westin resort nusa dua review

Westin Resort Nusa Dua Review: A Family-Friendly Bali Beach Resort

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Bali isn’t short on family-friendly beach resorts, but finding one that genuinely caters to both kids and parents can be surprisingly difficult. Many offer great kids’ clubs and pools, while others focus heavily on wellness and relaxation for adults. The Westin Resort Nusa Dua manages to combine both.

Located on the shores of Nusa Dua Beach, this five-star beachfront resort offers spacious family accommodation, a huge lagoon-style pool, multiple restaurants, a complimentary kids’ club and an impressive line-up of wellness activities that families can enjoy together. We spent four nights here as a family exploring the concept of wellness travel with kids to see whether it lives up to its reputation as one of Bali’s best family resorts.

Quick verdict

Best for: Families wanting a luxury beachfront resort with plenty of activities

Star rating: 5-star

Highlights:

  • Massive family-friendly pool
  • Spacious two-bedroom family suites
  • Direct beach access
  • Complimentary kids’ club
  • Wellness activities for both parents and children

Not ideal for:

  • Travellers wanting an authentic Balinese experience
  • Families on a strict budget

Location

The Westin Resort Nusa Dua enjoys a prime beachfront location on the shores of Nusa Dua Beach, one of Bali’s most popular resort areas. Depending on traffic, the resort is around 20 minutes’ drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport, making it a convenient choice for families who don’t want to spend hours in a transfer after landing.

The resort is also located right next to the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre, making it a popular option for both holidaymakers and business travellers. Despite its proximity to the convention centre, the resort still feels relaxed and resort-focused, with direct access to the beach and plenty of space to unwind.

For those wanting to venture beyond the resort, there are markets, shops and restaurants within walking distance, while many of Nusa Dua’s other attractions can be reached with a short taxi or rideshare trip. 

Accommodation features

We stayed in one of the recently upgraded family suites, which consists of a living area that then branches off into two separate rooms, one for the adults and one for the kids. Both rooms have their own bathroom with a rainfall shower and bath, as well as a private balcony.ย 

There is plenty of space and the rooms offer all the amenities you would expect from a five-star resort, plus quite a few extra luxury touches like a spa-sized bath, bath salts, a rainfall shower mounted directly in the ceiling, a make-up chair in the bathroom and in general, a โ€˜wowโ€™ factor that comes from being recently renovated.

There is no kitchen, but youโ€™ll find a typical bar-sized fridge with drinks, snacks, and other family-friendly amenities like a drying rack for wet bathers on the balcony, bathrobes and room slippers, oversized pillows, individual room temperature control and mood lighting. One thing I did notice is that when the balcony door is closed, it does a fantastic job of blocking out noise, such as music from the pool.

westin resort nusa dua review
Bedroom 1, family suite, Westin Resort Nusa Dua ยฉ Jessica Palmer
westin resort nusa dua review
Bathroom 1, family suite, Westin Resort Nusa Dua ยฉ Jessica Palmer
westin resort nusa dua review
Living room, family suite, Westin Resort Nusa Dua ยฉ Jessica Palmer

On-site activities and entertainment

In addition to a complimentary kids’ club, the resort offers plenty of activities that families can join in. These include pushbikes, daily craft activities, and family-friendly competitions such as ping-pong or pool.

The massive pool is built with families in mind, featuring a slide, a volleyball net and various bridges and waterfalls. Pool loungers and shade structures are located around the edges, along with a free drink station. And while The Westin is undoubtedly geared towards families, parents looking for a little peace and quiet haven’t been forgotten. The resort features an adults-only pool tucked away from the main family pool area, providing a more tranquil spot to relax with a book or simply enjoy some uninterrupted sunshine.ย 

Family-friendly wellness activities is where the Westin Resort Nusa Dua really differentiates itself, with daily activity classes such as family yoga, aqua aerobics, spin classes, sound healing and more.

Other on-site activities and entertainment include:

  • Heavenly Spa by Westin
  • Gift shop & convenience store
  • Extensive fitness centre
  • Outdoor fitness centre on the beach with cold water immersion tubs
  • Wellness studio
  • Waterfront cabanas
  • Tennis courts
  • Watersports such as surfing, parasailing, and Jet Ski
  • Golf simulator
  • Balinese dance performance
westin resort nusa dua review
Free pushbikes for guests, Westin Resort Nusa Dua ยฉ Jessica Palmer
Outdoor gym, Westin Resort Nusa Dua ยฉ Jessica Palmer
westin resort nusa dua review
Sound healing session, Westin Resort Nusa Dua ยฉ Jessica Palmer

Dining options

The Westin Resort Nusa Dua offers five dining options and also the option of room service and to order drinks by the pool.

Ikan Restaurant & Bar is an Indonesian beachfront dining experience with both indoor and outdoor seating. A kids’ menu is available. Open from 11 am until late.

Hamabe Japanese Restaurant (our favourite) is set inside The Westin Resort Nusa Dua. Hamabe features some fun, family-friendly dining experiences, such as a Teppanyaki counter, Robotayaki, and Shabu Shabu. Itโ€™s best to make a reservation here to avoid missing out. A kidโ€™s menu is available. Open from 5:30 pm – 10 pm

Prego is Westin Resort Nusa Duaโ€™s Italian restaurant, featuring an open kitchen and authentic Italian-style dishes. A kidโ€™s menu is available. Open from 12 pm – 3 pm and 5 pm – 10 pm.

The Lobby Bar & Lounge can be found in – you guessed it, the lobby – and serves light meals, sweets and drinks. Open from 8 am – 11 pm.

Ganesha Elite is one of the largest chains of Indian restaurants in South East Asia. We unfortunately did not get to eat here, so I can’t comment on how family-friendly it is. Open from 12 pm – 11 pm

When we visited in April, breakfast was served at Seasonal Tastes, the resort’s main buffet restaurant. However, now, two months later, it does not appear to be listed on their official website. Nevertheless, it was a massive buffet breakfast (just how we like it) with plenty of world options and great table service.

Ikan Restaurant & Bar, Westin Resort Nusa Dua ยฉ Marriott
westin resort nusa dua review
Hamabe Japanese Restaurant ยฉ Jessica Palmer
westin resort nusa dua review
A modern take on a traditional Indonesian dessert, Ikan Restaurant & Bay ยฉ Jessica Palmer

Staff and service

Bali is famous for its wonderful hospitality, and the Westin Resort Nusa Dua upholds this tradition with staff who go out of their way to ensure you have everything you need. Itโ€™s a large, busy resort, so they could easily drop the ball on this, but our experience was one of staff who were incredibly helpful and welcoming.

Value for money

Nusa Dua is in the luxury five-star resort area of Bali, and as a result, itโ€™s not a budget Bali stay. But much like the Westin Resort & Spa in Ubud, you get a lot more bang for your buck in terms of luxury pricing compared to Australia.

At the time of writing, pricing varies wildly on the Marriott website for the two-bedroom family suite, ranging from IRD3,510,250 (around AUD$274 per night) to a whopping IRD21,289,500 (approx. AUD$1,600 per night) depending on the dates you book. Other room types are cheaper but donโ€™t offer as much space for families.

So, if you can be a little flexible with your stay and get the family suite at the lower to mid-range end of the pricing, it represents decent value for money. Particularly when you take into consideration that a number of activities are offered free of charge, including push bike hire, daily activities and the kids’ club.

If a luxury beachfront family-friendly resort is what youโ€™re looking for in Bali, then the Westin Resort Nusa Dua is definitely worth considering.

westin resort nusa dua review
Slide and waterfall at the Westin Resort Nusa Dua ยฉ Marriott

Overall experience

What we loved

  • The massive pool with slide and volleyball net
  • How spacious the family suite was
  • How luxurious the bathroom was in the family suite
  • Multiple dining options
  • Wellness focus that was actually family-friendly
  • Free daily activities
  • Outdoor beach kabanas
  • Walking distance to markets and other restaurants

What could be better

  • The resort is so large it can sometimes be a hike back up to your room
  • The beach is fairly unappealing at low tide
  • Australian pricing at restaurants (to be expected in a five-star resort)
  • Location doesnโ€™t feel like the โ€˜realโ€™ Bali
westin resort nusa dua review
Greenery through the corridors, Westin Resort Nusa Dua ยฉ Jessica Palmer

Would we recommend the Westin Resort Nusa Dua in Bali?

Yes. If you’re looking for a budget stay or something that feels more authentically “Bali”, this resort is probably not for you. However, if you’re looking for a classic luxury Bali beach resort where the kids can spend their days in the pool while parents enjoy some much-needed relaxation, the Westin Resort Nusa Dua is an excellent choice. The spacious family suites, extensive facilities and family-friendly wellness focus help it stand out from many of Bali’s other beachfront resorts.

Ratings:

Location

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Rooms

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Cleanliness

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Dining

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Staff & service

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Value for money

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Family-friendly

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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