Alam KulKul Boutique Resort

Statues and flowering vines lead to the Alam KulKul Boutique Resort, a traditional and homey Balinese hotel dominated by gray stone and hardwood. Authentic Balinese music plays in the classic, spacious lobby, where carved wood ceilings and landscape murals stand out amongst earth-toned furniture. The resort's two Balinese-style restaurants feature wonderful beach views and have open-air design with outdoor wicker seating areas. Bright art accents soft couches in the exclusive AlamClub, which is only open to certain hotel guests, while the garden surrounding the property stuns, with fountains, statues, and trees. Guests are mostly Australian couples and families looking for a quiet stay in an excellent location.

The Alam KulKul Boutique Resort is in a busy area of Kuta, across the street from Kuta Beach. This is about as central as it gets in the city, and many of the highlights in town are within walking distance. The Beachwalk shopping center plus restaurants and Jalan Legian -- lined with shops, restaurants, bars, and all kinds of venues -- are both a 10-minute walk away. Legian Beach and the shops at Kuta Square are within a 20-minute walk of the resort (five minutes by car). Seminyak Square and the Discovery Shopping Mall are both less than a 10-minute drive from the hotel, and the Ngurah Rai International Airport is a 20-minute car ride away.

Alam and Family Rooms plus Villas blend contemporary and traditional style elements, with carved antique furniture, high ceilings, and local artwork, all in shades of white and brown. All rooms are large, with Alam Rooms starting at 38 square meters (409 square feet). While the look throughout is certainly upscale, these are sober, sparely decorated spaces, with little-to-no wall art. Features include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, coffeemakers, and free bottled water. Most rooms have furnished balconies, and some have amazing sea views. Some rooms also have private plunge pools and/or access to the AlamClub, which offers free snacks and extra business services. Modern, minimalist tan tile bathrooms have wood doors or sliding glass, and most have walk-in tile showers. Several have rainfall showerheads and marble tubs while showers are located outside in a few rooms. Note that some rooms are markedly more stylish than others and past guests have complained that mosquitoes can be an issue (most beds lack mosquito netting). 

The resort offers two blue-tile outdoor pools with accompanying kids' pools, both of which are surrounded by greenery and seating. Asian and Mediterranean cuisine is served at the two on-site restaurants -- Bunga Kelapa Restaurant and Papas Limoncello Cafe Bali -- while the Poolside Bar and The Veranda have tropical cocktails, wine, and beer. A breakfast buffet with plenty of hot and cold option is available but isn't included with room rates. Facials, body treatments, and massages are offered at the Jamu Spa, and there's a computer station with two computers and a printer. The AlamClub offers free coffee, soda, and snacks in addition to private check-in and checkout, but only guests of certain room levels are allowed access. Wi-Fi is free, but activities such as spa demonstrations and wood or fruit carving classes cost extra.