Where to Stay in Bali: 5 Best Areas to Rent a Villa & more I The Boutique Adventurer

8 min readAug 9, 2017

Beautiful Bali is often rated as one of the best travel destinations in the world. There is so much on offer — from beautiful beaches to stunning spas to the rainforest to the warm and welcoming people of Bali.

Here are the best places to stay in Bali, things to do, villas to rent in Bali and some of the best hotels in Bali — all you need to plan a great tip and find some fantastic Bali Accommodation.

1. Where to Stay in Bali — Seminyak

Seminyak is now the “It” town of Bali. It is probably the most modern town on the island. Seminyak Bali is the perfect place for a relaxation focused trip for people who like to have a nice meal out and do some shopping.

Seminyak is a paradise for food lovers with loads of terrific restaurants, designer shopping if that is your thing and amazing sunsets.

Where to Spa in Seminyak

Seminyak is known for its miles of beaches and for having some fantastic spas. If you are after a day spa in Seminyak here are a few options:

⇒ Spring -offers a blow dry, DJ and cocktail in the evening!

Prana -one of the oldest spas in the area and great for those staying in the southern part of Seminyak

Where to Eat in Seminyak

There are some amazing Bali restaurants and Seminyak is well known for its fantastic food. Here are a few to try:

⇒ Mejekawi by Ku de Ta is a world-respected restaurant with an amazing beachfront location

Top Places to stay in Bali: Seminyak

There are many places to stay in Seminyak Bali. But to really relax I would recommend renting a villa in Bali.

For a great value boutique hotel in Seminyak have a look at Puri Madawi. This funky hotel is actually in the suburb next to Seminyak, Petitenget and is just a 5 minute walk from the beach.

One of the best places to stay in Bali Indonesia for affordable luxury is The Amala in Seminyak. These Balinese villas have their own pools and their is a fantastic spa. The Bamboo restaurant serves organic Indonesian and European food.

⇒ Read my full post on the best boutique hotels Seminyak has on offer

And before you head to Bali make sure you read this great post on Bali Travel Tips and Advice.

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2. Where to Stay Bali — Ubud

Ubud is the opposite of the typical Bali beach perception. It is located in the cool mountains of Bali. It is the cultural center of Bali — and for many the spa center as well. Ubud is one of the best areas to stay in Bali.

Ubud Bali is home to some stunning temples, waterfalls and rice fields, Gunung Batur an active volcano, the largest freshwater lake in Bali, the Sacred Monkey Forest and much more.

If you’re looking to buy Balinese arts and crafts Ubud is a great place to shop on your trip to Bali — and don’t forget that haggling is expected. There are numerous temples around Ubud including the Elephant Cave and Gunung Kwai.

Where to Spa in Ubud

Ubud is known for high quality spas at a low cost. Treatments can vary from a one hour Balinese massage to a four hour full body treatment.

Where to Eat in Ubud

Ubud is home to some of the best restaurants in Bali. The cuisine is diverse — from high end dining to simple street food — and you’ll find a full range from vegan to carnivore.

⇒ Locavore is considered by many to the best restaurant in Ubud and serves contemporary European cuisine.

⇒ Mozaic is the place to go for French-inspired cuisine.

Where to stay in Bali Indonesia: Ubud

If you’re looking for where to stay in Ubud, a great value boutique hotel in Ubud have a look at Bambu Indah. This eco-chic resort is built around ancient Javanese houses and has a natural pool and organic garden.

For a more upmarket option check out Como Uma. The rooms are set on a hillside and overlook a gorge. There is a sleek infinity pool and best of all the Como Shambala Spa.

⇒ Read more in my posts on Where to stay in Ubud and the best boutique hotels Ubud has on offer.

3. Place to Stay in Bali: Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is about luxury accommodation, great food, golf and relaxing! It is perhaps the most expensive area in Bali. This is the best area to stay in Bali if you are looking for a stay that involves swimming, sun, spa and generally not doing much.

Where to Spa in Nusa Dua Bali

Where to Eat in Nusa Dua

Where to stay in Nusa Dua

For a high-end modern option check out The Bale. At the Bale, there are pavilion rooms which each come with their own infinity pool. The pavilions also have their own garden plus a huge daybed. The Bale Nusa Dua is decorated in a contemporary, minimalist design.

If you’re after the complete spa experience have a look at the Revivo Wellness Resort. This chic spa resort is in 2.5 hectares of beautiful grounds. Revivo Bali offers a range of spa programmes for different health and wellness needs.

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4. Places to Stay in Bali — Jimbaran

Jimbaran is located on Bali’s southwestern coast and features both the famous Jimbaran Bay and Jimbaran beach. This small area is known for its upmarket luxury accommodation as well as its three groups of grilled seafood restaurants on the beach.

The great food in Jimbaran plus the sunset views keep this a busy area. This is not the place for nightlife but there is some very good boutique shopping.

Where to Spa in Jimbaran Bali

Where to Eat in Jimbaran

Where to stay in Jimbaran

For a mid market luxury option check out Belmond Jimbaran Buri. A mix of traditional Balinese cottages and pool villas all in a tropical garden — heavenly.

Not only is there a stunning swimming pool, but Belmond Jimbaran Puri also has an open-air beach spa where you can experience a massage whilst listening to the ocean.

For something more at the top end of luxury explore Kayumanis Jimbaran Private Estate and Spa. This resort is only one minute’s walk from the beach but is 11km from Seminyak. Perfect if you are looking to immerse yourself in relaxation but would also like the option of being able to head into town.

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5. Canggu

This small resort town is on the south coast of Bali. Canggu is known for its surf beaches and stunning rice paddies. It is located quite near Seminyak so you can take advantage of that area’s restaurants and boutiques whilst having a more isolated location.

Where to Spa in Canggu Bali

Where to stay in Canggu

If you’re after a good value Canggu boutique hotel check out Desa Seni. This eco-retreat is set in a beautiful garden and is well known for its excellent yoga. Located on the fringes of Canggu, Desa Seni Bali is perfect if you are looking to relax but want some activity nearby just in case.

For a more upmarket option have a look at the COMO Uma Canggu. This is the perfect upmarket resort for beach lovers as it is situated on Bali’s south coast. COMO hotels are known for their high-end service and those who stay at this hotel will have access to the COMO Shambhala Retreat Bali which offers fitness classes and treatments.

⇒ Read more in my complete post on Where to Stay in Canggu

⇒ If you’re planning some solo travel don’t miss my posts on the best Singles Holidays over 40, the 30 best singles travel groups and some fantastic solo spa breaks.

Flights:

The capital of Bali is Denpasar and it is home to Bali’s largest airport.

Tours:

travelling solo to Bali? Check out some group tour options here:

Who Paid for What with this Post

This is a sponsored post. This means I was contacted by Luxury Retreats and asked if I was willing to put together a post about where to stay in Bali for them that featured their properties. I checked out their website and reviews and they seemed like a good fit with the Boutique Adventurer so I said yes.

This post also contains some affiliate links. This means if you click through on them and end up making a purchase I will receive a small commission. This does not affect the price that you pay. I wanted to make sure you knew this.

⇒ If you like the sound of Korea you may well also enjoy Japan! Check out my posts on One Day in Tokyo, the best things to do in Kanazawa and what to expect on the Nakasendo Trail.

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