seminyak

Great hotels for an unforgettable trip to Bali

Planning your trip to Bali and looking for a good hotel in Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud, Sanur, Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan? We’ve got you covered! This handy little list of hotels is here to help you make the most out of your stay, no matter which area you wish to go. Each hotel on this list has its own unique features and charm, yet they all have on thing in common. They all have been handpicked –by the pickiest of pickiest- tried and tested. With a stamp of approval, these hotels are ready to contribute towards an unforgettable trip through Bali.

Did you know that Booking.com often allows travellers to cancel their booking up until 24 hrs in advance. Perfect for those wanting to keep their options open and remain flexible at all times!

Where do you want to go?

Seminyak
Canggu
Ubud
Sanur
Nusa Penida
Nusa Lembogan & Nusa Ceniga

Villa Karisa

Looking for calm Balinese bohemian vibes in the midst of lively Seminyak? Then the rather unique Villa Karisa might just be the place for you. The villa, which is actually a boutique hotel, is roughly a 12-minute walk from the beach and a stone’s throw away from loads of shops and restaurants. Read our full hotel review here!

Room prices starting at €55 ($62.50) per night

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Canggu

The Kemilau Hotel & Villa

Canggu has been booming and new hotels are popping up weekly. The Kemilau is one of these recently opened hotels offering great value for money in the streets of Berawa. The Kemilau hotel is located near loads of popular restaurants -such as Nude, Duatiga and Ruko- and only a 5-minute drive from the beach. This area is especially popular with locals, freelancers and surfers as it is slightly more peaceful than Batu Bolong and Echo beach. You do need a scooter to get around here as the roads are not paved… yet.

Room prices starting from €52 ($58) per night

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Ubud

Ubud Village Hotel

Whilst loads of Ubud’s dreamy resorts are set outside of town, the Ubud Village hotel is set right within the middle of it all. Due to its convenient location, staying in the Ubud village hotel means simply walking to most restaurants, the monkey forest, the night market, and other Ubud highlights. Don’t want to drive home or get a cab after a happy hour? Then this is the hotel for you! For the ultimate Ubud experience, combine the Ubud village hotel with a few nights outside of the center in a jungle-esque resort.

Room prices starting at €72 ($80) per night

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Nyuh Resort & Spa

Retreat from the busy streets of Ubud to your own little sanctuary at the Nyuh Resort & Spa. The Nyuh resort is roughly a 10-minute drive from town and is a stunning setting to privately re-charge for a few days. Every villa comes with its own spacious pool, personal assistant and diversified breakfast offering – delivered right to your own villa if desired. Guests are granted one upgrade to a floating breakfast during their stay to contribute to that genuine Bali experience.

Deluxe pool villa’s starting at €167 ($187) per night

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Sanur

The Alantara Sanur

Sanur has been one of Bali’s touristic hubs for many years now. Whilst it is an area we would usually stay clear of due to its slight over-tourism, it is the perfect transportation town to the Nusa islands. Therefore spending a night here ain’t bad at all, especially if it is at a dreamy resort such as the Alantara. Featuring their own gym, large swimming pool and spacious rooms with balconies, this hotel makes the perfect stopover!

Room prices starting at €43 ($48) per night

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Nusa Penida

Kompyang Cottage

With all the highlights to be seen in Nusa Penida, people do not spend much time in their hotel rooms. But, coming back from a day full of adventurous sightseeing has never felt better than in the tropical huts of Kompyang Cottage. These island style cottages are located in the North of the island which makes them a good jumping off point to explore both the left and right side of the island. Keep in mind that due to the sheer size of Nusa Penida, a scooter or driver is required to get around and to make your way to dining facilities of the resort.

Room prices starting at €56 ($62) per night

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Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Cengigan

D’Puncak Villas

Turquoise waters and a carefree atmosphere; Nusa Lembongan, and in extension Nusa Ceningan, is a great place to come to rest after a few days of adventure in Nusa Penida. D’Puncak villas, located right within the middle of the island, is an ideal hotel to ensure a relaxing stay. The huts are, compared to island standards, luxurious and the friendly staff is eager to help you make the most of your stay. Scooters can easily be arranged at the property for IDR100.000. Not a fan of scooters? The hotel also has a list of restaurants and beach clubs to choose from that have free pick up and drop off service, making the island easily accessible for everyone.

Room prices starting at €55 ($62) per night

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All prices converted on xe.com as of 9 March ’19, in EURO and US Dollar. Subject to currency fluctuations.

6x Why You’ll Want to Rent a Scooter in Bali

Yes, traffic in Bali is crazy, there is no arguing that. And while it may seem like an excess necessity to rent a scooter with taxis everywhere -that will take you across the island for just a few dollars- it is truly one of the more extraordinary ways to experience Bali. If you’re all about authentic ways to explore, check out why you will definitely want to rent a scooter in Bali:

1. There is ALWAYS traffic

Bluebird taxis indeed get you across Bali for as little as some spare change, but when there is traffic, and for some reason there always is, a short distance might turn in to the longest ride of your life. Being stuck for hours at a time is nothing uncommon. With a scooter you can do as the locals do, wiggle yourself through the traffic jam and off to enjoy your day you go.

Schermafbeelding 2018-01-07 om 23.37.57 — ©Tempo.co

2. Freedom

Go where ever you want to go, whenever you want to go. Simple as that.

3. It’s cheap

As cheap as taxis might be, so is driving and renting the scooter. Filling it up is done at one of many gasoline stops alongside the road. Bet you were already wondering wat is in those vodka bottles right? Well, it’s gasoline, for one liter expect to pay around IDR 10.000/ US$0.75,-.

Bali-petrol1 — ©blogit.ulkominesterio.fi

4. No pick-up wait

It is great that the hotels, resorts and even hostels for that matter, are always willing to call you taxis at all times. What is less great however, is the wait… In Bali there is no such thing as “be there in ten”, it is more like “I am on my way now, might take 2 minutes, might take 20, might take an hour”. Great if you have the patience of an angel, we unfortunately do not.

5. Hidden spots

While out and about, the chances are you might stumble upon a gorgeous rice field, or a cute coffee bar that you would have never noticed otherwise. The hidden spots along the way make renting a scooter well worth the adventure.

6. Work on your tan

Do you get a tan while sitting the car? We don’t think so. Enjoy the sun, with the fresh air blowing in your face instead of the air con.

Scooters are rented throughout the island. Prices will most certainly vary per rental, if you want to avoid unnecessary long price negotiations, best thing to do is to let the hotel arrange it for you. They can even offer you special deals at many occasions. In addition, the rule usually goes that, the longer you decide to rent one, the cheaper it will become. We paid roughly 35.000 Rupiah per day, which is equal to US$2.60. We’ve heard cheaper and we’ve heard more expensive, but I guess it is safe to say it is a safe common ground.

*All prices as of 7 January 2018 at xe.com

Here is why you’ll want to rent a Scooter in Bali

Yes, traffic in Bali is crazy, there is no arguing that. And while it may seem like an excess necessity to rent a scooter with taxis everywhere -that will take you across the island for just a few dollars- exploring the island on your own truly does contribute to the overall Bali experience. To give you a feel of what we’re talking about, here are 6 reasons why you will want to rent a scooter on your trip to Bali.

1. There is ALWAYS traffic

Bluebird taxis indeed get you across Bali for as little as some spare change, but when there is traffic, and for some reason there always is, a short distance might turn in to the longest ride of your life. Being stuck for hours at a time is nothing uncommon. With a scooter, you can do as the locals do, wiggle yourself through the traffic jam and off to enjoy your day you go.

2. Freedom

Go where ever you want to go, whenever you want to go. Make your way to this colorful sunset spot or get up early to discover the best breakfast bowls on the island. All on your own pace, simple as that.

3. It’s cheap

As cheap as taxis might be, so is driving and renting the scooter. Filling it up is done at one of many gasoline stops alongside the road. Bet you were already wondering what is in those vodka bottles right? Well, it’s gasoline, for one liter expect to pay around IDR 10.000/ US$0.75,-.

4. No pick-up wait

It is great that the hotels, resorts and even hostels for that matter, are always willing to call you taxis at all times. What is less great, however, is the wait… In Bali there is no such thing as “be there in ten”, it is more like “I am on my way now, might take 2 minutes, might take 20, might take an hour”. Great if you have the patience of an angel, we, unfortunately, do not.

5. Discover hidden spots

While out and about, the chances are you might stumble upon a gorgeous rice field or a cute coffee bar that you would have never noticed otherwise. The hidden spots along the way make renting a scooter well worth the adventure.

6. Work on your tan

Do you get a tan while sitting the car? We don’t think so. Enjoy the sun, with the fresh air blowing in your face instead of the air con.

Where to rent a scooter in Bali

Scooters are rented throughout the island. Prices will most certainly vary per rental, if you want to avoid unnecessary long price negotiations, the best thing to do is to let the hotel arrange it for you. They can even offer you special deals on many occasions.

Keep in mind that the ‘prettiest’ scooters are also the ones likely to cost you the biggest bucks when and if an accident might occur. Whether it is your fault or not.

What you should pay for a scooter

A good price for a scooter would around 50.000 IDR (€3.10 / $3.50) per day. The common rule that usually applies is, the longer you decide to rent one, the cheaper it will become. We paid roughly 35.000 Rupiah per day, which is equal to US$2.60. We’ve heard cheaper and we’ve heard more expensive, but it is safe to say that these amounts are common ground.

*All prices as of 7 January 2018 at xe.com