When you think about Bali, all that comes to mind are beautiful tropical themed hotels, pretty looking food and everything instagrammable. So, when I planned to go there, I wanted to stay at such hotels without burning a hole in my pocket. I stayed at four spots and the opted for hotels because they were costing me as much as I would spend in a hostel here in Australia. The prices also depend on the high or low season because now when I look at the prices, they have been slashed to less than half. I booked through booking.com and all of the places included breakfast during our stay.
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Ananda Resort, Seminyak
How much I paid? 56 AUD for one room (28 AUD pp)
Where is it? Heart of Seminyak, walking distance to La Favela club, heaps of restaurants and cafes and the Seminyak beach.
Pros: Huge resort with a big pool, a typical Bali vibe and good location. The staff is professional and they have almost every amenity possible. It is very close to spas and a lot of restaurants. They also have a good variety of breakfast options.
Cons: I couldn’t think of something bad about this place.
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Tanah Merah Art Resort, Ubud
How much I paid? 98 AUD for one night (49 AUD pp)
Where is it? 4-5 kms from Ubud market, surrounded by rice fields and forest.
Pros: It was a luxury resort and since Ubud was our last leg of the journey, we pampered ourselves here. Rooms are large and filled with artworks handpicked by the owner. It lived up to the price we payed. The breakfast was best in here, spoilt for choices. They have two infinity pools.
Cons: It’s a 10-15 mins uphill drive from the main market. Although they provide free shuttle service to the market but it’s a hassle to get back at night
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Warisan Villa, Nusa Lembongan
How much I paid? 48 AUD for one room (24 AUD pp)
Where is it? Exactly in between Mushroom Bay and Dream Beach (two main places on the island)
Pros: The location was the best part because it was at a walkable to almost everything including Dream beach, Mushroom bay and Devil’s Tear. Also, there were a lot of cafes around. They have a pool too and an outdoor bathroom.
Cons: There is no security at this place. The staff leaves at 8.00 pm and the place is empty with no gates to secure the property. Breakfast is average too.
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Manta Cottages, Nusa Penida
How much I paid? 52 AUD for one room (26 AUD pp)
Where is it?20 mins drive from the ferry wharf with coastal views
Pros: The view from the room of this hotel is something you would pay hundreds of dollars for. We had ocean view rooms and an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. The restaurant also had an unobstructed ocean view.
Cons: It is literally in the middle of nowhere. The staff can barely speak English, so communication was difficult. And any food joint was half an hour on either direction from the hotel. Travelling was difficult from here as they had limited scooters which were busy for the day.
