Best Hotels In Key West 2025
Our top overall recommendation is The Marquesa Hotel, thanks to its prime location a block off of Duval Street. Meanwhile, luxury seekers will appreciate a resort-style stay at Ocean Key Resort & Spa, design aficionados will be impressed with the charming furnishings at The Grand Maloney and families seeking ample room for children to play will want to book Parrot Key Hotel And Villas. Ahead, the best hotels in Key West for 2025.
Exterior of The Marquesa Hotel in Key West, Florida.
This charming hotel is perched on Fleming Street in the heart of Old Town, providing a superb location within walking distance of Key West's best sights. With just 27 rooms inside four restored, Victorian-style conch cottages dating back to the late 1800s, guests can enjoy pops of pastels, white wrap-around balconies, lush tropical flora and two courtyard swimming pools. While no two rooms are exactly alike, most are spacious with high gloss Brazilian cherry hardwood floors and a mélange of furniture sourced everywhere from the West Indies to the Philippines and England. For foodies, the property's on-site restaurant, Café Marquesa, is widely regarded as one of the best in Key West, with creative preparations of local seafood such as seared black grouper with basil blue crab and saffron aioli.
Guest room at Ocean Key Resort & Spa.
For unparalleled sunset views, Ocean Key Resort & Spa offers 27 guest rooms, many of which feature a private balcony with views of Key West Harbor (others overlook the historic Duval Street). Each room offers a sophisticated and elegant mix of florals and stripes, as well as an in-room mini bar that's refreshed daily and comfortable wooden furniture for reading or enjoying a coffee before starting your day. The fantastic spa, SpaTerre, features Balinese-inspired treatments, and the resort offers multiple dining options, whether you're looking for a sit-down dinner or poolside drinks. The property's Sunset Pier bar is also open daily and features live music, allowing travelers to take in the beautiful scenery while enjoying the music.
A room at the Grand Maloney.
Design aficionados will be delighted by this intimate hotel, which features five individually designed guest rooms (each with its own name) and a freestanding carriage house with a tropical outdoor shower that will make you feel as though you're on a private island. Every room is housed within a meticulously restored Victorian-style mansion, preserving many historic architectural details, including the 11-foot ceilings and 150-year-old wood floors. Beyond the well-appointed rooms, numerous common spaces are available for relaxation before exploring the nearby shops and restaurants, including a pool and an airy second-floor balcony. The mansion also features a wraparound front porch where travelers can mingle and enjoy a morning coffee (complimentary espresso is available in the lobby).
Exterior of Parrot Key Hotel & Villas.
For families traveling with little ones in tow, Parrot Key Hotel and Villas is an excellent option. It overlooks the Florida Bay and offers plenty of privacy and breathtaking views. (Although it's a 10 to 15 minute drive to Old Town, there's a complimentary shuttle so guests won't have to worry about transportation.) One of the best features of this hotel is its four sparkling pools, nestled among lush plants and sculpture gardens; there's also five acres of tropical gardens that surround the property and the waterfront white sand beach. The 148 spacious rooms and villas are perfect for large broods, with a porch overlooking the property's well-manicured gardens. Families can also enjoy outdoor excursions such as parasailing, snorkeling, and a guided kayak tour, which will keep younger travelers engaged and excited.
Exterior of The Saint Hotel Key West, Autograph Collection.
Couples seeking a playful atmosphere with numerous amenities will find plenty to love at this adults-only hotel, situated in Old Town and offering easy access to the main attractions that draw travelers to Key West year after year. There are 36 rooms with a fun, eclectic design that reflects the vibrancy of the location. The rooms are outfitted with a variety of amenities, including large flat-screen TVs and spacious walk-in showers. If you're looking for a drink in a lively setting, the rooftop bar has live music, and the hotel's onsite restaurant is an excellent spot for dinner or a late-night snack. If you're seeking excitement beyond the hustle and bustle of Old Town, the hotel offers a year-round outdoor swimming pool with pool loungers and free bicycles for guests to use at their leisure.
Exterior of The Mansion On The Sea.
Those with a penchant for old-world charm will enjoy the historic architecture of this distinctive adults-only hotel, located on Duval Street. The Victorian mansion is painted pink with hints of seafoam green and features a turret, as well as a wraparound front porch that's perfect for taking in sunrises and sunsets while enjoying the mild weather. It was initially built as a private residence and later turned into a hotel with 18 guest rooms, a heated zero-entry infinity pool and a poolside bar. Pool towels, lounge chairs, and umbrellas are all available for guests to use, and the poolside bar offers a delicious assortment of snacks and drinks (including the café's famous lobster pizza). There's also a complimentary continental breakfast each morning where travelers can enjoy locally ground and roasted coffee, fresh fruit, pastries, bagels, yogurt, eggs and more.
The Forbes Vetted travel team has researched, written and published dozens of hotel guides featuring cities across the globe.
We selected the top contenders based on personal experience and extensive research.
I am a commerce editor for Forbes Vetted covering topics in beauty, fashion, travel and home. Prior to joining Forbes, I held positions at BuzzFeed and Dotdash Meredith, where I was responsible for curating lifestyle content and testing products for real-world insights. My work has appeared in Women's Health, Men's Health, BuzzFeed, Brit + Co, Everyday Health and more. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in English/Creative Writing from Marist College and currently reside in Brooklyn, New York.
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Skift
20 hours ago
- Skift
Biggest Innovators in Travel and Hospitality: Summer 2025
The bar is higher than ever. Analog feelings, sensory experiences, and things that have stood the test of hundreds of years have become all the more appealing. We're back with another half-yearly check-in on the experiences, people, and standout moments powering travel and hospitality. I'm pleased to say the bar has been raised significantly, with entrepreneurial energy driving innovation while family-owned properties and experiences continue making their strong case for travelers' spending. Of note, I'm tracking a movement toward more sensory experiences for travelers: think of getting off the regimented route of the safari truck to instead track a rhino on foot, or integrating local herbal remedies into spas in lieu of big-ticket lotions and potions owned by conglomerates. As we're inundated with technology and AI slop, it turns out that analog feelings, experiences, and things that have stood the test of hundreds of years become all the more appealing. Another trend to note: zigging when everyone else is zagging. As the usual suspects like the South of France and Amalfi Coast become log-jammed with tourists, what are the interesting new breakout places that still have cultural panache and compelling elements, minus the bottle service hordes? Think the likes of Portonovo, further afield in Portugal, Menorca (while this lasts), Norway, and visiting a grand hotel in the Alps during summertime. Contrarian moves can be richly rewarding. See you in early 2026 for our next best-of. Openings of Note: Hotel Wren, Patina, Auberge Jessica Pell opened a jewelbox of a hotel in 29 Palms near Joshua Tree in California. The LA-based founder of Manola Studio transformed a run-down motor lodge into Hotel Wren, which opened in fall 2024. It's a beautifully crafted boutique in a place without many non-Airbnb options, and Pell's studio did an elegant job. It has a small footprint but feels native to the place in terms of vibe and color scheme, with the design serving as 'both a love letter to the desert and a quiet expression of the studio's values.' Capella's sister brand, Patina, had a standout opening in Osaka. Opening on May 1, 2025, Patina Osaka is the first urban hotel for the sub-brand, rising 20 stories with unobstructed views of Osaka Castle and featuring 221 rooms designed around the idea of kisetsukan (seasonal awareness). The brand has a strong cultural pulse, stemming from audiophile collaborations with OJAS through The Listening Room, as well as Japanese tastemaker Verdy, who serves as Creative Partner. Auberge's opening in Florence, Collegio alla Querce, has generated plenty of positive buzz. The brand transformed a Renaissance-era villa into an 83-room hotel. Auberge continues to execute with taste, nuance, and some of the sharpest design leadership in the business. It's strong competition in a very popular market for U.S. travelers and beyond. Audiophile Excellence: Il Sereno Lake Como's Darsena Listening Suite I've written about the missed opportunity for high-end audio in many hotels. I was happy to see Il Sereno hotel in Lake Como build a new suite for music lovers. The Darsena Listening Suite features a high-tech sound system comprising Klipsch La Scala II speakers, a McIntosh MC275 amplifier, McIntosh C22 pre-amplifier, Thorens 1601 turntable with Sumiko Amethyst cartridge, and a restored Revox deck that inspired the project. Created by owner-audiophile Luis Contreras in collaboration with designer Patricia Urquiola, the suite draws inspiration from Tokyo's jazz-kissa listening cafés. More hotels need to be doing things like this. Startups to Watch: Staays and Boutique Homes Staays is a highly curated booking engine that gives me some of the feeling I had when first perusing Tablet to find interesting, handpicked properties. It is still building, but both the art direction and the selection of properties are high taste. Marc Blazer was a founding investor in Noma, and co-founded the travel company Prior. He's now working on Boutique Homes, which is a very curated selection of design-centric homes and small hotels in interesting locations. As Airbnb feels much like a mass supermarket in many respects, consider this the Erewhon. I'm impressed with the execution so far. Aviation White Space I've long been a fan of JSX and their business model: flying in and out of private terminals. Aero is now also executing in this market, albeit focused more on leisure travel: think Van Nuys to Cabo, Salt Lake City, Napa, etc. They've also launched a transcontinental product between New York and Los Angeles. The brand operates in a sweet spot between commercial first class and full private jet travel, using converted Embraer ERJ135 aircraft reconfigured to accommodate just 16 guests in a spacious 1×1 layout. In the Middle East, Beond is flying jets with flat beds from Dubai's Al Maktoum to the Maldives, with rumored route expansions in the pipeline. The airline operates Airbus A319s with 44 lie-flat seats and A321s with 68 lie-flat seats in a 2-2 configuration. Designed by Italian manufacturer Optimares, the seats share components with LaFerrari, the luxury sports car. Beond has bold ambitions to grow its fleet to 32 all-premium aircraft in the next five years, with plans to expand beyond the Maldives. Rumor has it some UAE backing is in the cards. Best Cohesive Guest Experience: Deer Valley and Raffles Singapore As I wrote about in a longer column, the end-to-end experience of Deer Valley is one of the most cohesive and consistent in the world, across nearly every touchpoint. The resort justifies its $329 lift tickets by delivering a meticulously crafted luxury skiing experience, focusing on personalized service and minimal lift lines. The resort employs a unique capacity management strategy, limiting daily skiers to maintain uncrowded slopes, which costs potential revenue but preserves its premium brand. Deer Valley is also intentional about keeping humans in the loop, especially at key touchpoints where there can be outsized utility or emotional impact. I notice staff with longtime tenure, and smart use of retirees, many of them octogenarians, who bring warmth and expertise to the entire offering. In terms of a more classic hospitality experience, I thought Raffles Singapore recently lived up to its billing: incredibly elegant doormen who remember every guest's name, subtle but anticipatory butler service, and it was also nice to see top-tier familiar talent from other hotels who recently transferred to the property. The brand is not resting on its history or laurels and is worth the price of admission, without question. Best African Opening: Few & Far Luvhondo Sarah and Jacob Dusek's post-Under Canvas venture launched in early 2025 in South Africa's Soutpansberg Mountains. Six cliffside suites surrounded by ancient baobab trees within the UNESCO Vhembe Biosphere Reserve. But here's what makes it special: it's carbon negative, sequestering over 100,000 tons annually through active regeneration efforts. They're not just preserving wilderness; they're actively restoring it. It's what safari should be in 2025. Best Hospitality Innovations Dishoom: The London-based Indian restaurant group launched overnight lodging above their Permit Room bar in Portobello. It's not a hotel play per se; it's a clever brand extension that lets guests live inside their theatrical universe. Smart. VIPP: The Danish design company turned hospitality on its head with their 'untraditional hotel concept.' Instead of many rooms in one location, they offer one room at different destinations. Their 55 m² steel Shelter is billed as a 'battery-charging station for humans,' a livable design object dropped into nature and kitted out entirely with VIPP products. It's hospitality as a product, not architecture. At €1,000 per night, it's for people who want to test-drive living with serious design in places like Australia and Todos Santos. The Malin: Finally, coworking spaces that understand the creative class deserve better than beanbags and kombucha with bad motivational posters. Their SoHo flagship and expanding network offer 'beautiful spaces that enable your best work' through thoughtful design, not distraction. No application process, no performative community nonsense, just elevated environments where ambitious people can focus. It's what coworking should have been from the start. I am bullish on this company. Best Brand Revamp: Cathay Pacific Cathay Pacific's Bridge lounge at HKG I'm happy to report that Cathay is back on the upswing. They have a few kinks to iron out, but as the new business class Aria Suite comes online, they've also set their attention to some of their lounge products, recently redoing their Bridge lounge at HKG. The Bridge now splits into distinct Asian and International wings — the Asian side features their iconic Noodle Bar plus The Nook, a custom dim sum cart serving regional Chinese small plates. It's smart to lean into their cultural positioning rather than chase generic luxury. I also liked their Mott 32 collaboration, a partnership with the world-renowned Chinese restaurant brand for seasonal tasting menus in The Pier, First Class lounge. It shows how airlines can elevate dining through strategic partnerships rather than trying to do everything in-house. It's access to a worldview, not just doing everything internally. The taste levels the brand has historically highlighted are back on display. Breakout Destination: Norway The Nordics continue their hospitality ascendancy, and Norway is having a particular moment. In Svalbard, yes, Svalbard: Huset Restaurant ranks as one of Norway's best, serving local ingredients from Arctic fishermen, trappers, and hunters with a wine cellar that rivals anything in Scandinavia (1,000+ titles, 6,000 bottles). The fact that world-class hospitality exists at the edge of civilization says everything about Norwegian standards. Back in Oslo, there's Hobo Hotel, which takes a nod from the Ace and also Hoshino's OMO brand. It is 181 rooms designed as an urban hub where locals and visitors actually want to mix. On the luxury end, 62 Nord continues to set the standard for high-end expeditionary luxury in the country. Welcome Trend: More Sensory-led Luxury in South America Recently acquired by new ownership, Awasi's collection of small luxury lodges offers private all-inclusive programs in South America's most iconic destinations: taking a similar approach to an African safari, but with different, interesting landscapes. Meanwhile, Andean Collection continues expanding throughout Peru. Both brands show how South America is finally getting the luxury hospitality infrastructure its landscapes deserve. Smart operators are recognizing that South America's combination of dramatic geography and rising interest from both South American and global affluent travelers makes it a big opportunity. Waterborn Innovation: Navier N30 Four Seasons launched an electric boat on Lake Austin, the Navier N30. The company says the vessels are environmentally friendly with zero emissions and no seasickness. The approach, where the vessel lifts out of the water at a certain speed, preserves the serenity and beauty of the lake while making passengers more comfortable. It is a smart move by Four Seasons, applying serious innovation to the water experience rather than just slapping 'sustainable' labels on traditional boats. Most Inspirational Urban Innovation: New Bahru I recently toured Lo and Behold Group's transformation of former Nan Chiau High School into New Bahru and think it represents Singapore's most ambitious creative clustering project. Set across 20,000 square meters in River Valley, it houses over 40 local businesses from cafés and restaurants to retail and wellness. I've written about the rise of more creativity in Singapore, and this is an incredibly vivid example of it happening. Watch for more out of Lo and Behold. Best Team: Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal I came in expecting a scenic property that has a history. I was blown away by the nuance, anticipation, and pride of a team that has been working at this property for years. The end-to-end experience, from arrival to morning coffee, to the housekeeping and spa, was in the top 1 percent of execution. Remarkably good. Standout Hotelier: Jeff Klein Jeff Klein has impeccable taste, as seen in his Sunset Tower property. But I've noticed he's managed to scale the San Vicente Bungalows Members Club quite nicely, first with Santa Monica, and now with New York in the former Jane Hotel. The design is spot-on, and it has a magnetic cultural appeal. Membership clubs are getting saturated (and service is often lacking), but I'm betting that Klein has the secret sauce to make these experiences have more staying power and cache. Best New NYC Hotels Fouquet's New York: I loved my stay at the Tribeca outpost of Barrière's Fouquet's. Though the room decor is a bit Ladurée pastel for my taste, the service and vibe were impeccable, down to the ambient music at 5 a.m., while I was partaking in a perfectly stocked coffee bar. The Barrière Group's first US outpost brings that unmistakable French touch, complete with the famous red awnings and elegant service standards delivered by palace trained French staff. The Fifth Avenue Hotel: NoMad is quickly becoming a must-stay neighborhood, and the newest entry occupies a restored 1909 building with 180 rooms and serious design credentials. They managed to do some great world-building without it feeling contrived, and I found the room to be thoughtful and generous, and staff to be polished. I will return. The Surrey: After a comprehensive renovation, this Upper East Side institution reopened with 190 rooms and a refreshed vision under the leadership of one of my favorite GMs, Pradeep Raman. The property strikes the right balance between residential elegance and hotel sophistication, making it feel like a New York insider secret uptown. Best City Hotel: Casa Polanco Mexico City's Casa Polanco ticks many boxes for me. It's in a wonderful location, it's family-run, and it espouses the idea of irrational generosity that you don't find at larger, corporate-run properties. There's an elegant library/bar room where everything on the bar cart is yours for the taking. The property has wonderful design touches, notably the Bang & Olufsen sound in the common spaces and, indulgently, in the rooms. I really enjoyed the staff, the privacy, and the entire experience. Best New Hospitality Voice: Nadine at The Stanza Nadine Choe founded The Stanza in July 2023 after nearly a decade in real estate private equity and development, including work on Cain International's One Beverly Hills project. Her excellent Substack newsletter discusses hospitality and fashion from an investor's perspective. 'I realized there's a gap in the market for content that talks about lifestyle brands from an institutional perspective,' Choe says. Finally, someone writing about hospitality who actually understands deal structures, capital flows, and what makes projects work financially. Her breakdown of members' club economics alone is worth the subscription. Most Anticipated Reopening: Park Hyatt Tokyo I have many memories tied to my 40+ stays at this property. Design studio Jouin Manku is handling the refresh, promising to honor John Morford's original vision while making it relevant for another 30 years. I'm eager to see how this emerges into the world. A scan of the designs tells me they are preserving a lot of what initially made this property great. Best First Class Innovation: Etihad A321LR Travelers flying on Etihad's A321LR Etihad is the first airline to offer fully enclosed first class suites on a single-aisle aircraft. Their new Airbus A321LR features two private first class suites with sliding doors and flat beds, a luxury typically reserved for much larger widebody aircraft. The aircraft represents the first of 30 A321LR planes scheduled to join Etihad's fleet, each designed to deliver what the airline calls 'widebody luxury on a single-aisle aircraft.' It's a smart strategic play: offering premium connectivity to thinner markets that don't have demand for widebody service, while maintaining the elevated experience Etihad is known for. The brand is reclaiming their previous reputation. New Ground Product: Emirates First Check-In Emirates launched a private and dedicated first class check-in facility at Dubai Airport, creating a completely separate arrival and departure experience for their highest-spending premium customers. It's a far departure from their old First Check-in, and makes the elevated product stand out even more. Expect this high-end competition to continue among some of the world's best airlines. Hope you found these to be inspiring. See you in 2026 with more of my observations.
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Travel + Leisure
21 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
I Just Got Back From Cannes, and These Are the 12 French Fashion Staples Everyone Is Wearing, From $30
The south of France, specifically Cannes, has its own elevated dress code; if you don't follow it, you risk sticking out like a tourist. After all, it's where chic Parisians vacation during the summer and sunbathe on their super yachts while sipping rosé from Provence; naturally, it's going to lend itself to a particular way of dressing. Although Cannes is a beach resort town, you can't wear flip-flops and baggy T-shirts. Everyone seems to use La Croisette, the promenade hugging the French Riviera coastline where you see celebrities during the Cannes Film Festival, as their personal catwalk: designer beach cover-ups, stylish sandals, and Italian-branded bags are everywhere. So, it pays to arrive prepared, with items like linen clothes that will keep you cool and looking stylish and comfortable sandals for long days on your feet that can pass as designer (even if they're Amazon!). If you're thinking of visiting Cannes, whether your first time or a return trip, here is a primer on what to wear, based on my experience as someone who visits regularly. In Cannes, everyone spends the day on the beach and then moves to a restaurant for lunch and dinner. The easiest way to do this seamlessly is to wear a beach cover-up dress. I saw different versions of this elegant crochet cover-up during my trip, which can go from beach to dinner by simply swapping your swimsuit for a slip. Pair it with a straw tote and sandals during the day, and gold jewelry and an elevated shoe at night. If crochet is not your thing, this Cupshe Women Beach Cover-up is equally effective at working double duty. It comes in a range of sizes from XS to XXL and has a lightweight material that won't weigh you down. With most of the beach clubs in Cannes being a short walk to the main shopping street, many beach-goers wear similar styles like this after a day at the beach before heading straight to their favorite eatery or bar at night. If I had a penny for each time I saw these Hermes-style sandals in Cannes, I could afford to join the elusive and private Members' Only Club at Palm Beach in Cannes (which is rumoured to start at $3,000 a year!). While the actual Hermes sandals cost close to $1,000, these Amazon shoes are equally fun to wear at a fraction of the price. There's a mixed-texture upper material that adds flair, and a cushioned sole that will keep your feet comfortable, perfect for walking up and down La Croisette. No visit to Cannes would be complete without wearing a floral, colorful summer dress. This Farm Rio midi dress fits perfectly into the Cannes fashion scene, with its slightly more elegant appearance for enjoying an aperitif while watching the sun set by the water. Made of viscose linen, it'll feel lightweight and comfortable on, perfect for hot summer days. The temperature can reach insanely hot levels in Cannes, so it pays to bring a lot of outfits because you will sweat through them. An easy way to make sure you have enough outfits is by packing a few matching sets that you can easily mix and match or wear together. This shirt and shorts set from Zara is made with cotton yarn and has an elegant yet slightly casual look. The rounded hem with side vents on the top will help you stay cool when the breeze in Cannes comes late at night. The matching Bermuda shorts are also made with 100 percent cotton, so they'll feel soft and comfortable. The best perk about these shorts is that there are side pockets to put your hotel room key or loose change in. $128 $115 at Europeans love wearing linen during the hot summer months. The material is loved by many because it helps you stay cool, and sweat doesn't show up as easily. This lace-up Madewell shirt is an elegant option that can be worn out to dinner or as a cover-up after you leave the beach, making it a smart, versatile addition to your suitcase. It seems like every celebrity has a designer straw hat these days, with Natalie Portman and Kate Middleton donning them at the French Open and Wimbledon, respectively. The sun in Cannes can feel blistering hot during the summer months, and it definitely pays to have a good, wide-brimmed hat to cover your face. This straw sun hat will be worth the investment because you can wear it with just about any outfit. Plus, it's made from a lightweight straw so your head won't overheat, even in the direct sunlight. One of the coolest places in Cannes is Medusa, a restaurant and cabaret show located in Palm Beach. It's a popular spot to dance, sing, and sip on cocktails, so wearing a show-stopping number like this draped belt minidress is one way to fit right in. With exaggerated sleeves and a gold embellished belt, you won't need to add more to this look than a cute pair of shoes and a handbag. You would be surprised at how many people work out while on vacation in Cannes. While many people spend their time in the gym, I personally think it's much nicer to put on your favorite running shoes and take a spin around the promenade. One of my go-to running shoes for traveling is the Hoka Arahi 8s, which are arch-supporting, comfortable, and versatile enough to wear beyond runs and the hotel gym. $80 $40 at Not many people wear bikinis in Cannes, and I saw a lot of one-piece swimwears out on the beach. Something like the DKNY Ruched One-piece Swimsuit is a good choice, because if you pair it with shorts, a skirt, or wide-leg palazzo pants, you can easily wear it as a bodysuit to a popular restaurant like Zuma or Anna and not look like you're wearing your swimwear to dinner. Don't forget your sunglasses when in Cannes. As a nod to the '50s when celebrities like Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren, and Grace Kelly visited for the Cannes Film Festival, these stylish June sunglasses by Vallon are the perfect choice for shielding your eyes from the blinding sun. If there is one thing you can't forget when visiting Cannes, it's sunscreen. During my recent visit, the temperature never dropped below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and this was at the very beginning of the summer. Shiseido's Clear Sunscreen remains one of my favorite SPF picks because it's not oily, yet it gives you a nice glow when applied to your face. One of the best activities in Cannes is to hire a boat or yacht and chill out on the water with your friends. If you're going to do this, you need to bring champagne, rosé, and some excellent French cheeses and other snacks to make the most of the day. This Osprey Transporter Heavy Duty Gear Tote is large enough to fit everything you need—and then some. The waterproof material also makes it a great bag for the beach, too, so it can pull double duty. If your hotel has its own private beach club like mine did, you will want to reserve a beach chair and spend a day outside the water. Be sure to pack a portable charger to avoid your battery running out. This portable charger with built-in cables is great to travel with because of its multi-purpose functions and fast-charging action. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
Time Business News
a day ago
- Time Business News
Balinese for Sorry – How to Say Ampura Right
🪷 Balinese for Sorry – By Giostanovlatto Founder Hey Bali When visiting Bali, it's easy to be captivated by the rice fields, sunsets, and the sweet sound of gamelan. But under all that beauty lies a deeply spiritual culture with unspoken rules. Break them—knowingly or not—and you might find yourself in need of one powerful word: Ampura. In Balinese, 'Ampura' means 'sorry.' But it's more than just a translation—it's a cultural lifeline. One misstep around a temple, or accidentally stepping on an offering ( canang sari ), and you'll understand why this word is essential in your Bali vocabulary. There are countless tourist blunders that can be smoothed over with a sincere 'Ampura' and a respectful gesture (hands pressed together in a sembah ). Like the time a tourist tried to take a selfie inside a cremation temple. Or when a Russian tourist trampled six offerings during a melasti procession. Spoiler: 'Oops' doesn't cut it. 'Ampura,' on the other hand, might just save your soul—and your spot on the next airport shuttle. For deeper offenses, like mocking sacred masks or interrupting ceremonies, there's also 'Nyanggra titiang', which means 'I humbly ask forgiveness.' Think of it as the spiritual nuclear option. In Bali, apologies aren't just spoken—they're shown. A simple 'Ampura' without the right body language may come off as hollow. That's why a small bow, a sembah , and real eye contact can go a long way. Locals appreciate effort, even if your pronunciation isn't perfect. Not all sorries are created equal. In different regions or levels of formality, you might also hear: Nunas Ampura – used for priests or elders. Extra respectful. – used for priests or elders. Extra respectful. Lakar Nyeneng – casual 'my bad' for marketplace clumsiness. – casual 'my bad' for marketplace clumsiness. Punapi Malih? – North Bali's dramatic 'what have I done?!' Master these and you'll sound less like a clueless tourist and more like an honorary local anthropologist. Respecting local customs isn't just about avoiding side-eye. It builds connection. And when you show humility in the face of a cultural mistake, Balinese people respond with warmth, laughter, and sometimes… holy water. So next time you're in Bali and find yourself in a sticky cultural moment, don't panic. Just breathe, bow slightly, and say it like you mean it: 'Ampura.' 🔗 Want the full guide with examples, funny tourist fails, and pronunciation tips? Read the complete article here → TIME BUSINESS NEWS
