti Beach.

This tropical idyll with turquoise waters and white sands is surely one of the most beautiful beaches in Bali. The Karma Group has 43 resorts in more than 11 countries and the vibe of this clifftop location with white stone pathways and pops of pink bougainvillea is giving Mykonos.

Indulge in a Balinese massage at the Cliff Spa, enjoy seafood-centric fare with sea views at di Mare and take a golf club down to Club 22 for a boogie. The family-friendly rooms have spacious open-plan living rooms and fully equipped kitchens.

Anantara Uluwatu Bali

Planning a destination wedding? Want to propose to your better half in Bali? Or are you just looking to flop and drop while your partner paddles out to surf Impossibles each day? Aussies looking to escape to Bali will find much to love about Anantara Uluwatu, a grand dame on the Indonesian island with a great reputation.

The resort cascades down the cliffside towards an infinity pool overlooking the Indian Ocean. Each of the 76 spacious hotel rooms and suites is oriented toward the view. Surfers will appreciate the fact the hotel is a short scramble down the stairs to ride the waves at Impossibles. No swell? Schedule an appointment at the spa.

Head to 360 Rooftop Dining for dinner. Join sunset yoga. Or head to Botol Biru Bar & Grill for a sunset session and tag @anantarauluwatu in your happy snap. Guests at Anantara can also sign up for a Balinese Dance lesson or Pottery Class.

The Asa Maia

The Asa Maia resort in Uluwatu made it onto our list of vibrant places to go in 2024 for a multitude of reasons. For starters, the luxe property surrounded by neon-green jungle has been built around one of the fastest-growing wellness trends: the concept of hot and cold contrast therapy.

Guests at the property are generally here to take the plunge in Bali’s coldest pool (set at 7.5°C) and immerse themselves in thermal hydrotherapy.

After hitting the sauna or steam room, visitors can come in from the cold to their luxurious gladak (Javanese wooden houses), which reflect the vibrant architecture of Indonesia.

Savour nourishing fare at the restaurant. Enjoy the cool of the communal pool. And catch the last rays of sunlight slicing through the trees in the company of new friends. The Balinese sanctuary also engages blind therapists to massage its guests.

Seminyak

Choose a beach warung to sit at sunset in Seminyak to capture the softest of breezes before dusk signals the end of the day. While Seminyak is home to some of Bali’s best beach clubs, boutiques and eat streets, you can also find pockets of this bohemian enclave where centuries-old temples show traditional Balinese culture is very much alive.

Hotel Indigo Seminyak

From the get-go, Hotel Indigo Seminyak gets full marks for being right on the beachfront in Seminyak. This means you can opt in or out of the action as you can exit the property, which runs the length of an entire block, directly onto Double Six Beach. Swing out of bed to enjoy an indulgent breakfast buffet at Pottery Cafe. Enjoy lunch of kale salad and chicken yakitori at SugarSand. Or simply pad down to the pool to do a few lazy laps.

The soaring lobby is open to the elements and filled with objects that have been dredged from previous decades and tells the story of the area’s past as a fishing village.

All up, there are 270 rooms, six dining venues, a fitness centre and a separate Sava Spa facility, where guests can enjoy a couples massage, chakra realignment or reflexology. Hotel Indigo Seminyak remains one of the very best places to stay in Bali.

Peppers Seminyak

Expect to hear the bubbling sound of the rindik bamboo percussion instrument drifting across the lotus ponds at Peppers Seminyak as you sip on your lemongrass and ginger welcome drink. The Green Globe-certified hotel is a stunning complex with 51 private pool villas with one- to five-bedroom configurations, making it a suitable stay for destination weddings in Bali, extended family holidays or group getaways.

The luxury villa resort just north of Kuta and Legian is just a short walk away from some of the most popular places to eat and drink in Bali. Watch the sun sink over the sea, cocktail in hand, while glued to a sun lounger by your private pool or strut your stuff to the shared rock pool in your new Camilla caftan. Order an in-villa barbecue cooked by a private chef, indulge in Ladies Night at  The Laneway, and then reign it in with a detox package at the Spa at Peppers Seminyak.

Alila Seminyak

Rise in the dark lilac light of dawn to set off from your luxurious suite at the five-star 176-room Alila Seminyak and you’re likely to find you have Petitenget Beach all to yourself.

This sophisticated getaway on Bali’s southwest coast is just moments from the high-end boutiques, bars and restaurants that line the nearby streets of Seminyak. But beachgoers will also appreciate that the Hyatt hotel is smack-bang on the beachfront so you can soak up the tropical vibes without the chaos and chorus of beeping Kawasakis.

Alila Seminyak is designed around a communal area that includes four infinity pools lined with sun loungers, day beds to loll on and umbrellas for those who want to curl up in the shade. The rooms and suites are a mix of contemporary architecture with thoughtful touches that provide a sense of place.

Canggu

It’s known for its boutiques and beach clubs, cafes and surf culture. And while Canggu used to be a bit more of a secret spot than Seminyak, the enclave once known for its proximity to Echo Beach is now home to some of Bali’s best places to eat, play and stay.

Holiday Inn Resort Bali Canggu

IHG has been part of Bali’s evolution as a destination for decades. And the hotel brand knows what holidaymakers are looking for. The Holiday Inn Resort Bali Canggu heralds in the next chapter. It sits on the beachfront of Canggu and is suitable for surfers and non-surfers with a handful of waves breaking right out front and a plethora of yoga studios.

The family-friendly resort offers stunning ocean views and an infinity pool that is ideal for a rooftop rendezvous to watch the sun sink over the sea. It also showcases Balinese architecture at its best with works of art sourced from around the archipelago and thatched rooves bringing the island vibes.

Kids eat free at the Bali hotel, which has a fitness centre, babysitting onsite, children’s pool, slide and whirlpool making it one of the most family-friendly resorts in Bali.

COMO Uma Canggu

COMO Uma Canggu is for those who want to indulge in an over-the-top stay. Traffic jams are a thing in Bali. So, to be able to bunker down in luxury at Como Uma Canggu is epic. All up, there are 119 rooms and suites at COMO Uma Canggu looking out over the Indian Ocean. Sit on the balcony of your one-bedroom lagoon pool residence or penthouse as the evening light fades and the clouds stretch like pink cotton candy across the sky.

Hire a scooter so you can skip into the centre of Canggu to shop, drink and dine and then retreat back to the resort, which is the epitome of elegance. Active types will appreciate the fact there is one group class per day complimentary during your stay along with an in-room yoga mat with meditation vids on the telly.

Travelling with kids? They will love having access to the Play by Como space. This place is Off. The. Charts.

Escape Haven

Want to go on a getaway to Bali with your girlfriends? Escape Haven is worth a stay. The women’s luxury retreat in Canggu has a host of packages hosted by therapists who will help you fluff your chakras and give you the space to chill.

Yoga retreats are a dime a dozen in Bali. But Escape Haven’s mellow boho vibes mean it’s well and truly on the map for yogis who want to get their Zen on. The themes range from Ayurveda to packages built around learning to surf and Bali’s first retreat designed with longevity in mind.

The Longevity Retreat is all about elevating immunity, revitalising your health and turning back the biological clock. The Refresh Yoga package is another we’d recommend as it helps guests find stillness and space, strength and balance away from the hurly-burly of modern life.

Kuta Beach

Australians have been travelling to Kuta on the southern coast of Bali since the 1970s. And while the beach on the southern coast of Bali might now be less popular than the hipster-clogged enclaves of Seminyak and Canggu, it doesn’t come with the same price tag and so remains Bali’s best spot for backpackers partial to a cheap Bintang (and phallic bottle opener).

Mamaka by Ovolo

Mamaka by Ovolo is more like an elegant urban resort than a hotel. The vibrant 191-room boutique hotel has pops of colour throughout and curtains of greenery that wrap about the beachfront property like velvet upholstery.

The designer resort is mere metres away from Kuta Beach where you can sit by the pool watching the waves crash on the sand and the sunlight glinting like sequins on the sea.

Mamaka by Ovolo is the only hotel in the world with an official Rip Curl School of Surf onsite so you can embrace the thrill of riding the waves.

Assess the swell situation via real-time updates on the live Kuta Surf Cam. If the sea looks like a granite slab head to the rooftop pool club where you will find Kuta Social Club, one of the best beach clubs in Bali. There’s also the two-level Street 32 to enjoy the delirium induced by working your way through the Tastes of Indonesia selection on the menu.

Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali

Having a free airport shuttle to your beachfront villa is one of the perks of a stay at Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali. The resort has a corner of South Kuta sewn up with direct access to the beach so you can somnambulate from your king-sized bed to your walk-out patio to the pool. The amenities of this resort make it one of the best spots for families to stay in Bali.

Those planning a destination wedding can book out half the hotel as there are 193 rooms, many of which are accessible. There’s also a kiddies pool, cabanas, poolside loungers and umbrellas where you will find holidaymakers in various stages of repose.

Turn your gaze away from the ocean views for long enough to book a massage at the Tea Tree Spa, order light bites at Envy and Palms and the #cossylivs-friendly hospitality that allows kids under the age of 12 to eat for free. Tuck a frangipani behind your ear and paddle to the pool bar for a pina colada.

The InterContinental Bali Resort

InterContinental Bali Resort is one of the OG five-star luxury resorts to be built in Jimbaran Bay, South Kuta. The tranquil beach property, which has recently had a refresh, remains as popular as ever with guests who want close proximity to the surf beaches, restaurants, bars and boutiques.

Watch children, as light as dandelion seeds, spinning into the beachfront pool under the care of a nanny while you sit cross-legged on a sun lounger, handcrafted cocktail in hand. Meander around the paths that twist through the manicured gardens to find the fitness centre, Spa Uluwatu and Japanese bonsai garden. Sit in the flickering shadows of the revamped Sunset Beach Bar & Grill, which is illuminated with paper lanterns, savour a seafood platter at Bella Cucina, and tuck into Teppinyaki at KO Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge.

Ubud

There are two types of visitors to Bali. Those who head straight for the lacquered green landscapes of Ubud and those who leave the airport bound for the beaches. While occasionally these two tribes come together, the central hills district is for those craving a hit of Balinese culture while surrounded by terraced rice fields and jungle.

Maya Ubud Resort & Spa, Bali

Your hair will be redolent with the aroma of clove oil throughout your entire stay in Maya Ubud Resort & Spa as you dedicate your days to restoring your balance at the spa therapies that range from Treat the Feet to a Herbal Bath.

Maya is nestled into the folds and pleats of Ubud’s emerald landscape on an 18-hectare parcel of land fringed with palm trees.

Expect a sigh to run like a wave along the walkway that leads to the yoga pavilion where the bright melody of bells bounces all around.

It’s here you can challenge yourself in the name of good health to a 60-minute aerial yoga class while tethered to a wall. Or a dedicated wellbeing session of yoga, Pilates or meditation led by a private instructor.

Refuel at Mayasari (open for breakfast and dinner) or The River Cafe overlooking the rush of the Petanu River and enjoy the tranquillity of a drink at the Tree Bar.

Soulshine Bali

Don’t be surprised if musician Michael Franti makes a cameo in the yoga shala with his guitar when you open your eyes at the end of Shavasana. That’s part of a stay at a music retreat owned by a famous rapper so just go with it. Franti’s music is the main draw for fans who sign up for the signature ‘Soulrocker music experience’ at Soulshine Bali.

Franti and his wife Sara Agah recently added 17 contemporary suites to the original 16-suite retreat, and they come replete with oversized bathtubs, balconies and record players. Soulshine Bali looks to have been reimagined by Dr Seuss with whimsical murals, overwater swings and waterslides.

What a great many of soul rockers who gather here do is dance and find healing through music. Expect performances by Franti and an ensemble of Indonesian musicians as part of the transformational journey which includes visits to the spa and health-focused restaurant.

Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape

Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape is an adults-only ‘conscious luxury’ retreat with 16 private pool villas in the Buahan region of Bali outside Ubud. Rise with the sun in your 160 square metre open-air villa to enjoy views of Bali’s seven peaks, blanketed in jungle and shrouded in a gauzy mist at dawn.

The villas all pay homage to traditional Balinese architecture and traditions built using robust hardwoods salvaged from old boatyards. Each of the Banyan Tree villas are called bales after the traditional Balinese place of ceremony known for being in harmony with nature.

As with all Buahan properties, there’s a focus on sustainability, which includes a zero-waste predominantly plant-based menu, stewardship of the surrounding landscape, and a cultural approach to wellness in the open-air Toja Spa. The retreat is one of the best ‘naked’ stays in Bali and also launched the Firefly Project to protect the insects you might be lucky enough to see flying like sparks in the night.

Nusa Dua

Enjoying a beachside holiday in Nusa Dua is not a magic formula. Book a suite in an oceanfront resort suffused with the smell of frangipanis. Sink into a sun lounger for a week or two. And spend your time jalan-jalan (going for a walk) around the area exploring local temples and eating at neighbourhood warungs. It’s Bali minus the mad bustle.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bali

Surfers find a sense of fraternity in Bali that they can later relive at Breezes Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Bali. The beachfront bar is a top spot to watch the waves thundering into shore while sinking a Bintang or tropical cocktail.

The best thing about The Ritz-Carlton, Bali is that it offers something for everyone in the family. Teens will love Snapchatting a pic of the floating breakfast to their friends back home.

Foodies appreciate the fact they can bounce from Senses for breakfast to the Bejana for lunch and Beach Grill for a romantic destination dinner.

The resort attracts a melee of guests: children in loose floral hats, playing in the cool of the pool, teens wearing booties, bikinis and boardies, and beach-bound, grizzled surfers padding down to the white sands of Nusa Dua.

Renaissance Nusa Dua

If you were to pause in flight and look down at the Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort from above you’d see an expansive complex softened by four blue-green pools set like gems into the earth. The Renaissance Nusa Dua is a Marriott property that opened in 2021. It’s the kind of resort that has contemporary corners designed for moments of reflection and atmospheric eateries like Backstage Food Theatre for guests who want to mingle.

There are paths that hug the resort and lead in various directions toward its 307 suites and fun amenities that include a swinging nest seat, enormous water features and ceilings clad with electronic art. One of the pools has a volleyball net and there’s another with play equipment dedicated to kids. Forgo the gym and hire a bike to explore every nook of the Nusa Dua neighbourhood.

The Laguna Resort & Spa Bali

A lot of the beauty of The Laguna Balia, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa is about the lush greenery all around the villas. Party people, this is not your jam.

The Laguna Bali is aimed at everyone from sophisticated business travellers and extended families to honeymooners who want some space away from their weird rellos and the rest of the wedding party.

Although it opened more than 30 years ago, all 287 rooms recently underwent a refresh bringing it thoroughly up to date.  Enjoy the sound of the waves from Arwana restaurant.

The cry of gulls on the wind while enjoying a moonlight massage at the spa. And the joy of being in a resort that supports Sungai Watch, an environmental organisation, and the Scholars of Sustenance Foundation, providing meals to underprivileged Balinese families.

Keramas

Hotel Komune

Hotel Komune has attracted everyone from Celeste Barber and her #hothusband to DJ FISHER and his wife Chloe and pro surfers such as Gabriel Medina. The stylish surf resort was founded by trailblazing surfer Tony Cannon who wanted to open a resort near to the mythical wave at Keramas waves and for it to be the kind of place his wife would like to stay.

The stylish resort on the east coast of Bali is surrounded by tiny villages and rice fields and employs an army of locals who look after the rooms and gardens.  There’s a beach club, suites that spill out over an infinity-edged pool and paths that are lined with frangipanis and clusters of palms that lead to various parts of the resort. There’s a hairdresser offering frizz-free treatments. A spa. Surf lessons. A yoga shala. And even an adults-only pool. It feels a world away from crewed-out Canggu and is a top spot to stay and play.