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On the south-east coast of Bali, you can get your 10,000 steps while taking in picturesque scenery, gaze out at the ocean from a peaceful beach swing, and backstroke next to flowers and towering rock walls, all without leaving the Grand Hyatt Bali.
Grand Hyatt Bali Review
Keep reading for my full Grand Hyatt Bali review:
First Impressions
Upon arrival, you’re greeted with a nice big open-air lobby. You also get the first smattering of the innumerable ponds sprinkled throughout the grounds.
There was no line for elite member check-in. I got to enjoy a welcome beverage (apple juice), a cold towel, and the lobby view while I waited for someone to escort me to my room.
Delightfully, there were lots of little welcome gifts waiting in my room, which I’ll detail below. My first impression of the Grand Hyatt Bali was calm and warmly received.
The Room
Warm shades of beige complemented by wood paneling details hallmark the design of room 1224 at the Grand Hyatt Bali.
The entryway gives the sleeping and living area some separation from the bathroom/closet, making the room feel bigger. I also must say that the floating obtuse triangle ledge wedged perfectly in the entryway corner gave me a particular satisfaction, as well as a convenient place to set my drink.
The tiny ledge is compensated for by the wooden shelf wrapping around the corner next to the bed, serving as both a desk and an end table with plenty of surface area in between.
As a heads up: Don’t get excited by the giant bed and jump in the middle like I did because you’ll be in for a sturdy surprise. There’s a central wooden support that runs along the middle, forcing those traveling solo like me to begrudgingly forgo sleeping in the middle of the bed.
Booking connected rooms is possible, as mine had a door to my neighbor’s.
The Grand Hyatt Bali staff generously surprised me with a table full of goodies, presumably due to my Hyatt Discoverist status. The goodies included fresh fruit, trail mix, cookies, a branded tote bag (that I noticed them selling in the lobby), and a coupon for a free 60-minute professional photo shoot (more on that later).
The bathroom holds both a large tub and a shower you could choreograph in. Note that the toilet area can be closed off, but there’s no separation from the shower and the rest of the bathroom.
Beyond the living area is a sizable terrace set on a tranquil pond. All rooms have some sort of balcony or terrace. Mine happened to be on the water, and I could see fish swim up when they came close.
One downside is that the walls are very thin. You’ll hear your neighbors use their hairspray, folks walking upstairs, and the kiddos traipsing down the hall to the pool.
Design & Layout
The Grand Hyatt Bali is a sprawling property, totally opposite to my experience at Theanna Villa & Spa in Canggu. Guest accommodations are divided between four villages: North Village, East Village, West Village, and South Village. The lobby complex and pools lie in the resort’s center, and the villages lie on the periphery. East Village and South Village are closest to the beach.
The grounds are BEAUTIFUL. I spent two hours just walking around the resort the first day. Manicured trails framed with flora, punctuated with sculptures, intricate wooden carvings, and Hindu symbols guide you amongst the villages, restaurants, and other points of interest. There’s color bursting everywhere. It’s certainly a feast for the eyes.
While exploring, I noticed that most of the base rooms have a view of some type of pond or green space. In my opinion, the least desirable views were in the West Village, overlooking the tennis courts and the ballrooms.
Food
With just as many bars as there are restaurants, there’s no shortage of places to grab a bite to eat. Cuisine options range from Indonesian and Japanese to Italian and Western.
The restaurants overall had pretty comprehensive allergen markers on their menus, albeit with some inconsistencies.
You can make reservations at the onsite restaurants and peruse their menus here.
Salsa Verde
The resort’s Italian food joint offers a selection of pizzas, pastas (both handmade and non-handmade), salads, grilled seafood, and steak.
I got the “plant-based pizza,” a culinary catfish made with normal pesto but not labeled as containing dairy. The staff kindly swapped the pesto for a tomato sauce but also removed the cashew cheese, informing me the cashew cheese contained dairy as well. I was left scratching my head.
It was disappointing that unlike other items on the menu, this one did not have a dairy label despite dairy being present in multiple parts of the dish. Unfortunately, I felt like I couldn’t trust the rest of the menu. I suppose “plant-based” just meant “no meat.”
That being said, the altered pizza was still very good. The crust was particularly tasty.
Garden Café
The Garden Café is one of a couple breakfast options onsite. For breakfast, you can choose between enjoying the buffet or the a la carte menu.
No allergen markers were found on the buffet placards. A small selection of pastry items were labeled “gluten free,” and usually one hot item was labeled “vegetarian,” but that was the extent of any allergen help.
I managed to find muesli and soy milk, fresh fruit, coconut rice, and deep fried tofu that served as the crux of my meal. Folks who prefer variety will be pleased to learn that the hot items changed each day. One day yielded braised jackfruit and spiced tofu. The next, turmeric rice and crispy tempeh.
There was a coffee machine present, but the staff also took personal orders. Delightfully, they were able to make me an oat milk cappuccino. They did not have decaf, however.
Service was very slow, even during lunch when it was just me and one other table. It was hard to find a staff member for the bill after lunch. However, they were very expedient in picking up dishes during the buffet breakfast. If you needed a question answered or a drink ordered though, good luck finding someone available.
Speaking of lunch, here is one meal I enjoyed:
- Thai green curry – delicious. I recommend it with a side of rice.
- French fries – fresh and crispy, but no seasoning. Served with ketchup.
- Watermelon juice – clearly fresh. You could see the pulp and seeds.
Unfortunately the mango sticky rice couldn’t be prepared vegan even if the ice cream was removed. (They mix egg in with their coconut sauce.) They offered to serve me plain rice and plain mango, which I declined.
Nampu
For those who’d like something more upscale, certainly check out Nampu.
This Japanese restaurant offers both delicious food and entertainment, thanks to their teppanyaki style of cooking. The chefs craft your meal on a large steel grill right in front of you, so at the very least you won’t be bored if your date isn’t a great conversationalist.
The menu features many varieties of sushi, donburi, yakimeshi, soba, udon, ramen, tempura, nigiri, sashimi, robata skewers, and wagyu.
You’re greeted with a beautiful open-air pond adorned with lanterns and sprinkled with fountains in the center of Nampu right when you walk in.
One of the rooms contains the open kitchen, where I sat at the grill during my dinner. The vegan got a front-row seat to watch the fish get turned into sushi.
While obviously not catered to those who don’t eat meat or fish, I was still able to find some tasty items to enjoy.
The yasai maki (vegetable roll) was very fresh and the onion sauce it was served with complemented it well.
The shitake robata (grilled mushroom skewer) looked and tasted slightly pretzel-y from the way they were cooked, which wasn’t unwelcome. The dish is a great example of how Nampu is one of the pricier dining options at the Grand Hyatt Bali, even if you don’t get the wagyu. My six bites of mushroom were 90k rupiah, almost the same cost as my 8-piece roll. They were good, but not 90k rupiah good.
The wait staff inquired about any dietary restrictions when I ordered, which I appreciated. Their menu is also peppered with many allergen symbols, including if a dish contains alcohol.
I found the wait staff to be very kind and personable. They apologized for “taking a while” (their words, it wasn’t that long) to get me my bill because “it’s very busy.” Their words echoed the sentiments of the staff at Garden Café and I got the impression that the hotel was slightly short-staffed.
I had tried to order a roll to-go the night before (an hour before they closed, admittedly) and they told me it was too busy for them to do that. That speaks to either Nampu’s popularity or a smaller-than-ideal staff (or inconvenient timing from me).
Watercourt
Floating on the water is the aptly named Watercourt.
Their menu is a nice mix of familiar Western classics like burgers, salads, and steak, together with Balinese, Thai, and Indonesian favorites.
Pasar Senggol
By far the most interesting dining option at the Grand Hyatt Bali is Pasar Senggol. It mimics a night market experience, with Balinese and Indonesian food. Unfortunately Pasar Senggol was closed during my stay, but the menu looks promising for satisfying all palates.
But your experience doesn’t end with the food; you can enjoy your meal while taking in live Balinese dance performances, including a fire dance.
Pasar Senggol is only open for dinner on Tuesday and Friday nights, so making a reservation is most important here among the onsite dining options.
Lila Cita Sports Bar
Perhaps the greatest departure from the overall atmosphere of the Grand Hyatt Bali is the Lila Cita Sports Bar.
For those who want a taste of their basement at home (with better alcohol, probably), you can satisfy your urge for foosball, pool, and air hockey here. There’s even a golf simulator and a karaoke room that can be reserved for up to 25 people!
The menu is a casual selection of comfort finger foods, pizza (the same offerings as Salsa Verde), and a wide selection of beverages. They also offer hookah for adults who dabble.
The karaoke room, golf simulator, and hookah services can be reserved by contacting the hotel via WhatsApp here.
Poolside Bar
Take a break from swimming in the gorgeous pools to grab a drink and a snack from the Poolside Bar.
Alternatively, sip on your drink while gazing at the beach waves as they roll in.
Salsa Bar
Continuing the list of where to find alcohol at the Grand Hyatt Bali, we have the outdoor Salsa Bar. Salsa Bar is located atop a small hill, granting its visitors a beautiful view of the ocean beyond the trees.
Along with its varied drink menu, you have a brief selection of shareable finger food like truffle fries, bruschetta, and nachos.
I bet this would be a fantastic spot to take in the evening sunset.
Veranda Lounge & Bar
If your whistle still isn’t wet, don’t worry. You still have one more bar option: the Veranda Lounge & Bar.
While Salsa Bar is outdoors, Veranda Lounge is indoors and resembles a sitting room more so than a bar. Veranda Lounge also offers a wider selection of drinks, particularly with wines and non-alcoholic options.
In addition to an array of smoothies, you have espresso staples and house-made ice cream. You can also savor afternoon tea and cakes here if you’re feeling fancy.
Grand Club Lounge
Floating on a pond, the Grand Club Lounge is accessible to guests who book Grand Club rooms or have Hyatt Globalist status.
Delight in free continental breakfast, evening cocktails, and all-day coffee and tea.
It actually has the most expansive wine selection among the onsite eateries. The current wine menu is five pages long!
Related: Relaxing private pool villas at Theanna Villa and Spa Canggu | Review
Amenities
Along with the Grand Hyatt Bali’s sprawling grounds comes an array of amenities and activities, most of which are outdoors.
Pools
Five chlorinated bodies of water are available for swimming: the Lagoon Pool, the Balinese Feature Pool the Bay Club Pool (adults only), the River Pool, and the Grand Club Pool (Grand Club rooms only).
Lagoon Pool
The Lagoon Pool is the widest pool and sits closest to the beach.
It’s an expansive pool that has many open areas but still winds around in an interesting shape. This is the spot for kids who like to splash. Honorable mentions to the nearby Toddler Pool.
Balinese Feature Pool
As the name suggests, this pool features many Balinese symbols in its statues and fountains.
It’s located in a quieter part of the property, and thus had far fewer swimmers than the other pools.
Bay Club Pool
This pool is tucked away beyond the doors of the fitness center. The Bay Club Pool is calm, still, and adults-only.
River Pool
The River Pool is by far the most popular, and it’s not hard to see why. It has a super cool winding design, like a lazy river without the current.
This pool gets packed around midday. Because it’s so narrow, it feels crowded more quickly.
A 50 meter waterslide empties into the far side of this pool in the wider section.
Note that there are lots of “protruding rock” signs. You need to be careful not to kick something or backstroke into a rock, especially in the narrower sections.
If you want to live out your mer-person grotto fantasy, the River Pool will serve you well. At least, until the kids show up.
Grand Club Pool
The Grand Club Pool has some of the interesting rock design of the River Pool, but is on the smaller side.
This pool is only available to guests with Club Room access.
Kriya Spa
The design of Kriya Spa was inspired by a Balinese water palace of old. The 24 spa villas float on an oasis far-removed from the rest of the property. Seriously, it’s a bit of a walk to get there from most of the Villages. If you book an early appointment, give yourself enough time to get there.
The spa’s namesake means “rituals,” and its treatments exclusively use natural products indigenous to the island.
Take a look at the Kriya Spa menu and current pricing here.
To make a reservation, call +62 361 77 1234 or email [email protected].
Beach
The beach is sectioned beautifully, with a line of trees close to the resort grounds providing shady cover before opening up to the expansive, powdery soft sandy area.
There’s a good bit of distance between the shoreline and the lounge chairs. That provides plenty of room for games and activities that require running around, but folks who like their chair to be near the waves may feel too removed.
The lonely Instagram swing was a popular feature, and quite a peaceful spot to perch in the early morning hours to watch the waves.
Anyone from the adjacent resorts can access the Grand Hyatt’s beach. You can go for a nice long walk through other oceanfront properties, but you will also meet non-guests. While enjoying the shaded lounge chairs I was approached by four entrepreneurs within an hour, with varying degrees of passive aggression in their selling tactics.
There are available beach cabanas that must be reserved and have a minimum spend requirement.
Tennis Courts
Neighboring the Kriya Spa are three tennis courts and a solitary basketball hoop. This is, in my opinion, the least interesting view you may receive from your room.
Oceania Kids Club
The Grand Hyatt Bali is quite family-friendly. Available to kids aged 3-12, the Oceania Kids Club has an itinerary that changes daily.
The Kids Club offers a variety of activities; some are more active like sports and games and others are craft-focused, so kids of all temperaments should find something on the schedule that interests them.
Children can enjoy complementary access to the Kids Club for two hours per day, with some activities requiring an additional fee. You can extend your child’s access time beyond the two hours by paying an hourly extension fee.
Young ones under three years old can play in the separate Toddler Club. Note that an adult is required to be with each toddler at all times, so the Toddler Club is not a drop-off situation.
Both the Oceania Kids Club and Toddler Club are open from 9am-6pm.
Water Sports Centre
For the folks who want to maximize staying on the beachfront, the Water Sports Centre has aquatic activity equipment available to rent hourly.
Bay Club Fitness Center
The onsite fitness center caters to both those who prefer to sweat solitary and those who like a class environment.
In addition to a variety of weight machines, a few cardio machines, squash courts, a sauna and steam room are available to use. Yogis can choose to practice in the indoor yoga studio or one of the elevated platforms in the outdoor area of the fitness center.
Tucked away in the fitness center is the adults-only pool. While not huge, it’s a decent size for a quick dip and a float in a quieter part of the resort.
The Bay Club Fitness Center also offers classes, with some free and some an additional charge. When I visited, they had a mixture of low-energy (ie. table tennis, kite flying, Bocce, yoga) and high-energy (ie. beach soccer/volleyball, pilates, aerobics) activities.
Good news for active folks who can’t sleep: the fitness center is open 24 hours.
Shopping Arcade
Just off the lobby is a short stretch of shops offering beachy clothes, surfwear (ie. Billabong, Roxy, Quicksilver), and art.
Photography Services
Located within the shopping arcade is a third-party company that will take nice photos of you and your loved ones, edit the photos for you, and let you choose a select number of the digital versions to keep.
I don’t know if it was due to my Discoverist status with Hyatt, but I was given a voucher for a free 60-minute session with 5 digital edited photos.
The shooting only took 20 minutes. I scouted some locations the day before, but the photographer guided me to some other ones as well.
Since I’m no professional model, I appreciated the photographer’s assistance with how to pose. They were also willing to get all the way down stomach-to-grass to get the right shot, a dedication that goes under-appreciated, if you ask me.
I returned to the storefront an hour and a half later to choose my 5 shots. The company then emailed me later that evening with the files to download via Google Drive.
Overall, it was a pleasant experience despite my distain for getting my picture taken. You don’t need to prepare anything in advance apart from what you want to wear. The photographer will lead you to spots with nice backdrops, but will also accommodate if you have specific places in mind. They’ll instruct you how to pose in a way that will translate well on camera, helpful for the “where do I put my hands??” types.
The photoshoot experience will at least provide you with some leveled-up Instagram photos, if not a viable family Christmas card option.
Atmosphere
Nature, art, structure, and the typical elements you’d find at a beachfront resort are combined in a lovely way. There’s always something interesting to look at. The touches of Balinese artwork scattered throughout the grounds were welcome features along the winding walkways.
I felt calm and at-ease while walking around the Grand Hyatt Bali. Being able to stroll between flowers and trees, around ponds, over bridges, and along the ocean all on the same walk was almost dreamy. I remember thinking, “Wow, it just keeps going!”
Despite being a large family-friendly resort, you will find moments of tranquility here.
Staff & Service
My experience with the staff at the Grand Hyatt Bali was overall quite positive.
Immediately after checking in, I had issues connecting to the wifi. The staff helped me resolve the “guest not found” message in a matter of minutes.
Upon checking out, however, my wifi beef returned. I didn’t take into account that I would lose connection when I was officially no longer a guest. The concierge was kind enough to call my Klook driver to find him since I couldn’t respond to his WhatsApp messages.
(I have since used an eSIM from Saily when I travel abroad, and have never been without internet access since.)
Hyatt status recognition seemed generous, even to those with Discoverist status like myself. While not a tier upgrade, the room they gave me definitely qualified as a “preferred room within type booked.”
Many of the rooms from the farther buildings warranted a 10-15 minute walk to the beach, lobby, and most of the restaurants. Mine was immediately next to the Garden Cafe, the main breakfast joint. It was practically connected to the lobby. Combined with my lovely lagoon view and table full of complementary goodies, I appreciated the recognition even though I barely have status with Hyatt.
I also appreciated how the housekeeping and groundskeeping staff always said hello to me in passing. The only underwhelming service I experienced was the slowness in some of the restaurants, as mentioned above.
Location
The Grand Hyatt Bali is located in Nusa Dua, on the south-eastern part of the island. It’s a 30-40 minute drive from the airport in Denpasar.
This area is basically resort after resort after resort, all the way down the coast. With a few exceptions, there’s not really much to do in the immediate area. Nusa Dua is best for when you’d just like to relax at a beach hotel for a few days.
Driving into the resort neighborhood reminded me of driving into Disney World: long streets resembling highways whose exit signs contained lists of hotels, with not much else in between.
If you want to be in a walkable area, this is not the hotel for you. Heck, this isn’t the town for you. I think somewhere like Theanna Villa and Spa in the lively Canggu would be a better fit.
That being said, the Grand Hyatt Bali is right next to the Bali Collection shopping center which you can easily walk to (along with a couple other locales I’ll mention below).
Getting There
I recommend traveling by car in Bali if you have luggage. If you don’t want to hail a taxi and potentially haggle, you can download the rideshare apps Grab and Gojek. Both are widely used in Bali, and you can choose whichever has the lower price for your route.
Alternatively, you can book a private ride via Klook like I did. I wanted to secure the price I’d pay ahead of time, and I paid between $7-$35 USD for each of my rides depending on the distance. My 2 hour ride from Nusa Dua to North Ubud was only $34.80! I booked both of the following during my two weeks in Bali:
Private transfer to/from the airport – Select the “airport transfers” tab and fill out your pick up or drop off information. You can then choose a transportation company based on price and star rating.
- Klook has a station in the airport’s arrivals hall that’s easy to find. Show the folks there your voucher and they’ll have you take a seat while you wait for your ride. I waited about 15 minutes before my driver came.
Private transfer from another hotel – Select the areas of Bali you’re transferring to and from and add to cart, then add your specific pick up and drop off information on the check out page.
- I booked this service three times to transfer between Kuta, Canggu, Nusa Dua, and North Ubud. Each time, the driver reached out to me in advance on WhatsApp to confirm the time, and also arrived to the pick up spot early.
Note that my experience with both of the above services was that they were polite and timely, but very casual. The cars were all clean, but I believe they may have been personal vehicles.
Need a flight?
I had a very comfortable flight on Singapore Airlines to Denpasar (with a connection in Singapore), and I would certainly recommend them. Check current routes here.
Related: Singapore Airlines 787 Business Class Review: Seoul to Singapore
Booking
Since the nightly rate wasn’t high enough for me to use points, I opted to pay cash for my stay: $519.09 for 3 nights.
As of this writing, the Grand Hyatt Bali is a Category 3 property, with standard room redemptions ranging from 9,000-15,000 points per night depending on seasonality.
While I opted for a non-inclusive experience, you do have the option of booking an all-inclusive rate if you’d prefer. This rate includes:
- daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- free-flow alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
- 2 hours access to the Oceania Kids Club every day
- 5 photoshoots around the resort
- 30% discount on special/premium dining events, spa, and resort activities
Check here for the current all-inclusive offer code and full terms and conditions.
Here are some credit cards I love for collecting Hyatt points on everyday purchases:
- Chase World of Hyatt – earns Hyatt points and comes with a free night at any Category 1-4 property every card anniversary
- Chase Sapphire Preferred – earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points that are transferrable to Hyatt at a 1:1 rate
Things to Do Nearby
If for some reason you find yourself wanting a break from the resort, here are some suggestions of activities you can pursue in the Nusa Dua area:
Devdan Show at Bali Nusa Dua Theatre – only a 10 minute walk from the resort, this award-winning dance performance is richly imbued with elements of many cultures from across the Indonesian islands. Marvel at the acrobatics, shadow puppetry, and diverse movement styles in the 60-minute Devdan Show.
Paragliding & unique water sports – for a few alternative water activities beyond what you’ll find at the hotel, you can find many companies like this one who offer various water sport packages along Nusa Dua’s beaches. This one offers:
- jet skiing
- flyboard (that Iron-Man-looking flying contraption)
- parasailing
- banana and donut boats
- the “jetovator” (similar to the flyboard but with handles and three water spouts instead of two – perhaps it’s easier to balance?)
- sea walker experience (donning a sea diver helmet and going for an underwater stroll up to 7 meters deep, Pirates of the Caribbean style)
Museum Pasifika Bali – a mere 15 minute walk from the Grand Hyatt Bali, this art museum is an ideal bite-size sampling of Balinese art, made by both locals and by foreigners whose work was inspired by the island. The museum is on the smaller side, so you can easily squeeze it in without dedicating an entire afternoon.
Silver jewelry-making class – take 8 grams of silver and transform it into a custom one-of-one piece! What a timeless memento to remember your trip by. This workshop is about a 15-20 minute drive from the Grand Hyatt Bali.
Overall Grand Hyatt Bali Review
The Grand Hyatt Bali is an ideal “stay put and enjoy” resort. There’s plenty to do and see without feeling confined. The beach is expansive. The swimming pools are bountiful and expertly landscaped.
This property caters both to families and to couples seeking a getaway. There are many kid-focused areas and activities, and with that comes more noise.
Among the many resort options along the east coast of Nusa Dua, the Grand Hyatt Bali is an awesome option to consider.
Book if:
- You enjoy properties that have many areas to explore and relax in
- You value gardens incorporated into a resort’s design
- You prioritize an uncrowded beach experience
- You’re looking for a family-friendly hotel that doesn’t feel like a children’s hotel
- Your plan is to lounge on the beach or at the pool for a few days and not venture offsite
- You don’t mind a potential 10-15 minute walk from your room to restaurants and the beach
Skip if:
- You want a vacation without any reminders that kids exist
- You’d like to be able to walk to many different offsite restaurants and local attractions
- You’re a light sleeper
- You have many strict dietary restrictions
- Lots of walking around the property would not be a good idea for you
Related Reading:
Relaxing private pool villas at Theanna Villa and Spa Canggu | Review
Singapore Airlines 787 Business Class Review: Seoul to Singapore