All posts tagged: Bali

This glamorous new Bali resort is giving all-inclusive travel a major glow-up

This glamorous new Bali resort is giving all-inclusive travel a major glow-up

I’m standing barefoot beneath swaying coconut palms in Nusa Dua, watching a Balinese woman weave intricate patterns from coconut leaves with impossible speed and precision. Around me, incense curls lazily into the humid afternoon air while the distant sound of gamelan music drifts across the resort gardens. Someone hands me a chilled lemongrass towel and a drink the colour of a tropical sunset, and suddenly the pace of ordinary life feels very far away. This is Paradisus by Meliá Bali, the newly transformed all-inclusive luxury resort that is redefining what a Bali holiday can look like. And unlike the loud, buffet-heavy image many people still associate with all-inclusive travel, this feels elegant, deeply cultural and surprisingly soulful. Set on the white sands of Nusa Dua, the sprawling beachfront sanctuary recently reopened following an extensive transformation into the first Paradisus property in Asia. The result is something far more elevated than I expected: part wellness retreat, part cultural immersion, part luxury escape. Paths lined with towering palms snake through lush gardens filled with frangipani trees, koi …

A design-led boutique hotel in Bali’s Umalas

A design-led boutique hotel in Bali’s Umalas

“Our aim was to conserve, not restore to perfection, so guests can feel the history of the place,” said Rosa. “By protecting the land, the sacred trees and artisanal techniques, we hope guests leave with a deeper appreciation of Indonesian heritage. In a world that often seeks impersonal flawlessness, we wanted to show the passing of time.” The name reflects their cross-cultural partnership: magia means ‘magic’ in Italian, while uma means ‘rice field’ in Indonesian – together, the phrase loosely translates as ‘magic in the rice field’. The 14-key property, which opened in November 2025, is the latest addition to the Design Hotels portfolio – a collection of more than 300 design-led properties across 60 countries, each chosen to reflect its surroundings. Source link

Scottish ‘crime boss’ Steven Lyons extradited after Bali arrest | UK News

Scottish ‘crime boss’ Steven Lyons extradited after Bali arrest | UK News

An alleged Scottish crime boss wanted by Spain has been extradited from Bali, Indonesian authorities have confirmed. Steven Lyons, 45, was flown to Amsterdam early on Wednesday morning, and from there he was to be transferred onward to Spain to face charges related to alleged drug trafficking and money laundering. The extradition, which had been delayed multiple times, was confirmed by Husnan Handano, a spokesperson for Bali’s immigration office. Lyons has been described by law enforcement as a “senior figure in an international crime syndicate”. He was arrested on 28 March upon arrival to Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport from Singapore after the immigration system flagged him through Interpol. Alleged to be the leader of the Lyons crime family in Scotland, he has been wanted by authorities in Spain and the UK. He has been on Spain’s wanted list for about two years, following a killing there in 2024. Bali police chief Daniel Adityajaya said the arrest was part of a joint investigation involving Indonesian, Spanish and Scottish authorities. Police in Indonesia allege Lyons led …

Alleged Scottish crime boss Steven Lyons set to be deported to Spain after arrest in Bali | UK News

Alleged Scottish crime boss Steven Lyons set to be deported to Spain after arrest in Bali | UK News

A Scottish man who is allegedly a high-ranking member of an international crime gang is set to be deported to Spain after being arrested in Bali. Steven Lyons, 45, was taken into custody by immigration officers at Ngurah Rai International Airport on Saturday on arrival from Singapore. Untung Widiyatmoko, head of Interpol Indonesia, later confirmed his arrest. He is wanted in the UK and Spain for alleged organised crime, drug trafficking and money laundering, as well as a murder that took place in Spain in 2024. Lyons, who has been on Spain’s wanted list for about two years following a murder case there in 2024, will be extradited to Spain on Wednesday, Indonesian authorities have said. A picture taken on Tuesday shows him in an orange prisoner’s suit as he’s escorted by two police officers in Bali’s capital of Denpasar. Bali police chief Daniel Adityajaya said the arrest was part of a joint investigation involving Spanish and Scottish police. He said the 45-year-old was alleged to be the leader of “a large-scale transnational criminal organisation …

Bali flooding prompts tourist evacuation: Official

Bali flooding prompts tourist evacuation: Official

BADUNG, Indonesia: Flooding in parts of Indonesia’s popular resort island of Bali prompted hundreds of people, including dozens of tourists, to seek safety, a local disaster official said on Tuesday (Feb 24). Intense rains triggered flooding since late on Monday across several Bali districts and the provincial capital city of Denpasar, said local disaster mitigation agency senior official I Gede Agung Teja Bhusana Yadnya. There were no fatalities, he said. Waters inundated facilities, such as cafes and gas stations, in the Badung district and forced some tourists to be evacuated on rubber boats. “We are here to visit Bali Zoo … so we were trying to visit the elephants, but due to this condition we couldn’t do this,” 28-year-old Mexican national Briana Palacios told AFP. Source link