Black Lava Hostel Kintamani

We only stopped here to shelter from a storm, but the rain got so bad that driving two hours back to Amed that night wasn’t possible. We ended up staying, and I’m so glad we did. We were soaked, and Yon, the owner, gave us coats and blankets and dried our clothes in the dryer for free. The dorm room was very basic, but the super hot springs and the atmosphere made it worth the price. The other staff were kind and helpful too. A very happy accident to find this beautiful place. Thanks, Yon!

The only real drawback was the terrible access road, which made getting there by scooter difficult. Once there, though, it was great value, with a fantastic view of Mount Batur and a hot pool. The pool was clean and a good size, the beds were comfortable, breakfast was decent, and the staff were helpful. When my scooter broke down, they kindly helped me get it repaired.

There are a lot of stairs, so for elderly guests we’d suggest the Joglo room near the restaurant. The views of the mountain and lake from the rooms are lovely, and the hot spring was great and very clean. Beds were comfortable, bathrooms clean, and Pak Yon and the staff were friendly. Our kids loved the family trip and didn’t want to leave. It works well for families and couples, and we think it’s the best hostel in this location. We loved the place and will surely come back ☺

The flies made it really hard to relax or enjoy being outside. There were thousands of them around, though this is a problem across the whole caldera, not just at this hostel. If you can, find somewhere with indoor spaces you can close off from them, because here there was no escape. The views were amazing, the volcano hike was sick, and we liked the heated pool. The food was food, and the rooms were a place to sleep. It’s a nice spot, but the flies are a big issue.