Asia - Ubud hotel help needed

Ok, I give up! I've spent all weekend trawling the internet trying to decide where to stay 6 nights in the Ubud area, but there's just too much choice. :)

Here are my requirements:

Fairly upmarket, but not Aman territory (say up to $200 a night)
Nice views
Preferably within walking distance of Ubud centre (or failing that 10 minutes drive)


Current favourites are Ibah and Kajane Mua. Does anyone have experience of either of these, or other suggestions please?

Here are my requirements:
[list]
Fairly upmarket, but not Aman territory (say up to $200 a night)
Nice views
Preferably within walking distance of Ubud centre (or failing that 10 minutes drive)

The best choice is called Komenika(SP) on the Monkey Forest Road. It has great service and very nice staff. On the grounds is an art gallary and the owner owns the Nieka Art Museum (SP) Its perfect for exploring Ubud and it has a great pool.

This one?

www.komaneka.com

I stayed at Tegal Sari a few years back. Nice, secluded villas overlooking rice paddies, about 10 minutes outside of town. Ours had a daybed on a large balcony, a very modern room, and breakfast was served in our quarters. Price was VERY reasonable - around $35/night. I'd go back there again in a heartbeat!

Keep in mind that a lot of people are disappointed with/repulsed by Monkey Forest Road. It can be quite a zoo of craft shops, tourists slogging along, transport touts, etc. etc. Everything but a Starbucks, which seems sure to arrive at any moment.

I like the Tjampuhan (http://tjampuhan.com/) hotel outside of central Ubud to the west, with its spring water pool (in addition to a normally treated water pool). In the same hotel family, more north by Neka museum, is Pita Maha (http://www.pitamaha-bali.com/) , which is more luxe.

A lot of places out of town are perched on a river gorge, which can mean a fair amount of walking up and down, unless you go someplace like the Four Seasons, which has lifts.

I stayed at Tegal Sari a few years back. Nice, secluded villas overlooking rice paddies, about 10 minutes outside of town. Ours had a daybed on a large balcony, a very modern room, and breakfast was served in our quarters. Price was VERY reasonable - around $35/night. I'd go back there again in a heartbeat!

I had been recommended this one as well, then I was told that they are adding accomodation and the facilities would suffer because of it. However, this may not be the case.
We had similar requirements and went for
http://www.wakanamya.com/default.asp

Ok, I give up! I've spent all weekend trawling the internet trying to decide where to stay 6 nights in the Ubud area, but there's just too much choice. :)

Here are my requirements:

Fairly upmarket, but not Aman territory (say up to $200 a night)
Nice views
Preferably within walking distance of Ubud centre (or failing that 10 minutes drive)


Current favourites are Ibah and Kajane Mua. Does anyone have experience of either of these, or other suggestions please?


DISCLOSURE
i have an interest in this property

Hi, if you haven't already decided, may I recommend castellojasper.com, up in Ubud. It's away from the hurly burly, but you are right on the rice field walk, there are 2 people to look after you most of the day, a driver to take you to and from the airport, and to be at your beck and call, if you desire, the latter you pay for, and there's a whopping great pool. I use it 6/7 times a year, just to get away from things. It wouldn't suit anyone who wants everything at their doorstep, but is perfect for those that love sleeping in, reading a book, having a swim, and then thinking, well i might partake in a g&t and a bite at Tutmak. Truely it doesn't matter where you stay in Ubud, if you pay over 250 a night, you are pretty assured of quality accommodation. I go for R&R and the food, it's a shame the wine is so expensive, but the martinis are a great substitute. have a great time regards bkkrop

http://www.tamanharumcottages.com/index.html

$55 a night inc tax, free driver up to midnight - amazingly tranquil and relaxing, great food, staff, accomodation, Total chill out.


I was told anyone who pays more than $75 a night is paying through the nose for any of the top hotels in Ubud, usually its the agents that make the bookings that are makinga fortune, better talk direct to the hotel and book with them and offer to pay cash so they waive the 21% tax


Also check trip advisor reviews:

just returned from a 5 night stay at the Komaneka Resort in the center of Ubud.

On one hand, I have debated whether to write a review - because the service staff in the hotel are lovely, kind, warm and friendly people who are doing the best job they know how. On the other hand, I find this true in other resorts I've visited in Bali, but the service itself is not up to par with the prices/standard of a 4 or 5 star hotel in other parts of the world. I wonder if because the guests at these hotels are so enthralled by the sites/feeliing of Bali that they overlook some basic service items when considering their stay, like me, not wanting to make disparaging remarks about the people who are so kind.

In any event, Komaneka Resort is well situated in Ubud-easy access to other restaurants, shops and services. I was greeted with cold cloth and a sweet drink before being escorted to my pool room that boardered the rice paddies.

This room is normally priced at $300 per night plus service charges and tax. I was given a 50% off offer because of my long time stays at another hotel that has a connection with this one. After staying at the Komaneka, I would never pay $300 for this room and considered the $150 to be on the high side for the service/amenities.

On first look, the room is absolutely lovely. A thatched roof space. The large bed with linen netting, bouquet of tuberroses, enormous bathroom/dressing area with free standing tub, separate marble shower and toilet areas that view out onto the rice paddies and the patio/pool area. There are two writing desks with small table lamp on one; another table that holds the minibar; a TV with DVD player; a CD player; large bench for holding the luggage and a closet.

The garden-like patio area has two lounge chairs with cushions, a separate thatched roof area with a table and chairs, pool towels and a door that can be closed off to disturbances. The pool is more of a plunge pool - and because of its close proximity to the paddies and those working in the paddies, I did not use the pool. There is no way anyone but a small child could actually do any movement in the pool.

On closer inspection and use - the furniture is a bit "tired" - outside chairs look more western-look. The lighting is inadequate for reading. To turn off the main lights in the room, you must go outside and turn off the switches there. The toilet would not flush without 4-5 flushes and I often ended up using water from a wastebucket to flush the toilet.

When I requested a softer pillow, there were no other choices. For this price and standard of a hotel-this kind of thing is a normal type of request. Generally, the bedding is nice and well taken care of. The towels were also adequate and many of them in the room. There is a nice sofa at the end of the bed.

Breakfast was included but found it a bit ridiculous that you could choose either continental American or Indonesian which priced normally at $10/$11 respectively - but had to pay if you wanted eggs for a breakfast that is shown on menu at $12. Just odd - and hardly a 5 star situation.

Observation that I am now at the Peninsula Hotel in Bangkok at a rate of $220 - less than the normal rate of $300 charged at the Komaneka..and their breakfast buffet is without comparison; robes, exercise room, fruit in the room twice a day, excellent service....concierge, help with travel arrangements,etc....

Room service brought silverware wrapped in a cheap, paper napkin - no linen. Food was so-so if not poor. Example: Ceasar salad described in menu as Romaine lettuce with crisp bacon pieces when ordered produced three huge leaves of head lettuce with strips of bacon (cold and fatty) laying on the top; mango crumble was old tasting. Pumpkin soup was excellent though and, in general, the breakfasts were mostly nice if but for 2 of the 5 mornings when the food was cold in the center and poorly presented.

They also serve "tea" mid afternoon - Bali cakes and choice of coffe or tea. Nice service.

There was more noise than I liked and was necessary. The first morning, the gardners began cutting/hacking down trees at 7 a.m. right outside my villa. Even after making a complaint to the Manager, a few days later, construction began at the same time next to my Villa. Staff would often be chattering and laughing while working or walking outside my Villa at early hours with seemingly no understanding of vacationers still in bed.

Service from the staff, although friendly, was largely at fault due to poor communication skills and lack of initiative to rectify a situation. Asking for an extension of the stay brought-"Well, could you ask us tomorrow?" Even after saying I had to make arrangements by that night for my connecting flights to be changed.

I sent a new bathrobe to the laundry - the first time it came back (later than when they say) it was not cleaned and, in fact, came back dirtier with stains. They apologized and sent it back, only to have it come back still dirty and with holes-the third time there were more holes and it was still damp. The Housekeeping Manager was very kind and apologetic but I still had to press for compensation - far less than the value of the robe.

The hotel offers free WIFI - unfortunately, many of the guests computers, including mine, would only pick up a signal in the lobby.

Miscellaneous comments: Often times the turn down service was not done. The hotel has another hotel farther out of Ubud that is quite similar but with more quiet setting. Hotel room had a huge bag for guests use which proved very handy! CNN and HBO would often go out - but a call to the desk sent a repair/service man...was a bit inconvenient though when I was watching at midnight or later when I didn't want to have someone come to the room. Guests books/room services/room service pages are wrinkled and dirty-needs updated/replaced - perhaps covered with film. Very nice selection of magazines in the room. Hair dryer was nearly useless - low power. Spa looked very nice but, compared to other places, it was a bit expensive. $60 for a massage compared to $10 down the street. No clock next to the bed. Robes in the rooms are very nice. Air conditioning in the room great.

I adored the croaking of hundreds of frogs in the rice paddies throughout the night and waking up to the chirping of baby chicks parading up and down the paddies walls during the day.

Hi all -

We are currently in the throws of booking a spot for Ubud as well, and have decided on Kajane Mua Villa (http://www.kajane.com/)which gets rave reviews on Trip Advisor and suits our needs well.

Only issue is that they are requesting payment via Western Union or direct bank account deposit - is this normal for Bali hotels? As these are two of the worst ways to pay here in North America, I just wanted to get others opinions on what to do... my gut reaction is that this is not a good idea, but just wanted to see if this was standard practise.

If not, should credit cards be acceptible forms of payment?

T.

I've always used credit cards for more expensive (>US$50) places (and cash for cheapo places).

Hi all -

We are currently in the throws of booking a spot for Ubud as well, and have decided on Kajane Mua Villa (http://www.kajane.com/)which gets rave reviews on Trip Advisor and suits our needs well.

Only issue is that they are requesting payment via Western Union or direct bank account deposit - is this normal for Bali hotels? As these are two of the worst ways to pay here in North America, I just wanted to get others opinions on what to do... my gut reaction is that this is not a good idea, but just wanted to see if this was standard practise.

If not, should credit cards be acceptible forms of payment?

T.


there is now way that place is worth $150 + a night - I went there a few weeks ago and no way would I pay that amount of money. There are loads of choises at $50-75 a night better than this place. Also if anything you pay a deposit by credit card and the balance on check out

I stayed at a $3 a night family compound in central Ubud a year or so ago. Recommended by a lady on the bus who was also staying there. It was great (and included breakfast and observing the chickens in the family compound). A real insight into local life. Went down the road to use the hotel pool for a couple of bucks a day.

But, while there I did look into more lux accomodations (should I return with SO) and concluded that the posted rates at the more upscale properties have really nothing to do with what you needed to pay. If you are willing to go to Ubud and dicker a little or go to one of the agents/booking offices in Ubud and make your needs known I suspect you could stay in any property in the area for way less than $100 a night.

By the way, IMHO it is most inadvisable to pay a Bali hotel deposit at all, whether by credit card or, certainly, by wire transfer.

Try this....Ubud Hanging Gardens. It is certainly within your budget

www.pansea.com/eng/ubud_infor.html

I'll throw Alam Jiwa (alamjiwa.com) into the mix. We spent 5 nights there about 2 years ago. Great value (rooms are about $75/night inclusive), and include a great breakfast. It's a very small place (maybe 6 rooms or so), and rooms overlook rice patties. It's a short walk through the monkey forest to town, or they offer an on-demand shuttle to town.

it would be my suggestion that you don't do what you intend to do. (spend 5 or 6 nights in ubud.)

I loved ubud, but found it was useful to move around in bali. spending a few nights there, a night in lovina and nights in other areas.

I stayed at Tegal Sari a few years back. Nice, secluded villas overlooking rice paddies, about 10 minutes outside of town. Ours had a daybed on a large balcony, a very modern room, and breakfast was served in our quarters. Price was VERY reasonable - around $35/night. I'd go back there again in a heartbeat!


Planning to go as solo female. this place seems to be well recommended.
Has anyone been back recently? Is it still under construction? or has the place been totally worn out?

Appreciate any feedback!

Thanks!