9 Best Hotels in Indonesia

Have a lavish honeymoon at Anhera, however long you've been married, or even if you're just practicing. Anhera's detached villas running down the Campuan River ridge boast spectacular views of hillside greenery and revered Mount Agung. Reach Ubud's center via hotel shuttle in five minutes, or get a free ride to trekking trails. Generous rooms sport modern luxuries, wood floors, and Balinese flourishes galore. Spacious bathrooms feature a whirlpool tub for two with a view. Grassy private gardens are walled for safety—perfect if you have kids in tow. Two villas share a private pool, ideal for best-friend couples. You could pay hundreds more for less at many "name" resorts.

Built half a century ago, the Tandjung Sari retains the impeccable taste of its founders, an antique-dealing couple from Jakarta who added guest bungalows to their then-isolated beach house. The accommodations at Tandjung Sari (meaning "Cape of Flowers") are still called bungalows, though they're really mini-villas built in traditional style, each with private gardens and distinct design touches—here a sunken bathtub and an outdoor shower. The ambiance harkens back to when royalty came here to roam the beach.

For a pampered beach holiday bathed in luxury, settle in at Jimbaran Puri Bali. A vast lotus pond overlooking the sea at the hotel entrance announces an extraordinary property. At this member of the swish Orient Express chain, every room is a detached cottage or villa accessed through a private garden with outdoor shower. Interiors feature separate sitting areas, king beds, and terrazzo sunken baths with gardens views, plus first-rate electronics. Marble floors and precise dark-wood furnishings exude modern elegance, with vintage Bali photos for a sense of place. The service is attentive but unobtrusive. A few miles south of Kuta, Jimbaran is a relaxed alternative in with a peaceful village setting.

A leafy oasis in hectic South Jakarta, The Dharmawangsa remains the capital's premier haven of understated luxury in a country club setting. Catch glimpses of celebrity visitors at the Jakarta Restaurant while sipping a chocolate martini in the lounge—or by Dharmawangsa's shaded pool. Designed to recall 1920s Jakarta, accommodations are graciously appointed with furniture and objet d'art from across the Indonesian archipelago, plus marble baths and butler service. All rooms, but not every suite, include terrace balconies overlooking the vast grounds. Concessions to the 21st century include high-speed Internet and a modern gym. The spa draws raves for its treatments.

Balance natural splendor and village convenience, big resort and intimate retreat, even black and white at the Maya Ubud. Set in the rolling green hills above the Petanu River Valley, the Maya Ubud is 10 minutes by shuttle from the center of the village, closer than other similarly expansive (and expensive) resorts. A dramatic infinity pool commands the vista, and there's another pool below with a river view. The hotel offers a full array of feel-good activities: yoga, tai chi, pilates, and meditation, as well as afternoon tea. Bali's traditional black and white poleng patterns inspire the interior décor, and all rooms have balconies where you can enjoy the landscape.

This full-service resort presents manicured lawns along a quarter mile of beachfront and a glorious seaside pool at Lovina's eastern edge. The bright, generous rooms have full indoor baths, plus inviting outdoor showers. Unobtrusive Balinese accents include carved doors and local artworks. But why stay inside when there are the lounging platforms at the ocean's edge that overlook this prime spot for swimming and snorkeling? Kids can romp safely in the grass. The resort has its own boat for cruises, an open-air spa, and arranges hillside treks and romantic dinners on the beach.

Expect amazing sunset views from one of the most luxurious hotels in low-key Lombok, filled with original local artwork, on picturesque Mangsit Beach. The romantic Qunci Villas boasts well-manicured grounds with gardens and three outdoor infinity pools, each with an abundance of sunbeds; guests appreciate the free ice water always on offer. Most villa rooms have private outdoor garden bathrooms with rainfall showers, and some come with private pools. The hotel's three restaurants specialize in Thai, Mediterranean, and Asian/seafood choices.

Old school Balinese hospitality thrives at Tamukami, built in classic style around a pool. The quaint hotel feels like it's been around a lot longer than it has; it was built in 1999. Spacious rooms are generously appointed with Balinese touches and ample creature comforts, including a couch, flat screen TV, and Wi-Fi access. The energetic staff and creative management provide large resort services without the pretense. Comfortable, casual Alise's Restaurant offers a nightly set menu that combines local favorites with fusion creations; there's live entertainment four nights a week, and Balinese dances every full moon.

If you want to be part of the in-crowd in Bali, the W Seminyak is the place to make your entrance. This regal resort features beachfront lounges and bars where international DJs entertain the beautiful people caught up in the act of being themselves. The see-and-be-scene theme extends to rooms, where the glass-walled showers are perfect for exhibitionists. Expect all the latest gadegets, from 40-inch flat-screen TVs to docks for your electronics to theater-style sound systems. The resort's sleek, modern buildings are laid out around a series of lagoon-style pools.