Kencana Ubud

The room and bed were both big and comfortable, the bathroom was good, and the service was great. The pool was nice, too. The only thing to mention is that the Wi-Fi was a little unreliable. Great job, guys, this is the best deal in Ubud.

The atmosphere is wonderful, with lovely grounds, plants, and a carefully chosen collection of Balinese stone carvings. The rooms are a good size, filled with beautiful light, and open easily to the outdoors. Although it's just off a main thoroughfare, the guesthouse driveway leads into a peaceful, discreet spot. If you're lucky, you may hear the temple farther along playing gamelan early in the morning. Nengah takes excellent care of guests, and nothing seemed too much trouble for him. Gusde, the owner, was very helpful as well. It's centrally placed in Ubud, in a great neighborhood. Absolutely stellar. We'd liked how simple the rooms looked on the website, but hadn't expected the setting to be so quiet.

Please don't waste your money here. Ants got into the drinking water left in my room and even reached the food in my bag. There are ants, termites, geckos, mosquitoes, and other insects. Mosquitoes came through gaps in the uncovered part of the roof and kept me awake all night. I imagine rain would leak in during the wet season. The insect sounds were constant day and night. The room isn't soundproof, so you can hear people in neighboring rooms. Bathroom tiles are broken and in horrible condition, and the wood flooring feels flimsy, like it could give way at any moment. The lighting is poor, and the lane leading to the hotel is so narrow that a car can barely get through. AVOID. Do not book, even if it's free.

The best breakfast we've had in Bali so far, but the rooms, especially the bathroom, were pretty dirty. There were lots of hairs in the shower and on the floor. I also wish there'd been a way to refill our water bottles. Instead, they provide one small plastic bottle per person per day.