On the southern tip of the Indonesian island of Bali, the Nusa Dua peninsula offers travelers some of the most stunning beaches in Southeast Asia. But the area surrounding Nusa Dua is also home to majestic cliffs, lush hills, and stone temples. These settings offer a chance to connect with Bali’s local landscape, architecture, and culture — an experience that goes beyond a beach-side getaway.

The Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort, secluded from the hustle and bustle of beach-side hotels, makes good on that offer by paying homage to Balinese architecture. The resort is nestled into the hills like a villa, with traditional pitched roofs perched around a courtyard of peaceful walking paths and walled gardens. And the interiors showcase designer Carl Almeida’s deep appreciation for Balinese theater and dance, which he’s cultivated by visiting the island over the course of 18 years.

In this episode, Carl shares a formative travel experience of his — seeing the Whirling Dervishes perform at a historic site near New Delhi — which inspired him to give travelers an experience rooted in culture. From emulating the use of traditional charcoal lava stone to designing rooms based on Balinese dances, he explains how he meticulously crafted this resort to help guests connect with Balinese culture. And at the end of their conversation, he offers Hamish a local travel tip to make his next trip to Bali unforgettable.

• 01:52 - How a life-changing experience with dance in India shaped Carl’s mission as a designer
• 03:50 - What does Bali have to offer beyond a wonderful time at the beach?
• 06:09 - How did Carl draw on Balinese dance to give travelers a connection with Balinese culture?
• 11:18 - When visiting Nusa Dua, where exactly should travelers go to have a life-changing cultural experience, like Carl did?

Featured Hotel: Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort

Featured Designer: Carl Almeida, P49 Deesign

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Follow host Hamish Kilburn's hotel design reviews @HotelDesigns and global travels @hotel_travel_editor