Batu Karang Lembongan Resort

It’s not Bali, technically, but it’s perhaps all the better for that. Batu Karang Lembongan is a half-hour’s speedboat ride from the east coast of Bali proper, on the island of Nusa Lembongan, and this precise level of proximity turns out to be the sweet spot. In climate, in culture, and in natural gifts it’s essentially identical, but what it leaves out are the crowds. This is more or less what it felt like to visit Bali when the tourism boom was just picking up pace — and if you’ve been to Bali lately you’ll have no trouble imagining the appeal.

Needless to say, the living is pretty easy on this side of the strait. The surfing and diving are pretty extraordinary as well, if not easy — local breaks include the forbiddingly named Lacerations — as are the views of Bali’s towering Mount Agung from Batu Karang’s slightly elevated position. The villas and suites are typically Balinese in their mixture of modernist and traditional elements, and all of them open onto balconies or terraces — some with outdoor baths, others with plunge pools, gardens, or outdoor showers.

Units range all the way up to three bedrooms, for larger parties, though there’s plenty to recommend Batu Karang to couples as well. Three pools and a fully equipped day spa make a strong argument for staying in all day, while the beaches, the sea life, and the island’s many attractions make a case for getting out and about. And best of all, you won’t be fighting traffic in Seminyak to do it.

How to get there: Batu Karang Lembongan recommends a local transfer service for connections from the airport to Nusa Lembongan. The round-trip price is approximately $50 US, and reservations should be booked in advance.