The 20-room Sankara Resort is an upscale property situated in a rural area about a 20-minute drive from central Ubud. Rooms and villas are attractive and spacious, with a slightly rustic style, and all come with flat-screen TVs, DVD players, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Villas have private pools and outdoor kitchenettes, and many of the units have amazing rice-field views. The list of freebies is long and includes breakfast, afternoon tea, a scheduled shuttle to town, yoga classes, treks, and wood carving lessons. The lovely outdoor main pool with a bar is a plus, and the small spa gets rave reviews. The restaurant also draws praise for its Asian and Western cuisine. As an alternative, the Payogan Villa Resort & Spa is a similar property. It's less intimate, but slightly cheaper.
The 20-room Sankara Resort is an upscale property situated in a rural area about a 20-minute drive from central Ubud. Rooms and villas are attractive and spacious, with a slightly rustic style, and all come with flat-screen TVs, DVD players, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Villas have private pools and outdoor kitchenettes, and many of the units have amazing rice-field views. The list of freebies is long and includes breakfast, afternoon tea, a scheduled shuttle to town, yoga classes, treks, and wood carving lessons. The lovely outdoor main pool with a bar is a plus, and the small spa gets rave reviews. The restaurant also draws praise for its Asian and Western cuisine. As an alternative, the Payogan Villa Resort & Spa is a similar property. It's less intimate, but slightly cheaper.
The Kamandalu Ubud is a luxury eco-friendly villa resort styled like a traditional highland village and set in lush terraced grounds. The spacious villas open up to garden terraces with beautiful views, and some have private pools and Balinese daybeds. Facilities are first-class and include a huge pool with a swim-up bar, a smaller infinity pool with jungle views, a lovely yoga pavilion, and excellent dining. There's also a free shuttle service to Ubud, though it only runs six times a day. Guests with compromised mobility may wish to look elsewhere, as the property lacks elevators and has a lot of steps.
The Kamandalu Ubud is a luxury eco-friendly villa resort styled like a traditional highland village and set in lush terraced grounds. The spacious villas open up to garden terraces with beautiful views, and some have private pools and Balinese daybeds. Facilities are first-class and include a huge pool with a swim-up bar, a smaller infinity pool with jungle views, a lovely yoga pavilion, and excellent dining. There's also a free shuttle service to Ubud, though it only runs six times a day. Guests with compromised mobility may wish to look elsewhere, as the property lacks elevators and has a lot of steps.
Situated about a 10-minute walk from Ubud's Monkey Forest, the four-pearl Goya Boutique Resort is a charming boutique property with chic interiors and lush grounds. An attractive infinity-edge outdoor pool (that drops off into rain forest) is one of its best features, plus there's a spa, restaurant, and bar. The hotel can arrange various tours and activities, while an array of freebies like breakfast, afternoon tea, and shuttle service to central Ubud add value to a stay here. Chic and spacious suites come with flat-screen TVs, fresh fruit and free Wi-Fi, plus they have large living room-like balconies with jungle views. Villas have delightful private pools. Beautiful marble bathrooms have both rainfall showers and separate soaking tubs, plus guests can indulge in Bvlgari toiletries. For an alternative, check out the wellness-focused Svarga Loka Resort, which has yoga classes and a vegetarian restaurant.
Situated about a 10-minute walk from Ubud's Monkey Forest, the four-pearl Goya Boutique Resort is a charming boutique property with chic interiors and lush grounds. An attractive infinity-edge outdoor pool (that drops off into rain forest) is one of its best features, plus there's a spa, restaurant, and bar. The hotel can arrange various tours and activities, while an array of freebies like breakfast, afternoon tea, and shuttle service to central Ubud add value to a stay here. Chic and spacious suites come with flat-screen TVs, fresh fruit and free Wi-Fi, plus they have large living room-like balconies with jungle views. Villas have delightful private pools. Beautiful marble bathrooms have both rainfall showers and separate soaking tubs, plus guests can indulge in Bvlgari toiletries. For an alternative, check out the wellness-focused Svarga Loka Resort, which has yoga classes and a vegetarian restaurant.
The two-pearl Jati Home Stay is a charming and simple family-owned guest house in central Ubud. It sits just off the main north-south road and is a 10-minute walk from the Sacred Monkey Forest. The 10 simply decorated rooms are affordably priced and have a Balinese feel, with woven bamboo walls and carved wooded bed frames draped with mosquito nets. Rooms have no TVs, minibars, or tea- and coffee-making facilities, but free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. The Jati offers a free simple breakfast, an art studio, painting and dance lessons, and motorbike and bike rentals but no pool. Guests wanting to swim should try out the nearby Tegal Sari instead.
The two-pearl Jati Home Stay is a charming and simple family-owned guest house in central Ubud. It sits just off the main north-south road and is a 10-minute walk from the Sacred Monkey Forest. The 10 simply decorated rooms are affordably priced and have a Balinese feel, with woven bamboo walls and carved wooded bed frames draped with mosquito nets. Rooms have no TVs, minibars, or tea- and coffee-making facilities, but free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. The Jati offers a free simple breakfast, an art studio, painting and dance lessons, and motorbike and bike rentals but no pool. Guests wanting to swim should try out the nearby Tegal Sari instead.
The Kayon Resort is a luxury property with 23 rooms nestled in the jungle beside the Petanu River, a 15-minute drive from Ubud. It's a lovely setting that's quiet and peaceful. Rooms are modern and decorated with many locally sourced items to create a true Balinese atmosphere. All have a balcony or terrace, and some have their own private plunge pools next to the forest. The restaurant is a beautiful place to dine throughout the day, and a waterfall-view terrace draws guests for lunch or tea in the afternoon. Yoga classes are free, the pool is picturesque, and the spa is relaxing. For a similar property closer to Ubud, travelers may want to check out the Purist Villas and Spa, which has two pools, though rates are a bit higher.
The Kayon Resort is a luxury property with 23 rooms nestled in the jungle beside the Petanu River, a 15-minute drive from Ubud. It's a lovely setting that's quiet and peaceful. Rooms are modern and decorated with many locally sourced items to create a true Balinese atmosphere. All have a balcony or terrace, and some have their own private plunge pools next to the forest. The restaurant is a beautiful place to dine throughout the day, and a waterfall-view terrace draws guests for lunch or tea in the afternoon. Yoga classes are free, the pool is picturesque, and the spa is relaxing. For a similar property closer to Ubud, travelers may want to check out the Purist Villas and Spa, which has two pools, though rates are a bit higher.
Barong Resort and Spa is an upper-middle-range boutique hotel with an intimate garden setting in a prime location in the heart of downtown Ubud, along Monkey Forest Street, which is lined with shops, hip cafes, galleries, and bars. The 13 bungalows and villas can include private pools and all have spacious interiors which blend traditional and modern decor. The grounds and landscaping are tastefully crafted with features like stone gates, manicured tropical greenery, and carved stone statues. On-site facilities include a swimming pool in a lush garden, a small spa, and Western/Indonesian restaurant. Parking, Wi-Fi, and village tours are free. Although the hotel is fairly well maintained, it is somewhat aged and worn -- not surprising considering the hotel opened in 2001. The nearby Komaneka at Monkey Forest has a larger pool, but rooms are pricier.
Barong Resort and Spa is an upper-middle-range boutique hotel with an intimate garden setting in a prime location in the heart of downtown Ubud, along Monkey Forest Street, which is lined with shops, hip cafes, galleries, and bars. The 13 bungalows and villas can include private pools and all have spacious interiors which blend traditional and modern decor. The grounds and landscaping are tastefully crafted with features like stone gates, manicured tropical greenery, and carved stone statues. On-site facilities include a swimming pool in a lush garden, a small spa, and Western/Indonesian restaurant. Parking, Wi-Fi, and village tours are free. Although the hotel is fairly well maintained, it is somewhat aged and worn -- not surprising considering the hotel opened in 2001. The nearby Komaneka at Monkey Forest has a larger pool, but rooms are pricier.
Dwaraka The Royal Villas is an upscale boutique hotel located outside of the artsy town of Ubud, about a 25-minute walk from the property. All 10 units here are elegant and fantastically decorated with Javanese-influenced furniture and have gorgeous outdoor showers that resemble stone fountains. Amenities include a lovely infinity pool surrounded by foliage, an adjacent spa with elegantly painted treatment rooms, and a predominantly raw cuisine restaurant -- Yashoda Kitchen -- where a free breakfast is served every morning. Other perks include free afternoon tea and cookies, free loaner bicycles and mobile phones, and free Wi-Fi. However, there's no fitness center. Travelers may want to compare rates and amenities at Plataran Ubud Hotel & Spa, which is on a main shopping street and walkable to the Sacred Monkey Forest.
Dwaraka The Royal Villas is an upscale boutique hotel located outside of the artsy town of Ubud, about a 25-minute walk from the property. All 10 units here are elegant and fantastically decorated with Javanese-influenced furniture and have gorgeous outdoor showers that resemble stone fountains. Amenities include a lovely infinity pool surrounded by foliage, an adjacent spa with elegantly painted treatment rooms, and a predominantly raw cuisine restaurant -- Yashoda Kitchen -- where a free breakfast is served every morning. Other perks include free afternoon tea and cookies, free loaner bicycles and mobile phones, and free Wi-Fi. However, there's no fitness center. Travelers may want to compare rates and amenities at Plataran Ubud Hotel & Spa, which is on a main shopping street and walkable to the Sacred Monkey Forest.
The 25-room Suarti Boutique Village is an upper-middle-range option located on lush tropical grounds about a 10-minute drive outside of central Ubud. The hotel provides a free shuttle into town three times a day, or guests can walk there in about 30 minutes. Rooms are housed in individual wooden cottages, all with terraces, and some have lovely private pools and gardens. There's also a communal pool, but it only has three lounge chairs. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, though it sits next to a loud and busy road. Massage services are available and bikes and cars can be rented on-site, while activities like cooking classes are offered in an outdoor pavilion. A similar alternative is the Tejaprana Resort & Spa, though it adds a spa and larger pool with submerged lounge chairs.
The 25-room Suarti Boutique Village is an upper-middle-range option located on lush tropical grounds about a 10-minute drive outside of central Ubud. The hotel provides a free shuttle into town three times a day, or guests can walk there in about 30 minutes. Rooms are housed in individual wooden cottages, all with terraces, and some have lovely private pools and gardens. There's also a communal pool, but it only has three lounge chairs. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, though it sits next to a loud and busy road. Massage services are available and bikes and cars can be rented on-site, while activities like cooking classes are offered in an outdoor pavilion. A similar alternative is the Tejaprana Resort & Spa, though it adds a spa and larger pool with submerged lounge chairs.
The 52-room Grand Sunti, at the southern end of Ubud, can be a decent budget pick if expectations are managed and you book the right room. Super Deluxe Rooms the most pleasant, with whitewashed wood furniture and modern decor (though we did spot some wear), while other categories are dated and thoroughly worn. All rooms include air-conditioning, TVs, and free Wi-Fi. The highlight here are the three garden pools, which are tranquil and lovely. There's also an open-air restaurant serving international fare. There are tons of restaurants, cafes, and shops nearby, and the Sacred Monkey Forest is only a 10-minute walk away. For lower rates and a better stock of rooms, check out Tegal Sari instead. It's closer to the Monkey Forest, but most rooms lack TVs.
The 52-room Grand Sunti, at the southern end of Ubud, can be a decent budget pick if expectations are managed and you book the right room. Super Deluxe Rooms the most pleasant, with whitewashed wood furniture and modern decor (though we did spot some wear), while other categories are dated and thoroughly worn. All rooms include air-conditioning, TVs, and free Wi-Fi. The highlight here are the three garden pools, which are tranquil and lovely. There's also an open-air restaurant serving international fare. There are tons of restaurants, cafes, and shops nearby, and the Sacred Monkey Forest is only a 10-minute walk away. For lower rates and a better stock of rooms, check out Tegal Sari instead. It's closer to the Monkey Forest, but most rooms lack TVs.
Black Penny Villas Ubud is an intimate, all-villa hotel located in the jungle outside of Ubud, perched along a valley with panoramic views of the Ayung River. All 10 upscale villas share those dramatic views, and feature private plunge pools and garden terraces. They're appointed with modern amenities, stylish interiors, hardwood floors, and semi open-air bathrooms. Facilities are limited, with just a small restaurant that overlooks the jungle vistas and specializes in Balinese cuisine. Rates include breakfast (mostly), afternoon tea, transfers into Ubud, and butler services. The villas here are well suited for honeymooners and couples, but those who prefer a more active vacation should check out the nearby Kupu Kupu Barong Villas, which has great on-site facilities.
Black Penny Villas Ubud is an intimate, all-villa hotel located in the jungle outside of Ubud, perched along a valley with panoramic views of the Ayung River. All 10 upscale villas share those dramatic views, and feature private plunge pools and garden terraces. They're appointed with modern amenities, stylish interiors, hardwood floors, and semi open-air bathrooms. Facilities are limited, with just a small restaurant that overlooks the jungle vistas and specializes in Balinese cuisine. Rates include breakfast (mostly), afternoon tea, transfers into Ubud, and butler services. The villas here are well suited for honeymooners and couples, but those who prefer a more active vacation should check out the nearby Kupu Kupu Barong Villas, which has great on-site facilities.