Bali lovers,
I have been home, sick for a week and driving myself crazy on this site and trip advisor trying to decide upon a hotel in Ubud.

Priorities:
1. view: don't mind being outside the town.
2. service
3. authentic (Balinese!)
4. Cost $100- $150/night for one of the better rooms, ie I don't want to spend 150 on a great deal, at a top hotel just to get the worst room or no view.

Any suggestions in this price range? Thanks.

take a look at alam shanti, walk to town or free shuttle

If you can tell me what “authentic (Balinese!)” means, that would help. Home stays or independent hotels which are owned and operated by Balinese locals may be what you mean, but even then it’s hard to know what “authentic” means if you want things like air-conditioning and hot running water, something lots of Balinese don’t have in their own homes. In any event, two smaller family-run hotels you might try are below. The Ananada has nice rice paddy views, but neither have the river-gorge views you may be thinking about. I don’t think either have air-conditioning, but then you want something that is “authentic (Balinese!)”.

Kebun Indah
c/o P.O. Box 165, Nyuhkuning,
Ubud 80571, Bali-Indonesia
Tel: 62-361-974629
Fax: 62-361-974629
email: [email protected]
http://www.alamindahbali.com/kebun_indah.htm

This is a series of bungalows and is run by the Cafe Wayan people who have a great restaurant nearby. Lovely pool, very quiet and private. Near the end of the Monkey Forest Road.

ANANDA COTTAGES
Jl. Campuhan, Ubud
Phone: 0361/975376
Fax: 0361/975375
http:// http://www.anandaubud.com
This is a bit outside of Ubud in the rice fields. Very friendly staff. Ask for a room on an upper floor, they are 2-storey wooden bungalows with thatched roofs.
I would be surprised if you could get a “top hotel” for US$150. Don’t forget about the 15% room tax on that to begin with, so if you have not included that, you mean a room at US$130. Many of the better hotels also add a service charge which brings the tax/service charge up to 20% or a bit more.
I have trouble with the words “authentic” and “Balinese” for many reasons when talking about hotels in Bali. For example, the Alila is part of a chain which is managed by a Singapore hotel management company, their CEO is an American, and they are either US or Chinese-majority owned. Other than housekeepers and other property-level staff, it’s management is almost excusievely European or American. I am not sure if you consider that to be “authtentic (Balinese!)” While the land and buildings on which many of hotels sit may be owned by Indonesians, for the most part these Indonesians are ethincally Chinese, who control much of the wealth in the country. They are not ethnically Balinese or Indonesian. The Amandari was actually developed and owned by an Indonesian (Adrian Zecha) and the hotel and the chain is still heavily influenced by him, although no longer majority owned by him. It may be the most “authentic (Balinese)” of the hotels around, and even Zecha is not of course Balinese. Many of these hotels are excellent, and all are “authentic” hotels, but I don’t know if they are “authenic Balinese” hotels, whatever that means.

Ulun Ubud? It was the first place we stayed in Ubud years ago, and it's still going. Price is right, on the edge of town...you can walk at least one way if you enjoy walking, view is lovely. Pool is small, but for the view and the price...

I would have to second the Alam Shanti--we were just there two weeks ago. It's gorgeous, quiet, beautiful views, wonderful staff. And the prices are very reasonable ($50-125/night depending on the room).

You could take a look at the Komaneka Resort in Tanggayuda
http://www.komaneka.com/komaneka/Suite/e_home.asp

Or the Waka group
http://www.wakaexperience.com/waka_diume.htm
http://www.wakaexperience.com/waka_namya.htm


I haven't stayed at either, but I've seen some of these properties and they all share a serene and natural aesthetic. "authentic" is questionable but they are all Balinese inspired. (As is the Alila in its own way.)

Agustina...tell us more about the Alum Shanti. We are going there in a few weeks with the Pandas. How is the breakfast, and beds? Can you really walk into town? Anything else?

kmkrnn,

You will love the Alam Shanti! I have to commend the staff first of all--they are hard working, go the extra mile for their guests, friendly, hospitable..etc..truly wonderful.

The breakfasts are great--you can choose what you'd like--fruit, eggs, pancakes (more like a crepe),jaffle, or a Balinese breakfast. It's very filling and satisfying. The rooms are quite gorgeous and the beds are extremely comfortable and large. Do you know which rooms you have reserved? We stayed in Saraswati which has a gorgeous upstairs terrace and views, and also Dewi room which is also upstairs and has beautiful views; we also tried the Laksmi room which is a 1st floor cottage--again, beautiful large porch, comfy beds.
Tea time is also a nice treat--we had chocolate cake, carrot cake, orange cake on various days. YOu can have breakfast and tea served in your room or at poolside. Just let the staff know the night before.

Yes, you can walk into the town of Ubud--you walk through the Monkey Forrest and it takes about 20minutes. It's a nice, scenic walk but if you don't want to do this, the Alam Shanti has a free shuttle into Ubud town and back.

There are a few restaurants right nearby the hotel too if you don't want to go into town for dinner; I recommend Chili Cafe which is just 5 minutes walking--try their Gado Gado and they had the best vegetable soup! There's also a "room service" from the Laki Leke restaurant--some of the best Snapper we've had and delicious Nasi Campur.

We loved the Alam Shanti and hope to return in the near future.

Enjoy your stay!

Thanks for the recommendations.

Regarding the word "authenticquot; maybe I should have said Balinese, period. Or traditional Balinese. And I'm referring to deco. But I certainly want to sleep: Does one need a/c in May in Ubud? I was hoping to sleep under mosquito netting and hear the sound of the forrest at night.

Anyone stay at Sayan Terrace
or Alam Jiwa (hotel relative to Alam Shanti)??

aug---our rooms are the Gangga for us and yamuna for the pandas...

we are really looking forward to this stay...

thanks for your info...

I never need aircon in Ubud, but it can get humid at night. My husband would like to close the windows and blast the a/c on high speed 24/7, but we've come to a compromise over the years. A/C at the beach; cross ventilation in Ubud.

Sounds like you already have great advice on hotels but here's another. We stayed at the Kamandalu about 8 years ago and loved it. Very charming rooms and staff and you can walk to anywhere in town.

http://kamandalu-resort.com/index.htm

Enjoy.

Bob/Karen,

Alam Shanti looks beautiful. When are you going?

we will be there with andy/beth from may 25-30....really looking forward to it...i'm told we have the "best" two rooms.....we are upstairs so i have already packed my heavy shoes to annoy the hell out of andy...

Does anyone think that Bob owns any "light" shoes?