Bulgari Resort Bali

Opened in 2006, the five-pearl Bulgari Resort Bali is operated in a joint venture between Italian luxury goods brand Bulgari and Marriott International's Luxury Group (which also manages The Ritz-Carlton properties). This cliffside property consists of 59 villas and five private mansions with up to five bedrooms, making it feel more like a cliffside community of well-heeled travelers than a typical resort. Guests enter through a rustic pavilion flanked with bougainvillea and shrubbery that offers a beautiful first glimpse of the villa rooftops and the ocean in the distance. The space has a handful of white couches and stone columns supporting a high wood-and-bamboo pitched ceiling. While designers likely were going for a minimalist-chic look, the result may feel a bit cold for some guests. 

The grounds have an equally rustic look, with lots of stone and overgrowth, though the overall vibe is reminiscent of local Balinese temple architecture, which adds an authentic feel to the property. Most guests are vacationing couples, honeymooners, and destination wedding parties, although the property also gets a fair amount of groups, primarily package tourists from China. Due to its remote location, quiet ambiance, and lack of kid-specific amenities, few guests are families or business travelers. 

The Bulgari Resort Bali is located on its own private beach on Bali's southern coast, in a remote area with a few residences but little else. All area attractions require a car to access, making this location less than ideal for travelers that enjoy exploring on foot. It's a 40-minute drive to the town of Kuta, and getting to Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park takes about 20 minutes by car. The Uluwatu Temple is about a 15-minute drive away. It's a 40-minute drive to Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, and Ubud is about 90 minutes away.

The Bulgari Resort Bali offers 59 one- and two-bedroom villas, plus a one-of-a-kind Bulgari Villa and five three- and five-bedroom private mansions. All the peaceful, romantic villas feature Javanese mahogany door and window frames, volcanic stone walls, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows with ocean views. The bathrooms are enormous, with double vanities, marble walk-in showers, deep soaking tubs, and glass doors that lead to private garden areas. Every unit has its own outdoor area, each with -- at minimum -- a sofa, lounge chairs, a table for alfresco dining, and a private infinity pool. All villas come with safes, flat-screen TVs, and Bang & Olufsen audio/video systems. Wi-Fi is free throughout. 

The entry-level Ocean View Villas have an identical floor plan to the Premier Ocean View Villas, the latter of which sit at a higher elevation for better views and also come in two-bedroom options. The hotel also offers eight Ocean Cliff Villas in one- and two-bedroom configurations that sit right on the cliff's edge. The Bulgari Villa is more like a small house, with two bedrooms, a living room with a bar, a spa room, a kitchen, and even a private on-site cinema, not to mention a huge pool. Due to its size, this villa is often rented out for private events and weddings. 

Each of the hotel's five mansions has its own dedicated entrance and separate staff quarters for people who like to travel with their own help. Mansions come in three- and five-bedroom configurations and all have huge heated outdoor pools surrounded by gardens, open-air living rooms, kitchens with high-end appliances, and private elevators. Each has an interior dining room, a bar, and a large living room on the top floor. Bedrooms have their own foyers, studies, walk-in closets, and private bathrooms.

The gorgeous ocean-facing pool has an infinity edge that makes it look like a terraced level of the sea. It's partially surrounded by a wooden deck featuring plush daybeds and parasols interspersed with trees and shrubbery. A long staircase leads down to the hotel's private beach, which has a terrace level with additional daybeds and umbrellas. While the beach itself is sandy, there are lots of rocky outcroppings at the water's edge that make it less than ideal for swimming, and it isn't very wide.

Event rooms include the Pavilion, an indoor space with a large outdoor terrace, and a boardroom that seats up to 16. The Bulgari is also a popular spot for high-end destination weddings, and ceremonies can be arranged by the hotel's wedding planner on the beach or in one of the event spaces. They also offer "water weddings" over the hotel's infinity pond or services inside the on-site chapel. 

The hotel can arrange a number of high-end experiences for guests, including day trips to neighboring islands, helicopter flights, and shopping trips for those who don't want to limit their souvenir shopping to the on-site Bulgari boutique and arts and crafts store. Wi-Fi and on-site parking are included in room rates. 

The resort offers a number of high-end amenities, including a large spa featuring traditional Balinese treatments, with plenty of specials for couples. The lengthy spa menu includes Indian Ayurvedic massages, facials, body wraps, and scrubs; salon services and mani/pedis are also available. Guests wanting to devote three or more hours to pampering also have the option of renting out a Spa Pavilion, which has its own open-air shower, whirlpool hot tub, and outdoor living area. The Royal Pavilion also has a steam shower and private plunge pool. There's also a large fitness room with cardio and weight-training equipment; personal trainers are on hand to design specific programs for guests. 

The Bulgari offers four on-site dining and drinking options. The beach-facing Bar sits next to the hotel's infinity pool and has a casual atmosphere, with wooden chairs and low-to-the-ground seating cushions, partially shaded under a traditional pavilion roof. The all-day Sangkar Restaurant features indoor and outdoor seating, the latter of which has unobstructed views of the sea. Signature dishes include sweet and sour Javanese soup and "nasi goreng" (Indonesian-style fried rice) served with Wagyu beef satay and lobster tail. Il Ristorante offers fine dining in the evening, with a focus on Italian food and wine. Signature dishes include ribeye steak, slow-cooked lamb rack, prawns, and lobster. The beach-facing La Spiaggia is only open for lunch and the menu is primarily European, with salads, pastas, and burgers, along with the catch of the day.