The Muse Villa

Some staff were absolutely lovely, but management let the stay down by being rude and unprofessional when we wouldn't book activities through them. We came back after a day out and were hassled for money, faced attempts to overcharge us for activities, and were told about made-up “cancellation fees.” It felt like they were trying to get extra money out of us. I wouldn't spend my time or money here. The villa wasn't worth $5k for a week, especially when it wasn't clean. Save your money and find something more modern for half the price. And “5 start villas” felt more like a 2 star villa.

The in-house team were fantastic, friendly, engaging, and real professionals. Breakfast was delicious, too. The villa and gorgeous pool were wonderful, with a great balance of sunny and shaded outdoor space. It's centrally located. I can't imagine a better stay.

The condition of the property made it hard to relax, even though the stay wasn't expensive. Between concerns about cleanliness, unreliable WiFi, and steep stairs that could get slippery, I can't recommend it. I was told by the Airbnb host after my visit that many repairs had been done since then, so things may have changed. The stairs between the second, third, and top levels are much steeper than they appear in the photos, as is the ramp from the first to the second floor. Rain made the stairs slippery. There were nonslip mats, but they weren't attached to the steps, so they could move underfoot. I wouldn't recommend this place for young children or older people. The property has seen better days and needs proper maintenance. Some toilet fixtures were rusty or loose. The toilet bowl shifted when you sat on it, the vanity sink did too, and a powder-room faucet fell out. On checkout day, the toilet in my room smelled strongly of sewage. There are only rain showers, no hand showers, so anyone who wants to keep their hair dry will need a shower cap. I had to twist around to stay out of the water. The towels were no longer white, and one fresh towel had yellow stains and black scuff marks. I'd bring my own if staying here. Rain during the high season affected WiFi, with the connection slowing down or dropping. Some of us couldn't work remotely and had to use roaming data, which oddly didn't have the same problem. Some lights also worked only intermittently, possibly because of the weather. For context, I've used Airbnb for 13 years and usually rent in Tokyo without trouble, except for one stay in Hong Kong in 2015. Host Janine deserves her super host status: she replied quickly and was sincere about addressing our concerns. The property staff were hospitable in typical Balinese style and did their best while we were there. The airport pickup was a poor start. I messaged and called the driver when we landed, but he wasn't there, and he didn't tell me during the call that other transport providers would pick us up instead. We'd cleared immigration with the VIP service, and even the Balinese staff helping us were puzzled by his absence. It turned out he had an accident on the way to the airport. I feel he should have told the main office so they could notify me, or returned my call.

We loved staying here. The rooms were great, the design was distinctive, and the rooftop pool was beautiful. Wiwin and her team looked after us so well. We'll definitely be back.