Jl. Monkey Forest, Ubud, Indonesia
Walkable location on Monkey Forest street, with easy access to restaurants, bars, shops, and sights
Two outdoor swimming pools with great views and serene settings
Private two-story family bungalows with spacious floor plans
Pleasant rooms have private furnished outdoor areas
The riverside spa offers massage and beauty treatments
Restaurant serves Western and Indonesian favorites
A la carte breakfast is included in room rates
A small yoga shala overlooks the river
Wi-Fi is free throughout and parking is available on-site
The facilities are a bit rundown and aged
Some rooms have peeling paint, musty bathrooms, and tired decor
Standard rooms don't come equipped with TVs
Not all rooms feature rice field views
Sri Bungalows is a tranquil budget hotel that has a classic Bali look and feel, and is ideally located along Monkey Forest Street, Ubud's most happening downtown locale. The hotel opened in 1995 and both the rooms and facilities are somewhat aged. The property features stunning rice field and river views, lush tropical gardens, two swimming pools, a riverside spa and yoga shala, and a restaurant serving Indonesian and Western favorites. The 48 bright rooms offer rice field or garden views, hardwood furniture, and modern amenities. Room types range from small suites to large two-story family bungalows. As an alternative hotel that's a five-minute walk from downtown, Pertiwi Bisma 2 features a more serene setting and standalone wooden bungalows with elegant interiors.
Scene
A laid-back hotel with a serene setting, plus stunning rice field and river views
Sri Bungalows are situated right in the heart of Ubud, but once inside the sprawling property it feels tranquil and far removed from the buzz of downtown. The hotel opened in 1995 and features classic Bali stylings and architecture, with red-brick exteriors, open-air spaces, manicured tropical gardens, and intricately carved stone statues lining the facilities and grounds. One of the biggest draws are the rice field vistas, rain forest, and river views, and the lush tropical garden setting. There are two outdoor swimming pools, the main pool is perched along the river bank and has a serene ambience, with the constant sounds of nature and the flowing rapids creating a soothing soundtrack. We noticed during our tour that some facilities have rough edges and show their age. Overall, the hotel has a laid-back vibe and is well suited for families, couples, and single travelers looking to stay at a downtown hotel with a classic Bali feel in a tranquil tropical setting.
Location
On Monkey Forest Street, Ubud's most happening locale, lined with bars, restaurants, boutiques, and galleries
The hotel is located on Monkey Forest Street -- Ubud's most happening locale, which is lined with a restaurants, bars, and boutique shops. Many of Ubud's popular attractions are within a 10- to 15-minute walk from the hotel, including the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud Palace, and the Ubud Handicrafts Market. Ubud has become one of the best destinations for wellness and yoga. The most established yoga and wellness centers in town are The Yoga Barn, Taksu Yoga, and Radiantly Alive Yoga -- all of which take about a 10- to 15-minute car ride to reach from the hotel. Ubud's vibrant art scene and interesting museums are worth checking out. Puri Museum Lukisan, Blanco Renaissance Museum, and Arma Museum are all around 15 minutes away by car. Guests should budget around 60 minutes for transfers to Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Rooms
Bright and airy rooms and bungalows with furnished outdoor spaces
Sri Bungalows has a variety of room options to suit different budgets and needs, from private standalone bungalows to standard hotel-style suites located in a multistory building. Rooms are bright and airy, and most feature large windows to take full advantage of the views. The higher category rooms feature rice field, river, or pool views while the lower category rooms overlook the manicure tropical gardens.
Interiors are clean and consist of sparsely decorated white walls, hardwood furniture, and woven bamboo ceilings. Rooms are outfitted with four-poster canopy beds with mosquito nets, dressing tables, balcony seating, and spacious wardrobes. Standard modern amenities include air-conditioning, TVs (not included in Standard Rooms), mini-fridges, safes, and bottled water.
Two-bedroom Family Rooms, which are housed in a standalone bungalow, feature a large downstairs bedroom with a large patio and ensuite bathroom, plus a small upstairs loft bedroom that also has a balcony. Most of the Standard Rooms are located in the older wing of the hotel and feature classic Bali stylings with exposed red-brick exteriors and intricately carved wooden doors.
Bathrooms across all room categories are mostly modern and clean but are fairly basic and tired looking. Most bathrooms include a small vanities with washing sinks and mirrors, bathtubs, and a separate rainfall shower with a shower curtain. Hairdryers and toiletries are provided.
During our tour we noticed that many of the rooms on-site were fairly well maintained but definitely showed signs of age with peeling paint, musty smelling bathrooms, and tacky looking decor.
Features
Two swimming pools, a spa, a yoga shala, and a restaurant
Sri Bungalows has a decent amount of facilities on offer that cater to tourists. The two swimming pools tend to be hubs of activity throughout the day and both feature tropical garden settings, with the main pool being especially tranquil as it overlooks the jungle valley and river. The riverside pool is long enough for laps and also includes a shallow kids' section. The second swimming pool is located near the restaurant and overlooks the rice fields. Sri Spa is an intimate riverside spa with four massage treatment rooms and a space for hair treatments and nail services. There's a small yoga shala, that's fairly rundown, and adjacent to the spa that overlooks the river. The restaurant is positioned street-side and offers a menu consisting of Indonesian fare and a few Western favorites and beers. Breakfast is included in all room rates and is served in an a la carte format with a selection of American, continental, and Asian options. Wi-Fi is free throughout and there is parking on-site but space is limited.