The Kayon Valley Resort

The outdoor area became our favorite spot for relaxing, napping, and taking in the view. Our room was at the bottom of a small hill, but we could request a golf cart at any time to get around the property. Inside, it was just right for two, with a spacious bathroom and a bathtub looking out toward our private infinity pool. Both the bed and pool had been decorated for our honeymoon, and there was a small cake waiting for us. After weeks of research, my husband and I picked The Kayon for our honeymoon, but even the reviews hadn’t prepared us for the scenery, calm, warm energy, and attentive staff. On arrival, we got a refreshing drink and a thoughtful rundown of the amenities: shuttles to Ubud Center and sister property Kayon Jungle, daily walks, yoga classes, guided tours, nightly performances, an incredible breakfast, and more. We enjoyed breakfast, lunches by the pool, dinners, spa treatments, and a hotel-organized tour, and each felt unique and memorable. The property is stunning, but it was the people who made us feel welcomed, celebrated, and cared for at every moment. Beautiful country, beautiful people, unforgettable memories. If you’re looking for the perfect place, this is it.

Breakfast was a mess too: the first dish that arrived was wrong, and when the right one finally came, it was stone cold and undercooked. The night before, two things I ordered at the restaurant weren't available, so I gave up and asked for breakfast in my room. It never came. Getting around was just as frustrating. After taking the shuttle to UBUD, I waited an hour for the return trip, but it didn't arrive. They said nobody wanted to go into ubud from the hotel, so they had cancelled the shuttle. Staff then rudely blamed me for not booking it, even though it was on a schedule. How was I supposed to know nobody had taken the outbound shuttle? There was no hot water in the room, and at check-in I was told I couldn't get in until 4pm, despite the website saying 2pm. Lunch was inedible. I wanted to leave early, but they wouldn't refund the unused nights. Worst holiday experience I've had. This definitely wasn't 5 star, maybe 2 or 3 at best. Avoid!

Rain is when Kayon Valley Resort really comes into its own. Mist hangs among the trees, the river gets louder, and the infinity pools look dramatic while you're warm and comfortable indoors. Sunny weather is lovely too, but I found the jungle especially magical in the rain. We stayed in a private pool villa with a wide deck and open valley views. Waking up to all that green, hearing rain on the leaves and seeing it ripple over our pool was so peaceful. The resort is in quiet, scenic Petulu village, about ten minutes from Ubud centre, with a shuttle, morning yoga, a lovely spa and Balinese design throughout. Kepitu Restaurant has valley views at every meal, and watching rain sweep across the treetops over breakfast or dinner made the food feel even better. A beautiful luxury escape if you want to see Ubud in wet weather.

We really didn't want to leave. We stayed in two rooms, a jungle room and an RS suite, and both were great, though the suite felt extra special. The views were spectacular from either one, and the pools were lovely enough that we used them every day. There are monkeys around the jungle rooms, so expect visitors. Lots of little details made both rooms feel thoughtful. Everyone was warm and welcoming, and they kept checking that we were comfortable. After an incident at the hotel, the manager went above and beyond to put things right. I also have a life-threatening allergy, and the staff took it seriously. Breakfast each day and one room-service lunch were all wonderful. A note on getting around: Grab and other online pickups aren't allowed in this area, so we often walked up to the gate to meet drivers. The hotel can arrange one, but it'll cost more. Their drivers were professional and kind. The morning yoga was great, the gym is fine for a hotel gym, and the laundry service was very professional too.