Pande Permai Bungalows

The little Ganesha statue in the garden felt meaningful to me, since that same energy seemed to have drawn me to Bali. I also loved how close the place is to the Monkey Forest, with monkeys around the neighborhood. My poolside room worked well for both getting some work done and catching the sun, and the Wi-Fi was reliable. Breakfast was fresh each morning and changed from day to day. Those Balinese pancakes were a favorite. The staff made me feel welcome right away. Ed was especially thoughtful and checked in on me throughout the stay. They also helped with everyday needs, lending me another helmet and storing my luggage until late after checkout. I did wish there had been hot water, especially when it rained. Still, I’m glad I trusted my first instinct about this place. It’s a budget-friendly, soulful spot in central Ubud, and I’d recommend it.

The pool looked appealing, though it didn’t seem very clean, and the location is right in the center. Even so, I wouldn’t risk staying here. We left without spending the night and found somewhere else instead. At first glance the room seemed fine, but on closer inspection the sheets were really dirty and the mattress was full of bed bugs. Sadly, I forgot to take photos. The woman at check-in was grumpy and rude, spoke very little English, and gave us no information about the Wi-Fi, breakfast, or anything else. We’d been led here by the recent glowing Maps reviews. You can find a decent hotel nearby for a fair price, so I’d avoid this one.

The air-conditioning was impressively quiet, which mattered because the ceiling fan wobbled so much we didn’t really dare switch it on. The pool itself was pleasant and clean, but the sun-lounger covers were filthy. Our room had plenty of space, though it was noisy. There were stains on the sheets, and a mini fridge sat unplugged on one of the bedside tables. We also had no warm water. Construction began at 8 in the morning, with people talking loudly. Breakfast was pretty sad: small servings, and nothing cold to drink, just warm water for tea or powdered coffee. Looking at the recent reviews, I got the impression quite a few might have been bought, since the reviewers had local names and only one or two reviews each. The place has potential, but it isn’t being put to use.

For a few days in Ubud, waiting 45 minutes for eggs each morning just didn’t work for us. Breakfast was included and supposed to start at 8, but half of it wasn’t ready then, and the eggs took ages. They really should have everything prepared by opening time. The room was clean, and the staff were very nice and helpful, which is why I gave it four stars. The pool was nice too, and with the Monkey Forest nearby you might get to watch plenty of monkeys come around. It wasn’t a bad stay, though there are things they could improve. The price was very cheap compared with other places.