Big Brother Berawa Beach

I spent 3.5 months here, and it felt like a place to really live, not just somewhere to sleep. The loft has a masculine character, and the atmosphere gave my days a sense of emotion, meaning, and change. Madesa, the manager, was kind, flexible, attentive to details, and always had a sincere Balinese smile. Ketut brought care and warmth to the housekeeping, while Wayan kept the garden green and tidy. Seeing his kind expression each morning became part of the day. This felt like genuine human hospitality rather than hotel service. Big Brother Berawa Beach has a soul, and I hope the whole team prospers. I’d recommend it to anyone after more than just a roof over their head. With love, Ovanes Nagabedian

The garden and pool are lovely, and the rooms felt clean, with useful shelves and a desk large enough for a laptop. There’s a roomy shared kitchen with a big table, and the place has a more social feel than the other Big Brother I stayed at. People hang out in the central shared area, so you’re more likely to bump into neighbors and chat. The location is handy too, with a pharmacy, 7-11, coffee shops, and good restaurants about a minute away. It’s objectively a nice place, and I don’t think the other person’s one-star review was fair. Sleep was the problem for me. A nearby restaurant turns into something like a DJ club until 3-4am, and bikes on the main road were regularly very loud in the early hours, almost like drag racing. I cut my two-week stay short and left after 3-4 nights because I couldn’t sleep. Some neighbors told me they’d adjusted after a few weeks or used earplugs, but I’m a light sleeper and neither worked for me. If you’re out partying or sleep heavily, it may suit you. Getting there was awkward as well. The road is unpaved and the driveway steep, which makes getting off the bike and opening the gates tricky, especially when it’s wet. Food delivery drivers couldn’t find the place, so I had to meet them at the top of the road, only a few seconds away. I feel for the owners, since the loud restaurants and clubs may not have been there when the property was built. It also raises a bigger question about zoning in Bali.

One star for the location. Our room, n7, had a mouse, a terrible air-conditioning smell all day and night, and walls thin enough that we could hear every word from next door.

The location is near cafes, which was the only real plus for me. Otherwise, the music went on all night and construction started early, so sleeping was out of the question. We could hear neighbors just talking, the towels were dirty and weren’t replaced, and neither were the sheets. Wi-Fi kept failing, so anyone working online should avoid this place. There were lots of mosquitoes too. There’s no TV or fridge, and the small garage is always full. You have to find parking somewhere far away.