If you arew looking for a quiet environment, this may not be the right villa...
Submitted: October 18, 2012
Stayed: October 2012
Well, the pictures look great but one important factor is missing... The villa is near a very busy road and you will hear traffic from 5:30am until 10pm NON-STOP. Unfortunately Ubud has become highly populated and is visited by many tourists. A big dissapointment as it is dificult to relax when hearing the sound of motorcycles, cars and trucks all day long.
Also, the villa is approxiamtely 100 steps from the road i.e. for those of you with physical challenges, you should consider the climb.
The staff was wonderful and the breakfast was great. The villa was nice yet very dark in the evening. A flashlight is required to go upstiars, it is difficult to read and do any work as it is so dark. The bathroom in the master bedroom is also very dark.
In terms of comfort, the master bedroom is good, the kitchen is functional and the main floor is comfortable. The sleeping arrangements on the main floor offer very little comfort.
So, if you don't mind road noise (the main issue), the place is ok. The lighting issue was mentioned to the staff.
PS THe center of Ubud is more than 10 minutes away by foot.
Recommended for:
Adventure Seekers,
Girls Getaway,
Sightseeing
Owner's Response: So sorry the reviewer was disappointed about the noise. As owners, our experience is actually that the traffic noise is much better in the Ubud area now that mufflers have been improved so much. But, there is no denying that there is traffic noise in Ubud like any populated area on earth. I don’t think you will be able to avoid it in the entire Ubud area. But you stay in Ubud for the culture, food and convenience.
Our home has lights in every room including the stair well and all bathrooms so we don’t really understand the lighting issue. It is true that we have refused to install fluorescent ceiling lights like many Bali homes and villas preferring the ambiance of table lights and old Dutch glass ceiling lights. There are also reading lights at the bed and downstairs on the couches. It’s cooler and less attractive to night insects and much more aesthetic.
We prefer to rent to no more than 2 people as the downstairs sleeping area is designed as a luxurious lounging area and really only for overflow sleeping but we are asked many times to allow the extra guests.
We always explain about the sleeping arrangements as well as the stairs to the main road. Those stairs are one of our favorite elements. They take you AWAY from urban Bali to a location without street traffic. The traffic sounds you hear are over 100 yards away through a canopy of trees and jungle foliage. But it’s true that if you have walking issues our villa is not for you. However my 90 year old mother had no problem. The stairs are the modern transformation of the centuries old path that goes from Penanstanan to Ubud. That path is still used for ceremonies and village foot traffic.
We use the stairs all the time and really enjoy them. There is a village taxi stand at the bottom in case you need one. But the “10 minute walk” to the center of Ubud is a fantastic walk across the sacred river bridge, past the river temple, and along the charming shops, galleries, and restaurants. We usually save the taxi ride for the way back home, full of things from the shopping!
All in all our villa is our intent to retain as much of old Bali as possible while still offering modern conveniences like lots of hot water, beautiful furnishings, a simple modern kitchen and bathrooms as well as views to die for. If you want AC, drive up convenience, bright ceiling lights and the hush of the 4 star hotels instead of the chatter of local voices, our villa is not for you.
Helpful votes: 2/2
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