The Bale

Class: Deluxe

Style: Cutting edge

Rooms: 20

A bale is a traditional Balinese pavilion, and it’s a fitting (if prosaic) name for this hotel, comprised as it is of twenty pavilion-style villas along the beach at Nusa Dua. These pavilions are anything but traditional, though; sharp, clean lines, sleek dark woods and Zen-inspired furnishings add up to interiors that might not look out of place in Milan—though, frankly, the king-size beds might give the game away, and the sight of the Indian Ocean through the pavilion’s open wall would be a bit disconcerting. Pavilions are surrounded by sandstone walls for privacy, and come with private pools and a bale bengong, an open-air pillared veranda with a daybed for cooling off in the breeze. Outdoor showers and baths are a must, of course, and though physical comforts are emphasized, there’s no forced disconnection from the outside world—satellite TV, internet connections and direct dial phones will keep you in the loop. Essentially, it’s like owning an ultra-modern private beach house—total privacy, total serenity, and every modern convenience. This one, though, comes with 24-hour room service from the Bliss restaurant, as well as world-class spa treatments, a fitness center, and a boardroom that doubles as a yoga studio. Then again, your beach house may have all those things, but if so, it’s probably your butler who's reading this aloud to you right now… The Bale cannot accommodate children under 16 year old.