Only a hop and a skip away from mainland Australia, Bali is the ultimate year-round beach holiday destination. Whether you’re travelling with a loved one, friends or bringing along the whole family, cheap Bali accommodation can be a lot more luxurious than it sounds.
Our selection of affordably luxurious Bali resorts offer up private beach access, golf courses, marble bathrooms, and welcome massages without breaking the bank.
Rimba Jimbaran is the younger (and cheaper) sister of renowned AYANA Resort and Spa. What’s the benefit of staying at Rimba Jimbaran over AYANA? Access to AYANA’s world-class facilities. This includes 19 restaurants, 12 swimming pools and private beach access for a fraction of the price.
Rooms come in a range of shapes and sizes, catering for both couples and larger families. The views from any of the rooms are nothing short of stunning, framing the ocean and surrounding forest. If you’re on a budget go for the Hillside Room. These have been decorated with natural materials and artworks, as well as lighting sculptures. The marble bathrooms add a touch of luxury.
Take advantage of the AYANA facilities including a golf course, tennis courts, and the on-site perfume-making studio. The Scenography Cooking School gives participants more than just a standard cooking class. The class starts with a tour of the local markets where you choose your ingredients, followed by a traditional Balinese temple ritual. The result is a tasty, hands-on cooking experience. Off-site tours are also available, including visits to the local fish markets and the nearby Uluwatu Temple.
If you have to choose from just one of Rimba Jimbaran’s restaurants, make sure you spend an evening at Kampoeng Bali. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 p.m., the lakeside restaurant turns into the stage for a traditional Balinese Kecak performance. Following this, diners can then wander between the live cooking stations, selecting Balinese specialties. Don’t miss out on the main culinary event – the Babi Guling, a whole suckling pig, roasted in Balinese spices.
You might be wondering how a top rated, four-star hotel has made it onto this affordable luxury list – but there is a reason why. It’s because Komune Keramas has recently opened, and it’s often in the months just after opening that you’ll be able to find a hotel room for an absolute steal.
The resort is located on the East Coast of Bali, looking out on the world famous Keramas surf break. Rooms have been designed to provide a relaxing haven after a day spent in the sun and surf. This means air-con, cable television and free WiFi. If you’re keen to go all out, book a Beachfront Pool Suite. These come with private infinity pools that look straight out to the surf. Daybeds and a dining area make these suites the ultimate escape.
Komune Beach Club almost makes a stay here worth it on its own. The beach club is the perfect place for kicking back and enjoying a poolside drink during the day. Dining at the beach club’s restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menus are varied, with fresh seafood, pizzas, traditional Balinese, and even Australian lamb shanks. A few nights a week, the cinema screen lights up on the lawns next to the beach club, showing new film releases and the latest surfing highlights. Perfect for grabbing a beanbag and settling in for the evening.
Surfing culture is a huge part of Komune Bali, and the highlight is the night surfing events. Every evening from 7 p.m., the surf break immediately in front of the resort is lit up, providing amazing viewing from the Komune Beach Club or your villa. Guests can try their skills on the break, but be warned – this is where the best surfers flock to in Bali.
Head to the end of a quiet cul-de-sac off Jalan Petitenget, and you’ll arrive at Golden Tulip Devins Seminyak. If you’re looking to stay at a hotel in one of the most up-and-coming areas of Seminyak, you’ve come to the right place.
The cheapest rooms are the Superior Rooms, and as the name implies, they’re not too shabby at all. Free WiFi, flat screen cable televisions and iPod docks all come standard, as do the marble bathroom and rain shower. If you’re in the mood to splurge a little (but not too much), the Jacuzzi suite comes with all this, plus a jacuzzi on its private balcony.
Once you’ve settled in, take a five-minute walk back to Jalan Petitenget and visit Revolver Espresso for the best coffee in Bali, hands down. Other notable establishments along this stretch include vegan cafe KYND Community and Bali Boat Shed for some retail therapy. If you’re worried that the hotel’s location is too far from the beach, don’t stress. A complimentary shuttle runs from the hotel to Petitenget Beach every few hours.
One of the main highlights of a stay at Golden Tulip is the restaurant, bar and rooftop pool, BLU Seminyak. Enjoy the sunset from the rooftop with a cocktail in hand, or spend the day in the pool.
We’re serious when we say this might be one of the cheapest five-star accommodation in Bali. Book at the right time and you might be able to score a room for under $100. Although the Lokha is only a 15-minute drive from Ubud, the surrounding rice terraces and scenery of the banks of the Wos Rover lead you to believe you’re much further away.
In keeping with the budget-luxe theme, there are a number of complimentary activities on offer. Take advantage of the free bicycles available from reception, and spend a day cycling through the surrounding villages, and temples. Free yoga classes are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 4 p.m. in the yoga hut. If you’ve ever wondered how hotel and resort towels are folded into intricate replicas of swans, you can also learn the art during one of the complimentary towel-folding classes (a skill that is sure to come in handy when impressing guests back in Australia).
Rooms come in three varieties – suites, luxury pool villas and presidential villas. All come with WiFi, cable television, complimentary kimonos and balconies as standard. Teak furnishings give the rooms a distinct Balinese feel, with local artworks hanging on the walls.
Down by the river is Wos River Spa, the resort’s sanctuary for wellness and healing. Opt for one of the river-side open air treatment pavilions, where you can enjoy a massage or beauty treatment. The Moor Mud treatment here involves covering the body in black magma Moor mud to rejuvenate skin and alleviate aches and pains.
Book far enough in advance, and you’re sure to score a sweet deal at Uma Sapna Villa in Seminyak. There are only 24 villas available, meaning boutique and personalised service is guaranteed. One of the best things about a stay at Uma Sapna Villas is that the money you’ve saved by booking in advance can be spent on added luxuries like in-room dining and the Uma Sapna day spa.
The self-contained villas have been designed to give guests privacy, where they can enjoy the spacious design of their villa that promotes relaxation and rejuvenation. The most affordable rooms, the Plunge Pool Villas are a massive 109 square metres, opening out onto the main pool, with a private enclosure. These villas are perfect for a romantic luxury escape without breaking the bank.
Added touches like fresh fruit on arrival, a 15-minute ‘welcome massage’ and included daily breakfasts make Uma Sapna stand out from many of the other luxury villas in Seminyak. Each day, breakfast is prepared by renowned restaurant, Kilo Kitchen. This can be enjoyed at the restaurant itself, or delivered to the villas.