The Trans Resort Bali

Opened in 2014, the luxury Trans Resort Bali is situated on lush grounds with trees, shrubs, flowers, and Balinese statues, on the quiet end of Jalan Sunset Road. The resort is housed in five-story modern building that's packed with elegant decor that has plenty of shimmer and gloss. Guests frequently gather in the high-ceilinged lobby with rich red walls, Balinese carvings, marble floors, and modern art. The large outdoor swimming pool is one of the more iconic in the area, with a beach at one end that's made from soft sand imported from Australia -- it's another popular area to hang out. A serene courtyard and botanical garden features a scenic waterfall pouring out of a high vine-covered wall. Another highlight is the stylish open-air rooftop bar with excellent views of the surrounding area, sunset, and distant beach. The resort's guest list skews heavily toward travelers from Australia, and the large rooms, swimming pool, and kids' center draws lots of families, while the villas with private pools are a particularly romantic option for couples.

The Trans Resort Bali is at the northern end of Jalan Sunset -- a busy road on the eastern side of central Seminyak. Sunset Road leads from Seminyak to other areas of Bali, including Kuta, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, and the airport. The resort is in an area rich with boutique shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs, spas, yoga studios, and art galleries. A free shuttle to Seminyak Square, a five-minute drive or 15-minute walk away. The Dream Museum Zone museum of 3D trick art is also a five-minute drive from the resort. La Lucciola beachfront Mediterranean restaurant, Petitenget Beach, and Pura Petitenget temple is a 10-minute drive from the Trans Resort. The hotel is about a seven-minute drive or 20-minute walk from Seminyak Beach and the famous Ku De Ta restaurant with its sunsets. Double Six Beach is a 10-minute drive and Waterbom Bali water park is a little under a 20-minute drive from the resort. Ngurah Rai International Airport is a 20-minute drive from resort.

The 200 rooms, club rooms, suites, and villas a have a luxurious modern Balinese look, with custom-made wood furnishings and modern art. Some rooms feature Balinese carved windows, and area rugs and rich fabrics like velvet and silk help create a convincingly upmarket vibe. The color palette is white, beige, and brown, and many have splashes of red and bronze adding a little bit of dazzle to the aesthetic.

Rooms range from 700 square feet (65 square meters) to 3,767 square feet (350 square meters), so even the entry-level Premier Rooms are massive. Standard features include safes, minibars, hot water kettles for instant coffee and tea, free daily mineral water, iPod docks, free Wi-Fi, and 48-inch flat-screen TVs with a wide range of English and satellite channels. Free garment pressing is a nice luxury perk, as are twice-daily housekeeping and turndown services. Plush beds come with pillow menus and feature thick Simmons mattresses. Some rooms have balconies, and feature a combination of pool views, daybeds, and private jetted tubs; others have direct access to the pool.

Villas include open-air living and dining areas and small private pools with thatched-roof gazebos and daybeds. Suites and villas feature on-call butler service. In all categories, marble-clad bathrooms bathrooms are spacious and include details like bronze mirrors and separate showers and tubs. Premium bath products, bathrobes, and slippers are provided.

The Trans Resort Bali has an outstanding array of features, topped by a huge outdoor swimming pool that ends in a man-made sand beach. At about 262 feet (80 meters) long at its longest point, the pool is excellent for lap swimming. The full-service spa offers a wide range of Balinese-style treatments plus sea salt scrubs and wine bath massages. Each treatment room includes a private shower, plush bathrobe, and adjustable massage bed. The spa also includes several hot tubs and a reflexology lounge.

The resort offers male and female yoga rooms with free one-hour yoga sessions, and a fitness center has an excellent array of cardio- and weight-training equipment, plus personal training. The center also includes separate dry saunas and aromatic steam rooms for men and women, plus special showers and hot and cold plunge pools. A colorful kids' club offers arts and crafts, toys, video games, and an ice cream stand, plus professional childcare is also available.

The restaurant serves a diverse international breakfast buffet, though it's not included in room rates. Indonesian and international cuisine are also served for lunch and dinner, and food receives high marks from previous guests. The stylish rooftop bar serves tapas and inventive cocktails, and offers views of the surrounding area and beach in the distance. Guests in Club Rooms get access to the Club Lounge where an afternoon tea and canapes are served. The lobby lounge overlooks the resort's waterfall and also serves an afternoon tea, in addition to light lunch, cocktails, and live evening entertainment.

The Trans Resort Bali also offers meeting rooms, a dedicated concierge that's available around the clock, airport transfers (for a fee), free parking, and a luxury shopping boutique with fine Balinese handicrafts. Free shuttles run to Seminyak Square and Mozaic Beach. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.