They say half the fun of taking a trip is the anticipation, so we’re already planning our next jaunt to Bali. The most important decision to make is where we’ll stay, and with the incredible selection of super-luxe resorts available on the island, we’re spoilt for choice. 

Here’s our shortlist:

The Best Luxury Resorts Bali

The Edge Bali

Perched high atop the cliffs in Uluwatu, The Edge Bali is pretty high up our list. Offering just eight private villas, this is exclusive luxury at its finest. Its treat-yourself five-bedroom villa, The View, offers uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean with two cliff-side outdoor infinity pools and decks, two separate living rooms, a private dining room, a cinema room, a wine cellar, a cigar room and two gazebos set in a lush tropical garden. Breakfast is served in private dining rooms by butlers, and the hotel’s day club, Oneeighty, features a glass-bottom pool 162 metres above the Indian Ocean.

Capella Ubud

We plan to explore our adventurous side without sacrificing comfort or style at Capella Ubud, with its luxury tented accommodations and strong explorer vibes. Designer Bill Bensley gave each colonial-inspired tent a different theme, decorated with traditional Balinese artifacts and vintage equipment, as well as four-poster beds, copper baths, stretched-batik ceilings and plunge pools. Dining experiences are multi-sensory culinary journeys, with a choice of Mads Lange, Api Jiwa, the Camp Fire, as well as a variety of bespoke private dining options. 

Como Shambhala

A combination of health retreat and luxury resort, the 30-room Como Shambhala is a peaceful oasis that attracts travellers—including the likes of Chrissy Teigen and John Legend—seeking a health-conscious getaway. With extensive spa and wellness facilities and a team of resident holistic health experts, the hotel is known for its holistic wellness offerings. Set in a remote part of the sacred Ayung Valley, we have high hopes for the peace and quiet of this option. 

Karma Kandara

Sitting on the southernmost point of Bali, Karma Kandara’s dramatic clifftop location above the Indian Ocean offers views from every spot in the resort, but most of the action happens at the famous beach club in a sheltered cove below. Accessed via a private inclinator, Karma Beach Club regularly pulls international DJs and a crowd of the coolest young things in Bali. When we’ve had enough of the party on the sand, the Cliff Spa offers the chance to relax, refresh and indulge to the sound of crashing waves below. 

The Slow

A little closer to the action is The Slow, a boutique 12-room resort in Bali’s happening Canggu. All boho luxury, with textural furnishings and comfort at the fore of the design, The Slow is all about art, all-day breakfast and unwinding in an oasis close to the exciting centre. There’s no disposable plastic or TVs in rooms, but there is art around every corner and a warm communal dining area. 

Bulgari Resort & Spa

Bulgari Resort in Uluwatu is stylish from head to toe, a seamless blend of traditional Balinese forms and high Italian style. The all-villa accommodation is luxuriously appointed and the spa menu is impeccable. But where this resort really shines is the service: the leisure concierge takes care of a full schedule of tailored activities, including day excursions to nearby islands, helicopter flights over the volcano and visits to the local markets with a personal shopper.

Katamama Hotel

In Seminyak’s Desa Potato Head village, Katamama Hotel has a strong sense of place at its heart. Curated entirely with the location in mind, this luxury hotel uses Indonesian artisans for everything from the textiles to the contemporary artworks, custom-made furniture and hand-pressed bricks lining the facade. With dark wood and muted colourings, this resort has a sense of refined luxury and elegance; it’s a world away from some of the flashier beach resorts but that’s not to say you shouldn’t make time for the bar. 

Planning your travels in advance? You’ll want to add this Italian island to the list.

Author Bio:

Hannah Warren

Hannah was born in New Zealand and is based wherever she can set down a laptop. She's been playing with words since she could first pick up a pen, and in her spare time she's a pole dancer, pasta glutton and dog mum.

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