Bali: 5+ Places to Stay
- Ajeng Araini-Kusno
- 23 Okt 2021
- 7 menit membaca
Diperbarui: 27 Agu 2022
In 2021 I spent almost 3 months living and traveling around Bali. So, in this post, I wanna share with you the hotels and villas that I stayed in during my "Work from Bali" experience.
Of course, this is NOT a sponsored post. None of the hotels and/or villas paid me to write this review. Yes, I got (sometimes major) discounts. But it was not because of my review. It was because of the pandemic situation. So, here are the review of the hotels/villas!
Content:
The Canggu Boutique Villas and Spa, Canggu
This is my favorite villa of all. Located at the heart of Canggu, the villa complex has 10 units. Eight of them are one-bedroom villas, while the rest are 3 bedrooms.
My family used to stay here whenever we visited Bali. This year, we stayed at one of their 3-bedroom villas for 2 months. Besides the 3 bedrooms, the 2-story villa has 3 bathrooms, a kitchen and dining room, a living room, and a private pool. It was perfect for a long-term stay as it feels exactly like home.
The Canggu area itself (for me) is a heaven on earth to stay at. Paddy fields are within walking distance, while the beach is only about a 5 to 10 minutes drive from our villa. Cafes are everywhere, so do laundry and minimarkets/supermarkets, and even traditional markets.
Gym and yoga studios are also nearby. While medical facilities are plenty available within the area. They even provide home (villa) services. Best of all, there is a water park and a horse riding area in our neighborhood!
Although, birds are still plenty. The tekukurs (spotted dove) wake us up every morning. I also love Canggu's blue skies which are full of Balinese kites, beautiful!
Back to the villa, as we were on a long-term stay, so they did not provide breakfast. The housekeeping is also available once a week to clean up our villa, as well as to change sheets and towels. I don't mind anyway, I bought myself a broom and a broomstick! Haha...
The Canggu Boutique Villas and Spa
Jl. Raya Pantai Berawa no. 13B,
Desa Canggu, Tibubeneng,
Kecamatan Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung,
Bali 80361
Adiwana Arkara Resort, Ubud
After staying in Canggu for 2 months we then decided to move for two weeks to Ubud. Then, we chose Adiwana Arkara Resort as our sanctuary in Ubud.
The resort complex is not too far from Ubud city center, perhaps about 5 to 10 minutes of driving. Surrounded by paddy fields and a small forest, it is a complex of hotels and 7 villas with private pools, a giant public pool, a smaller public pool, and a Kaukau Restaurant that is open to the public.
Our villa itself was called Villa Kunti. Yes, the 7 villas were named after the Pandawa brothers (as well as their mother and father). It was a 2-story building and consisted of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, an open kitchen and dining area, as well as a private pool.
The villa was beautifully designed, but it was less homey if you decided to do a long stay with children. The two bedrooms are not connected at all. Its access is through the outside stairs in the open kitchen. There is no living room. While, the refrigerator is also too small with no freezer - not suitable for me, a mom with 3 kids!
Oh, Adiwana Arkara Resort gave an option for breakfast. We could book the villa included with breakfast or exclude breakfast. It was all our free choice, but I decided to make our breakfasts myself.
The hospitality was amazing though. The staffs were very friendly, helpful, and informative.
However, the private pool is too deep for my children to swim at. Luckily, one of the public pools is located just outside our villa. As there are no other guests, so the big pool is all ours!
Once we also ordered floating brunch from Kaukau Restaurant. The kids were so happy as it was their first experience dining inside a pool!
The rooftop of the hotel is also designed beautifully as a yoga spot. I did my private yoga there. The view was stunning!
Last but not least, the kids experienced watching the kokokan birds (storks) at the paddy fields just outside our resort complex. Of course, they also experienced walking along the paddy fields! As well as say hi to the cows owned by the local people of that area. What an amazing, yet important, nature experience for them!
Adiwana Arkara Resort
Jl. Katik Lantang, Singakerta,
Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar,
Bali 80571
Maya Sanur Resort and Spa, Sanur
During our stay in Bali, we also spent 2 nights at Maya Sanur Resort and Spa. It is a 5-star hotel, but we were lucky! When we were in Bali, the accommodation rate is at its lowest price. The discount was a great deal!
We stayed at the Impressive Lagoon Pool Suite, the kind of room where the balcony is located next to the extra-long lagoon pool. It is nice though to jump inside the pool before entering our room, haha...
Of course, we also enjoyed the Infinity Beach Pool and the kids were happily playing at the beach. They collect shells and "crabbing" too. Yes, we chose this hotel because it has direct access to Sanur Beach.
However, I was not lucky enough as I did not get the spot to book the Sun Salutation Yoga at the Tree Bar 3rd Floor nearby the beach! I also missed the opportunity to do a massage! Huft!
Anyway, I am not the kind of person who likes to complain about the food. I do love food. But, the foods (the hotel's breakfast) were not that delicious though. Particularly for a 5-star hotel standard! But, we did appreciate the surprise birthday cake for my husband. It was nice! Thanks, Maya Sanur!
Maya Sanur Resort and Spa
Jl. Danau Tambilingan No. 89M,
Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar,
Bali 80228
Candi Beach Resorts and Spa, Candidasa
This one in Candidasa, Karangasem, was one of my favorite villas too! Recommended by a friend, I stayed there with a friend for 2 nights and the experience was amazing!
Candi Beach Resorts and Spa itself is located right at the beach. It consists of hotel rooms, bungalows, and about 20 private villas.
We stayed at one of the villas, the Luxury Pool Villa. The room was so spacious. Besides the bed, there is a huge sofa bed nearby the glass door that can be opened directly to the pool.
The private pool itself was the longest private pool I've ever had during my stay in Bali! While, the bathroom has a jacuzzi, two wastafel, two showers, and a dressing table. Very fancy though!
Not only the villa, but I also (finally) enjoyed being massaged at their Ocean Spa. I got a free welcome massage for 15 minutes, plus a 50% discount for an additional massage service. The best thing about the spa is, that the spa's view is stunning: the Lombok Strait!
I do love the experience of staying there as the hotel complex is directly located on the beach. Love to have breakfast by the beach. While playing in the sand and swimming in the sea are one of my favorite things to do! Can't wait to be back to Candidasa someday!
Candi Beach Resorts and Spa
Jl. Mendira, Sengkidu, Kecamatan Manggis, Kabupaten Karangasem,
Bali 80871
Uluwatu Surf Villas, Uluwatu
We did not stay here. At first, we planned to, but this villa was way over our budget. Luckily, a friend of mine is staying here, so she invited me and my husband to come over and see the villa complex.
Moving around by golf cart, we were not only enjoying coffee at its Mana Uluwatu Restaurant and Bar which is open to the public but also had the opportunity to peek around its villas.
The villas and their private pools are located right on top of the Uluwatu cliff, so, the view is extraordinarily beautiful! There are also private stairs to the beach below where you can surf.
However, in my opinion, this villa complex is not suitable for small children. Although the villas have huge lawns, there are no fences at all on the cliff. It's quite dangerous for children. But, we wish we could take our daughters to stay here someday for a family holiday, though.
Uluwatu Surf Villas
Jl. Pantai Suluban,
Jl. Raya Uluwatu Pecatu, Pecatu,
Kecamatan Kuta Selatan,
Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80364
Puri Bagus Lovina, Lovina
Note: this part is an additional section. I wrote this in August 2022 after my last visit to Bali, a year after the original blog post was published.
Puri Bagus Lovina is located up north in Buleleng Regency, about 15 minutes drive from the city of Singaraja. This four stars accommodation is in a form of a bungalow complex.
There are garden view bungalows or sea view bungalows. Ours is the garden view facing the paddy fields, as all the sea views were already fully booked when we were there. Our bungalow is huge, anyway! It fit a kingsize bed, a sofa bed, AND an extra bed, and the room is still spacious. Our bungalow also has two terraces, the front, and the back.
However, Puri Bagus Lovina is an old bungalow complex, it has very limited electrical plugs inside the room. The light is very dim, and the tables are not suitable for the "working from the villa" experience. Indeed, it is more suitable for a family holiday or honeymoon though.
The bathroom confirmed it anyway, as it has an indoor shower AND a romantic outdoor shower!
As I and my friends stayed there for 3 nights for a "workcation". So, we enjoyed our stay to the fullest. We did morning and afternoon yoga with a very nice teacher.
We got massages in its spa, sunbathe next to the pool, and strolled along the beach. The beach is not a white sandy beach and not as nice as other Bali beaches. But, we were still happy. Indeed, we purposely missed the dolphin tour, though! We were not brave enough to sail into the middle of the sea so early in the morning, hehe...
Of course, I also enjoyed working nearby the beach in Puri Bagus Lovina's restaurant. It was a nice and memorable stay. Hopefully, I'll see you again someday, Lovina!
Puri Bagus Lovina
Jl. Seririt- Singaraja, Desa Pemaron,
Lovina, Kabupaten Buleleng,
Bali 81151
Have you been to any of these hotels/villas I mentioned above? Or is one of them on your bucket list? Which one do you like the most? Feel free to drop by your comments and enjoy Bali!
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