Battle of 3 Select Marriott Hotels in Bali — Which One Gets the Best Review?

For many travelers, Bali, Indonesia, is synonymous with high-end luxury resorts, but the island offers numerous relatively inexpensive accommodation options, including major Western hotel brands such as Marriott and Hilton.

To take advantage of an ongoing Marriott Bonvoy promotion, I booked 3 Marriott “Select Brand” hotels: Fairfield by Marriott Bali Kuta Ngurah Rai, Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta, and Aloft Bali Seminyak. My wife and I spent 3 nights at each property in April 2026, with a similar cash rate at each.

Here’s a look at the 3 different Marriott properties I stayed at in Bali.

Maximizing the Marriott Bonvoy Promotion

I wanted to stay in various areas to explore each location’s unique surroundings and take advantage of Marriott’s Q1 2026 global promotion (registration has since closed).

The promotion offered 2,500 bonus points for each eligible paid stay and 1 bonus Elite Night Credit per Marriott brand. While the bonus points were a nice touch, I was more interested in earning bonus Elite Night Credits.

Although I already have Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status with my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, I want to reach Titanium Elite status since my wife and I plan to spend 2026 in Asia, where higher elite status tends to carry much more value than in other parts of the world.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 5/13/2026.

200,000 points

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Up to $1,400

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19.49%-28.49% Variable

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Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
• 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Steep annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)
• 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card

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• Earn 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 5/13/2026.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
• Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• A Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite member will earn 50% more points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy for each U.S. dollar or the currency equivalent that is incurred and paid for by the member.
• Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy^® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton^® or St. Regis^® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
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• APR: 19.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Marriott Bonvoy

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is packed with numerous valuable perks and benefits, including Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, an annual Free Night Award with each card anniversary (for participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, up to 85,000 points), 25 Elite Night Credits each year, and up to $300 in dining statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible restaurant purchases worldwide (upon enrollment).

Hot Tip:

Marriott has nearly 40 brands to choose from, grouped into the Luxury, Premium, Select, Midscale, and Longer Stays categories. I booked 3 hotels from the Select category, which also includes Courtyard, SpringHill Suites, AC Hotels, CitizenM, Moxy, and Protea Hotels. Find out more about each of Marriott’s brands in our detailed guide.

Fairfield by Marriott Bali Kuta Ngurah Rai

The first property we stayed at was the Fairfield by Marriott Bali Kuta Ngurah Rai, roughly a 15-minute drive from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). Our 3-night stay at this hotel cost about $153.

Although a bit farther from the island’s Western coast, the area around the hotel is bustling with numerous shopping malls, restaurants, and street food vendors.

At check-in, I was greeted by several staff members who welcomed us to the property and provided us with an iced guava welcome drink, which was delicious.

I was also upgraded to a king room with a pool view on the highest floor. I’ve stayed at Fairfield by Marriott properties around the world, so my expectations were fairly modest, but I was still happy to receive an upgrade.

The room was fairly basic, like most Fairfield hotels, but the king-size bed was exceptionally comfortable and featured high-quality linens. There was also a comfortable lounging sofa with a sliding laptop table.

The room offered nice views of the swimming pool and neighboring buildings.

The highlight of the property was definitely the breakfast, which was the best Fairfield breakfast I’ve ever had. There was an impressive variety of options, including traditional Indonesian dishes such as fried rice and noodles.

There was a massive pastry and dessert section, with a wide variety of choices. There were also fresh local fruits like guava, mango, and rambutan, which I really enjoyed.

Bottom Line:

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the Fairfield by Marriott Bali Kuta Ngurah Rai was. The property was relatively basic, similar to many other Fairfield properties I have stayed at. However, the breakfast was phenomenal and the highlight of the stay.

Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta

After 3 nights at the Fairfield, we headed to the Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta. Our 3-night stay at this hotel cost about $180.

Kuta is one of Bali’s most popular areas, best known for its sandy beaches, surfing, and vibrant nightlife. It’s especially popular with backpackers and tourists looking for a mix of relaxation and energy, with plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars.

At check-in, I casually mentioned that my wife and I were on an anniversary trip to Bali. We were given a delicious orange-flavored mocktail as a welcome drink while our room was being prepared. We were also upgraded to a king suite with direct lagoon access.

The suite was incredibly spacious, featuring a comfortable king-size bed. Across from the bed was a separate living room area, which added a nice sense of separation and gave us another space to relax and unwind.

The highlight of the room was the direct lagoon access, a nice touch as only a handful of rooms at the property offer it.

While the room had a great layout, and the lagoon access was a highlight, I noticed it was starting to show its age. There were visible signs of wear, including scratches on the doors and surfaces, and the carpet pile was beginning to fray in some areas. It wasn’t a major issue for me, but it was noticeable.

That said, the level of service throughout the stay more than made up for these imperfections. What really stood out to me was the thoughtful attention given to our anniversary. The staff arranged towel art on the bed and surprised us with a chocolate cake with Oreo bits, which was delicious.

Like the room, the property was massive and offered a ton of amenities. It was family-friendly with a kids club that offered a wide range of activities and facilities, including mini golf, a ball pit, and a small play area. There was also a dedicated kids pool with a slide.

The hotel also organized daily kids activities, such as stretching classes, dancing sessions, and Zumba.

The property also offered several dining options. Djaman Doeloe is the hotel’s main dining venue, serving authentic Indonesian cuisine. Soirèe Rooftop Pool & Bar serves Asian-Fusion cuisine, and Arterie is the hotel’s deli.

We had breakfast at Djaman Doeloe, which offered a tremendous amount of food, with an emphasis on traditional Indonesian cuisine. The highlight was the nasi goreng, freshly prepared on demand.

Unfortunately, breakfast was busy during our stay, whether we arrived right when it began or came later after sleeping in. The crowding took away from the overall ambiance and made the experience feel less relaxing.

The space has an appealing indoor-outdoor design, but in practice, this also led to issues with flies around the food. This was off-putting, even though the food was good.

Bottom Line:

The Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta, was a solid, family-friendly property. Our guest room was spacious, and the amenities were extensive. The massive property was also extremely busy during my stay. At times, it felt like it was operating at maximum occupancy.

Still, the hotel offered a ton of value, and I would definitely consider staying there again. Hopefully, management can address the issue with the flies around the breakfast buffet.

Aloft Bali Seminyak

Lastly, we spent 3 nights at the Aloft Bali Seminyak. Our 3-night stay at this hotel cost about $190.

Seminyak is another extremely popular area in Bali known for its upscale resorts, trendy beach clubs, and vibrant dining scene. It has a more modern feel than nearby Kuta, yet still offers plenty of shopping and nightlife.

The Aloft Bali Seminyak is roughly a 5-minute walk from Seminyak Beach, which is one of the island’s most popular beaches for sunsets — often enjoyed from the many beachfront bars and restaurants along the beach.

I have always been a fan of Marriott’s Aloft Hotels brand, which typically features bold, colorful interiors, social public spaces like lively lobbies and bars, and a relaxed, upbeat atmosphere. I like how the brand focuses on creating a social setting rather than a traditional, formal hotel stay.

The Aloft Bali Seminyak had a relatively small lobby, but it was packed with amenities, including a pool table, a Re:fuel by Aloft station for snacks and drinks, and the w xyz bar. Complimentary coffee was also available throughout the day.

Although the hotel’s official check-in time was 3 p.m., our room was not ready until roughly 3:45 p.m. We were provided with 2 complimentary drink vouchers to use at Kahuna Rooftop Pool and Restaurant. We used the vouchers for mocktails with mint, citrus, and pineapple.

We were upgraded to a “1 King, City view, Balcony” room on the third floor. The room was similar to many other Aloft hotels I have stayed at in the past — on the smaller end, but with nice design and decorative touches that create a “homey” feeling.

The hotel had decorated the bed with “Happy Anniversary” in large letters along with balloons. There was also a welcome amenity waiting for us, which included macarons and a small chocolate cake.

Although the room was modern and well-designed, it faced the busy main street below. There was a fair amount of noise from motorbikes and traffic, including some honking at night, which affected our sleep quality.

The property offered a rooftop infinity swimming pool and a fitness center. We spent a good amount of time in and around the pool, which overlooked Seminyak Beach. The pool area was relaxing as the hotel felt relatively empty.

We had breakfast at the property’s poolside and main dining venue: Kahuna Rooftop Pool and Restaurant. The buffet included a good variety, with stations for eggs, waffles, and crepes, various fruits, freshly prepared juices, and immunity shots.

Bottom Line:

Overall, my stay at Aloft Bali Seminyak was fantastic. The room was modern and charming, but the street noise from the busy road below could be heard throughout.

The staff at the property went above and beyond to ensure our comfort, and the room decorations and welcome amenities were a welcome touch.

Final Thoughts

Bali is a very popular travel destination, and it’s easy to see why. The island has a ton to offer, whether you are a backpacker on a strict budget or a luxury traveler only staying at the best hotels.

We fall somewhere in between, spending 9 nights across 3 popular Marriott properties with reasonable cash rates: the Fairfield by Marriott Bali Kuta Ngurah Rai, the Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta, and the Aloft Bali Seminyak.

Each property had something great to offer, with some slight drawbacks. Of the 3, the Aloft Bali Seminyak was my favorite — primarily because of the property’s rooftop swimming pool and its location, just a few minutes from the beach.

Best of all, I took advantage of Marriott’s Q1 promotion to earn extra Marriott Bonvoy points and additional Elite Night Credits, making progress towards Titanium Elite status.