Akarsa Transit

I had booked two nights, but left as soon as morning came and found another hotel. If you want to have all your energy drained and regret coming to Bali, this is the perfect place. Even if it were free, I wouldn’t stay again. Don’t book just because the price is cheap. From outside, the hotel looked decent. Inside, it was a disappointment from the moment I stepped through an entrance with no proper door and was hit by a strong unpleasant smell. The lobby had an old, messy counter and a few young men sitting around with their feet stretched out, playing on their phones. One reluctantly got up and showed me to my room. His English was so poor he could barely understand simple questions. He let me into the room with a physical key instead of a key card, then left. The same bad smell was there, and everything looked extremely dirty. The sheets seemed like they were once white but had turned yellow-gray from too many washes. The bathroom sliding door didn’t work. The keys, windows, walls, shower, and sink were all dirty, and small insects were walking around the room. I wondered what the four men downstairs were doing instead of cleaning. It was late, and finding another hotel then would have been difficult, so I stayed one night and arranged another place for the next day. I’d booked breakfast through Booking. In the morning, only one person was there. When I asked where breakfast was, he pointed to a table with a takeaway pack in a plastic bag bearing my name. After what I’d already seen, I seriously doubted the food’s hygiene. Judging by the building and materials, it must have been a good place when it first opened, but I don’t know how it got into this state. Now it looks abandoned and occupied by a few young men.

I was really disappointed. I chose this place for its good location and beautiful pictures, but my family felt awful about the room. We had to endure the night and wait until morning to tell reception, but there was no one to speak to. I didn’t see any staff from check-in through checkout. The only thing I encountered was a cat. There was no blanket, just a thin sheet, and I was very cold that night. I’d booked online for four people, but there were only three towels. Everything was very dirty. The sink made noise whenever it was turned on, and barely any water came out of the shower. The air conditioner wasn’t cool, so we slept cold all night. It was a very bad experience.

There’s a pool and some Bali cultural statues here. We stayed just one night before moving on, and found it spacious, comfortable, and homely. Lots of Western visitors seem to come here, so it could suit you if you want a familiar kind of stay in another country, or if you’re after something new and exciting.

The only tricky part was finding the place. There’s no sign saying "Akarsa Transit," so look for the BNB or Karma Royal sign instead. Once inside, the rooms are clean and really nice, with big windows and a rain shower. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, and breakfast is very good, especially the dragon fruit juice.