Wake up to the sea
Sun loungers on a terrace above a stone seawall in Candidasa, water against the wall
Candidasa (photo: Pexels; place identified by our editor). Loungers above a stone wall, the water straight against it, no sand to walk on. The bay lost its beach after the limestone reef in front of it was quarried away. Along this stretch — Candidasa, Bugbug and Jasri — 14 properties are offered as beachfront; for 4 of them our measurement says otherwise.

What “beachfront” actually means

Of the 178 properties offered as beachfront, 77 are not on the sand according to our measurement — 43 percent. That label comes from the property itself and is passed on by booking sites, not checked by them. Here they are, with what we found.

Seseh Beach Villas Seseh · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Anantara Vacation Club Legian Bali Legian · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access 67 m La Joya Balangan Resort (Biu Biu) Jimbaran · Bukit On the sea, no beach measured from a point on the grounds The Cove Bali by Nakula Balian Beach · Tabanan On the sea, direct access 67 m Sound of The Sea Villa Pererenan (Pantai Lima) · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access 106 m Jumeirah Bali Pecatu · Bukit On the sea, direct access 13 m The Legian Seminyak, Bali Seminyak · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access 81 m Samabe Bali Suites & Villas Nusa Dua (Sawangan) · Bukit On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds The Oberoi, Bali Seminyak / Petitenget · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Komaneka at Keramas Beach Keramas, Ketewel / Saba / Lebih / Gianyar · Gianyar and Klungkung On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Svanata Uluwatu Bali Resort Uluwatu · Bukit On the sea, direct access 26 m Asmara Villa Nusa Ceningan · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access 57 m AYANA Segara Bali Jimbaran · Bukit On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds The Purist Beach Nusa Ceningan Nusa Lembongan · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access 22 m Padma Resort Legian Legian · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access 48 m Villa Bella Vista on Nusa Ceningan Nusa Ceningan · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access 57 m Double-Six Luxury Hotel Seminyak · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali Nusa Dua · Nusa Dua On the sea, direct access 72 m Andaz Bali, by Hyatt Sanur · Sanur On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Bali Mandira Beach Resort & Spa Legian · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds The Seminyak Beach Resort & Spa Seminyak · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access 18 m InterContinental Bali Sanur Resort by IHG Sanur · Sanur On the sea, direct access 33 m Villa Delmara at Balian Beach Balian Beach · Tabanan On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach by IHG Seminyak · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access 53 m Griya Santrian a Beach Resort & Spa Sanur · Sanur On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Conrad Bali Nusa Dua · Nusa Dua On the sea, direct access 66 m Legian Beach Hotel Bali Legian · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access 61 m eL Hotel & Resort Bali Sanur Crystal Bay · Sanur On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Segara Village Hotel Sanur · Sanur On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds The Sankara Beach Penida Sampalan · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Holiday Inn Resort Bali Nusa Dua By IHG Nusa Dua · Nusa Dua On the sea, direct access 63 m Bali Garden Beach Resort Kuta · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Giri Sea Cliff Penida Resort & Spa Nusa Penida · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali by IHG Tuban / Kuta Selatan · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Mimpi Resort Menjangan West-Bali Nationaal Park / Menjangan (Batuampar, Gerokgak) · North Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds The Anvaya Beach Resort Bali Kuta / Tuban · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Hotel Nikko Bali Benoa Beach Tanjung Benoa / Benoa · Nusa Dua On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Onlyou Villas Amed · East Bali On the sea, no beach 1 m Mahagiri Resort Nusa Lembongan Nusa Lembongan · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access 29 m Platinum Hotel Jimbaran Beach Bali Jimbaran · Bukit On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Mimpi Resort Tulamben Kubu · East Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Rumah Luwih Bali by IHG Mushroom Bay · Gianyar and Klungkung On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel Kuta · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access 5 m Hidden Paradise Cottages Lipah · East Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Sadara Resort Tanjung Benoa · Nusa Dua On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Kuta Seaview Beach Resort Kuta · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Pelangi Bali Hotel & Spa Seminyak · Kuta to Canggu On the sea, direct access 80 m Gajah Mina Beach Resort Balian Beach · Tabanan On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds The Grand Villandra Resort Lovina Lovina · North Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Pramana Nusa Ceningan Resort Nusa Ceningan · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Hi Blue Bali Melasti Dive Resort Kubu · East Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds WIDE SANDS Beach Retreat Medewi · West Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Suwehan Beach Cliff House with Hammock Crystal Bay · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Jimbaran Bay Beach Resort & Spa Jimbaran · Bukit On the sea, direct access 103 m Natya Hotel Tanah Lot Tanah Lot · Tabanan On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Amarta Beach Cottages Candidasa · East Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Aquaria Eco Resort Candidasa · East Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Seamount Hotel Amed Amed · East Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Ketapang Indah Hotel Sumberkima · West Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Bali Relaxing Resort & Spa Tanjung Benoa / Benoa · Nusa Dua On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Bali Taman Beach Resort & Spa Lovina Lovina · North Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Bali Dream House Amed · East Bali On the sea, no beach 25 m Ganesh Lodge Candidasa · East Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Kebun Impian Jasri · East Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Lotus Garden Huts Nusa Lembongan · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds D'Tunjung Resort & Spa Candidasa · East Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Balangan Sea View Bungalow Balangan · Bukit On the sea, direct access 191 m D'sawah Villa Kedungu · Tabanan On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Nanuk's Bungalows Nusa Lembongan · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Indigo Blue Ceningan Nusa Ceningan · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Secret Point Huts Nusa Lembongan · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access 57 m Matahari Tulamben Resort, Dive & SPA Kubu · East Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Permata Hill Nusa Penida Sampalan · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Surya Chandra Beach Bungalows Sampalan · Nusa Islands On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds New Starlight Hotel Lovina Lovina · North Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds Villa Selina Tejakula · North Bali On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds SOL by Meliá Benoa Bali - All Inclusive Nusa Dua · Nusa Dua On the sea, direct access measured from a point on the grounds