Bvlgari Resort Bali

Bvlgari Resort Bali, a distinguished Michelin Key One-Keys property, consistently receives high praise for its breathtaking cliffside location, exceptional service, and sophisticated design. It stands out as a luxurious sanctuary offering an unforgettable experience in Uluwatu, Bali.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Bvlgari Resort Bali is overwhelmingly positive, often described as "heaven on earth" or a "paradise" for travelers seeking quality and romance. With ratings frequently around 9.2-9.4 out of 10 on various travel platforms, guests consider it a "must-stay" hotel when visiting Bali. Many find the experience exceptional and truly unforgettable.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of the resort:

• Location & Views: The resort's dramatic setting atop a 160-meter limestone cliff provides spectacular, unobstructed ocean views and spellbinding sunsets from nearly every vantage point.
• Design & Ambiance: The design by Antonio Citterio masterfully blends Italian elegance with traditional Balinese architecture, using local materials like black lava stone, Javanese mahogany, and Balinese fabrics. The meticulous landscaping creates a serene and private environment.
• Private Villas: All 59 villas are designed with privacy in mind, featuring outdoor plunge pools and spacious alfresco living areas.
• Exceptional Service: The personalized and attentive butler service is a recurring highlight, ensuring a seamless and pampered stay.
• Unique Inclinator: A one-of-a-kind inclined elevator transports guests down the cliff face to a secluded beach club, offering fantastic views during the ride.
• Main Infinity Pool: The sizable main infinity pool is celebrated for its spectacular views and never feeling crowded, making it a perfect spot to relax.

3. Room Quality

The villas at Bvlgari Resort Bali are described as superbly comfortable, spacious, and luxurious. Despite opening in 2006, the rooms are exceptionally well-maintained and do not feel dated. Each villa features a large bedroom and an equally generous bathroom, surrounded by full-length windows. Interiors utilize black lava stone, Javanese mahogany, and sophisticated Balinese fabrics, all polished to a shine. Bathrooms are magnificent, often larger than a typical city apartment, complete with a deep tub, double vanity, indoor, and outdoor showers, and a full suite of Bulgari luxury cosmetics and amenities. Every villa also boasts a private infinity-edge plunge pool and an outdoor area. However, some guests have noted the robes to be thin and the lack of soft slippers, with only flip-flops provided. While most villas offer ocean views, some initial assignments might have views partially obstructed by greenery.

4. Dining Experience

The resort offers diverse dining experiences:

• Il Ristorante – Luca Fantin: This signature Italian restaurant is highly recommended for a special dinner, noted for its exquisite interior design, ambiance, and "art-on-a-plate" food.
• Sangkar Restaurant: Offering a more casual setting, Sangkar focuses on spicy Indonesian flavors and a selection of international specialties. Breakfast is served here, featuring a mashup of English, Mediterranean, and Japanese dishes, including truffle scrambled eggs and champagne. In-villa breakfast with many choices is also available.
• La Spiaggia: Located above the private beach club, this restaurant provides a grill menu with fresh seafood, steak, and gourmet burgers in a beautiful, uncrowded setting with stunning views.
• Breakfast: While offering many choices, the breakfast can be extremely expensive, with reports of it costing over $200 for three people. Some guests found the food quality at the resort, particularly breakfast, to be good but not necessarily the best compared to other luxury resorts in Bali, or felt it was overpriced.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Bvlgari Resort Bali are consistently highlighted as a major strength, receiving near-perfect scores. Guests describe the staff as extremely friendly, attentive, accommodating, thoughtful, and genuinely kind. The dedicated butler service is exceptional, providing 24-hour assistance, arranging activities like painting and private yoga, and helping with special occasions such as marriage proposals. The staff's professionalism and warmth contribute significantly to an unforgettable stay.

6. Location & Accessibility

The resort's exclusive location on a high limestone cliff in Uluwatu provides unparalleled privacy and breathtaking ocean vistas. While offering a tranquil and secluded environment, it means the resort is somewhat isolated, with limited shops or attractions within walking distance. The iconic Uluwatu Temple, known for its sensational views and sunset Kecak dance, is nearby and can be admired from various viewpoints. Access to the private beach is via the unique inclinator, though the tides along this coastline can be treacherous, making swimming in the sea generally unadvisable. The resort offers golf cart services to navigate its expansive and sometimes steep grounds, which can be challenging for guests with mobility issues due to numerous stairs.

7. Value & Pricing

Bvlgari Resort Bali is undeniably a high-end luxury property, and its pricing reflects that. Guests generally acknowledge it as expensive, but many believe it offers a unique and unparalleled experience that is worth the cost, particularly for special occasions like honeymoons or anniversaries. While villa rates are considered comparable to other top-tier resorts in Bali, additional expenses such as food, drinks, and spa treatments can be exorbitantly priced. Some reviews rate the value for money around 8.5 out of 10, indicating a recognition of the high cost but also the quality of the experience.

8. Common Complaints

Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, some recurring criticisms and issues have been noted:

• High Food & Beverage Costs: Breakfast, in particular, is frequently cited as being very expensive, leading some guests to dine elsewhere for certain meals.
• Beach Accessibility & Conditions: The private beach can be affected by treacherous tides, making swimming difficult or unsafe, and may be closed during strong winds or for renovation.
• Privacy Concerns: While generally very private, some guests felt that the villas, though walled, were densely packed, potentially slightly diminishing the feeling of complete seclusion. Also, initial "ocean view" villas sometimes had partially obstructed views due to overgrown greenery.
• Guest Amenities: Minor complaints include the quality of robes being thin and the absence of soft, plush slippers, with only flip-flops provided in the rooms.
• Outside Visitors: The resort sometimes experiences "busloads of tourists" visiting the public areas like the infinity pool, which can detract from the exclusive atmosphere for staying guests.
• Physical Accessibility: The resort's steep pathways and numerous stairs can be challenging for guests with mobility issues, although buggies are available for transport around the property.
• Maintenance Issues: Rare instances of issues like an unpleasant smell near the main pool toilets have been reported.

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