Alam Ubud Culture Villas & Residences

This was my second visit, and I’d love to return whenever I’m in Ubud. The room, private pool, and meals were all excellent, and everyone on staff was so kind and welcoming. It’s a peaceful place for a quiet, restorative break. There are rice fields and a lovely little village nearby, plus a beautiful waterfall about a 30-40 minute walk away. I’d definitely recommend going for a morning stroll.

I expected a relaxing, comfortable stay at this villa, but had a number of serious concerns. I have photos documenting each one. There was a strong, unpleasant smell throughout the visit, and multiple cockroaches in the room. During a routine inspection, the receptionist herself rushed out when she saw one. I photographed a cockroach near the bathroom on wet, cracked tiles. The villa’s floors were visibly dirty, heavily cracked, and littered with dead insects and debris. This felt like a serious hygiene failure, not a small oversight. The environment was so poor that my spouse became ill during our stay. Breakfast was also deeply disappointing: two small plastic water bottles, food roughly wrapped in cling film and aluminium foil, and one plastic fork in a paper bag. That barely felt like breakfast and was far below what I’ve had at other hotels. The facilities were lacking, too. There were no international power sockets, the air conditioning wasn’t adequate for the tropical climate, there was no proper microwave or bedside or midnight lamp, and the cutlery was just one plastic fork and a tablespoon. I’m sharing the photographic evidence as constructive feedback. I’ve left positive reviews for other places I’ve stayed, but felt it was fair to give the full picture here so future guests can make an informed choice and management can understand the property’s condition. I hope they take this seriously and act quickly.

The property is beautifully built and sits in a serene natural setting, but I regretted booking it because the service and hospitality were disappointing. Staff were uncooperative, and there was no proper housekeeping. Need something or basic amenities? You had to walk to reception yourself. Guests were even expected to carry their own plates and cutlery from the restaurant. Drinking water was limited to two bottles a day, with extra bottles refused or charged for. Tea and coffee refills were also reluctant or came at a charge, which felt unreasonable for a resort. Breakfast was very limited: if it was included in your booking, you could choose only one meal option. The hours, 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, felt too short for a vacation. Dinner ended at 10:00 PM, and restaurant staff seemed eager to close, leaving guests feeling rushed. The resort looks attractive and is surrounded by nature, but it’s far from Ubud city, so reaching the main areas is difficult. With such an isolated location, it could feel dull and inconvenient. They charged for even the smallest things, adding to the frustration. The place could have been much better with more cooperative, guest-minded staff. It’s a beautiful property let down by rigid rules and a lack of basic hospitality. Two stars from me.

I tried to negotiate through their WhatsApp number for either a direct booking or a long-term stay, but they didn’t seem able or willing to find a solution that worked for both sides. They appeared ready to lose a direct cash booking and a possible long-term guest instead. It seemed they didn’t care about getting a generous low-season stay, or about losing one potential guest after another. I asked twice to speak with the manager because the staff didn’t seem to know how to close a deal, but they wouldn’t give me his number. The place is also very far from Ubud, around 40 minutes from a museum, so you’d waste a lot of time driving back and forth. The rooms are run down, so I don’t understand how they expect to charge the daily Booking.com rate for a long-term rental. If the manager reads this, please look at the communication and ask yourself whether you want to make a profit or not at all.