Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua – A Bali Beach Escape

I have been known to be the Goldilocks of the beaches, and in Bali, Indonesia, this was certainly the case. I am not a surfer, or even a strong swimmer, so the hard core, strong wave beaches on the southwest of Bali just don’t do it for me.  I am all about lounging around in the water, bobbing along like an apple on Halloween.  And, it took us over one and a half years until we found me the perfect Bali beach escape, at the Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua.

Nusa Dua is not the real Bali, and is world’s away from Ubud.  But, that was what I liked about it.  The Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua is set in a resort zone, on the west side of the tiny peninsula that juts off the south end of Bali, an area called the Bukit. Another great beach area in the Bukit is Balangan Beach.

It was an escape, from the rainy season in Bali, from the traffic of Ubud, and our life living in Bali.  I think it is a similar escape for folks from Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur and certainly all over Australia.  A perfectly manicured resort community, with hotels, and relaxation, as far as the eye can see.

Escaping to the Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua

I could tell we were in a different place as soon as we walked in and saw the large open air lobby, decked out for a Balinese style Christmas and the lagoon style pool that meandered through the resort.  I knew right away that I would be enjoying a cocktail while sitting pool side. 

After a week of crazy eating and traipsing all over Bangkok, this was a perfect respite.  We arrived just before sunset, and while happy hour was still on.  We hopped in the complimentary shuttle for the short ride over to the Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua beach club, a small stretch of beach with lounge chairs and a bar for cocktails.  I immediately felt a lot more relaxed than I did in Bangkok, of course the mojito didn’t hurt.  As the sun started to set, and my belly started to grumble, it was time to head back to the hotel, only about 3 minutes away.

Dining at the Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua

There is only one main restaurant at the Courtyard, and we were happy to eat there every meal.  The one thing about Nusa Dua, it is a collection of resorts.  This makes it a perfect getaway if you really want a resort style feel, particularly if you are looking for Bali family resorts. I did not want to stress about finding places to eat nearby, particularly without our Ubud motorbikes. So, we dined on steak, and pasta, and fish, and tuna. 

We ate mostly western food, although the Momo Cafe menu included plenty of Indonesian specialities.  Part of our beach escape, our escape from Ubud, was to escape local food as well. 

We even had desserts delivered to our room.  It was a lovely little treat, and certainly made me feel like I was getting spoiled.  Perhaps a little too spoiled.

Until the couple’s massage treatment, then I thought the spoiling was just right.  A fabulously strong oil massage followed by a chocolate and honey scrub.  The entire room smelled like a bowl of brownie mix.  I was not sure what I liked more: the treatment or the smell of the room.  I am not sure How many men would be okay getting rubbed with chocolate, but Eric seemed totally down with being “in tow” for this one.

I would say, though, that the Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua is the perfect Bali escape for families, more so than for couples.  We were there just before the busy Christmas season, when loads of families were all over Nusa Dua sneaking in a little pre-holiday vacation.  Between the lagoon style swimming pool, the breakfast buffet, and the set up at the beach club, the environment definitely screamed Perfect Family Getaway!  I mean, the breakfast buffet had a donut station and an pancake bar with sprinkles and chocolate sauce.

I’ve said this before about Courtyard hotels, after our beach escape at the Courtyard Bali Seminyak, this is not your grandmother’s Courtyard by Marriott.  The rooms were contemporary, but still resort oriented, and entirely comfortable.  Drinks were well poured and the menu diverse.  Most important, the beach club offered a clean beach, with calm waters, perfect for lounging around, and bobbing in the waves. 

So, after a year and a half in Bali, I found the best beach for swimming on the whole island – right there at the Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua.

Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say at traveling in Bali at TripAdvisor

The Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua is a Marriott Hotel, hosted our beach escape, but of course, all of my views are my own.  I promise, we really did relax, and escape!

Click here to book a Courtyard Marriott property! 

Amber

Amber Hoffman, food and travel writer behind With Husband In Tow, is a recovering attorney and professional eater, with a passion for finding new food and drink destinations. She lives with her husband, Eric, in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Together they have traveled to over 70 countries.