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The Gong

Uluwatu, United States

1/0
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Overview

Pros

  • Walk to popular surf spots like Suluban Beach in 10 to 15 minutes

  • Five-minute drive to Uluwatu Temple and Single Fin bar

  • Simple rooms with private bathrooms and balconies

  • Cafe serving all meals, including well-liked Mexican dishes

  • Outdoor pool with lounge chairs and umbrellas

  • Spacious lounge area hosts frequent movie nights

  • Scooter and surfboard rentals on-site

  • Front desk staffed 24/7, can assist with transportation and tours

  • Laundry services on-site

  • Free Wi-Fi

Cons

  • Some rooms and public areas need a bit of TLC

  • No air-conditioning

  • Insects can be a problem at times (not unusual in Bali)

  • Multiple steps and no elevator

Bottom Line

The Gong is a family-owned budget property offering 12 rooms near several popular surfing spots, the closest of which (Suluban Beach) is a little over 10 minutes away on foot. Rooms are small and simple, with balconies and private bathrooms with showers, but they aren't air-conditioned and many have seen better days. A cafe serves all meals, and the outdoor pool is a lovely place to hang out --  additionally, movies are shown nightly in a comfy lounge. The Uluwatu Temple and popular Single Fin bar are within a five-minute drive, and the hotel rents cheap scooters that make getting around easy. The Gong's rates are hard to beat for budget-conscious travelers, but for more style in the same area, the Lullaby Bungalows has pricier, nicer digs.

Map

United States

Full Review

Scene

Basic family-owned property, appeals to surfers, backpackers, and others on a budget

This small family-owned property is a conundrum. On one hand, it's a popular crash pad for budget travelers, backpackers, and surfers -- and you'd be hard-pressed to find lower rates this close to Uluwatu's famous breaks. On the other, the humble grounds and interiors could benefit from some TLC. IThe hotel is situated in a cluster of modern Balinese buildings with a small grassy area and palm trees in the middle and tropical plants growing wildly around the buildings. A narrow, rectangular pool is at one end of the central area, and the concrete deck is lined with several cushioned wooden loungers and umbrellas. The lobby is small and cozy -- nothing fancy -- with just the front desk and a few wooden chairs and benches on white tile floors. Stairs lead down to the bright cafe, decorated with wooden furniture and bright blue and faded red accents. Surfboards are for rent in an adjacent room, and the sign out front is a surfboard, too -- both are less-than-subtle hints at this hotel's demographic. Quite a few guests return again and again and don't seem to mind that some parts of the hotel are looking a run down. 

Location

Close to Uluwatu's popular surfing spots, Uluwatu Temple, and Single Fin bar

This hotel is located in Uluwatu on the Bukit Peninsula in southwest Bali. Other hotels, villas, and restaurants are in the area, but many guests come here for the proximity to excellent surfing. Suluban Beach is among the most popular spots to catch waves, and is just a three-minute drive or a little over a 10-minute walk away. The ancient Uluwatu Temple can be reached in 15 minutes on foot or within a five-minute drive. Padang Padang Beach is a six-minute drive from the hotel and Dreamland Beach is about 20 minutes away by car. Guests looking for nightlife action can walk to the popular Single Fin bar in about 15 minutes, or five-minutes by vehicle. Keep in mind that Bali is hot, and reaching the beaches in this cliff-strewn part of the island involves lots of steps. A scooter is the best bet for navigating the area, and the hotel rents them for reasonable rates. Ngurah Rai International Airport, just outside of Bali's nightlife capital, Kuta, is about 40 minutes northeast of the hotel, and staff can assist with airport transfers to the property. 

Rooms

Small, simple rooms with private showers and balconies

Rooms are small and simple, with minimal decoration. They are all different, with a variety of bed configurations, including bunk beds with a double bed on the bottom and single bed on top -- making them popular with small groups of friends. Walls, floors, and bed coverings are white, and mosquito netting tops some of the beds. Furniture is done in honey-colored wood, and decorative pillows and drapery add a splash of color. All rooms come with floor fans and free Wi-Fi, but that's about it. Bathrooms are tiny, but they are private and have stand-up showers. Balconies with seating look out over the pool or to the ocean in the distance past scrubland. The penthouse room for four people has good sunset views, and third-floor rooms with sea views are also popular among guests. Keep in mind that most everything would benefit from a good scrubbing and a fresh coat of paint -- we saw stains, rust, and mildew in the bathrooms in particular. Insects can be found occasionally, as is true of many Bali hotels.

Features

Pool, lounge with movie nights, cafe serving all meals, scooter rentals 

The hotel doesn't have much to offer in the way of features, but the rectangular outdoor pool, surrounded by buildings, is a good place for hanging out and is a big plus in this price range. Like all other aspects of the hotel, though, a deep cleaning might make it a bit more appealing. A few lounge chairs and a couple of umbrellas are provided for relaxing poolside on the stone deck. A spacious lounge area inside, with beanbag chairs and cushioned benches, is a nice place for guests to gather, and movies are shown here nightly. Ceilings fans help cool the space. The open-air cafe serves all meals, including breakfast, which many guests rave about (particularly the breakfast burrito). The Mexican dishes on the menu earn high marks from many guests. The property can arrange for scooter rentals, which are handy for navigating the area in Bali's heat, and the front desk -- which is staffed around the clock -- can book surf camps, boat transfers, and more.