There’s quite simply no place like Bali. The jewel of Indonesia’s immense archipelago is rich—in enthralling and elaborate, highly embellished cultural customs; in hyperlocal culinary traditions and memorable flavors, natural wonders not to mention world-class waves, indelible art and design, encyclopedic wellness practices. And that’s just a bit of what the island offers. It’s captivated travelers for a century, and a stream of expats continues to flow to Bali—myself included—to make it their paradisiacal home away from home, while scores of the millions of holiday visitors wish they could make it so.
For me, the archipelago’s water temples, warm-hearted locals, rich artistic heritage, open-air yoga classes and fantastic warm-water surfing lured me in 2014, and I eagerly built my own villa. The island has changed dramatically the first time I landed on it. The dining scene continues to swell, with chefs coming from around the globe to open their dream restaurants, and local talent tantalizing tastebuds with their creative spins on homegrown ingredients and techniques. There are more sustainable businesses, greater accessibility to remote regions, and more and more hotels and resorts opening every year. Visitors can now find tented glamping in the mountains, bamboo treehouses above a river gorge, extravagant villas either brushing the sand or hovering over it on a clifftop, and quite literally everything in between. It’s a place where creatives’ wildest fantasies make them come true.
With each hospitality opening, whether an emerald-toned resort in the jungle or a boutique bolthole perched above a flawless beach, the challenge of choosing the perfect place to stay grows greater. I can hardly name a favorite after years of exploring, living and loving the people and practices that make it so singular. Still, I’ve narrowed down, from thousands, the 28 best hotels in Bali to book now, including the pioneering legends, innovating icons and newcomers doing things their own way.
