Bali for Christmas? Excellent stays for the festive season

With just one month to go, the Christmas 2025  frenzy is just about to take over! Whether you’re travelling home for the festivities, welcoming visitors to Singapore, escaping to paradise might be the present you all deserve.

If the thought of cramming everyone into your condo is leaving you cold, or you’re still debating over whose house to spend it at, a Christmas or New Year’s 2026 getaway could be just the ticket. Travelling to somewhere easy, spacious, and soul-soothing means you can actually enjoy the break without the logistics, the squabbles, or the need to keep escaping to Coles/Cold Storage every hour.

Bali has always been a no-brainer travel destination for a quick break from Singapore, but the island that used to lure Brad from Neighbours on a ’90s surf trip and Julia Roberts on her Eat Pray Love quest has grown up a lot. Away from the obvious spots, today’s travellers can find stylish boltholes, arty enclaves, and soul-soothing serenity where the priority is spending time with your nearest and dearest.

Well, what more do you want this Christmas? Read on for our pick of villas and hotels ready to welcome you for the celebrations.

Anandathu Villas, Pererenan

If your idea of a Bali getaway falls between laid-back tropical and ooh-bit fancy, Anandathu Villas in Pererenan is for you. Located in pretty Pererenan, it sits in a quiet pocket close enough to the buzz of Canggu and its key surf areas without being swallowed by it . Quite the home from home, guests get privacy, space, and the opportunity to go crazy with a Christmas Eve mezze platter, without it being too ‘peopley’ and oozing mega-resort energy .

More than just one big villa, this property is more of a boutique estate of four private pool villas with 2-3 en-suite bedrooms, each completely self-contained with relaxed indoor-outdoor living spaces, and a proper kitchen. Interiors strike a modern tropical balance: sleek finishes and big airy ceilings rule. Families feel at ease instantly as there’s room to spread out infront of the TV and into the communal areas and garden complete with beanbag chairs. Cots, high chairs, private chefs, massages and yoga are all available with a quick request, too.

For a Christmas escape, New Year recharge, or speedy getaway during the run-up, Anandathu Villas delivers sunshine, style, and family time with low-key effort required from you. The only thing it hasn’t got? A substantial chimney, so we’ll leave it to you to explain how Santa will visit …

Head here for further details

Umalas Creek, Umalas

Pssst! Umalas is one of Bali’s best kept secrets. Located in the south of the island, it’s punctuated by gorgeous green rice fields, a laid-back pace of life, and offers a relaxing change of pace from the likes of Seminyak and Canggu despite being just a 15-minute drive away.

Tucked away in a quiet street, you’ll find 11 two-storey villas that sit like a row of perfectly curated Instagram posts: sleek, sunlit, and shoulder-droppingly serene. Welcome to Umalas Creek – a minimalist enclave with a peaceful heart. The villas here are made for soothing and spending quality time together: brown and cream hues warm the walls, teak furnishings set a low-key mood, and sunlight floods in through floor-to-ceiling glass like it’s personally auditioning for a video. The kitchen island calls the shots; it’s where friends line up the wine, weigh up having takeaway versus heading out-out, and kids’ craft projects are safely steered away from the lounge. All mod cons ensure that whether you’re cooking a feast or brewing a coffee, you’re covered.

An oversized sofa has prime position in front of a massive TV, and snazzy speakers are primed to cater for a Sabrina Carpenter-inspired mini-disco or Netflix marathon. Upstairs, the bedrooms are quietly swish: comfy mattresses suck you in, while blackout curtains seal the deal for an excellent night’s kip. Digital nomads are catered for too, with dedicated desks in each one. Bathrooms come pared-back but polished, with rain showers that make a five-minute rinse feel like a mini-retreat. Dyson hairdryers confirm that yes, you are indeed worth it.

Each villa at Umalas Creek has its own private plunge pool, complete with slouchy beanbags on the side. Just outside your front gate, at the heart of the complex is a 20-metre pool perfect for laps or child-friendly paddling, plus swinging chairs, sunbeds, jacuzzi, sauna, and ice plunge, providing options for every type of holiday energy. By day, spa-style music drifts gently through the air, adding to a soundtrack that’s mostly birdsong.

With Petitenget Beach just 10 minutes away and local dining options such Bucu on your doorstep, you’ve got activities on tap if you so wish. However, if you just want to rock up, kick back, and forget the real world exists, we’re definitely not judging. Whether you’re a family seeking calm, or a group of girlfriends all about the brunch-and-prosecco, it’s top marks for this chic cocoon where escape, laughter, and a whole lotta luxe are on the holiday hitlist.

Find out more at The Luxe Nomad here

Hai Tide Beach Resort, Nusa Lembongan

Has 2025 already been “one of those years” with a few months still to go? We hear you. In fact, Hai Tide Beach Resort on Mushroom Bay hears you too, delivering everything you need to unwind, reset, and soak up some perspective. This isn’t the Bali of beach clubs and party crowds – Nusa Lembongan, just a 30-minute boat ride from Sanur, offers golden sands, calm waters, and a slower rhythm of island life.

Hai Tide Beach Resort is your beachfront accommodation of dreams. Stay where you play in traditional lumbungs or spacious two-bedroom villas with private pools, all overlooking tropical gardens or the ocean. Bedrooms spill out onto balconies or shaded daybeds. If you can muster any energy to move, the resort makes it easy: take out an ocean kayak, pedal a mountain bike around the island, or join a cruise to snorkel alongside sea turtles. Keep it low-key with beachfront dining at Hai Bar & Grill, or head to Hai Ri Zen for small plates and wow-worthy views of Mount Agung, ideally paired with a sunset cocktail.

For couples, families, or friends seeking tranquillity and fresh Bali experiences away from the mainland buzz, this is your reset button.

Click here for more details 

Oshom Bali, Nuanu Creative City

Oshom is a lovely property and part of the recently opened Nuanu City. The “city” – set on a 44-hectare landscape – offers a whole new world of art studios, wellness offerings, cultural and education projects, an international school, and even an alpaca enclave! Oshom is one of its sleek stay options.

Being just 18 rooms, Oshom makes every detail count. The 11 Ocean Suites frame your view of morning light hitting the waves. Seven Treehouse Hideaways sit among mangroves. Then there are two standout hideaways: The Majestic Heaven Suite is its crown jewel featuring your own private massage room, meditation corner, spa-inspired bathroom jacuzzi, and massage nook. The Artist’s Suite boasts a curved dome exterior and an indoor–outdoor bar that’s as cool as it sounds. The décor throughout the hotel is super-hip and eco-inspired with volcanic sand walls, hand-finished furniture, massive plants, and organic textures leading the way.

There’s a seriously photogenic swimming pool, restaurant, and lawn area all set above a black-sand beach in Si Nyanyi. For jetsetters craving something fresh, a little unexpected, and with everything on your doorstep (a shout out goes to the relaxing Lumeira Wellness Complex and glamorous Luna Beach Club), Oshom and Nuanu City are the start of a new chapter for Bali.

K Club, Tegallalang

K Club is the reset button you’re looking for. This fresh, playful, and seriously good-looking jungle hideaway is situated just outside Ubud in an ocean of greenery bringing the focus back to calm, connection, and a little bit of spoiling yourself.

Accommodation options are a mix of 30 villas (from two to five bedrooms, each with its own pool), and there’s also 11 adults-only glamping tents perched on the edge of the valley. The vibe is elegant and modern – think spa afternoons, farm-to-table dining, steak at AKAR, seafood at Rattan, and drinks at Kabana Pool Club. It’s a world away from Bali’s party scene but still has a chic vibe. A great choice for a group of girlfriends together, who want all of the pampering, but none of the decision-making, start the day with yoga overlooking nature, balance it out with pool time, and finish with a feast under the stars. Sorted.

Head to this link for further info

Mandala Residences, Berawa

Still want some of Bali’s buzz but without the intensity? Mandala Residences serves up the island’s indomitable peace and magic, along with a side of social life, if you’d like it on your schedule.

Ideal for groups of mates or a multi-gen getaway, this boutique cluster of just four three-bedroom villas spread over two floors sits pretty down a quiet Berawa laneway. Despite being in one of Canggu’s liveliest pockets, it feels like a tropical twist on a London mews: clean white walls, colourful artwork, leafy potted plants, and sunlight streaming through oversized glass doors. They’re elegant without being stuffy, homely yet high-end, and fabulously functional. Fully equipped kitchens flow into a laid-back lounge with deep sofas, a big-screen TV, and a Marshall speaker for setting the soundtrack. Upstairs, airy doubles await, with the master suite boasting an en suite bathroom with a bathtub, balcony access, and rice paddy views.

The outdoor area is where the magic happens. A six-seater dining table sits by a compact plunge pool that’s made for long, lazy brunches, board games, or a few Bintangs. A daybed awaits for lazy reads, afternoon naps, or the inevitable post-dining slump. The residences staff are also on tap to assist with any activities or asks.

Being just a 15-minute walk (or three-minute scooter ride) to Finns Beach Club and Berawa Beach, families with teens will love that their kids can wander to the party zone or shops solo, while groups of friends will appreciate that they can enjoy a night on the tiles without ruining the mood when trying to arrange a fleet of Grabs post-cocktails to get home safely.

Head to The Luxe Nomad for more details (Mandala Club members also get a 20% discount so don’t miss out!)