Penida Bay Village

The pool area is lovely, tucked into a quiet tropical garden, but the service left a bad impression. The staff were unhelpful and downright rude, and there was a strange atmosphere, as though the few guests were an inconvenience. There’s nothing within walking distance, and this was the only hotel we stayed at in six weeks in Bali that didn’t rent scooters. The drinks fridge was empty within a day, even of water, which is unacceptable in 30-degree heat where the tap water isn’t drinkable. Breakfast was poor too: the fried eggs were still raw and translucent on top. On checkout day the staff refused to help book a taxi and told us to sort it ourselves. Very odd, and another first for our time in Bali.

We spent three nights here and enjoyed the food. The rooms were clean and spacious, and the hotel is well placed, only a few minutes on foot from lovely Crystal Bay beach. They also arranged a driver for our island tours.

We left early, cancelling our reservation after a terrible stay, even though we still had to pay for the two days. The staff were rude, disrespectful, unhelpful, and seemed focused on getting as much money as possible. Unexpected charges kept being added, and from the moment we arrived their conduct felt completely unprofessional. A taxi driver who picked us up from our ship recommended the hotel, and we trusted his suggestion when we booked. That was a mistake. It felt like a tourist trap and wasn’t worth staying another night. I’d advise people to avoid it.

Crystal Bay Beach is within walking distance, and the neighborhood is quiet. There’s also a restaurant on site, with good food at reasonable prices. We had a lovely time at this beautiful place, and the staff were very helpful. I’ll definitely come back.