24 Best Hotels in Bali, Indonesia

Have a lavish honeymoon at Anhera, however long you've been married, or even if you're just practicing. Anhera's detached villas running down the Campuan River ridge boast spectacular views of hillside greenery and revered Mount Agung. Reach Ubud's center via hotel shuttle in five minutes, or get a free ride to trekking trails. Generous rooms sport modern luxuries, wood floors, and Balinese flourishes galore. Spacious bathrooms feature a whirlpool tub for two with a view. Grassy private gardens are walled for safety—perfect if you have kids in tow. Two villas share a private pool, ideal for best-friend couples. You could pay hundreds more for less at many "name" resorts.

Contemporary international and Balinese styles harmonize at the Aquarius Beach Hotel. Each of the bright, spacious rooms maintains its minimalist feel even while providing a sofa and chairs around a coffee table, a desk, LCD TV with dozens of channels, and four-poster king bed draped with mosquito net. White walls are hung with colorful Balinese paintings and mirrors with intricately carved frames. Sliding-glass doors open to terraces overlooking a manicured garden. A two-level deck with cushioned lounge chairs rings the swimming pool. The beach is a three-minute walk, and restaurants and shops are even closer.

All the must-have elements of a Balinese getaway come together at one of the island's most lauded—and lavish—properties, a cliff-top resort in the heart of upscale Jimbaran Bay on 190 acres, with several swimming pools, an award-winning spa, and a private beach. Formerly a Ritz-Carlton, this hotel was re-launched as the AYANA in 2009. Despite the size and swank, the place manages to feel down-to-earth thanks in large part to the legendarily warm Balinese service. Local flourishes abound in the design, from staff uniforms by Indonesian designer Ghea Panggabean to the use of batik textiles and village-made handicrafts in the rooms. The 290 guest rooms and suites are categorized based on view (ocean, bay, or grounds); upgrade to one of the 71 renovated Club rooms for perks like a dedicated concierge and all-day drinks and eats in the Club Lounge. Dotted along the cliff tops, the 78 one-, two- and three-bedroom villas mimic traditional Balinese residences, with indoor/outdoor living spaces plus private gardens and plunge pools. The vast grounds also house several swimming pools (including an adults-only pool), Kids Club, tennis courts, golf course, and water sports area. The award-winning thermal spa features hydrotherapy circuits, a seawater therapy pool, al fresco spa cabanas, and 24 treatments rooms. Note that it's a steep 197 steps down to—and back up from—the private beach. Seven dining outlets serving everything from French and Italian to pan-Asian entice guests to stay on property, as does Rock Bar, for drinks, music (often from big name artists), and 360-degree water views.

Chatty backpackers, couples and families meet in Ayu Lili's lush garden. The grounds at this cottage-style hotel include a small swimming pool and a covered terrace for outdoor lounging. Each room has Balinese furnishings and a small verandah, and the more expensive ones also have air-conditioning. The central location, about five minutes walk from the beach, puts the best of Kuta within easy reach, and the price makes it affordable.

For a pampered beach holiday bathed in luxury, settle in at Jimbaran Puri Bali. A vast lotus pond overlooking the sea at the hotel entrance announces an extraordinary property. At this member of the swish Orient Express chain, every room is a detached cottage or villa accessed through a private garden with outdoor shower. Interiors feature separate sitting areas, king beds, and terrazzo sunken baths with gardens views, plus first-rate electronics. Marble floors and precise dark-wood furnishings exude modern elegance, with vintage Bali photos for a sense of place. The service is attentive but unobtrusive. A few miles south of Kuta, Jimbaran is a relaxed alternative in with a peaceful village setting.

Set amid idyllic gardens, D'Omah has 10 two-bedroom cottages with lofts and verandahs; your rate gets you a bedroom and a share of the rest. Don't worry about the concept, simply revel in the affordable extravagance. Spacious, bright, and completely private bedrooms boast luxurious four-poster beds with mosquito nets and a bevy of fine artworks and local handicrafts. Suites also have refrigerators and satellite TVs. The lushly landscaped grounds and two swimming pools provide a hilltop escape from Ubud's crowds, though the center of the village is just a 15-minute walk away.

Wellness treatments and holistic living are the big draw at Desa Seni, but even if you spurn crystal spiritual detoxification you can enjoy its serenity and style. The resort, whose name means Art Village, offers five yoga classes daily. Alternatively, you can ride a free bicycle to the beach or nearby village, hang out by the pool, or take a cab into downtown Seminyak, 5 km (3 miles) south. Antique joglo (wooden houses) that were relocated from across Indonesia make for unique accommodations, and have been fitted with TVs and DVD players and Wi-Fi connections. The bathrooms are spacious and modern. The food here is organic, much of it from Desa Seni's gardens, but the menu makes ample concessions to carnivores.

You'll discover a verdant tropical retreat at Segara Agung, tucked down a wide lane lined with villas. Each guest room's private terrace faces manicured lawns edged with tropical flowering bushes. The standard rooms could easily cost double elsewhere, with straightforward furnishings including TVs with international channels, built-in closets, spacious desks, and simple bathrooms, all as well kept as the grass. Wi-Fi access is free. There's an inviting pool area, and and breakfast can be served in the garden pavilion. It's a three-minute walk to a stretch of beach brimming with restaurants and water-sports outlets.

This two-story hotel—the "cottage" in its name is poetic license—has generously sized minimalist rooms with glass sliding doors leading to private terraces with views of the swimming pool and rice paddies. Kamandhani is quite peaceful despite being five minutes from the center of Ubud. The obliging staff can arrange private yoga sessions, in-room body treatments, and local tours.

Perched on a peak overlooking Lake Batur, this hotel's postcard panoramas include Mount Batur, one of Bali's three active volcanoes. During lunch, its open-air restaurants teem with tour groups, but afterward the place becomes a restful retreat in the fresh mountain air. Run by the same Balinese family for three generations and regularly renovated, the hotel's rooms have contemporary décor that doesn't distract from the breathtaking views. The hotel can arrange excursions, including mountain climbing, cruising the lake to traditional villages, or soaking in the nearby hot spring.

A beautiful beach and bargain prices are what you'll find at the Lovina Beach Hotel, the self-proclaimed "original place" in Lovina. The local tourism industry has grown up around the hotel since its 1979 debut, so everything you need is within easy walking distance. The hotel is professionally run, and the staff can arrange tours offer helpful local advice. The accommodations are spartan but spotless, as is the massive swimming pool. A simple breakfast is served in the restaurant, also open for lunch and dinner.

Balance natural splendor and village convenience, big resort and intimate retreat, even black and white at the Maya Ubud. Set in the rolling green hills above the Petanu River Valley, the Maya Ubud is 10 minutes by shuttle from the center of the village, closer than other similarly expansive (and expensive) resorts. A dramatic infinity pool commands the vista, and there's another pool below with a river view. The hotel offers a full array of feel-good activities: yoga, tai chi, pilates, and meditation, as well as afternoon tea. Bali's traditional black and white poleng patterns inspire the interior décor, and all rooms have balconies where you can enjoy the landscape.

Big on concept, this hotel packs a lot into a compact space just a short walk from the beach. Look for TVs with international channels, in-room safes, and day beds that make the rooms tailor-made for parties of three. Bathrooms with stall showers feel cramped. True to its Indonesian roots, breakfast is nasi jingo, a fistful of rice sprinkled with flavorful side dishes. The chain hotel's no-smoking policy fits its hip, modern pitch.

This full-service resort presents manicured lawns along a quarter mile of beachfront and a glorious seaside pool at Lovina's eastern edge. The bright, generous rooms have full indoor baths, plus inviting outdoor showers. Unobtrusive Balinese accents include carved doors and local artworks. But why stay inside when there are the lounging platforms at the ocean's edge that overlook this prime spot for swimming and snorkeling? Kids can romp safely in the grass. The resort has its own boat for cruises, an open-air spa, and arranges hillside treks and romantic dinners on the beach.

Balinese charm and a lush garden thrive at Puri Cendana, just a short walk from the beach and nightlife. The duplex cottages sit in a courtyard shaded by mature trees, with thick grass and bright native flowers. Each room has a terrace to enjoy the greenery, but the best views are from the upstairs units. Through elaborately carved, multicolored Balinese doors you'll discover high-ceilinged, whitewashed rooms furnished in traditional local style, including four-poster beds with mosquito nets. The pleasant pool has cushioned sun lounges and a bar serving drinks and snacks.

The views that made Munduk famous are what you'll find at Puri Lumbung. The basic accommodations are modeled on lumbung, the Indonesian rice barns built on stilts. The interiors use local materials like rattan, which fits hotel founder Nyoman Bagiarta's goal of preserving local traditions while fostering economic development in his hometown. Each room has a terrace overlooking the nearby rice fields and the green mountains to the north. Beds are swathed with mosquito nets, so you can leave the windows open at night to catch the cool breezes. The hotel hosts daily cultural events and offers a choice of outdoor activities.

Close to the beach but removed from the scene, Raja Gardens is a tranquil haven in hectic Seminyak. Whitewashed brick bungalows provide modern accommodations, with nice touches like air-conditioning. The big attractions here are the vast grassy garden and sparkling pool, suitable for lounging or laps. The beach beckons just 100 meters down the lane, and some of the island's hippest bars are at the far end of the street, but you'd never know it from all the pace and quiet. Raja Garden is a friendly, family-run retreat, so if you're planning bacchanalia in Bali, head elsewhere.

Head and shoulders above Bedugul's other mid-range accommodations, Strawberry Hill has cleverly designed, comfortably furnished mountain cabins for enjoying the cool air and green vistas. Bright interiors include wood floors, high ceilings, snug sofas, and hidden bunk beds for the kids, along with TVs with international channels and Wi-Fi access. Enjoy Bedugul's great outdoors from your private porch or the hotel's garden terrace near the strawberry patch, where you are free to forage for fruit. The restaurant offers very reasonably priced Western and Indonesian food, along with games of darts and pool. Lake Bratan is a short walk away.

Down the road from the area's original surfer hangout, Su's Cottages II offers more rooms and a bit more comfort while matching the friendly feel and strategic location of Su's Cottages I. Standard rooms have TVs with international channels, refrigerators, and balconies overlooking the inviting swimming pool. The hotel is a short walk to the beach and within easy reach of shops, restaurants, and nightspots. Su's retains its helpful, hospitable vibe.

Old school Balinese hospitality thrives at Tamukami, built in classic style around a pool. The quaint hotel feels like it's been around a lot longer than it has; it was built in 1999. Spacious rooms are generously appointed with Balinese touches and ample creature comforts, including a couch, flat screen TV, and Wi-Fi access. The energetic staff and creative management provide large resort services without the pretense. Comfortable, casual Alise's Restaurant offers a nightly set menu that combines local favorites with fusion creations; there's live entertainment four nights a week, and Balinese dances every full moon.

Built half a century ago, the Tandjung Sari retains the impeccable taste of its founders, an antique-dealing couple from Jakarta who added guest bungalows to their then-isolated beach house. The accommodations at Tandjung Sari (meaning "Cape of Flowers") are still called bungalows, though they're really mini-villas built in traditional style, each with private gardens and distinct design touches—here a sunken bathtub and an outdoor shower. The ambiance harkens back to when royalty came here to roam the beach.

You can't stay any closer to Bali's famed rice fields than at Tegal Sari, where paths wind through impossibly green paddies and gardens hung heavy with orchid and lotus blossoms. Bright, airy rooms have Balinese furnishings and modern bathroom with tub. Free services include Wi-Fi access, drinking water dispensers to refill your bottles, and three-hour bicycle rentals. Add-ons like beer and massages come cheap. The location is an outer hub of Ubud that's loaded with restaurants, and it's a 15- to 20-minute walk or short ride via a free shuttle to the village center.

The only way is up at the 101 Legian: the rooftop pool takes sunbathing to new heights, and the lounge encourages partying with your fellow stylish sophisticates. Enjoy the sunsets over Kuta, or catch up on people watching by eyeing the masses on busy Jalan Legian. Later you can follow those crowds across the urban landscape to nearby nightspots. The interiors employ a "smart design" concept that's modern and minimalist. Rooms provides the calm necessary to sleep off any excesses of the previous evening.

If you want to be part of the in-crowd in Bali, the W Seminyak is the place to make your entrance. This regal resort features beachfront lounges and bars where international DJs entertain the beautiful people caught up in the act of being themselves. The see-and-be-scene theme extends to rooms, where the glass-walled showers are perfect for exhibitionists. Expect all the latest gadegets, from 40-inch flat-screen TVs to docks for your electronics to theater-style sound systems. The resort's sleek, modern buildings are laid out around a series of lagoon-style pools.