Posted by Every summer, while the kids are off making camp memories, Devon and I sneak away for something a little different: grown-up time, no curfews, no wake-ups, no one asking where their other sock went. This 2025s destination? Bali. And let’s just say, it was beyond anything we could have dreamed up from our kitchen table back home.
We split our time between the lush heart of Ubud and the golden coastline of Nusa Dua, and somehow, both places felt like completely different worlds… equally perfect.
Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve: Welcome to the Jungle (But Like, Luxurious)
We kicked off our trip tucked into the green folds of Ubud at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and I can’t stress this enough, this wasn’t just a hotel. It was an experience.
We stayed in a River Villa, and calling it “a room” would be like calling Bali “a nice beach.” It came with a private pool that looked out over the Ayung River, an outdoor shower that made us question why we ever showered inside, and a sense of quiet that was almost cinematic. Every breeze carried the scent of flowers and something ancient and peaceful.
From the moment we arrived, the staff seemed to know what we needed before we did. Cold towels, welcome drinks, gentle greetings that somehow never felt rehearsed. Every interaction was thoughtful, genuine, and full of care. It wasn’t just five-star service, it felt personal.
And the spa? Don’t even get me started. We had two treatments during our stay, including Mandapa’s signature massage, which reset our nervous systems in the best way. I’ve never left a massage feeling like my soul had been realigned… until now. I swear we both floated back to the villa afterward.
The staff also curated the most beautiful romantic dinners—private tables set under swaying palms with candles, petals, and the kind of quiet that invites real conversation. Devon even had her “flying dress” photo shoot, with that iconic gown sweeping in the jungle breeze. Spoiler: she looked like a goddess. I looked like the guy who carried the water bottles and clapped when the light hit just right.
Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua: Ocean Breezes and Bold Adventures
From there, we headed to the coast and spent five more magical days at the Ritz-Carlton Nusa Dua, where every morning started with sunrise over the water and every night ended with waves whispering us to sleep. The pace here was slower, sunkissed, and salty, in the best way.
We dove headfirst into adventure, hiking the coastal cliffs and nearby islands where the ocean views made us pause more than once just to take it all in. We climbed to hidden waterfalls, splashing our way through jungle trails and ending in the kind of cool, clear water that makes you forget you have a phone back somewhere in a dry bag.
One of the most fun moments of the trip? Dining underwater. Yes, really. We had dinner in a restaurant surrounded by an aquarium wall where fish swam by mid-meal like we were part of the reef. It was the kind of once-in-a-lifetime thing that makes you look over at your partner and just smile because you’re both thinking the same thing: how did we end up here?
Why We Do This
These five days were more than just a break, they were a reconnection. Bali gave us room to talk without being interrupted, to walk without watching the clock, and to remember why we’re still each other’s favorite person after all these years (even if someone keeps using up all the SPF 50 and denying it).
We came home rested, inspired, and slightly more tan than planned. But most of all, we came home with stories—ones we’ll keep telling long after the suitcases are back in storage.
Until next summer. Wherever we go, we’ll go together.
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