Keliki Luxury Lodge

The property itself is beautiful, but we booked a private lodge with its own pool and found a strong mold smell. My wife developed allergic reactions and headaches. The manager mostly made excuses and said it was normal for the jungle, although we'd just stayed at another jungle hotel without any mold problem. Room service fish and chips looked like canteen food, had no garnish, and wasn't fried properly. It cost 200,000 IDR and was very disappointing. We went to the bar hoping a drink might improve our mood, only to find out happy hour ran until 6 pm and the bar didn't open until 6. The few staff we saw didn't smile, and with only two other guests, the place felt gloomy. Dinner was the same canteen quality, priced as if it were fine dining. We left after one night, despite having paid for two more. We only got an apology when checking out the next morning, with no discount despite the very poor conditions. We can't say what it's like in peak season, but in the off-season it was nowhere near a five-star hotel. Only the price was.

The food had a strange sour, moldy taste, and the bridge was in a dangerously bad state. The online photos and videos seemed either fake or very out of date. The hotel felt abandoned and in ruins. My room had cockroaches, insects, and even geckos, making the stay unbearable. I complained to staff, but nothing was done. The hygiene was awful and showed no professionalism. Anyone looking for even basic comfort and cleanliness should avoid this place.

The servers were lovely, and the barista made excellent coffee. We stopped for a coffee and snack while riding around on our motorbikes, and the service was wonderful. But the prices were ridiculous, literally twice what we'd seen elsewhere in Bali. The bill came to $40 for a couple of non-alcoholic drinks and a small breakfast for one person. There's also a 21% service fee, and I seriously doubt it goes to the servers. We were the only customers there. We later heard in town that the owner is French, so hopefully he reads this and gets the message: people don't like feeling ripped off, and Ubud has plenty of beautiful places with great coffee.

Marie, the manager, did a great job organizing excursions for us. We got to do memorable things you won't find in travel guides, including fun activities for the kids. The lodge's drivers and guides were friendly and attentive, and shared a lot about Bali's people and culture. We were a family with two kids, staying at Keliki Lodge for a week in August, and it was fabulous. The villa and private pool were surrounded by nature. Staff were always friendly and helpful, and the restaurant had good a la carte breakfasts and meals. One of our daughters has several food intolerances, and they always made special meals she could eat. By far our best experience so far, and an unforgettable time.