There are hundreds of different resorts in Bali and I’ve been lucky enough to stay at some amazing places there but it took A LOT of research* to settle on the Sofitel Nusa Dua as the base for our trip last month. The criteria was somewhere luxurious where I could laze around and drink cocktails by the pool but also somewhere that catered for kids.
Sofitel Nusa Dua is certainly luxurious. The multiple swimming pools complete with swim up bar are just stunning and the whole resort is set on manicured lawns. The service is five star Bali with a smile.
Food is key for me and Sofitel Nusa Dua’s breakfast buffet is next level. There’s a juice bar, eggs made to order, barista coffee and every cuisine you can think of from Japanese to Indian breakfast options.
There are a few restaurant options at the resort with Cut, Catch, Cucina, the Sofitel’s high end Italian offering being the stand out. Fresh seafood and wood fired pizza served overlooking the flood lit swimming pool in the evenings is hard to beat.
But the clinching factor at Sofitel Nusa Dua was the options for families now I’m travelling with two kids in tow. There’s a great kids club for kids over the age of four and the prestige suites are perfect for families with a dividing wall which splits the room into two so you can sleep separately to your children without having to hire two rooms.
Staying in the prestige suite also meant access to the resort’s Club Millessime which includes daily afternoon tea, six hours of kids club each day and cocktails and canapés every evening.
The only downside to the resort for me was the location which is undoubtedly beautiful but can feel a little sterile. I’d never stayed in Nusa Dua before and the gated community felt removed from the vibrancy of the rest of Bali.
*I have to admit MTV did the bulk of the research on this one and it paid off with a winner.
Gourmet Travel Tips
- I flew to Bali with JetStar and my flight was $800 return from Melbourne to Denpasar. Australians no longer need a visa for entry to Bali.
- For more Bali tips here are my guides to Seminyak restaurants, and Ubud eats.
Essentials
Details: Sofitel Nusa Dua, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia.
Damage: Budget breaking. We paid the equivalent of $330 a night for a nine night stay. The longer you stay the better discounts available.
9/10
