The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali - A Hotel Review

From the moment I arrived this place was amazing.Nusa Dua is approximately a 30 minute drive from the Denpasar International Airport. Upon entering the Nusa Dua area, vehicles are inspected and go through a security checkpoint. Arriving at your respective hotel or resort, you go through yet another checkpoint.Once at the lobby, I was greeted with a "gong", signalling my arrival. I was seated at a couch in the beautiful open air lobby, served a welcome drink of Jamu (a traditional drink made of orange juice, mint, cloves, star anise and sweetened with honey) and checked into my room on an iPad. To my delight, they upgraded me to a Lagoon Access room!This resort is so beautiful. You feel like you have arrived in paradise. The property is very lush and very well manicured. The pools around the resort create such an amazing tranquil atmosphere. The room I had direct access to one of the pools with a terrace out onto the pool's edge. My room was very spacious and had butler service included. It also had a deep bathtub, great bathroom amenities and the beds were so comfortable. There are no coffee makers in the rooms, which was a first for me staying in a Starwood property, however I quickly learned that the butler will bring you a fresh carafe of coffee to enjoy in your room or on your terrace or balcony.The beach here was well kept and the snorkelling was pretty good, lots of fish. There are many sunbeds and the local vendors don't bother you too much if you're firm. They have plenty of cabanas that can be rented through the resort, the most popular ones are near the beach. The resort does offer the option to dine next door at the St. Regis and it's an amazing experience! The Laguna offers nightly entertainment, a couple nights a week they have a fire show and even a religious ceremony at the temple on their grounds.The food here was really good. The breakfast was amazing and offered so many choices, from various different cuisines. I did eat dinner one night right on the beach, the ambiance they create is so romantic and magical. They also offered a "happy hour" at certain times and even had fresh coconuts available.Within the area of Nusa Dua, there is a shopping centre which offers a free shuttle from most hotels and resorts. Yes, it does have a Starbucks, but this is where I was introduced to BaliZen home products. I purchased an off white Balinese umbrella and loved all the prints, colours and products they offered (I found the main store of BaliZen while I was in Ubud, more on the later).I'm so happy I chose this resort as my starting point for my visit to Bali, it was a great atmosphere to get over the jet lag and admire the beauty of this area of the island. I can't say enough about how wonderful and friendly the staff are. I honestly can't wait to come back here!