DePradha Guest House

The bathroom in our deluxe room wasn't so deluxe, and a small leak started in the ceiling. Apart from that, it was a lovely stay. You're right in central Ubud by Water Palace and Ubud Palace, but it still feels peaceful, like you're far away. The rooms are simple and elegant, and the staff were so friendly and helpful. I noticed an older man being guided to and from his room for meals each day, and nothing seemed too much trouble. There's a spa on site, plus a cooking class that includes a trip to the local market to shop for ingredients.

My partner and I had the cooking class at Depradha Restaurant, just the two of us, which meant we could do everything rather than follow along in a big group. We made a huge feast and all the food was delicious. The service was amazing, with two staff helping us most of the time, sometimes more. The only drawback was the language barrier: everyone spoke English well, but we couldn't get some cooking questions across, like whether they had gluten-free flour. A fantastic experience.

The location is very convenient, just a few steps from Ubud Palace. But the room felt a little old, the bathroom wasn't clean, and the heater squeaked all night. It was okay overall, though for what I paid they could have put more effort into keeping it clean and maintaining the room.

The hotel has traditional Balinese architecture and sits right beside Saraswati Temple, very close to Ubud traditional market. You can walk to the centre of Ubud's activity from here. However, not all rooms are in good condition, especially the water taps and hot water, and the swimming pool also needs attention.