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  >  Destinations   >  Indonesia   >  Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali Review: 10 Reasons You’ll Love This Hotel

The Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali is one of those rare hotels which caters equally well to couples in search of romance and those who are travelling with children. Here are 10 reasons you’ll love The Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali whether you are visiting as a couple, family or with friends.

Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali Hydro Pool & Spa

Located on the lower floor of the spa, this state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool offers a tropical-paradise-meets-Tuscany relaxation experience. Join a free Aqua Stretch or Aqua Tai Chi class or simply soak away your cares in the luxurious, tropical surrounds. Water experiences include a massage lounger for relaxation and gentle hydrotherapy, an air bubble bench for muscle stimulation, your own personal spa bath or Swan Neck and Waterfall Showers which release muscle tension with a soothing water massage.

You don’t need to book a spa treatment to enjoy this superb facility, simply drop in and revel in the relaxing waters any time. However, you would be crazy not to! Some hotel spas aren’t worth the money but the spa at the Ritz Carlton Nusa Dua definitely is. After you’ve enjoyed a relaxing soak in the hydro-vital pool, put yourself in the therapists’ capable hands and you’ll be floating back to your room.

Hydro-Vital Pool

Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali Grounds

The Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali is set on 12.7 hectares so it never feels crowded and there are plenty of places to enjoy a leisurely stroll or curl up with a good book. We especially liked the daybed pergolas dotted throughout the gardens. The best ones are in the centre of the resort overlooking the ponds filled with koi. If you like to keep fit, the resort provides jogging maps and bottles of ice cold water to cool you down as you jog around the grounds and along the beach.

The resort grounds are extensive and lush

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Stroll the paths around the resort

Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali Pool Access Room

There are 34 cliff top villas but the majority of the rooms, many of which have direct access to a luxurious pool, are located on the same level as the beach. Our top picks are the Sawangan Junior Suite Lagoon Access rooms or the beautiful Pool Pavilions, both of which are over 90sqm in size. Both of these room categories are very similar but the Pool Pavilions are our top pick as they have a larger indoor and an outdoor bathing area.

Pool Pavillion outdoor bathroom
Indoor vanity with twin sinks
Pool Pavillions have a private pool and large outdoor area

Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali Main Pool

The main pool area has a stunning view of the ocean, particularly at high tide when waves crashing on the shore provide a soothing natural soundtrack. There are more than enough sun loungers for everyone, even when the resort is full. There is a shallow kiddies pool off to one side and cabanas dotted around the pool area for couples. The pool service is very proactive if you want to order a drink or a snack from the comfort of your lounger to enjoy by the pool.

There are also fresh, young coconuts to drink plus the Ritz-Carlton gelato cart which is popular with guests of all ages during the afternoon. Fill the beach bag in your room with books, magazines and whatever else you need for a relaxing day and choose your favourite spot by the sea. This pool was never crowded when we visited the resort, even though it was coming up to peak season.

Main pool

Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali Gym And Fitness

We were very impressed with the fitness facilities at the Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua. The gym was excellent and staffed at all times, with water and towels refreshed the moment they were used and equipment regularly wiped down and sanitised. We also loved the jogging refreshment station which was available every morning until after 12pm (it’s too hot to go jogging after this). Although we didn’t use it ourselves, we saw plenty of people enjoying a scenic jog around the resort’s paths.

Jogging refreshment station

Bejana at The Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali

Unlike many resorts in Bali, The Ritz-Carlton has a signature Indonesian restaurant. Bejana offers a five star dining experience but the atmosphere is relaxed. After all, you’re on holiday. Outdoor tables have the best views, particularly if you time your dinner for sunset, however you can also enjoy the spectacular view from a window table indoors. The cuisine at Bejana is a mix of familiar favourites and lesser known Balinese specialities so there really is something for everyone here.

Our romantic dinner at Bejana

Order off an the a la carte menu or embark on a culinary journey through the Indonesian archipelago with a Rijsttafel, a Dutch word which translates to ‘rice table’. During their time in Indonesia, the Dutch impressed visitors with the exotic abundance of their new colony by offering a banquet style meal. If you are at the resort for a couple of days, try the Rijsttafel on your first night so you can sample a range of different dishes, then you can return and order your favourites a la carte. Even if you aren’t staying at the resort, it is worth making a special trip to dine here.

A small part of our Rijsttafel dinner
One of the elegant dishes on the a la carte menu

Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali Guest Lounge

The Guest Lounge is housed in a separate building and access is available for everyone during daylight hours. Complimentary coffee and snacks are available and the guest lounge is a comfortable place to wait for your room to be ready if you arrive early like we did. Don’t miss the ‘secret’ pool here as not many guests seem to know about it and it was never busy during our stay.

Pool at the Guest Lounge

Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali Kids Club

We were surprised how family-friendly this hotel is given its stylish and very upmarket vibe. The Ritz Carlton Nusa Dua kids club was one of the best we’ve seen with an impressive array of activities from a water park – yes, they even have a waterslide – to puzzles and games for littlies. It’s small enough for first-time visitors to feel comfortable but large enough to house lots of fun activities for older kids.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bali kids club

Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali Activities

With an impressive array of cultural and fun experiences on offer, the majority of which are free, there are loads of opportunities to connect more deeply with the ‘Island of the Gods’ at this resort and share memorable moments with your family and friends. Check the schedule in your room or call guest services for more information about what activities are on offer during your visit. During our stay, there was a beach bonfire where you could toast marshmallows and gamalan music in the lobby.

Ritz-Carlton Bali for Couples

The Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali is very romantic and not just because of the stunning beach side chapel. Everything is quiet and serene and ideally suited to spending time together. Couples can enjoy an in-villa floating breakfast or a delicious lunch for overlooking the beach. The pool, with its daybeds for two, is also a lovely spot to enjoy each other’s company. If you have something special in mind for your true love, just have a quiet word to the staff and they will make it happen.

Beach side chapel
Floating breakfast

Disclosure: The writer stayed as a guest of the Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua Bali.

We’ve got plenty of hints and tips for travelling in Bali and also some great hotel and resort suggestions. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, we’ve reviewed the Ritz-Carlton Bali Resort, Peppers Seminyak Resort, Apurva Kempinski Bali, Bulgari Resort Bali, Aria Villas Ubud, Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort, The Mulia Bali, Merusaka Nusa Dua, Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort, Anantara Seminyak Bali, the InterContinental Bali and we’ve also written a special review for parents visiting the InterContinental Bali with kids. We’ve compared the Singaraja and Club rooms at the InterContinental Bali and found the best luxury family hotels in Bali and the best honeymoon hotels in Bali.

Dr Tiana Templeman is an award-winning food and travel journalist, travel author and media industry academic. She is the creator of The Travel Temple, writes for Australian and international media outlets and appears on radio talking about where to go, what to see and travel industry trends.