City Garden Bali Dwipa Hotel, Kuta

A very clean room with AC and WiFi, and friendly staff. The beach is only a few hundred metres away, about a 15-minute walk. Nice hotel for the price, and I’d recommend it to budget travellers in Bali.

For a reasonable price, this is a good hotel with what you need for a comfortable stay: a hairdryer, kettle, water, TV, air conditioning and internet.

The alley leading to the hotel is often used by dogs, and it’s common to find their waste along the path. There’s a water refill station, though you’ll need to bring your own containers. In the bathroom, the toilet is poorly placed, there’s a step that could be hazardous if you’re not careful, and the toilet base already has mould around it. The recently renovated bathroom is showing signs of wear, and the shower needs a curtain to stop water getting onto the toilet. I booked a three-night stay through what was presented as “their home booking site” and paid 135AUD for a basic room. It turned out to be a scam. The listing clearly said breakfast was included, but when I arrived they said they didn’t offer breakfast and had no booking service for their rooms. I’m posting this to warn travellers to use a reputable service such as Booking.Com. Beyond that experience, I don’t understand the hotel’s high rating.

The location and service were fantastic, and the air con was cold. The detergent smell in the room was strong, though apparently that’s normal for fabrics washed in Indonesia. The toilet water felt slimy. I stayed three nights and it was alright, good value for money. If you can afford more, elsewhere may be a good choice.