Alam Shanti

I still miss the breakfast pancakes and fresh juice. We spent five days at Alam Shanti, eating breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner on the garden terrace, with birds and insects all around us. The garden was beautiful, the food was great, and the staff were outstanding. My husband’s birthday landed during our stay, so I asked ahead and the team arranged a lovely surprise for him. Thank you, Alam Shanti staff. I’d go back to our first day there in a heartbeat. It’s the best hotel we’ve ever stayed at.

I could have stayed in this peaceful place much longer. Alam Shanti is a family-run traditional Balinese estate, with several homes turned into villas among the jungle, statues, and water features. Ketak and Putu were especially gracious and helpful, and all the staff were so attentive and lovely. It’s about 15 minutes from downtown and right at the foot of monkey forest. Loved it.

We saw a good range of restaurants nearby, and the room and service were both very good. Breakfast had several choices and was pretty decent, and they’ll bring food and drinks to your room for free. The best part was the terrace, where we watched monkeys, birds, squirrels, cats, and plenty more. It really feels like you’re living in the jungle. We had a close run-in with monkeys trying to steal things by the pool. We stayed calm and it was fine, but keep food and drinks inside, especially around the pool.

I loved sitting outside and watching the birds, monkeys, and frogs wander around. Each room and villa is set out so thoughtfully that, even without obvious walls or fences, we hardly saw other guests while relaxing on the balcony or in the front yard. The place has a lovely old-world charm. Staff were attentive and wonderful, and breakfast was tasty with generous US-sized portions. It can already be hard to book here, but I’d rearrange my travel dates to stay again.