Bucu Guest House

Breakfast was good, but there were several problems with the room. The floor in the bathroom was slippery, there was no hot water at night, and there was no hand soap, hair dryer, or hangers. The bed sheets weren't white, and I noticed hair and a stain on them. Getting there meant walking along a very narrow, dark street while dogs barked.

The location was the one thing we liked. The bathroom was dirty, the sink hadn't been cleaned, and the room didn't even have soap or hooks for towels. Breakfast was poor too, and they charged us for our 4-year-old even though breakfast for two adults and a child was included. The coffee arrived cold, and the orange juice tasted watered down. We waited half an hour for the receptionist, who had been asleep, and then he was very rude. The manager didn't seem to care about our complaints, and nobody came to apologize. I wouldn't trust the positive booking site reviews. Definitely wouldn't recommend this place.

The garden and pool are lovely, and the location puts you right in the heart of Ubud, with plenty to walk to. But the Deluxe room upstairs could use some care, and construction right outside my door woke me at 5 a.m. The staff communication felt stiff, and I didn't get that warm Balinese hospitality. I made a mistake with my booking dates, which was my responsibility. When room service banged on the door, I asked for an hour to pack, but they insisted I leave immediately and weren't happy about the request. I wish they'd given me a little leeway. Because of the date mix-up, I ended up booking Champlung Sari Hotel near the Monkey Forest instead. For less than I'd paid here, I got full hotel service, and it was a much better fit.

The garden is beautiful and clearly gets a lot of attention, and the staff were friendly. We spent time in the refreshing pool almost every day. Our room was spacious, with a comfortable bed, nice lighting, and a great shower with hot water and a big showerhead. It had both a ceiling fan and air conditioning, though the AC wasn't working as well as it should. The Wi-Fi was so weak that I often had to use my data, and the free breakfast was disappointing and not very tasty, though I appreciate the effort. There was also a friendly Labrador by reception, but he was kept tied up there all day and badly needed a bath. They should take better care of him. The hotel itself was well maintained and clean, and we enjoyed our stay enough to recommend it.