The wanderlust was palpable, coursing through my veins like a suburban kid on Christmas Eve. I was in the midst of embarking on a new but familiar jaunt. 36 hours skyward, crossing frigid mountains, interminable oceans, and ever-changing continents, all to be reunited with 'The Last Paradise,' Bali.

So there I sat in Qatar Airways economy class, packed in on every side, while reminiscing on the promise i'd made to myself during my first visit to Bali, December, 2013, to return. Ten days had not been enough, so I planned this second escapade to span the entire month of August, 2017, four years in the making. I remembered one of the best parts of my first trip was staying at the Grand Hyatt Bali, so it was high on my repeat list. Here's why.

'Discover' four immense courtyards at the Grand Hyatt Bali

Picturesque & Accessible Location:

If luxury interiors and edenesque courtyards brimming with grottos, koi ponds, ocean views and secret pools are your thing, stay here. In order to 'Do Bali' right, you have to plan a detailed itinerary. Part of this scheduling includes picking a hotel that fits your style; it can be a deal-breaker.

The Grand Hyatt Bali is located in Nusa Dua. I love this area because of its 20-minute proximity to Ngurah Rai International Airport. Westerners like me travel some 16 - 36 hours here. After a long grueling flight, the last thing you'll want to do is taxi for an hour or more to Ubud. Swerving in the blindness of night near sheer paddy drops is not the way to begin your trip! I recommend this stay in order to bounce back from jet-lag.

Lazy rivers, exciting slides, lotus lagoons, secret pools and waterfalls all come together to create a tropical paradise

Ending your itinerary at the Grand Hyatt Bali is also a great option. Bali is an outdoor activity type destination, so it's always leg day! Your body and mind will need a vacation from your vacation! The resort's spaces are designed for the sweetness of doing nothing. Within its 44 hectares, peace of mind can be found.

Now Nusa Dua is not Eat.Pray.Love...Namaste...Raw Foods...Bali. To be honest it's touristy, convenient, loaded with world-class luxury hotels, the Bali Collection (an upmarket shopping complex), the Bali National Golf Club, and expansive golden sandy beaches. Familiar? Yes. Exotic? Moderately. Enjoyable? 1000%.

Luxury Design:

From the moment you arrive at the Grand Hyatt Bali, you're immersed in nature. Your first impression is an open-air lobby framing Indian Ocean views. It 'floats' above obsidian black lotus pools, shimmering with kois of every colour. The lobby is the beating heart of the property, and serves as its over-arching architecture concept, blurring the lines of indoor-outdoor living. Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo, the iconic Hawaiian hospitality architecture firm designed the building architecture; the equally prolific Tongg, Clarke & McCelvey executed the landscape architecture.

Lobby reflection pools spilling onto lotus lagoons. Water is a reoccuring theme throughout the resort.

Beautiful Balinese music is played live in the lobby

The resort hosts a total of 636 luxury rooms and suites in four courtyard villages. Accommodations include Grand Suites, Grand Executive Suites, Ambassador Suites, Presidential Suites, and Villas with private pools, designed in contemporary Balinese style. All rooms have individually controlled air conditioning, a separate shower and bath, cable TV, in-room safe, hairdryer and private balcony overlooking tropical gardens, lagoons or stunning views of the Indian Ocean.

The Grand Hyatt Bali is perfect for kids!

Chic Accomodation:

I selected an Ocean View King. Inspired by Balinese interior and exterior architecture, the room's colour palette was made of earthy wood tones. It was masculine and modern, yet bright and comfortable. This 49-sqm room features teakwood furniture, marble floors, and a stunning Indian Ocean view. Each sunrise I sat for coffee on my balcony, listening to the roar of India and the calming of my thoughts.

The en suite bathroom comes complete with a marble soaking tub, a separate rain shower and thoughtful touches like batik robes and slippers. I'm a "soaking tub" kind of guy, so it was the perfect spot to unwind after a long "stressful" day.

Spa Rejuvenation:

My jet-lag was partially healed by slowly exploring the resort. Beauty unfolds at every turn. My favorite area was the Kriya Spa. Water and its sound defined this space. The architecture was inspired by the powerful water temples of Bali. Kriya (Spa) – meaning "ritual" in Sanskrit, offers traditional Balinese massages, fused with local herbs and roots. What I love about the spa experience is your booking comes complete with a private spa villa. My villa's outdoor space included a dip pool, soaking tub that could easily fit five people, massage table and lounging balé. Inside the villa a massage table, seating area, and en suite bathroom completed its grand composition.

Spa Village at Kriya Spa, Grand Hyatt Bali

Foodie Paradise:

For my foodie travellers, the Grand Hyatt Bali does not disappoint! There are five restaurants and three bar venues that savor every culinary palette. I dined (well feasted...😂) at three signature restaurants and can attest to their deliciousness!

Pasar Senggol: Open-air Balinese-style night market, offering authentic Indonesian/Balinese dishes and nightly cultural performances (Food is seasoned to perfection and the cultural show is hypnotically beautiful)
Nampu: A traditional Japanese restaurant offering teppanyaki, fresh sushi, sashimi, yakitori and tempura (My favourite, the teppanyaki delivers!)
Salsa Verde: A beachfront Italian restaurant serving an array of seafood, pizzas, pastas and other Italian favorites. (Amazing Indonesian/continental breakfast)

Delivering the WOW:

Milton Glaser once said, "There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no, and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for.” Throughout my time at the Grand Hyatt Bali, WOW was a word I kept saying aloud. You would have thought it was my first time staying here! The landscape architecture was awe-inspiring. The building architecture - a perfect blend of Balinese aesthetic met my demands as a luxury traveller. The service was seamless and prompt. The food and spa experiences revived my soul! So, what's not to love? When travelling to Bali, this is more than my hotel of choice. It is my home away from home, and should be yours too!