Nusa Dua

The Mulia, Nusa Dua

★★★★★

Nusa Dua is Bali's purpose-built resort enclave on the eastern side of the Bukit peninsula, a gated district of manicured lawns and large hotels fronting a reef-protected coast where the water is calmer than on the west side of the island. At its southern end, on Geger Beach, the Mulia complex is one of the grandest resorts in Bali, and it comes in three parts: Mulia Resort, the larger hotel; Mulia Villas, a separate enclave of private pool villas; and The Mulia, an all-suite hotel within the complex with its own lobby, pools and butler service. The Mulia is the one to choose for a top-tier stay with the facilities of a vast resort around you. Suite categories range from the Baron and the Earl up to the Marquess, with the Marquess Lagoon suites opening straight onto a lagoon pool and the Marquess Ruby the most lavish; all come with private butler service around the clock. Geger Beach itself is a secluded stretch of white sand around a kilometre long, with calm, shallow water that suits swimming and paddling far better than the surf beaches of Seminyak and Canggu, and a small sea temple stands on the headland nearby. The Oasis, an infinity pool facing the ocean, is the resort's signature, and there are several other pools across the complex. Dining is a big part of the experience, with nine restaurants and bars across the Mulia, including Table8 for Chinese cuisine, Soleil for Mediterranean dishes and a famous Sunday brunch, and The Cafe, a vast buffet with live cooking stations. The Mulia Spa includes hydrotherapy pools, a Finnish sauna, an aroma steam room and an ice room. Families are well catered for across the complex.

Choosing a room: the Baron and Earl suites are already spacious and include butler service; the Marquess Lagoon suites, with direct access to a lagoon pool from the terrace, are the ones to book for a special occasion. For complete privacy and your own pool, Mulia Villas next door is the alternative; for a lower price with the same beach and restaurants, Mulia Resort offers more room categories.

Who it suits: families who want calm water, kids' facilities and endless dining choice; couples who prefer a polished, full-service resort to a boutique hotel; and anyone who wants a restful beach base during the wet season, when the east coast is generally calmer and cleaner than the west. It is less suited to travellers who want local character on the doorstep, as Nusa Dua is a self-contained resort zone, though Uluwatu, Jimbaran and the Bukit beaches are a short drive away.

Practical notes: the airport is about twenty to thirty minutes away via the toll road, making Nusa Dua convenient for first and last nights. Ubud is around an hour and a half, so plan day trips with a driver. Rates vary greatly by season; peak periods include July, August and the Christmas and New Year holidays.