Asia - Anyone stayed at Uma or Komenka in Ubud

I would like something different this trip so I am not into the high end rates properties as I don't want the solitude they offer, a little interaction this trip, I will find enjoyable. Has anyone stayed at the Komenka in Monkey Forrest Rd or the Uma. The latter is as far out as I want to be as this trip will be all walking and exercise (big plans), so if you have experience with anything within the "walking distance" say of Tutmak, where I like to prop for a coffee, please post. I will also be in Seminyak, although nothing has been organised yet ( awaiting decent weather) if any FF are in town late January let's see if we can organise a quiet G&T under a Frangapani tree. regards.

I've stayed at the Komaneka. It's a nice property that's well located for walking around Ubud, yet set back enough so you don't get the noise. The villas are further back than the rooms. Sorry I can't compare it to Uma.

Taman harum, try it if you can get one of the rooms either side of the pool, you wont regret it

I stayed at the Komaneka twice, a few years ago. The hotel is in an ideal Ubud location, right on the main Monkey Forest street, but it's set back from the road and you don't hear noise from traffic. The rooms are very nice, food is good, the grounds are truly beautiful.

Warning, you do hear roosters crowing, even during the night. But, IMO, this is part of the charm of Bali. If anyone in your party is "into" shopping, the Komaneka is the perfect location. It's quite near the Tutmak cafe, no more than 5 minutes walk. You can walk anywhere in Ubud from this hotel.

I stayed at the Komaneka twice, a few years ago. The hotel is in an ideal Ubud location, right on the main Monkey Forest street, but it's set back from the road and you don't hear noise from traffic. The rooms are very nice, food is good, the grounds are truly beautiful.

Warning, you do hear roosters crowing, even during the night. But, IMO, this is part of the charm of Bali. If anyone in your party is "into" shopping, the Komaneka is the perfect location. It's quite near the Tutmak cafe, no more than 5 minutes walk. You can walk anywhere in Ubud from this hotel.

If you are unable to decide, try both, and that is exactly what we did.

Uma was exceptional, BUT, it was a destination resort, and we checked out the pool villa at the bottom of 60 stairs, but wanted more so it was onto the Komenaka.

Absolutely loved it, yes, did hear the roosters at 6.00am, so we got up and opened the large sliding windows, letting the morning breeze and sounds of the rice fields to gently float over us, whilst we dozed. In house we enjoyed their breakfast, although after the 4th morning we wanted different, not that we knew what it was, thought the poolside afternoon tea was a great idea, like a mini club room, and lavished ourselves with spa treatments which were "on special". We always have our hair cut styled and a massage on arrival at Milano, this time an hour long foot and head massage too. Next door we found a laundry that did our days washing and ironing for 95cents (have to stop spending so much), and found the very best massage at the UBUD hotel across the road. They do everything offsite and drive you to this amazing spa resort at the end of monkey forest way into the rice fields. Turns out the Ubud and Komenaka are owned by sisters, each trying to outdo the other!!!! wonderful.

Each night we dined somewhere different and delightful, whilst each day we gravitated towards Tutmak for coffee and salads. We never ate anywhere outrageously expensive this trip, it was more, this is what I fancy, let's try it, with full dinners rarely exceeding $20. No alcohol, only fruit juices, so we were on Ginger Fizz, fresh ginger and soda, I imagine, and as it was hot moist muggy and boardering on "it's airconditioning time", we enjoyed and sampled many. It is so hard to spend a lot of money here, we were getting an extra thousand on the exchange rate, that necessitated us taking four million IDR straight back to our room and rubber banding stacks of half a mill into the safe. Taxis, read transport, are cheap, a very new PMer for $20 a day, the markets although increasing in prices and seller's anticipations are still good value compared to elsewhere. Internet and phone calls have dropped in price, foothpaths have even more dangerous sink holes than last visit, and the town quickly slipped into a quiet village mode once the day trippers went back to Denpasar. Security at the airport is still elevated, and they are still on the lookout for people bringing in excess alcohol and cigarettes. Down on the beach, Kuta was hectic, although they must delete anyone over 18, Sanur has that mature and respectable feel, Seminyak was very food trendy, and the enclaves of Nusa Dua lacked any movement or colour. Each visit we find the rice fields are disappearing and concrete and brick taking their place. It's called progress, regards bkkrop

Thanks for the report and so glad you liked the Komaneka. "Progress" is no good when it includes vanishing ricefields - very sad. Sounds like you had a good trip. It's so good to see an Aussie who appreciates the inland charms of Bali. :cool: