Amed Lodge by Sudamala Resorts

The best things were the nice staff, the beachfront setting, and a good location. But for one of the more expensive places we considered, it was poor value. The front office felt like a decent resort, with good communication and uniformed staff ready to help, while the property itself was shabby. Our pool-facing room had no windows to see outside. The pool water was murky, the bathroom had missing lights and was far too dark, and the sink was clogged. There were dark, damp corners where mosquitoes lurked. After we turned off the AC to save electricity and came back an hour later, the room smelled strongly of mold and wet dog. The sheets smelled sour, as if they hadn’t dried properly. Sweeping outside started early and was loud enough to sound like it was happening under the bed, so we slept poorly and woke early. Breakfast was mediocre at best and took so long that we were late for our snorkeling appointment. The fruit was a few tasteless pieces at different stages of unripeness. The full English was mostly convenience-store food: dry, hard white toast, bland bacon and sausage, a tiny ramekin of cold canned beans, half an underripe tomato, and eggs. I’m not sure why there was an espresso machine when they served Bali kopi. The room internet was weak or unavailable much of the day, too slow even to load Google Maps.

I came to Amed for my diving hobby and chose the Amed Romantic Beachfront Cottage room. It’s very close to the beach, and you can hear the waves from inside, especially on a quiet night. The room was clean and had a natural feel. One thing to keep in mind: the wooden stairs to the bathroom are quite steep, so I don’t think this room is suitable for older people or children, and you need to be careful.

We stayed in the small, boutique-style “Amed” room right by the beach, where you can fall asleep and wake up to the sound of waves. The staff service was excellent, and the menu was simple but effective, with good food. The hotel rented us snorkeling gear. You can go in right out front, or walk ten minutes along the shore to snorkel at the sunken temple. On another day, we took the three-hour snorkeling trip, with pickup and drop-off right in front.

It’s a peaceful place with a sea view that reminded me of a Japanese temple. The people working here were all kind and special, and the rooms had a unique feel. The pool is just big enough for a refreshing dip. There’s snorkeling with sea turtles and lots of fish right out front, and the food was delicious and cooked perfectly.