Sun kissed beaches. Exotic cocktails. Warm hospitality. Sounds like the perfect beach holiday, doesn’t it? It is. And when it happens to be in a very exclusive, gated area of the beautiful island of Bali in the Indian Ocean, it is doubly so.
I am referring, of course, to Nusa Dua, a resort area that lies to the south of the island and populated by a number of 5-star resorts that provide the most scenic views and enjoyable experiences. Even as one enters this area, one cannot help but marvel at the well-laid out roads bordered by manicured lawns that would rival a high-quality golf course!
Popular with honeymooners, families and even conference attendees, these resorts are expansive and offer possibly every service that one can dream of. Attracting travelers from all over the sub-continent, the interest from India has only been enhanced due to a direct flight from New Delhi launched by Vistara Airlines recently.
We happened to travel in a group comprising of two families, each with young children and stayed at the Grand Hyatt. We made ample use of the facilities on offer – the swimming pool, the restaurants and bars, the kids’ activities zones, and even the in-resort shopping centre!
Another huge advantage of staying in this area is the presence of ‘Bali Collection’, an open-air shopping centre that is a walking distance from most of the resorts. It has the whole shebang. For starters, one can find multiple restaurants servicing an assortment of cuisines. We experimented with traditional Balinese cuisine, Greek food and Chinese delicacies. For those Indians who tend to feel a bit homesick, there are also a couple of Indian restaurants! This shopping centre also affords a variety of shopping – from local handicrafts to global fashion brands, even your daily need groceries.
While, in itself, staying at any of the Nusa Dua resorts can enable you to have a truly enjoyable vacation, you can also choose to explore other places in Bali and the neighbourhood. Cabs are easily available via your hotel on apps such as ‘Grab’. Depending on how much time you have on hand and your interest in exploring this multifaceted destination, you could plan half or full day tours.
Keen to show the children some unique sights, we visited the Pura Luhur Uluwatu (The Monkey Temple) and GWK Cultural Park. The former, as the name suggests, is an ancient temple that is home to a number of monkeys that playfully hang around. Used to the attention of tourists, they have perfected the art of snatching the odd handbag or mobile phone, which is returned only when they are treated to some food. So, do beware of the same, if you do visit. The GWK Cultural Park, on the other hand, is a more recent man-made creation. It houses the magnificent, 121 meter tall ‘Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue’, a representation of the Hindu god Vishnu and his mount, the Garuda bird.
As you would have made out, Bali and Nusa Dua, in particular, have a lot to offer every tourist. If you are planning your next beach holiday and want to experience it at a pace that is just measured, not too fast-paced and not too slow, then this is one that you should seriously consider!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vikas Dua is a leading voice in the HR community in India. Currently, Head of People, Weber Shandwick India. He is also a Linkedin Top Voice 2023 and authored a book – HR in my HeaRt: Leadership Lessons Like Never Before.
