With 17,000 diverse islands, Indonesia remains one of Southeast Asia’s most popular destinations — and it isn’t hard to see why. From Ubud’s verdant rice terraces to Seminyak’s luxe beaches, Indonesia is a destination that offers adventure and luxury in spades. This year’s top Indonesian resorts were chosen by Travel + Leisure readers and focus primarily on the island of Bali, sharing some of the spotlight with the island of Sumba.
How Voting Works
Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Over 186,000 T+L readers completed the 2024 survey. A total of more than 700,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).
Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, inn, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below:
- Rooms/facilities
- Location
- Service
- Food
- Value
For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.
What Readers Loved
Despite Indonesia’s breadth — the nation comprises 17,000 individual islands — readers focused most of their attention on one island in particular: Bali. The Mulia, last year’s No. 3 pick in the Balinese beach town of Nusa Dua, rose in ranking to No. 2 this year. Nihi Sumba (“the best place in the world,” raved one reader) ranked No. 4 last year, and appears at No. 3 this year. Located on Sumba Island, the resort is a surfing destination for those in the know.
This year’s newcomers include The St. Regis Bali Resort (at No. 4) in the beach area of Nusa Dua, a hotel that readers describe as “exquisite,” “beyond expectation,” and possessing “luxury vibes,” as well as the Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach (at No. 5), a boutique property located at the southern end of the island. Read on for more about our No. 1 pick and our readers’ rankings.
The Winner
Capella Ubud: Bali, Indonesia
Georg Roske/Courtesy of Capella Ubud
T+L readers fell hard for this luxury resort perched right in the heart of Bali. Comprising 22 bespoke tents designed by Bill Bensley, Capella Ubud offers guests a unique vision of Bali. “It’s the most beautiful, imaginative property I’ve ever stayed in,” wrote one reader. Another called it “spectacular and unique.” Private heated pools, unspoiled views of the lush Balinese forest, and comprehensive wellness programming also set this gorgeous property apart. It is, as one T+L reader noted, “an absolute dream.”
The Full List
1. Capella Ubud: Bali, Indonesia
Reader Score: 99.09
2. The Mulia: Bali, Indonesia
Reader Score: 98.92
3. Nihi Sumba: Sumba Island, Indonesia
Reader Score: 98.85
4. The St. Regis Bali Resort: Bali, Indonesia
Reader Score: 98.74
5. Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach: Bali, Indonesia
Reader Score: 98.44
