The St. Regis Bali Resort is a luxury property with a lot to love. The atmosphere is classically elegant, while luxe amenities include private butler service, a private beach with water sports, a children's education center, a lovely spa, and fine dining and drinking options. The 123 spacious suites and villas include marble bathrooms, plush beds, large flat-screen TVs, and balconies -- some have private pools and ocean views. Couples and adult guests seeking similar features in a more secluded, intimate setting could also check out The Bale.

The Banyan Tree Ungasan, Bali is a gorgeous five-pearl resort with 73 luxurious (and enormous) villas, many with private pools and/or Indian Ocean views. Located on Bali's southern coast, the hotel is ideal for quiet relaxation, with an elegant spa, a kids' club, a library, a modern gym with cardio and weight equipment, and a peaceful infinity pool abutting the ocean. There are numerous on-site dining options, ranging from a casual pool bar to a themed buffet restaurant, which frequently features traditional dance and music performances. However, the beach is only accessible via a long set of stairs, making this less than ideal for guests with mobility issues, and there is ongoing construction. This is arguably the best hotel in the Ungasan area, though in this price range the Semara Luxury Villa Resort is also worth considering.

With only 20 villas, the adult-only Kayumanis Nusa Dua is intimate and serene. Each villa is housed in its own traditional Indonesian pavilion with a thatched roof and handsome dark-wood flooring. Tasteful interiors have a strong local feel, with four-poster beds equipped with mosquito nets, traditional furniture with lovely carvings, and natural fiber accents in rugs and ornaments. All units have private pools, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and personal butlers. Personal drivers are available for free day trips; other free bonuses include roundtrip airport transfers, afternoon tea, 30-minute back massages, the use of loaner bikes, turndown service, and regularly restocked minibars.

The Bale is one of the most luxurious properties in Nusa Dua, and its soothing zen-inspired decor and gorgeous grounds wow at first sight. Housed in private pavilions set within their own walled gardens, the hotel’s 29 rooms offer a level of privacy hard to find in other luxury resorts. All units have lovely infinity pools, upscale amenities, and top-notch bathrooms with outdoor showers. The spa offers wonderful signature treatments in minimalist rooms, and there's a beautiful two-tier infinity pool. There are two excellent restaurants and a small fitness center with yoga classes, plus the hotel has a private beach club with loungers on a nice stretch of sand a short walk away. Rates can be steep, but freebies such as breakfast, airport transfers, welcome massages, and free daily restocking of the minibar add value. Kids aren't allowed here; families seeking a luxury stay might want to check out the Samabe Bali Suites & Villas.

The Samabe Bali is an ultra-luxurious beachfront resort located atop a cliff a five-minute drive from central Nusa Dua. Its 81 suites and villas are elegant and stylish, with a gorgeous blend of contemporary and traditional Indonesian decor, top-notch amenities, and balconies offering expansive ocean views. Villas have private infinity pools and up to two bedrooms. With a private beach, a wonderful spa, two excellent restaurants, a gorgeous infinity pool, a kids’ club, and tons of daily activities, there is little guests can’t do on-site. Plus, all-inclusive rates cover everything from free daily spa treatments to cultural tours to beachside yoga classes. Those looking for something a little cheaper may want to compare rates at Kayumanis Nusa Dua Private Villa & Spa.

Perched on a clifftop above a lovely sandy beach, family-friendly Karma Kandara is one of southern Bali’s most luxurious resorts. It offers 54 stunning multi-room villas set in private gardens with infinity pools, all featuring full kitchens, outdoor dining areas, and upscale amenities such as free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and outdoor showers. The gorgeous, serene grounds include two pools (one of them overlooking the ocean), a top-notch spa with cliffside massage huts, a Mediterranean restaurant, and a rooftop bar with views. But the highlight here is the hip beach club, complete with cabanas and a restaurant, and accessed via a funicular. Banyan Tree Ungasan Bali has an even sleeker feel, but rates are higher.

The Royal Santrian is one of the smallest yet most luxurious properties in this part of Nusa Dua Beach. Its 20 villas are housed in beautiful traditional Balinese pavilions and have private pools, outdoor living areas, and large bathrooms with outdoor showers. The gorgeous grounds include a stunning infinity pool with beach views and a Martini bar, and a restaurant serving fusion cuisine, sushi, and teppanyaki. The spa offers body treatments and salon services in a serene pavilion with indoor and outdoor facilities, but there is no gym on-site. The adult-only Kayumanis Nusa Dua Private Villa & Spa offers a similar experience and can have slightly lower rates.

Hilton Bali Resort is a luxury property with a scenic cliff-top location overlooking the sea in the sought-after Nusa Dua resort zone. Among the high-end features here are a private beach with water sports, tennis courts, a full-service spa, an excellent kids' club, several restaurants, and a huge swimming pool complex with sea-facing lagoon. The 408 spacious rooms have marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, as well as balconies or terraces, some with sea views. Villas offer an especially opulent experience complete with butler service and access to an exclusive villa lounge with numerous perks.

The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, is a four-and-a-half-pearl resort on the beach in central Nusa Dua. The resort features a sprawling tropical lagoon pool, a big saltwater pool near the beach, two smaller sand-bottomed pools, a beach with water sports, a full-service spa, and several good restaurants and bars. The 287 classic rooms, suites, and villas are spacious and come with private butler service, plush beds, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs.

Set on beautiful grounds filled with palm trees, bougainvillea, and lots of lake-like fountains, the upscale, 494-room Melia Bali has a tranquil ambience. All rooms have patios or terraces, air-conditioning, kettles and coffeemakers, minibars, safes, and marble bathrooms. Several on-site restaurants serve cuisine from around the world, and there's an enormous lagoon-style swimming pool and extensive event spaces for meetings and weddings.

Tanadewa Luxury Villas & Spa is an intimate luxury boutique for those looking for privacy and quiet. It offers 16 one- and two-bedroom villas with contemporary Balinese design, private plunge pools, open living and dining areas, and luxurious bathrooms with soaking tubs. The spa offers excellent treatments and an outdoor pavilion for couples, and the small fitness center has three machines, but there isn’t much else to do on-site. Although the hotel offers free shuttle service to Bali Collection and Nusa Dua, the location a 10-minute drive from restaurants, shops, and the beach may be a little out-of-the-way to some. However, travelers will be hard-pressed to find a more luxurious and private property in this price range in the Nusa Dua area.

The beachfront Grand Hyatt Bali is a lavish resort in central Nusa Dua, across the street from the Bali Collection's upscale shops. This is a massive property, and the 636 spacious rooms have marble bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, and balconies. Style is pleasantly modern, but not the most chic we've seen, and some rooms look a bit tired. The resort has several restaurants, a white-sand beach with water sports, five swimming pools, a full-service spa, and a big health club with a gym, squash courts, saunas, and plunge pools. While not as luxurious as the nearby St. Regis, the Grand Hyatt is comparable in quality to the neighboring Melia Bali Indonesia, where rates are significantly lower.

The Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa is a luxury family-friendly property located right on a quiet sandy beach in the Nusa Dua Peninsula, an area home to many other high-end resorts. Its 382 rooms are spacious, sunny and upscale, with plenty of traditional Balinese touches such as delicate wood carvings and flower designs, and furnished terraces, some with direct access to the lagoon pool. One of the best on-site perks is free access to a lovely spa complete with a serene outdoor pool, saunas, whirlpools, and steam rooms. There are also a fitness center featuring tennis and squash courts, two large pools, a kids’ club, and a diving center with free scuba diving lessons. Varied dining options range from casual Italian to Balinese fine dining, but food gets mixed reviews. Travelers looking to stay all-inclusive may want to compare rates at Melia Bali Indonesia, located just down the beach.