Bali Dynasty Resort Hotel

Colorful plants and tall statues adorn the entrance to the Bali Dynasty Resort and welcome drinks are offered at check-in as guests step inside. The peaked wooden Balinese ceiling overhead contrasts the contemporary woven chairs and love seats throughout the modern lobby with its red-and-black granite floor. Grounds include beautiful palm trees, plants, a duck pond, and a large koi pond as well as a lush garden run through by a wooden walkway. Hallways throughout have an atrium-like quality, with stone gardens at the ground floor level, and wooden banisters lining the floors overhead. The Hospitality Lounge, for early arrivals and late departures, is a smart addition here and has locker rooms, flat-screen TVs, and free coffee, tea, and newspapers. The hotel offers plenty of restaurants and bars, ranging from the Irish pub style of popular Gracie Kelly's to the laid-back poolside Sunset Bar. This is a family-friendly resort through and through, and there are kids' clubs and activities as well as a small water park on site, though couples stay here as well. 

The Bali Dynasty Resort does not have its own direct access to the beach, though a quick walk through a market, past a small temple, and gate that locks in the evening leads to the shore. It's not the most spectacular stretch of sand in the area. Waterbom Park, Lippo Mall, and Discovery Shopping Mall are all within a 10-minute walk of the hotel, as are plenty of restaurants, shops, while Tuban Beach, Kuta Square, and Segara Beach take 15 minutes to reach on foot. Legian Beach and Ngurah Rai International Airport both take around 10 minutes to reach by car or cab. Seminyak Beach is a bit farther away and takes 20 minutes to reach by car, while the former hippy-enclave of Ubud takes about an hour to reach by road, and gorgeous Nusa Dua Beach takes around 30 minutes to reach by car.

Traditional, Family Rooms, and Suites are all large and modern, with a mix of neutral hues and bright colors. Warm wood headboards and jewel-toned throw pillows, bed runners, and curtains look smart against dark accent walls, while brown wicker chairs provide extra seating. All rooms feature flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, minibars, and air-conditioning while pillow menus are also offered. Some rooms have furnished stone balconies or patios with garden, duck pond, or pool views, while higher level bookings have kitchenettes and outdoor hot tubs. Family Rooms and Kids' Suites offer bunk beds for kids and separate kids' sleeping areas or curtains to divide the rooms -- they can fit up to five guests. There are some upkeep issues in rooms, though, as we spotted rust in some mini-fridges and guests have complained about things like stained sheets. Modern bathrooms have light tiled floors and black granite countertops and feature either shower/tub combos or walk-in rainfall showers. We did notice a bit of discolored and moldy grout in the shower/tub combos when we visited.

Unlike many resorts in the area, this property isn't directly connected to the beach. Instead, guests must navigate a path that passes a small traditional temple and some market stalls. Along the beach, padded wooden lounge chairs sit under purple umbrellas, but it can get crowded and Kuta doesn't have the most beautiful stretch of sand in Bali. The hotel has three outdoor pools, including an adults-only, stone-lined Lazy Pool, and a kids' pool with a 56 meter (184 foot) waterslide and play area. There is also a free-form main pool with a swim-up bar and waterfall surrounded by lounge chairs and a wide terrace.

A wide array of dining options are available on site, from casual to higher-end choices. The free buffet breakfast is served at either Sen5es or poolside at H2O, while H2O also has themed buffets every night. Chinese cuisine is available at Golden Lotus, while home-style Irish meals are served along with nightly live entertainment at Gracie Kelly’s, a popular local establishment. Cocktails, beer, and wine as well as happy hours are provided at the Upper Deck @ H2O, Sunset Bar, Sunken Bar, and D Lounge. Queen’s of India -- and Indonesian chain -- serves traditional Indian dishes, and Cafe Piazza offers coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and gelato. Room service is available around the clock.

A selection of traditional Balinese treatments and massages are available at Ashoka Spa, an attractive space with koi ponds, stone walls, and eye-catching artful details like bamboo ceilings. The spa has two saunas plus men’s and kids' treatments. The resort's fitness center stays open fairly late and has free weights, cardio, and weight machines. One of the more unique features is High Flyers Bali, a trapeze school that's on site, while family-friendly features abound, including the free Kupu-Kupu Kids' Club with video games and supervised activities, and a teen club with foosball, Ping-Pong, and air hockey. 

The hotel has a dedicated 24-hour concierge and babysitting services are available. Airport transportation can be arranged, though it costs extra, and while Wi-Fi is free throughout the property there are charges for higher download speeds.