Review: Is The Hilton Bali Resort Worth the Money?

Hilton Bali Resort Review

About the hotel

Who: Hilton Bali Resort

Where: Jl. Raya Nusa Dua Selatan, Benoa, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia

What: An American chain hotel resort with beach access. 

Room type: King Room with Garden View

First Impressions

Look – I’m going to start off this review with a disclaimer. We had planned to stay at another 5* resort in Nusa Dua but we saw this one on sale and as neither my partner nor I are American so we were were curious to see what a Hilton experience was like. So we took a risk and booked it. And wow, were we in for a cultural experience. 

Within 5 minutes of arriving at Hilton Bali Resort, we knew we were not the main clientele of Hilton. We arrived around 4pm as check-in starts at 3pm. On arrival, you’re given a chance to experience the quintessential American bag check and a walk through a metal detector.

We were ushered into a room with aircon to join the hoardes of other guests also checking in. It looked like how I imagine a trip to Walmart during Black Friday looks like. There were kids screaming, crying, and running around. There were people shouting and complaining at staff (who were lovely and trying their best). We took a seat in the corner after being told that we would need to wait for one of the counters to be free before we check in. Totally fine as clearly this must be a chaotic time. In a resort of this size, the sheer number of guests is kind of astonishing. We wait. And wait. 

Eventually, I have to throw my avoid-confrontation-at-all-costs-personality out the window and approach the lady organising who gets to go to the check-in desk. I asked when we will be able to check in. She told me we are next. I thought about pressing her further for an ETA but a family barged in between us. Luckily, we actually were next and she calls us over to the check-in counter.

Once we sit down at the desk it starts feeling a little less like an airport immigration line and more like a hotel. We are given a nice, cold towel and a drink but at this point we are ready to escape to our room and find some respite far away from the other guests. 

The Look

The Hilton Bali Resort itself looks nice (yes, that is the closest descriptor I could find to accurately depict this hotel). It has a grand staircase with cliffside views overlooking the ocean. The grounds are expansive, with rooms spread over different buildings along the cliffside. 

It looked like there were some works being done on the gym (we couldn’t find a way in), in one of the upper pools that was cordoned off, and on the beach where a digger sat on the rocks during one the days we were there. The hotel in general has lost it’s new-car-smell.

The Room

The room at Hilton Bali Resort had really started to show its age. The bath was well-worn with lots of scratches and the ceiling above the shower seemed to have a leak that had been fixed at one stage but you could still see the water ingress which could cause long-term damage (yes I’m old and these are the things I think about!). 

The bed was massive and looked to be the size of the whole sqm of my first solo apartment in Tokyo. The balcony was great with afternoon sun and a quiet garden view. Overall, the room was typical of most hotels and in a similar style you’d find in any modern resort. The walls however were not modern and were paper thin so we could hear every word from our neighbours. Not only could we hear everything they said and watched, but since they dumped their bags of rubbish in the corridor we also know what they ate!

The Facilities

There are so many facilities at Hilton Bali Resort and you can quickly see it is designed for a suburban family’s yearly escape where dad sits next to the pool with a bucket of beers, the kids join in on the hourly activities like pool volleyball, and mom passes out in the hotel room. 

The Pools

There are a bunch of pools including a faux beach pool with sand that I chose to skip due to the sheer amount of kids there. On the other side there is also is a slide for kids/me to play on, which was really fun (sorry, kids). I couldn’t actually find a pool that was more adult-friendly. They all seemed to be catering for kids and were full of games. It is also important to note that finding a chair is really difficult.

There is the beach to use (which makes for gorgeous views), however while we were there the water was full of rubbish which was sad to see and definitely nothing I’d want to swim in. There is also no clear path for locals to get to the beach, so they’re constantly walking along the low, stone wall of The Hilton to get to enjoy the beach. 

Wedding Chapel

Hilton Bali Resort also hosts weddings so there is a wedding chapel on the grounds. While we were there a couple were having their wedding party next to the pool so it was very loud and also… awkward? A bunch of people trying to have a party while kids screamed and splashed around. Personally, I didn’t see the appeal.

Extras

There is also a Balinese shrine on the grounds. There are also tennis courts towards the front of the resort complex which is a nice extra!

The Food & Drink

This is the highlight of Hilton Bali Resort in my opinion! The breakfast is an extensive buffet style, with food from Bali, India, China, and beyond. There is a coffee station, a dessert station (that actually has a HUGE range of vegan-friendly options!), and a western breakfast station. You really are spoilt for choice here. Everything is also clearly labeled, which as a vegan, I absolutely loved! They’ll even make you a fabulous coffee with a range of alternative milks.

Make sure you get there early as it gets crazy busy and people will resort to pushing and shoving because apparently forming a line is for squares. Almost every table had a herd of squealing children and hungover parents. Even in the chaos the staff are exceptional and trying their very best to ensure that this doesn’t turn into anarchy. 

We also had dinner at Paon Bali, one of the many restaurants and cafes on site, and we were blown away with the meal. It was one of the best we’ve had in Bali! The service was amazing and they helped us pick a good mix of Balinese food to try that was vegan-friendly. If you’re a vegan staying in Nusa Dua, I highly recommend you come and try Paon Bali as the food is fabulous.

The Location

The location of Hilton Bali Resort is designed so you don’t leave the resort. Unlike the hotels north of the Hilton, there is not a beachside promenade connected to Hilton Bali Resort to walk/bike along the Nusa Dua coast. It is located on a hill and is full of trees (and monkeys!). The Bali Connection offers a free bus transfer to the Bali Collection shopping mall a couple times a day from Hilton Bali Resort which I recommend if you’re looking for an escape to grab a Starbucks or just have a walk around. For more travel stories from Bali, read here.

How To Book Hilton Bali Resort

My favourite way to book hotels is through Booking.com. Booking.com offers a price guarantee (even when not paying upfront and paying at the hotel), they match prices, and they also offer a wide range of rooms with benefits (like afternoon tea and breakfast). Click to see the availability for Hilton Bali Resort.