Puri Karang Besakih

The family welcomed us kindly even though we arrived at 10 p.m., and the place had a positive vibe. I’d read very mixed reviews, but my stay was extremely pleasant. For this location, I couldn’t have asked for a better homestay. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re planning to spend a day in the village.

The view and location are beautiful, and the people were genuinely nice. It seems to be a family business, and I think Covid may have hit it hard. The breakfast wasn’t bad, and if you want to support a family business and enjoy a lovely view from the pool, you could give it a try. We were a little disappointed, though: the room and bed smelled moldy, the bungalow surroundings looked dated and weren’t well maintained, and with no soundproofing we could hear everything outside and couldn’t get a good night’s sleep.

There’s a good view and a big pool, but that’s about all I liked. The houses sit right by the road with no soundproofing. When a bike or truck goes past, it feels like it’s coming straight at you. Inside, things are old, the wet bed smells of mold, and the air conditioner doesn’t work properly. I don’t recommend it.

The only reason we stayed here was its location near Besakhi Temple, high in the mountains and far from everything else. For a place in the tourism hospitality business, it offered almost no hospitality. Reception calls went unanswered, and the caretaker spoke little English. There was no restaurant, only breakfast delivered to the room: rubbery pancakes and fritters we couldn’t eat. There was no transport, and the only food available in the day or night was from street carts a 2 km walk away. The buildings were poorly maintained, with large cracks in the timber slats, and my wife was bitten badly by mosquitoes. Mossy, slippery paths looked as if they hadn’t been cleaned in ages. I slipped, landed flat on my back, hit my head, blacked out briefly, and saw stars. With no way to get transport out and another night of this still ahead, we called a Bluebird taxi from Dempasar to rescue us and gave up the money we’d paid for the next night’s accommodation. This was easily the worst one-star experience of our three weeks travelling around Bali, including stays in Sanur, Nusa Penida, Sanur, Ubud, Tulamben, Bersakhi, Sulis Beach, and Kuta. The place needs to improve and show some hospitality if it’s serious about tourism. It barely deserves one star. For me, it’s a zero-star rating.