We are certainly not above indulging in some serious luxury in Bali whenever our wallets will permit, and there’s no doubt that one of the big-name brands associated with the best life here is the Ritz-Carlton.
So, our team were very excited about visiting Missoni Resort Club at The Ritz-Carlton Bali in Tanjung Benoa. They want to know if this elegant spot would deliver the kind of experience that’s worth paying a Ritz premium for. And this is what they learned.
Introduction – Getting To Missoni Resort Club @ The Ritz-Carlton Bali
Tanjung Benoa is right next to Nusa Dua on the Bukit Peninsula and that means it’s not the easiest location to get to from the other beach towns except for Ungasan and Nusa Dua.
That’s not because it’s a long way, but because the Balinese traffic can be very heavy, and that means a short-ish journey can become quite a long one.
Assuming that you do decide to brave the traffic, you’ll find that once you arrive at this resort, there’s plenty of parking available to guests of the Missoni Resort Club and that your Grab or Gojek driver can easily drop you off at the front door, you won’t be bothered by any taxi mafia at the Ritz.
Then, the staff will give you the expected 5-star welcome and usher you inside to your seat(s) at the beach club.
Where Is Missoni Resort Club @ The Ritz-Carlton Bali? Jalan Raya Nusa Dua Selatan Lot III, Sawangan, Nusa Dua, Benoa, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80363
Website: Marriott
Opening Hours: 12 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. daily, except Nyepi
What’s Inside Missoni Resort Club @ The Ritz-Carlton Bali?
There are some extremely colour coordinated seating areas with daybeds lining the sand, a recessed pool area behind the daybeds and bar and restaurant facilities.
Our Review Breakdown For Missoni Resort Club @ The Ritz-Carlton Bali
We should note that we believe that every review of a beach club we conduct should be done on the same basis. This means that the beach club owners can rely on our impartiality, and potential guests can easily compare two different beach clubs.
So, we use the following process for reviewing each beach club:
- Every member of the team will visit the beach club, though this may not be on the same day or at the same time
- Each member of the team then grades the beach club against the criteria listed below, using a ranking scale from 1 (worst) to 5 (best)
- Once every team member has visited the beach club, the team meets up to discuss their experiences
- The team holds a vote on the final ranking score in each category
- A team member is then assigned to write up the review using the scores and the discussions to inform their review
- Once the review is completed, it’s placed on our website
- Reviews are left on the site for a minimum period of 1 year, after which we will revisit the beach club and amend scores and commentary as needed (if needed)
Pre-Club Advertising
So, it’s the Ritz-Carlton’s beach club, and that might mean that they feel they don’t need to advertise. But we think that they do.
In fact, one thing we found really confusing about this beach club is that their online presence is scattered all over the internet.
They have their own site, bits of the Ritz’s site, part of the Hyatt site, and booking for daybeds takes place on another site (Sevenrooms).
This may make sense to someone, but we think it puts a barrier between casual customers and the club. And pre-club advertising could clarify this and help to boost attendance and the social side of being in the club.
However, as we’ve never seen an ad for this beach club online or offline, for the moment, they’re not winning us over in this category.
Location
There’s no doubt that this is one of the nicest strips of beach in Bali and that the white sands of Nusa Dua and Tanjung Benoa are extremely enticing for holidaymakers on the island.
However, they’re also a bit of a pain to get to from the rest of the island, and this area tends to cater to well-heeled families rather than a broad range of visitors. So, many of our readers are likely to be staying elsewhere.
Then, there’s the small issue of the fact that this club isn’t well placed for the sunset, it’s on the wrong side of the island for it.
So, while it’s a nice beach, this location isn’t perfect and some people may well be reluctant to undertake the long drive out to Tanjung Benoa for this club.
Booking Process & Seating Options
We expected the Ritz-Carlton to be using a cutting-edge booking system where you could select your seat and enjoy the perfect start to your time at Missoni Resort Club.
However, our expectations were dashed a little. They use a third-party booking service called Seven Rooms, and while it’s not bad, it’s not great either.
We liked that it was easy to select a time and date to book and that you can specify if you have dietary restrictions or are celebrating a special occasion.
But we didn’t like that you can’t select a seat or that you have just 5 minutes to complete the form or they may not be able to take the booking.
It’s not a terrible experience by any means, but we had expected a bit more from a brand as strong as this one.
Entry Fee
In keeping with the best beach clubs on the island, there is no entrance fee at the Missoni Resort Club, and we wholeheartedly approve of that.
However, it’s not quite that straightforward as there is a mandatory minimum spend for all the seats in this beach club, which is essentially an entrance fee by the back door.
You ought to be able to walk-in to any club, sit down and take a look around before you have to commit to any expenditure and we were a little disappointed that this isn’t the case at the Missoni Resort Club.
We ought to stress though, that the minimum spend is reasonable, and given that it’s the Ritz-Carlton, we can’t imagine anyone spending less than that amount if they do decide to stay.
Minimum Spend
As we’ve just said, there’s a minimum spend at this beach club, but the pleasant surprise for us was that it’s only 500,000 IDR++ (which means you pay tax and service charge on top) per person.
That gets you a daybed for one person, and while seats are prioritised for hotel guests, they are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. So, if you get there early, you can get a lovely place in the sand.
Each daybed comes complete with an umbrella, so you can get essential shade during the day.
Overall, given that this place is not cheap, you’re going to spend more than that anyway if you’re here for an hour or two and having a minimum spend means you can make a reservation, which is a positive thing, if you’re travelling to this beach club.
Welcome And Security
While you won’t pass through a security check at the beach club here, you will as you arrive at the main resort, and we think that’s a good thing.
You’ll also be given the kind of warm and polished welcome by the staff that you’d expect from a property of this calibre.
Overall, we felt that the team did a great job of making us feel safe and comfortable while carrying out their duties.
Inclusions
The minimum spend here includes access to a one-person daybed as well as the use of a towel for the day.
You cannot bring your own towel in from outside, so that’s a very important bonus.
However, there are no tiered inclusions or bonuses for spending a little more cash, and we think that’s a shame.
At a high-end luxury resort club, we’d expect them to give you some incentive to splurge a little while you’re on holiday.
Service
It’s a world-class 5-star brand, and as such, it’s not a surprise to find some of the most polished and professional servers on the island at the Missoni Resort Club.
There’s no doubt that you will feel that you’ve been well looked after when you leave this beach club.
Entertainment
When the beach club isn’t about partying, we don’t really expect much in the way of entertainment, and you won’t find any at the Missoni Resort Club.
This is a place for chilling by the pool, rather than for dancing the night away and they do it very well.
Pool Quality
There is only one pool at this beach club, which sees us deduct a point from the final score, but overall, it’s a nice pool area.
We thought it was a bit of a shame that it’s recessed into the club rather than shorefront, as it means you can’t enjoy drinks with an unbroken view of the ocean, but it’s clean, a decent size and well-maintained.
Menu/Drinks Pricing
It’s the Ritz-Carlton. If you didn’t know that it was going to be expensive when you arrived, you’re asking for a mild heart attack when the bill arrives.
But even still, while the truffle parmesan fries are nice enough, at 180,000 IDR plus tax and service, this is one of the most expensive offerings on the island bar none.
Cocktails at 250,000 IDR++ are also very much on the pricey side, even if there is a buy two, get the third free deal during happy hour.
Food And Drink Quality
On the flip side of the expense of the menu at this beach club, the quality is every bit as good as you would expect, and every dish is excellent.
We also found that the cocktails were strong and expertly poured. Everything also looks amazing in shots for your Instagram feed.
You’re definitely paying for quality at this beach club, and mostly, we don’t mind that.
Sunset View
You’re on the wrong side of the island for a truly memorable sunset view at this beach club, and that’s a shame because it would have been the cherry on top of the cake in terms of the overall experience here.
Sunset is one of the big draws of beach club days in Bali. If you want to see a great sunset, head to Canggu or Seminyak instead.
Music And Ambience
The piped music at this beach club was OK. This is more of a place for conversation than anything else, but it provided a pleasant backdrop to the day.
Payment Options
You can pay by cash or card without any issues in the Missoni Resort Club, but we didn’t see any advertising for the local QRIS system, which is a shame as it’s one of our favourite ways to pay in Bali.
Exit Process
This isn’t a huge beach club, you leave by following the path back to the front door of the resort. You will be wished a cheerful farewell by the staff.
Transportation
This is a fairly busy tourist location, and it shouldn’t be too hard to get a Grab or Gojek, though there may be a wait at peak hours.
If you left your car or scooter in the car park, retrieving it is easy and straightforward.
Social Media Presence
A really puzzling omission is the total absence of a social media presence. There are pictures of this beach club on the Ritz-Carlton social media and on the Missoni social media accounts, but it doesn’t merit its own pages?
We find this mind-boggling, and it makes it hard for you to get a proper feel for what is a great hotel beach club overall.
Other/General Comments
This is very much a hotel beach club rather than a party destination and that’s fine. Sometimes, we all need to chill.
Our Overall Opinion Of Missoni Resort Club @ The Ritz-Carlton Bali
This beach club does justice to both the Ritz-Carlton and Missoni brands. It’s the sort of place that’s ideal for whiling away an afternoon by the pool in style.
As long as you understand that it’s not the cheapest place on Earth, we doubt you’ll be disappointed here.
However, you probably wouldn’t travel too far for this place, either. It’s nice but not that memorable.
FAQs
Can You Swim At Missoni Resort Club @ The Ritz-Carlton Bali?
Yes, there’s a pleasant pool area at the Missoni Resort Club where guests can swim to their heart’s content.
This is a very laid-back upscale resort facility, and there is rarely any real competition for the pool. So, if you’re in the mood for some lengths, you shouldn’t have any problems getting them in.
As you’d expect from the Ritz-Carlton, the area is very well-maintained, immaculately kept and very clean.
You also have direct access to the beach, and you can swim in the ocean too, if you so desire. The water here is relatively safe for swimming, but there are no lifeguards on duty by the sea, only by the pool.
What Can You Do At Missoni Resort Club @ The Ritz-Carlton Bali?
This is a resort facility, and as such, you can lounge around either on the beach or by the pool on comfortable daybeds. You can swim in the pool or enjoy food and drink from the bar/restaurant facility within the club.
This is not a party-oriented beach club and there are no dance floors, entertainment, etc.
Is Missoni Resort Club @ The Ritz-Carlton Bali A Family-Friendly Venue?
Yes, as with most major resorts in the Nusa Dua and Tanjung Benoa area, the Ritz-Carlton is family-friendly throughout.
While the Missoni Resort Club doesn’t offer any special facilities for kids, the hotel has a kids’ club and other facilities for resident guests.
If you do take children to this club, you will be expected to ensure they don’t annoy any other guests and to take reasonable care of their safety.
While there is a lifeguard at the pool, there is no lifeguard on the beach. So, it’s important to keep an eye on the little ones if they head down to the sands.
Who Owns Missoni Resort Club @ The Ritz-Carlton Bali?
The Missoni Resort Club is part of the Ritz-Carlton Bali, which is, in turn, part of the Marriott Group of hotels. That’s one of the largest hotel groups in the world today.
Final Thoughts On Missoni Resort Club @ The Ritz-Carlton Bali
The Missoni Resort Club is definitely not an everyday beach club, but if you’re in the Nusa Dua area and are looking for a laid-back day by the sea and don’t mind paying through the nose a little for it, then it’s a refined and pleasant experience.
We wouldn’t go out of our way to get to this beach club, there are similar experiences all over the island, but if we were passing by with some cash burning a hole in our pockets? We’d definitely pop in.
The team are big fans of the Ritz-Carlton brand, and we felt that this place mainly lived up to our expectations.
