Amed Beach Villa

My boyfriend booked three nights at Amed Beach Villa for my birthday, and waking up to the ocean each morning was like a movie. The view was insane, and the whole stay felt like a dream. The team took such good care of us. Everyone was warm and thoughtful, and the complimentary breakfast each morning was a lovely touch, prepared with care. What hospitality. Huge kudos to the whole team. I’m already dreaming about coming back.

Amed Beach Villa turned out to be one of our best experiences in Asia so far. We’ve spent about six months traveling around Southeast Asia, and Amed is in our top five. It’s right on the ocean with a volcano view, the locals are warm and seem to be smiling and laughing all the time, and the culture and fresh, flavorful food are wonderful. We travel for eight months a year, run our small business online, and love seeing new places, cultures, and foods. If you’re after luxury, high-end shopping, or the cleanliness of a Disney park or cruise ship, Amed doesn’t offer that. The hotel staff, who so far have all been young men, are kind, humble, and helpful. Breakfast is simple, fresh, and delicious, but remember to order the night before. The owner has been responsive and kept his word. He arranged an excellent airport taxi for us. We’ve had some dangerous drivers in Asia, but this one arrived on time and drove safely. In Thailand, a couple of drivers were so bad I had to stop the car and tell them I wanted to keep living, lol. I’d read too many reviews before arriving, and they only made me more doubtful and confused. We were pleasantly surprised. Please don’t come to this area if you need everything to be perfect or just like home. If you’re open to new experiences without expecting perfection, come enjoy it with a light heart. So far, the only grumpy, rude people we’ve met have been tourists. Paul & Erika Montague, Canada.

We cancelled as soon as we saw the room, and the shower was the main reason. We paid €350 for four nights, but the bathroom smelled bad and had no running water at first. When the staff got the water on, it was still cold and only dripped slowly on the medium setting, as the attached video shows. We were told to wait ten minutes for warm water. Even after we left to find somewhere else and came back half an hour later, it was still just a slow drip with no hot water, so showering wasn’t possible. The showerhead is mounted only 190cm high. I’m 190cm and my partner is 188cm, and neither of us could stand under it properly. Someone around 180cm would struggle too, with water only reaching the top of their head. A usable shower should cover the body in a trapezoid spray, rather than trickling onto your scalp. The bathroom mirror was also very dirty, with a thick greasy white smear. At this price, that’s unacceptable. The property isn’t terribly outdated, but it seems poorly managed. Charging this much when the water and shower don’t work is unjustifiable. Brand-new Ola Rima is right next door, and costs only €145 for the same four nights, over €200 less, with everything working as it should. To their credit, the staff cancelled our booking free of charge, which we appreciated. Still, this should never have happened, and there’s no mention that people over 180cm will struggle to shower here. I wouldn’t recommend staying unless major improvements are made.

The reef starts right at the Villa steps, and the gentle currents let you drift along and explore the sea life by snorkel. We stayed six days and would have added more if we could. It was the best part of our time in Bali, so relaxed and easygoing. Sunrise and sunset were incredible from the rooftop or from the free kayaks. Good restaurants are within walking distance, though check the reviews first. If you’re unsure where it’s safe to eat, the staff are helpful with recommendations. We enjoyed the live music at Bobo's next door once or twice.