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The W Bali Seminyak is one of the most fun luxury resorts in Bali, and it might be the perfect hotel for someone who wants the luxury of the Ritz-Carlton but the fun of a beachside party.
It’s a genuinely luxurious resort, with impeccable service, an enormous breakfast buffet, a beautiful beachfront location, and everything you could want from a five-star hotel. But unlike the St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua, or Mandapa, you are also right next to some of Bali’s most popular clubs, restaurants, and nightlife. The W Bali would be a great hotel even if it weren’t in a great location. But its great location makes something awesome even better.
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What surprised me most is how the W Bali is really two resorts in one. It’s half fun, energy, and vibes in the main tower. But the other half is a relaxing collection of 70 or so pool villas.
What is the W Bali Seminyak?
The W is a luxury beachfront resort in Seminyak, one of Bali’s most popular areas for nightlife, restaurants, shopping, and beach clubs. This is probably the best resort in Bali if you want a true five star experience that also is in the middle of the action. This is 100% true if you are a Marriott loyalist. There is nothing else in the Marriott portfolio in Bali that has this level of luxury and this level of energy, and such a convenient location, all in one hotel.
In fact, I was surprised by just how luxurious the W felt. The service, facilities, food, and general attention to detail were all excellent. This is a true luxury resort, not just a trendy hotel with a famous name.
Why W Bali is really two resorts in one
One of the most interesting things about the W Bali is that it essentially consists of two different resorts. The main hotel building has rooms and suites, many with beautiful views of the beach and ocean. This is the more traditional hotel experience, where you’re close to the pool, restaurants, and all the action.
But the W also has 75 private pool villas, which are in a quieter, more secluded area of the property. And this changes the entire proposition of the property.
If you stay in one of these villas, you can have an experience that is much closer to somewhere like the Westin Ubud, or even the pool villas at the St. Regis. You’re surrounded by greenery, with your own pool, privacy, and a sense of being in a secluded retreat. But unlike the Westin Ubud or Mandapa, you are also right in Seminyak, near some of Bali’s best nightlife, beach clubs, restaurants, and shops.
So you could spend the day relaxing in your private villa, then head out for dinner or a night of partying without needing to travel across the island. That’s a pretty epic combination, and one that very few luxury resorts can offer. What I am saying, and I mean this totally seriously, is that if you want to party or be in the action, and you can afford a luxury option, the W is probably the very best hotel for you, possibly in all of Bali. Sure, you could stay at the St. Regis in a massive Villa and be driven over, but traffic in Bali is notoriously bad. Speaking of traffic, the W does have a helipad if you are baller like that.
Like the St. Regis, Mandapa, and Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua, the W also has electric golf carts to transport guests around the property, particularly if you’re staying in one of the villas, although guests in non-villa rooms can take golf carts to the unusually far away entrance.
How are the rooms and pool villas? Can Elite Members expect upgrades?
I booked a standard room using points, on either the same day, or one day before, my arrival. It cost 90,000 points. I am a Titanium Elite member and was graciously upgraded to a Pool Villa, without asking for an upgrade. The front desk specifically said it was rare to get an upgrade to a pool villa, but they had availability this time. So, if you’re an Elite member you might get lucky, but I wouldn’t count on it in high season. I paid using an 85k certificate I got from the Chase Ritz-Carlton Card (check our review of this card here, and our comparison with the Bonvoy Brilliant here).
Walking around the main tower though, it seemed clean and nice, and based on the photos, I’m confident a standard room would already be a great (and very convenient) experience.
The pool villas are off to the side of the main resort, and you get there, usually, via an electric golf cart, which rides on these super bumpy stone roads. I asked the staff about it and they said it was a traditional Balinese paving style and that guests complained but it was kept because it was authentic.
I respect that, and it’s first world problems to complain about a bumpy ride when you’re being chauffeured around in a golf cart, but I’m still surprised, as the Mandapa or St. Regis have smooth roads, and the Mandapa’s whole thing is being authentic. Anyway, it was really a minor issue.
Nice bathtub with glass windows out to the pool verandah area.
Welcome gift were fresh coconuts and fruit.
How is the beach and location?
The beach at the W is beautiful, although it’s important to understand that it is not private and its not perfect, like the St. Regis Beach is. .
You’re on Seminyak Beach, which is a public beach with people walking along the sand, and plenty of activity nearby. This is very different from the secluded, carefully maintained beach experience at somewhere like the St. Regis. But if you want to try surfing or want some sort of more energetic experience, this beach seems better, as there are actual waves. The Ritz or St. Regis beaches have some sort of sand barrier in the water, which means their beaches are almost more like lakes, they are so placid. As always, exercise caution when swimming and check conditions, since your health is in your hands.
The W’s city/beach location is a huge part of its appeal.
The W is by Potato Head, Finns, and several great bars and luxury nightclub destinations. It’s by Iron Fairies, it’s by Mexicola. It’s kind of by La Favela. The W puts you right in the action, and some of Bali’s major beach clubs and nightlife destinations are nearby. You can enjoy a luxury beachfront resort without feeling isolated from the rest of Bali.
Traffic in Seminyak can be really bad, and getting around Bali often takes much longer than the distances on a map would suggest. So although the W is in a great location, that doesn’t mean you can easily drive to every other destination on the island. What this means for getting around near the W is often that walking across the beach is sometimes faster than taking a car somewhere.
How is the service at W Bali?
The service at the W was one of the biggest surprises of my stay. I expected the service to be good, but it was genuinely impeccable. The staff were responsive, helpful, and seemed to take every request seriously.
Unlike the St. Regis and Mandapa, there is no private butler service included with every room. But in practice, I didn’t feel that this was a major disadvantage. The service was so responsive that I never felt I was missing much by not having a designated butler. I ordered food on Grab and it was delivered to my room almost instantly. It was actually insane how good the service was.
And I think this is worth emphasizing because it’s easy to assume that a more lively, party-oriented hotel will somehow offer a lower level of luxury or service than a quieter resort. That wasn’t my experience at all. The W is a genuine luxury hotel, with service that belongs in the same conversation as Bali’s other top resorts. The W has everything.
How is breakfast at W Bali?
The breakfast buffet is fantastic, and one of the highlights of staying at the W. Check the gallery slider above to see almost all of it, there are 12 photos in the slider.
It’s enormous, with an extraordinary selection of dishes from different cuisines, a great juice selection, and a very high standard of quality throughout. The juice selection in particular stood out, with all sorts of interesting options and the ability to get juices made to order.
I would put the W breakfast buffet in roughly the same class as the Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua, which has one of the largest breakfast buffets I’ve ever seen. If I had to choose, I might still give the St. Regis the edge in overall refinement and quality. But the W is right up there, and the huge selection makes breakfast feel like an experience in itself. It’s cool how each resort has its own personality. The W’s personality is fun, energetic, heavily Western but international. This means juices, sushi, pancakes, waffles, avocado toast, and a whole lot more. Its not fussy but its quality.
In some ways, I actually preferred the W breakfast to Mandapa, which has a more limited selection with a stronger emphasis on healthy, local, and organic food. The W is so fun. It just feels fun. That is, again, part of the difference between these resorts. Mandapa focuses on creating a certain kind of experience, while the W seems to want to give you everything. I guess, if I had to sum it up, the W is basically the Ritz-Carlton for young single people. Ironically, I saw a lot of middle aged people enjoying the W, and a younger, though still in their thirties, crowd, at the Mandapa Ritz-Carlton Reserve.
Long story short, the breakfast at the W is fun. There’s so much to choose from that you almost want to keep going back to try different things.
How is the gym and spa?
The gym at the W is excellent, with high-quality equipment and everything you need for a serious workout. It was slightly smaller than I figured it would be, but so many people are at the beach it doesn’t matter. There is also a cold plunge, which I always appreciate at luxury resorts, especially in a hot climate like Bali.
The W manages to combine serious fitness and spa facilities with its more energetic atmosphere. You can go out at night, but you can also wake up the next morning, get a workout in, enjoy the spa facilities, and have a fantastic breakfast. In other words, you don’t have to choose between a fun resort and a wellness resort.
I particularly appreciated the cold plunge at the W Bali.
What else is there to do at W Bali?
One fun addition is Club Lacoste, which has two padel courts and an official Lacoste boutique.
There is also Set Café, which looks like a genuinely serious coffee shop, rather than an ordinary hotel café where coffee is just another item on the menu. I really like this sort of thing. It gives the resort more personality and makes it feel like somewhere people would actually want to visit, rather than just a place for hotel guests to sleep. The entire W has that atmosphere. It’s fashionable, energetic, and full of things to do. And the W is simply fun. I keep saying this, but it’s true. This is a fun place. It feels happy.
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Is W Bali better than Mandapa?
This is an interesting comparison, because these hotels represent almost opposite philosophies. Mandapa is designed to help you disconnect from the world. You go there to relax in the jungle, enjoy yoga and sound healing, eat local food, and feel like you have escaped civilization.
The W is designed to let you enjoy civilization, while still having a luxurious resort to return to. If you love nature, meditation, organic food, and peaceful surroundings, I think you’ll prefer Mandapa.
But if you want luxury, a beach, restaurants, nightlife, and plenty of excitement, the W is probably the better choice. And if you stay in one of the W’s private pool villas, you can get a surprising amount of that secluded, tropical resort experience without sacrificing the location.
Is W Bali better than the St. Regis?
The St. Regis is probably the better choice for someone who wants a traditional luxury beach resort. The beach experience is more secluded, the atmosphere is quieter, and the butler service is excellent. I also think the breakfast buffet at the St. Regis is a little more refined.
But the W is much more fun.
If you’re a younger traveler, or simply someone who enjoys being around restaurants, clubs, and other people, you might actually prefer the W, regardless of your budget.
And the service at the W was so good that the lack of traditional butler service didn’t bother me. I would say the St. Regis is better for a peaceful luxury vacation, while the W is better for a lively luxury vacation. If you are single and ready to mingle, the W is hands down better. If you are coupled, or want to get away from it all, you’ll probably enjoy the quiet of the St. Regis more.
Is W Bali better than the Westin Ubud?
The Westin Ubud is a great resort, particularly if you can book one of its pool villas. It’s relaxing, surrounded by greenery, and can offer excellent value compared to Bali’s most expensive luxury hotels. But the W is a slight step above in terms of its overall luxury experience, and the W just as that fun factor.
The breakfast at the W is better, but the Westin has a quality buffet too. You have far more restaurants, nightlife, and activities nearby. The two properties are not really trying to do the same thing, however. The Westin is more of a peaceful jungle retreat, while the W is a luxury resort in one of Bali’s liveliest neighborhoods. If you want to go to Seminyak then Ubud, I think a great itinerary is three days at the W and two days at the Westin.
If you can afford a private villa at the W, the distinction becomes especially interesting, since you can have much of that secluded villa experience while still being right in Seminyak.
Is W Bali better than the Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua?
The W is essentially the same level as the Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua. The W is younger, more fun, louder, more energetic, but has essentially the same quality, overall, as the Ritz-Carlton. The Ritz-Carlton is quieter, more epic in scale (in the resort) but more secluded from the city, and in an area that is close to the airport, but remote from the action of the city.
If you’re a young energetic couple or a single group of friends, you’re gonna want the W. If you want to see the city, W. If you want to be in your own epic luxury world, you’re talking Ritz-Carlton or Laguna or St. Regis. Between these two hotels, it entirely depends whether you want to spend all day at the resort or go into the city. If you’re a resort only person (and the Ritz is nice enough to stay in all day) then it’s Ritz. But if you want a mix of both, it’s W. I will note, the W is nice enough to stay in all day, but I’d give the edge to the Ritz here.
What items should I get before my trip? What travel essentials do you recommend?
First, protect your skin with a nice sunscreen: This is non-negotiable if you’re going to the beach. You want something that feels nice, isn’t sticky or pasty, and actually works. I’ve tried a ton and prefer to use Elta MD or La Roche Posay
Second, capture the memories that matter with a high quality camera. You can use your iPhone, but the Insta360 Luna Ultra (full review here) is our recommendation for a great travel camera. The Luna Pro, or DJI Osmo Pocket series of cameras is a great alternative.
Third, choose luggage that is light but well made. I recommend, and personally use, the Samsonite Proxis for a checked luggage, paired with the Cotopaxi Allpa 28L backpack as a carry on.
Final verdict: is W Bali worth it?
I was genuinely impressed by The W Bali.
It’s easy to assume that a hotel known for its fashionable design, nightlife, and social atmosphere will somehow compromise on traditional luxury. But I didn’t find that to be the case. The service was impeccable, the breakfast buffet was enormous and excellent, the gym and spa facilities were great, and the beachfront location was beautiful.
But what really makes the W special is its flexibility. You can spend your time at the pool, enjoy the beach, head out to clubs or restaurants, get a great workout, or retreat into one of the private pool villas and feel like you’re somewhere completely different.
For someone who wants to be in the middle of the action, without giving up the comforts of a genuine luxury resort, W Bali might be one of the best hotels in Bali. Mandapa is a place to escape the world. The St. Regis is a place to enjoy refined luxury and tranquility.
The W is fun.
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