The best hotels in Bali
Bali isn’t just one place. It’s a series of moments, villages, rides, and waves — and where you sleep decides which version you get.
Start with Ubud. The centre pulls you in with markets, scooters, and sudden monkey sightings. Book a hotel near the rice fields and you’ll likely spend half the day watching people try to take selfies with ducks. But that's Ubud: rhythm over rush. Hotels here are near yoga studios, walking paths and cafés where the wifi sometimes works and nobody minds. Stay in the centre if you want movement. Stay just outside if you want mornings that stretch a bit longer.
Seminyak is a different pace. A hotel close to the beach puts you near sunsets, waves, and that one bar where the music never quite stops. People come here for surf, shopping and the feeling that something might happen - even if it doesn’t. Most accommodations in Seminyak sit somewhere between the beach and the main strip, where flip-flops and scooters rule the street. Plan your stay based on what time you want to sleep - or if you plan to at all.
Then there’s Canggu. A little further out, but close enough to Seminyak if you change your mind. Hotels like La Reserve 1785 in Canggu range from places with rice paddies out front to rooftops with more laptops than drinks. Digital nomads, surfboards, and morning coffee rituals - that's the scene. If you're staying longer, or working while wandering, this area fits. Just don’t trust the travel time Google Maps gives you. Short roads take long when they’re full of scooters, dogs, and the occasional lost tourist with a wheeled suitcase.
