Hotel Nikko Bali Benoa Beach

Housed inside a quintessentially Balinese structure -- complete with statues, pointed roofs, and golden details -- the Grand Aston Bali Beach Resort makes a solid attempt to incorporate local elements into its exterior design. A large marble staircase leads to the front desk in the semi-open-air lobby with gilded columns, intricately detailed marble floors with geometric-patterned tiles, and detailed molding on the ceilings. Guests are greeted with welcome drinks and chilled face towels. Seating areas are a mix of soft, mid-century modern chairs and settees, and funky red-framed chairs. A pair of elevators lead guests to to the interior hallways, which feature a mix of traditional and modern wall art and statuary. The grounds are lush and well-maintained, with plenty of local plants and trees, particularly surrounding the gorgeous lagoon-style pool that separates the main property from the private beach. 

The hotel attracts mainly vacationing couples and families, and there are plenty of amenities and activities for those traveling with young children. Conference and meeting rooms also make the Grand Aston a viable choice for business travelers wanting to stage small events, and it's a good spot for beach side or garden destination weddings, which can be arranged through the property's dedicated event planners. 

The Grand Aston Bali Beach Resort is located on the Tangjung Benoa peninsula, right on Nusa Dua beach off a two-lane road with a number of other large hotels and resorts nearby, including many luxury properties. It's a 25-minute drive to the town of Kuta. Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park is a 25-minute drive from the hotel, while the Uluwatu Temple is within a 40-minute drive. It's a 20-minute drive to Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, and Ubud is about an hour and 15 minutes away. 

The 188 rooms at the Grand Aston range from Deluxe Rooms with one king or two twin beds to the sprawling Roof Ocean Front Suite with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. Deluxe Rooms and Deluxe Ocean Rooms are virtually the same, except the latter have ocean views. Ocean View Suites with separate living rooms, bedrooms, and powder rooms are also available, and look on to the Indian Ocean. Ocean Front Suites are even bigger, and come with huge balconies with daybeds, screen projectors, and DVD players. All units have private balconies or terraces, safes, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and kettles. Guests are greeted with free fruit arrangements, and free mineral water is provided and restocked daily. Decor is contemporary and obviously not very Balinese, though the abundance of dark-wood furniture does add some local ambience. Bathrooms are particularly fantastic, and are done up in cream-colored marble, with large walk-in showers and separate tubs with steps leading into them.

The Grand Aston sits right on the beach, and there's plenty of room to spread out on a towel or stretch out on one of the many lounge chairs that face out to the sea. There's also a large lagoon-style pool, a gorgeous space flanked by grassy lawns and tropical flora, along with a few small islands and a swim-up bar.

The resort offers a lot for families, including the Cening Kids Club, which is open during the day and offers a wide range of activities for those between the ages of four and 12, plus an extensive kids' menu themed after well-known cartoon characters. 

The hotel's fitness center has modern treadmills and other cardio equipment, along with a rack of free weights and various strength-training machines. The resort also offers daily yoga classes, along with a range of rotating activities, including village tours, Balinese dance lessons, aqua aerobics, and beach volleyball. The Biwana Spa offers a wide range of treatments, from traditional Balinese scrubs, facials, and massages to Themae Paris facials. There's also a beauty salon with mani/pedis and waxing available.

The Grand Aston offers a business center with Mac computers, along with three meeting rooms with audiovisual equipment and catering packages. The largest is the Mandalika Room, a light space with columns flanking the walls that can seat up to 170 people theater style. Winangsia can seat up to 60. while the Penida boardroom is big enough for 12 guests. Events can also be staged on the beach or in the gardens, and the property offers wedding packages with beachside and garden gazebo ceremonies.

Bikes can be rented on-site, and there's plenty of parking, though guests without their own cars can hop on the hotel's free shuttle to nearby Kuta. 

There are six bars and restaurants at the Grand Aston, and all-inclusive packages are available but not mandatory. The Aloha Pool Bar serves cocktails, juices, and light lunches right by the pool, and there's also a swim-up bar. The Samudra Lounge & Bar features regular piano performances in an open-air space that leads onto a patio and stays open late. 

By the C Beachside Lounge & Restaurant is open throughout the day and stays open well into the evening, offering beachside dining with a heavy emphasis on seafood and pizza. The Grand Benoa Restaurant -- open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- puts the focus on Indonesian food, going beyond such staples as nasi goreng to include specialties from Sumatra, Jakarta, and Java. Bali Luna is open for lunch and dinner, and offers an international array of items along with an extensive children's menu. Giorgio Italian Cuisines & Wine Bar is a semi-formal Italian restaurant with both indoor and outdoor dining available. As the name suggests, the main cuisine on offer is Italian, with the regions of Piedmont, Lombardy, and Tuscany most heavily represented in the wine and cuisine.