Hello, I’m SINAE, a travel writer who travels abroad while writing and taking photographs every day.
Bali is one of the world’s most beloved honeymoon destinations. It is also a place where some of the most diverse and sophisticated luxury resorts can be found.
This time, I would like to share my stay at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, a grand luxury resort near Nusa Dua with an impressive sense of scale.
The resort opened in 2019, so while a few years have passed since its debut, it still feels remarkably fresh. Since it was closed for a period during the pandemic, the overall condition remains very clean and well maintained. The hotel has 475 rooms, and one of its strengths is that the grounds feel especially spacious compared with the number of rooms.
The Apurva Kempinski Bali is located on Nusa Dua Beach, with Hilton on the left and The Ritz-Carlton on the right. There are many different room categories, and for this stay, I chose a pool villa–style room with its own private swimming pool.
Suite Guests Enjoy Private Lounge Check-In
The scale of the building is truly impressive, and there are so many swimming pools that simply walking around the resort takes quite some time. Because the property is large, there are several check-in counters, but as expected, it can still feel busy at times.
However, if you book a suite, there is very little to worry about. The check-in process can be handled in a much more private and relaxed setting. There is a dedicated check-in counter where you can sit comfortably and complete everything in a quiet atmosphere.
Suite guests at The Apurva Kempinski Bali can also use the lounge throughout the day, from morning until evening, with coffee, tea, and afternoon tea included.
In the evening, the lounge offers happy hour, where guests can enjoy cocktails and beer freely, which is a lovely benefit. A resort stay always feels more complete when there is a good lounge.
Even better, there is also a lounge-exclusive swimming pool, so you can enjoy a quieter atmosphere without the crowds.
👉 The Apurva Kempinski Bali- Check rates on Agoda
👉 The Apurva Kempinski Bali – Check rates on Expedia
Cliff Private Pool Ocean Junior Suite
The room name is quite long, but once you arrive, it makes perfect sense. It is an Ocean Junior Suite located on the cliff, with its own private pool.
When I entered the room, the first thing I noticed was the generous sense of space. Beyond the room, the ocean opened up in a wide panoramic view. Being able to see the sea from the bed is one of those simple but deeply satisfying pleasures you can only fully appreciate at a resort.
When you draw back the curtains and open the door, there is a private pool outside. And not just any pool – it feels like a private infinity pool overlooking the ocean.
The view is genuinely striking. Part of the pool area has a clear glass detail, which makes it a beautiful spot for photographs as well. The pool also connects conveniently to the bathroom area at the back, making it very easy to use.
Although it is not a completely detached villa, the room feels spacious and private enough to be considered a pool villa–style experience.
Another thing I appreciated was that the room was not surrounded by an overly dense, jungle-like setting. Because of that, there were no insects, which I personally found much more comfortable.
True to Kempinski’s reputation, the details were beautifully handled.
Main Pools, Beach, and the Beautiful Chapel
When I went down to the main pool area, I was surprised by just how many pools there were. It almost took a while just to look around. There is a central pool, another closer to the ocean, and additional pools near the restaurants.
Because the pool areas are spread out across the resort, guests are naturally dispersed. Even when there are many people staying at the property, it still feels relatively calm and spacious.
In front of the beach, there are many sunbeds and cabanas. All hotel guests can use them free of charge, and lying there with the gentle sea breeze made the experience feel very relaxing.
They also served welcome food by the beach, which gave the stay an unmistakably upscale resort feeling.
On one side of the property, there is a large and beautiful chapel. I saw a wedding taking place there, and it was not a small wedding – it was a very grand celebration.
They had even set up a large banquet space in the garden in front of the chapel, with fireworks and an impressive wedding party.
A large-scale wedding here would certainly be memorable, but I also think a smaller, more intimate wedding at this resort would be equally beautiful.
Breakfast Until 12 PM – À La Carte and Buffet
Breakfast was served privately in the lounge, just one floor above the area where check-in took place. One of the best parts was that it did not feel crowded.
Even more surprising, breakfast was available until 12 PM. At that point, it almost feels closer to lunch.
A variety of Indonesian dishes, bakery items, and noodle dishes were offered buffet-style, so guests could help themselves. For the egg dishes and main dishes, however, breakfast was served à la carte, which made the experience much more comfortable.
Instead of going back and forth repeatedly, the staff brought the main dishes directly to the table, which made everything feel noticeably easier and more relaxed.
I ordered eggs Benedict, Indonesian mie goreng, and even bibimbap from the Korean menu, and everything was very satisfying. There did not seem to be a strict limit on how many main dishes could be ordered, so you could enjoy as much as you wanted.
I had eggs Benedict, French toast, and bibimbap, and by the end, I was completely full. The Asian dishes were not simple imitations. They were genuinely well prepared, which may be one reason the hotel appeals strongly to many Asian guests.
Final Thoughts
A fully detached private pool villa can be wonderful, but many of them are set in extremely nature-focused surroundings. I have had several stays where I ended up swimming alongside insects, or suddenly being startled by frogs entering the villa.
Many European travelers may love that deep-in-nature feeling, but personally, I find too many insects uncomfortable.
For travelers who prefer a modern, clean, polished, and luxurious resort atmosphere, The Apurva Kempinski Bali is a very suitable choice. It offers the elegance of a grand resort, the comfort of a private pool experience, and the sense of space that makes a Bali stay feel genuinely restorative.
A personal downside, however, is that because the resort is so large, there are naturally many guests, and at times it can feel quite busy. I appreciated that the hotel places a strong emphasis on guest privacy, but in some moments, the policies felt a little too strict.
For example, even as an in-house guest, taking photographs inside the breakfast venue was not permitted. This was the case even when no other guests appeared in the frame, and even when I was simply trying to take a photo of myself.
While I understand the intention behind protecting guest privacy, the level of restriction felt somewhat excessive from a guest’s perspective.
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