Kubu Astina

A really lovely property, but bring more food if you're planning to cook for yourself, and earplugs! We weren't prepared for self-catering, so we ordered dinner the first night and breakfast the next morning. The dinner was okay, then we went to the supermarket. There's one around the corner with cereal, milk, eggs, toast, jam and some cheese. For fruit, you have to go a bit farther. On the terrace, the view across a small rice field is amazing, with trees beyond it, mountains on one side and a glimpse down toward the water on the other. There are plenty of family games, a perfect pool to cool off in, and some good mountain bikes. It would've been nice to have 3 - 4 tour suggestions. The village starts waking around 5:30 a.m., with hammering, knocking and sawing nearby. It was like that during our several-night stay, even on Sunday. Probably fine if you're an early yogi. This place definitely has energy, and you're right among the everyday life of an authentic village. Oh, and there's a cute young dog. We left her some toys.

The view from my window over the rice fields was amazing to wake up to. The villa was spacious, spotlessly clean and tastefully decorated, with modern comfort alongside traditional style. Set among lush fields, the calm surroundings and authentic local feel made the stay especially enchanting.

We loved the peaceful atmosphere at Kubu Astina and the Balinese traditional music of Grantang played by Pak Pasek, which serenaded us every morning and evening. Our teenagers, aged 11 and 16, never got bored. They learned a lot about the culture and shared the experience with their school friends back in Sydney. The owner and staff gave us an unforgettable holiday, and we'd definitely return. SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL. This humble, modern holiday home in Sawan village is much more than what we'd call a Bed & Breakfast. Kubu means a place to live or a house, and we had practically everything we needed. It's surrounded by green rice paddies, coconut and durian trees, and is well managed by the owner and the staff who looked after us. Both bedrooms have aircon. One has its own shower with hot water and toilet, looking out onto the paddies and a pool that was still under construction when we visited. The tradies were well managed and didn't disturb us. The other room has two separate beds and plenty of space, plus a simple dining table. All the beds were comfortable. We didn't use the outdoor kitchen or large dining table, since the owner arranged an in-house chef to cook delicious Balinese meals to order. Having food taken care of let us enjoy the scenery and nearby attractions. Sekumpul Waterfall was a highlight, only 20 minutes away by car. It's a magical spot with three magnificent waterfalls. The walk down and back up takes effort, but we loved every part of the guided trip, as did our sister and brother-in-laws in their 60s. We stayed four nights and visited Sekumpul Waterfall, Singaraja city, Banjar hotspring, Lovina beach (about less thn 1-hour-drive), Mimpi Menjangan (about a 2 hrs drive and 1/2 hour boat ride for snorkelling at Menjangan island), and the beautiful diving-snorkelling sites of Amed-Tulamben-Jemeluk (about 1.5 hrs drive). We heard this is the only holiday home in Sawan village. The pool was due to be completed months later, and we figured we'd come back. We loved it even without the pool, and the added pool will make it an easy return. Anyone wanting the kind of wonderful holiday we had should stay here. Thank you so much.

The green rice field views bring a real sense of peace. It's a great place to unwind for a few days or hike through the fields. There's an old temple and a little village within walking distance, and the ocean's black sand beach is a 20-minute drive away. The B&B is very clean and well managed, with good breakfast and the option to have extra meals cooked. A fantastic location for anyone wanting a break from a hectic life. I'll be back.