The Sari Beach

The hotel has lovely grounds and backs onto a nice, quiet part of Kuta beach, while still being close to all the fun. The room was acceptable. The washroom was in pretty rough shape, but it was clean and still worked. There was hot water and good air conditioning.

The location was fantastic, and the bars and atmosphere on the beach across the road saved the stay. The grounds were relaxing, and the wifi worked well across them. Shopping and restaurants were close by. The breakfast kitchen staff were great and the food was decent, but limited English among the other staff was sometimes a problem, even though they were polite. The bar situation was a real disappointment. The pool bar wasn't operating, and the main bar had only Bintang and soft drinks, if available, with no mixers, cocktails, or staff on duty. I'd contacted the hotel before we arrived and was told everything was functioning, which was simply not true. The rooms were okay but very tired. We had to change rooms on day two because there was no hot water; at least the new room had water, since some rooms sometimes had none. We weren't given compensation. They offered a free lunch for the inconvenience, but we declined at the time and then ended up having to pay for it. All the towels were in such poor condition they should have been cleaning cloths. Most water features weren't working and needed the same care as the pool. I wouldn't stay here with children because some room fixtures felt like accidents waiting to happen. I'm glad we were there with great friends, who helped us get through it. This was my sixth trip to Bali and I'll go back, but next time I'd seriously consider the place next door for $10 extra per night. It's very basic, so bring what you need. If you can fit drinks or cocktail mix in the small fridge, bring those too. The new owners should spend time there and notice the obvious.

We've stayed at Sari Beach Inn since 2003, and over the years it had become very rundown. We're really happy and grateful that the new owners are refurbishing it while keeping its Balinese feel. If we wanted a hip, urban, modern place, we'd go to Melbourne. Charming original Balinese cottage-style places are being bulldozed everywhere, so the little pool with grass and coconut palms beside the temple suits us. It's an easy walk to Double 6, and I can stand by my sun lounge to check the surf. Hot showers may be optional and the thatched roof might leak a bit, but there's no spa or doof-doof music. The staff are friendly and work hard. Rooms are clean with fresh linen, breakfast is great, and a poolside lunch is good value. As you can see from my pictures, I also surf with Slim at Baliwaves. If there are no waves out front, Slim will find you epic surf. He has a great deal, so check his website. Recommended for the location and vibe.

We originally stumbled across this place six years ago on a really hot day. We walked in and asked if we could swim in the pool if we bought a beer. They said yes, no problem, and that's when we decided we'd stay here if we returned to Bali. The property is a little old, but has a lovely Balinese style, beautiful gardens, spotless rooms, and lovely staff. The bed was the best ever. On our recent trip we stayed one night on arrival, then left to tour the island. We'd already booked a week at Melasti for later, and did stay there, but we wished the whole time that we'd booked here instead. When a volcano disrupted our flights, Melasti wasn't helpful about extending our stay. I went next door to the Sari, where they gave us a great room at 50% off. It was so good to be back. Thanks to all the staff who looked after several Aussies in the same situation. We'll be back, and highly recommend it.