Sanur

Hyatt Regency Bali

★★★★★

For many families who have been coming to Bali for decades, the Bali Hyatt in Sanur was the original tropical resort, and the Hyatt Regency Bali is its reincarnation. After a long closure and a multi-million-dollar rebuild, the hotel reopened in 2019 on the same beachfront site, keeping what made the old property loved, above all its gardens, and adding contemporary rooms and facilities. Those gardens are the heart of the place: around sixteen hectares of mature trees, lily ponds, lawns and flowering shrubs, home to some five hundred species of flora and fauna, laid out between the lobby and the sea. The hotel has around 363 rooms and suites spread through low-rise wings, so even at full occupancy it feels green and uncrowded. The beach frontage is long, with about five hundred metres of Sanur's white sand and calm, reef-protected water that suits children, and the famous Sanur beach path runs right past, ideal for morning walks, runs and bike rides to cafes and the fast-boat harbour. Dining includes Omang Omang, an all-day international restaurant, and a casual pizzeria on the beach, with more restaurants and warungs along the beach path. The standout facility is Shankha Spa, a ten-villa spa complex with a hot tub, cold plunge, steam and sauna, a gym, a yoga studio and a juice bar, among the most complete wellness offers in Sanur. Families get tropical pools, a dedicated children's pool and a kids club. Sanur's location is a big part of the appeal: about thirty minutes from the airport, around an hour from Ubud, and minutes from the boats to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan.

Choosing a room: garden-view rooms are the best value and surprisingly peaceful, set among the trees; ocean-view rooms and suites in the wings nearest the beach are worth the upgrade for sunrise over the water. Families should ask about connecting rooms and suites with extra space. Check the current room categories on the official site, as layouts and names have changed since the rebuild.

Who it suits: families with young children, multi-generation groups, travellers who want calm water and an easy, walkable neighbourhood, and anyone planning day trips to Nusa Penida or Lembongan from Sanur. It is less suited to travellers looking for nightlife, surf or a design-led boutique stay; for those, Seminyak, Canggu or Uluwatu fit better.

Practical notes: Sanur's lagoon is best for swimming around high tide, as the water becomes shallow over the reef at low tide. Sanur faces east, so mornings bring sunrise and the beach is usually cleaner than the west coast in the wet season. Compared with Tandjung Sari down the beach, this is a larger, more facility-rich resort; compared with Nusa Dua, Sanur has more local character and independent restaurants.