Hotel Puriartha Ubud

You’re very close to the Main Street, which is a real plus. The facilities were a little below average, though: the wifi barely worked and the room smelled damp. It felt only slightly better than a hostel.

There’s a large grocery store nearby for basics like bread, juice, fruit, and yogurt, and plenty of restaurants close by since the hotel restaurant only serves breakfast. The location is good. We could change rooms if we didn’t like ours, for about 12 Eur, which wasn’t much. The pool wasn’t working when we arrived, so we couldn’t swim until the next day, and the terrace stayed closed throughout our visit. Our room had no fridge or safe, which was a downside for us, though it may not matter to everyone.

I paid more than I needed to for a place where I struggled to sleep and found the upkeep poor. The roof terrace was closed for refurbishment, and rain flooded the third floor, with staff repeatedly mopping it. During heavy rain, water poured off the roof outside my window. Rooms with terraces next door were wrapped in cling film, apparently to protect them from the ongoing rain. Paint was bubbling in the stairwell, and open service room doors showed beds, mattresses, and equipment piled in a dark, dusty mess. There’s almost no communal space beyond the open-air entrance seating and what looks like a small dining area. The hotel was mostly empty. I saw one guest by the pool once, and never again. It would have been nice to get a free upgrade, especially given the room problems, but the staff may not know what a universal 3* standard is or have the judgment to offer one. My double standard room was tiny. Once I opened my luggage on the floor, there was barely any room to walk, and the old painted rattan chair in the corner was of little use because there was no desk. Ants were everywhere, including on the bed, TV, and stand when I arrived, and they got into my suitcase. I couldn’t leave anything out without risking an infestation. The bathroom had a walk-in shower and a toilet with a built-in bidet washer. There was a lot of mould, especially around the floor drain, and one night I heard a frog croaking in the third-floor drain. The first-floor room was very noisy, so I moved to one facing inward, with a basic window overlooking the pool that didn’t open. It was much quieter. But there was a thudding sound every 12 seconds that rattled the building, starting in the early hours and continuing on my second night. When I called reception, the night staff said they didn’t speak English. It happened every two nights. From what I’ve read, it may have something to do with the boiler or kitchen, although they don’t serve food. The room smelled musty, and there were air freshener packets hanging from the AC and in the bathroom to mask it. The AC itself smelled musty too. My room was cleaned on request, but only superficially: there was dust between the bedroom sink and the adjoining glass, which was splattered with toothpaste. The tops of the cupboard and bathroom unit were thick with dust, and when I shook a towel, a dead tick fell into the sink. The towels were yellowed and stained, and the mats on the first and third floors were like dirty old hand towels. The one on the second floor was brand new. The sheets still had yellow stains after laundering. The TV stand was battered at the bottom, with its veneer peeling away. One lightbulb needed replacing, which staff did after I reported it. The curtains were hanging off their loops. The lights were controlled by a switch circuit at the door, with a master off switch by the bed. The bathroom fan came on with its light and helped circulate some air if left running. Toiletries were provided, though I didn’t use them. Staff were friendly and polite, but spoke little English. The room was cleaned when requested. The location is central in Ubud, with easy access to anywhere you need to go. I could have stayed at a homestay of similar quality for less.

There was a rat on my balcony. The rooms are so cramped I couldn’t even open my suitcase properly, and breakfast isn’t a buffet, they give you choices the night before. The hotel is on the main road, so there’s traffic noise, but it’s still 2 kms from the main market area and its shops and places to eat. I wouldn’t recommend it for a vacation.