THE BALÉ in Bali - Hotel Review with Photos

Essentials
• Location: Jalan Raya Nusa Dua Selatan, south of Bali National Golf Club.
• Hotel website: thebale.com
• Hotel phone: +62 (0)361 775 111
• Check prices for The Balé

The split-level main pool at The Balé features gazebos, underwater lounge chairs, and a restaurant alongside.

Balé – Adults-only secluded villas with pools, but remote and not beachside.

The ultra-chic layout of the lobby continues into the villas (called ‘pavilions’), which feature modern décor, outdoor showers, and fairly large private pools. Designed for couples seeking privacy, The Balé offers ‘wellness packages’, twenty-four-hour butler service, and ‘no children’ policy. It doesn’t sit directly on the beach, but guests have access to the private Balé Beach Club nearby. Additionally, free shuttle services to facilities in Nusa Dua make it feel less isolated.

Balé – The Location

Area: Isolated region with little more than a couple of resorts in the immediate area. It’s often quicker – and certainly nicer – to reach facilities in Nusa Dua along the beachside path rather than the main road.
Address: Along Jalan Raya Nusa Dua Selatan, the main road between Nusa Dua (a gated complex of 4 and 5-star resorts) and Bukit Peninsula to the south. About 1 km southwest of the Southern Gate at Nusa Dua, one of the most popular tourist regions in southern Bali.
How to Get There: The only way to/from the airport is by metered taxi or chartered car with a driver. This takes about 20 minutes (13 km via the tollway), depending on traffic.
Handy to: Golf course.

Balé – The Basics

Guests: The resort has a ‘no children’ policy and caters overwhelmingly to couples of all ages. Many are honeymooners.
Beach: Faces the road, about 400m from the sea. To reach the beach, use the lane along the northern edge of The Mulia Resort. The flawless beach in front of The Mulia is open to the public. Guests can also use The Balé’s private beach club, a short walk away (ask directions) or accessible via the free hotel transfer service.
Views: All villas are secluded behind walls, but some do overlook the golf course.
Private Pools/Jacuzzis: All accommodations feature substantial private pools.
Extras: Transfers within Nusa Dua, including the private beach club and Bali Collection mall.
Parking: Plenty of free and secure spots, but think long and hard before driving anywhere in Bali.
How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
Phone: +62 (0)361 775 111
Email: bliss@thebale.com
Website: thebale.com

Balé – Amenities

Pool: The split-level pool is very stylish and quite substantial, considering all villas have private pools. Features lounge chairs which seem to ‘float’ in the shallow end and inviting cabanas alongside.
Spa: The renowned spa uses organic products in their signature treatments and has a jacuzzi and sauna.
Fitness Center: Plenty of equipment to keep the healthy happy. Open 24 hours.
Activities: Cooking classes.
Other Facilities: Gift shop. Library.

Balé – Food and Drink

Restaurants & Bars: Faces Restaurant – Alongside the main pool for buffet breakfast and intimate dining all day. Ideal for trying Balinese specialties such as bebek betutu (steamed duck). • TAPA Bistro – Chic setting alongside the busy road. Huge range of tapas and other meals. Dynamic vibe, cocktails, and occasional live music. • Liquid – Smallish bar alongside the main pool.
Breakfast: Included in all rates. Buffet and a la carte options are served in Faces restaurant.
Room Service: Butler service available 24 hours a day.

Balé – Rooms

Room Types: Single Pavilion • Double Pavilion • Deluxe Single Pavilion • List of all Rooms
Smoking Rooms: Fairly strict policy about smoking, so check with reception before lighting up.
Best Room: Unless 2 bedrooms are required, the Deluxe Single Pavilions are the finest choice. They are larger and offer superior views over the private gardens and golf course, extended private pools, and free extras (e.g. massages and cocktails).

Balé – Local Transport

Walking & Cycling: The isolation ensures that guests must do some walking to reach local facilities. Cycling around Nusa Dua is pleasant but less so around The Balé because of hilly roads. Ask the reception about bike rentals.
Public Transport: In lieu of any public transport or shuttle buses around Bali, the Kura-Kura Bus company links Nusa Dua with Ubud and the rest of southern Bali, but schedules are convoluted and routes confusing.
Cars, Motorbikes, & Taxis: To go anywhere within southern Bali, metered taxis are abundant, cheap, and comfortable. For longer distances, charter a car with a driver for a negotiable fare. Driving a car is not recommended anywhere in Bali; however, motorbikes are a fun and easy way to get around Nusa Dua and neighboring Tanjung Benoa, but not elsewhere in southern Bali. All transport options can be arranged at the resort.
Local Shuttle Buses: Free shuttle buses link major hotels in Nusa Dua with the Bali Collection mall (see below). The closest the bus comes is outside the St. Regis resort, 300m north up the road. This is a great way to reach other resorts, beaches, and facilities in Nusa Dua and Tanjung Benoa.

The Balé – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

The Mulia – The sole nearby resort offers several classy options facing the beach, or less invitingly, within the main building. Enter from across the road.
Bubu Seafood and Chinese Restaurant – Live seafood from tanks and likable old-style seating. 400m north along the road.
Kampung Bule – Adorable café in a 100-year-old joglo house full of traditional furniture and old photos and crafts. Certainly worth an 800m walk north up the road.
Bali Collection – Among oodles of cafés and bars are Frangipani Bali Restaurant (endearing setting for grills, lobster, and a kids’ menu) and Prada Priority Restaurant (popular and shady, at the main gate). Hotel offers a free shuttle to the mall.

Nearby Shops

A minimart is about 400m up the road, near the Bubu restaurant. Otherwise, take a hotel shuttle to Bali Collection, a delightful outdoor mall in Nusa Dua, with department stores, cavernous souvenir shops, and abundant cafés/bars.

Nearby Attractions

Bali National Golf Club – Offers 18 challenging holes stretching on either side of the road. The clubhouse is further 600m north.

Balé – The Hotel

The Bale is located in an isolated area south of Nusa Dua.

The Balé resort is in an isolated area, a few kilometers south of central Nusa Dua, one of the most popular tourist regions in southern Bali.

The resort is by the main road and about 400m from the beach.

Secluded and facing the main road, The Balé is about 400m from the beach.

The resort sports a chic and contemporary design.

The overall design is chic and contemporary.

There are poolside cabanas at the resort.

The lawns and gardens are limited and there are cabanas alongside the pool.

Even though all villas have private pools, the main pool is still quite large.

The main pool is substantial considering that all villas feature private pools.

The Faces Restaurant serves breakfast and offers intimate dining options.

Faces Restaurant in the resort serves breakfast to guests and offers intimate dining all day.

The on-site Tapa Bistro has a funky decor.

Alongside the road, and also within the resort, is the funky TAPA Bistro.

The hilly layout of the resort requires stairs to reach most villas.

The resort grounds are hilly, so most villas are accessible via stairs. (But buggies are available.)

The villas are secluded behind high walls.

Villas (called ‘pavilions’) are secluded and mostly hidden behind lofty walls.

The villas feature modern furnishings and decor.

The furnishings and décor in all villas are modern.

The villas feature excellent open-air bathrooms.

A standout feature of each villa is the striking open-air bathroom.

The spacious villas overlook the private gardens.

Villas are spacious with windows overlooking private gardens.

The villas' private pools are quite large.

Each villa features a private pool which is considerably bigger than the plunge pools offered at rival resorts.

Larger villas have a grassy sitting area.

Larger villas feature patches of grass and plenty of outdoor furniture.

The beachside path in front of The Mulia resort connects to most places in Nusa Dua.

A beachside path in front of The Mulia resort (just across the road from The Balé) heads northeast up through Nusa Dua.

The beach in front of The Mulia resort is open to the public.

The closest beach to The Balé is in front of The Mulia resort, which is open to the public.

The beach is a little far and accessible via a lane by The Mulia resort.

The beach is about 400m away and accessible along a lane north of The Mulia resort.

A trio of cafes are located at the end of the lane to the beach.

At the end of the lane to the beach is a trio of inviting cafés on the sand.

The Balé's guests can use the private beach club nearby.

Guests of The Balé can also use the private beach club, which is just a short walk away (or reachable by the resort’s shuttle service).

The Mulia resort opposite The Balé has classy food and drinks options.

Just over the road from The Balé, The Mulia resort offers several sophisticated places to eat and drink.

The Bubu restaurant nearby specializes in seafood and Chinese cuisine.

The nearest restaurant to The Balé is the large and inviting Bubu, which specializes in seafood and Chinese cuisine.

The nearest facilities are by the Bubu restaurant.

The closest facilities to the resort are around the Bubu restaurant, about 400m north up the road.

The resort offers free shuttle service to the outdoor Bali Collection mall.

Take advantage of the resort’s free transfer service and visit Bali Collection, a delightful outdoor mall packed with places to eat, drink, and shop.

Prada Priority is an excellent cafe/bar at the Bali Collection.

One of many terrific cafés/bars at Bali Collection is the Prada Priority.

Particularly enticing is the Frangipani café, also within the Bali Collection mall. Check rates and availability: The Balé

The Balé Hotel in Nusa Dua, Bali

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