The Ritz Carlton Bali

We had a really nice 5 nights. It’s quite a large resort with a number of restaurants and a beautiful lounge bar. Our room was the Junior Suite which I believe is the lowest level of room however it was spacious and we were lucky to be on the top (6th) floor of our block. As you walk in there is a make up table, walk in wardrobe then bathroom area. There are sliding doors between the bedroom area and the bathroom however it is not the most private bathroom. The bed was very comfortable and they made up the sofa bed for our son at no extra charge. A separate rollaway was chargeable however the sofa bed was perfectly adequate for our 6 year old. The balcony had a day bed and a table with two chairs. All very comfortable and as you would expect from a RC hotel. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, if anything a little too much. Though I won’t complain about that. They could teach some European and US hotels a thing or two. One point to be aware of is the distance you have to walk. From getting dropped at reception you have to go through the lobby, past some shops to the lift down to the beach level from the cliff top. There is then a buggy service that will take you to your room. It’s not a short journey and got a little tiring after a while. Our son loved the kids club. They put on some great activities for him and the pool slide was a big hit. He was even able to have his lunch in there which is a nice touch. One area where I think this hotel is let down is the pool/beach area. It is starting to show its age. The pool isn’t particularly kid friendly and isn’t big enough for a resort this size. It was busy when we were there (2 weddings in one weekend) and it was a struggle to find somewhere to sit either by the pool or beach. The staff did do their best to help. The loungers were a bit old, rusty and not that comfy which was a surprise considering how comfy the rest of the hotel is. This area needs to be refurbished to match the rest of the resort and bring it up to the standard you expect from a RC property. We didn’t have a meal in the hotel except one breakfast which was large, had a nice selection but was the usual breakfast you would expect from a resort of this style. Overall a good hotel that’s starting to show its age slightly. Friendly and helpful staff and the provisions for kids start to make up for it though. Would we return? Maybe , but we would consider other options.

We spent five days and four nights at this hotel and, unfortunately, left feeling disappointed.

The biggest issue is that this property appears to be primarily focused on conventions, weddings, and package tour groups rather than individual travellers. During our stay there were three weddings, and because the event space is located between the hotel buildings, there was no escaping the loud music, which continued until around midnight. After the events ended, staff spent hours dismantling stages, tables, and equipment, creating noise until nearly 2:00 a.m.

The disappointing part is that during the day the hotel is actually wonderful. The staff are friendly and professional, the beach is beautiful, the grounds are well maintained, and the food is very good. It has all the ingredients of a relaxing holiday—until the evening arrives.

Our six-year-old son struggled to sleep because of the constant noise, and despite changing rooms once, and the hotel kindly offering another room change, apologising, and providing a financial credit, the problem could not really be avoided because the events affected much of the property.

After travelling 26 hours to reach Bali, we had hoped for a relaxing family holiday. Instead, by the time we checked out, we felt more exhausted than when we arrived.

My advice to anyone considering this hotel—or many of the larger five-star resorts in Nusa Dua—is to check whether conventions, weddings, or large events are scheduled during your stay. These hotels generate significant business from large groups, and at times it feels as though individual family travellers are expected to work around those events. Restaurants and facilities may close or be reserved for private functions, and the evening noise can significantly impact your stay.

If you are attending a conference or wedding, this hotel is likely a great choice. However, if you're looking for a peaceful family holiday or a quiet getaway, you may want to consider a property that is less focused on large events.This version is factual and balanced, which generally makes reviews more credible while still conveying how significantly the noise affected your family's stay.