filmwill

Looking to narrow down between these two.

Our choice of room wasn't available @ Alam Shanti for our dates and it seems like Komaneka (Monkey Forest) is a great backup.

They're almost identical in price and even though Komaneka offers slightly more amenities included in their rate, I'm at a loss for which to pick. I've heard so many great things about Alam Shanti from folks on here.

Anyone have any idea which is in a better location? From what I can gather, it looks like Komaneka is right in town, where Alam Shanti is just on the outskirts.

Location may have a huge bearing on our choice as we'll be spending our last 4 nights in Ubud @ the Komaneka property outside of town (Tanggyuda) and it might be nice to spend the first 3 nights directly in town--just so we can mix things up a bit.

bkklover

I know this question has been answered before but anyway here goes ! I have stayed at Komaneka [ Monkey Forest ] many times and have always been happy with the staff, spa, rooms and helpfulness of the staff. Loved the free afternoon tea served be the pool each day. Located down a long path , off the main road and so is very peaceful.Views over the rice paddy fields are restful and these are the rooms to ask for. Rooms upstairs are the best for this and also are larger with balconies. Downstairs I found the rooms smaller and darker, and the moment the doors were opened to go outside there were insects and mosquitos everywhere. This is a was a definite no no.So close to the top of Monkey Forest , great for strolling back to after morning coffee at Tucmak, dropping off the laundry next door and having a massage at Milano Salon just nearby. Alam Shanti ? Have checked out the place but not stayed there. Too far down for me and when shown through the rooms recently found them all with windows wide open, very hot inside, insects in every room, stuffy smell, floors dirty and just not inviting. I was given a key to 3 different rooms and told to have a look. No one came with me and a guest there told me there were only 2 inhouse guests staying there. You would have thought a staff member would have been keen to escort me and my group of 4 around the property as we needed 3 rooms. Hardly a great welcoming.
Hope this helps you.

filmwill

this is extremely helpful, bkklover. thanks so much!

btw--i've done multiple searches on here for both alam shanti and komaneka and have not found this info.

rhkkmk

he/she must have had dirty glasses on... We found nothing of the sort on our visit...

We kept the windows closed all the time with the a/c on and it was very pleasant---not one bug! at nite they light insect coils just outside your door and it works...

I am honestly suspect of this negetive review... but yes it is not in town, which i find a plus but with free drop off pick up who cares..

cruisinred

I haven't stayed at these places, but I did check them out when I was in Ubud in Sept.
My impression is that Alam Shanti is more of an "inn" while Komeneka is a small hotel, if that makes sense?

As Bob said, I wouldn't worry too much about the location issue, either way, particularly if Alam Shanti offers free pickup/drop off. It is also a quick (10 mins?) walk from Alam Shanti to the edge of "downtown" Ubud.

One other thing I want to mention, that I haven't seen commented on too much is that Ubud, while lovely and scenic in spots, gets crowded with traffic and people! There is a loop road, one way, around the town and there are traffic jams. I mention this for two reasons 1) don't expect it to be entirely quiet/tranquil and 2) staying a bit outside of town can be a welcome respite.

rhkkmk

good point but in may its not bad

susncrg

If you are leaning towards Komaneka, you might want to look at the website for the newest of them in Ubud, the Komaneka Bisma. It's not on Monkey Forest, but on Jalan Bisma, the road behind. If you were to walk into Kajane Mua (right across the street from Komaneka) and go all the way through the property to Jalan Bisma, it would be across the street and to the left. All rooms look out onto the rice fields and lush hills beyond. The horizon pool is extremely long and very pretty. The staff will drive you out to anywhere in town, if you don't wanta long walk. So it's not right on the main drag, like the other one, but not as far out as Alam Shanti. Because they are newer and less known, they gave us quite a good price when we enquired.

Pros: The room, which was like a junior suite was very nice, with couch, flat screen, nice desk and wi-fi for your laptop, cookies and fruit in your room and luxurious bathroom. The included breakast was very good (better than Kajane, which we also like in general). The lobby is lovely with great artwork and views and the pools are great. They have a spa which I didn't try.

Cons: The outside of the hotel wing as you walk to the rooms looks a little stark for my taste, but once inside the room that feeling disappears. They haven't finished paving the road, so it's a little bumpy as they drive you in and out. It is very contemporary, so if you want the ambience of a Balinese inn, this will definitely feel more like a hotel, though a lovely one.

So many good choices in Ubud...you'll have more than you need.

bkklover

rhkkmk should be mature enough in his comments to accept that people have had diferent experiences .Whilst in Sanur I stay at the Bali Hyatt and the reviews of this hotel are often horrendous but I can understand while some people would not be happy there. I believe my opinions on the two Ubud properties are factual, in any case I wear contact lenses.

rhkkmk

i am more than mature and WHILST i have observed the place carefully i may have missed a bug or two---its the tropics after all

JohnH

I loved Komaneka! Totally agree with bkklover about getting an upper rice paddy view room. Actually I stayed at a smaller hotel outside of Ubud for the first 2 nights I was there (Alam Jiwa) and much preferred being right in the town. Although they provided transportation, it wasn't always convenient and took 20-25 minutes each way.

Gpanda

I thought you and David would stay in a hostel. Don't you want to exoerience the real Ubud? Forget these posh hotels and slumber with the ones on the front line.

Of course Bugs don't bother Bob. He's their last choice for a landing spot.

MichaelBKK

Funny, I thought he was their first choice. All those hand gestures at that end of the table during the GTG had me thinking there were a lot of mosquitoes in the room. At least they weren't at our end of the table.

filmwill

Interesting footnote: Komaneka Monkey Forest will not guarantee that they can give me an upstairs room. They say that due to "limited availability" they can't guarantee but they 'will do their best to make sure we're comfortable.' Oh, that sounds a bit sketchy, if you ask me. Is this normal? Maybe I'm missing something?...we're 6 months out!

It's funny, because all the "bad" reviews on TA talk about the dark downstairs rooms and all say to get an upstairs room and get your confirmation in writing cuz they are notorious for trying to switch rooms on folks at the last-minute.

BTW, John, bkklover, did you guys book a Deluxe Room or a higher class of room? Because the hotel is telling me that they don't have any Deluxe Rooms upstairs that face the paddies--just all garden view.

filmwill

BTW, what makes it even more bizarre is that on their own website, under the image gallery for the MF property, they have 1 picture of a deluxe room with a straight-on rice paddy view.

Oh, Asia, you and your little quirks!

marmot

It seems to me that all of the small, independent resorts in Ubud and surrounding are very similar and guests' satisfaction depends on the level of service that they receive at any one point in time. Most are pleased with their choice and return again and again.

It also seems to me that we early planners are actually penalized as all resorts like to keep their rates high and options open until the last minute. When you get closer to the date, rates come down and people get a lot more accommodating.

I've never stayed at either Alam Shanti or any of the Komens, but I have friends who are repeat customers. Both are very well respected among the Ubud resort establishment.

I would say the same about Ketut's Place in Ubud and Alam Sari outside of town.

My son and his college friends had a great time at Ketut's. They felt that the management went out of their way to offer intense cultural experiences and even my son who had lived in Indonesia for most of his life was impressed.

Alam Sari is owned by long time Indonesia expats from New Zealand who are also highly attuned to Balinese cultural experiences. They have three young adult sons who have contributed a lot to the resort's menu of adventure activities.
http://www.alamsari.com/about-us.html

I just came back from a long weekend in Bali. Basically, people there are happy. You have to really try to have a bad experience.

rhkkmk

alam sari is not to be confused with alam shanti

JohnH

filmwill - Wow their redesigned website is useless! This was about 2+ years ago, but I just walked in and asked what was available. They showed me the deluxe room and the suite. I loved the suite even though it was a bit more than I wanted to pay - about $180 I think. By the way the rice paddy is a small field, not an endless vista of terraced rice paddies. Still, it was a really great view to have from the room.

Orlando_Vic

bkklover,
Thanks for the detailed information on Komaneka at Monkey Forest. We made reservations there for May primarily on the basis of their great location. You have validated my decision. It was good to know about the larger upstairs (Deluxe) rooms having better views and being less "buggy" than the ground level rooms.

I am assuming that if there are no elevators, hotel staff can help us get our bags upstairs?

rose3008

hi I have stayed at Komaneka monkey forest twice in a ground floor room, it was amazing! OK bugs I think are everywhere but the room had everything & staff can't do enough! they get booked up quickly, so I booked my next trip later this month at the new bismo hotel, more money & I think still walking distance to town! but it has a gym that attracted me with all the incredible cuisine I need to exercise! no worries at komaneka! just don't book thru asia rooms.com as their price was higher than others!