Jonsen Homestay

The polite, helpful service staff and the nice view of the swimming pool in the middle of the hotel were the few bright spots. The location is convenient too, close to main attractions and streets. But I booked a long stay on Booking.com as a first-time visitor to Bali, and the property looked nothing like the pictures and descriptions online, which I found very misleading. My room felt unlivable. The bedroom walls had mould and peeling paint, and the AC unit kept leaking, apparently for a long time. The sink was visibly dirty and mouldy, while the very outdated bathroom had years of limescale buildup and didn’t look like it had been cleaned with proper products. I came in the rainy season expecting to spend some time indoors, but I couldn’t do that comfortably in those conditions. Even a basic item like a hairdryer wasn’t provided. Staff said that was because I’d booked a “standard room.” Before the stay, I had to sign a waiver saying I’d only get 50% of the total stay back if I cancelled. With the state of the property, that felt unfair and like it could leave guests stuck in unacceptable conditions. I know this isn’t a five-star hotel, but basic cleanliness and upkeep should still be expected. Maybe it could work for someone who wants a spacious room and can overlook mould, peeling walls, and poor cleanliness. For anyone who cares about basic comfort and hygiene, I wouldn’t recommend it. This stay was a disappointment.

What I remember most is how disrespected and humiliated I felt. A hotel can look nice, but poor treatment from staff makes the stay worthless. If basic courtesy and professionalism matter to you, I’d strongly suggest another hotel. It started with a complimentary upgrade when I arrived. I appreciated it, and everything in that room worked, including the water, sockets, and hairdryer. The next day, though, I was moved into the lower-category room I’d originally booked. I wouldn’t have minded the change if there hadn’t been serious problems. The sockets barely worked, and the one by the bed was completely broken, so I had to charge my phone beside the sink, which felt inconvenient and unsafe. The following day I politely asked reception for a hairdryer. I could see one on the lower shelf behind the desk, but Norman said it wasn’t working. I thought that was an obvious lie, since I’d used that exact hairdryer the night before to dry my phone. When I said so, he told me to contact management over such a simple request. I explained I wasn’t going to damage it and even offered to dry my hair at reception because my room’s sockets were unreliable. Instead of helping, Norman got very aggressive, raised his voice, and kept shouting after I asked him not to. He ignored me as if I’d asked for something unreasonable. I was left wondering whether he worked under some kind of dictatorship where guests are treated like a burden instead of paying customers, or whether the hotel is so cheap that letting someone use a hairdryer for five minutes is a financial disaster. I never got to dry my hair. Being spoken to that way felt insulting and degrading, like I’d asked for a loan instead of a hairdryer.

The little kitchen came in handy for cutting fruit, though with so many restaurants nearby I didn’t need it for much else. My room was fine, and the place was quiet enough, with cold AC and two pools. You can pay by credit card, and there’s a 24-hour security guard and cameras. It’s a decent price and an easy walk to the beach. The rate seemed to have doubled or tripled for New Year’s, though it had been much cheaper a few weeks earlier. It was a nice place to stay during my time in Canggu.

The room was really good, and the swimming pool was nice. It’s right in the center of Canggu, just a three-minute walk from the beach. Thanks for the service, I’ll be back very soon.