Magical Jungle Resort and Spa

The main problem for us was the gecko noise at night. We could hear them loudly through the night, and a couple got in through a small opening. They’re harmless, but the noise made it hard for my husband to sleep. Reception quickly helped remove them, and we tried sleeping with music on. We still had two nights booked, but decided to leave early and move to another hotel. That was a personal, sleep-related issue, though, and the room itself was excellent. The resort is private, quiet, and uncrowded, and would suit nature lovers who are comfortable with the jungle setting and want to relax by the pool and eat at the resort. We booked a villa for our honeymoon, with a beautiful terrace and private pool. We even saw a monkey walking near the pool from a distance; feeding isn’t allowed. The room was fabulous. Since the resort is surrounded by jungle, there are lots of insects at night, including moths, grasshoppers, and geckos. Service was amazing. Every staff member was prompt, friendly, attentive, and eager to help, with no complaints at all. We mostly contacted reception by WhatsApp, which was very convenient for questions and requests. They also offer various activities listed on their website. Breakfast has to be booked the day before, with your choices selected in advance. There’s a wide range, and everything was fresh and well prepared. Afternoon tea was lovely, with a good tea selection and sweet treats. One of the cakes was especially delicious. We also tried the honeymoon spa package: a one-hour massage followed by a one-hour body scrub and bath. It was reasonably priced and a lovely couples’ experience. The therapists asked about injuries or medical concerns first, and the Balinese fragrances were very relaxing. The resort is in northern Ubud. Getting to the town centre takes around 15-20 minutes by car, and walking isn’t practical because the road isn’t pedestrian-friendly.

The rice fields and jungle valley views are beautiful, and the resort is quiet. Our villa had a private pool, and the staff were friendly and accommodating. They delivered breakfast to our room each day. I’ll recommend it to our friends and would definitely return.

We had a great three-night stay in a beautiful pool villa. The place felt private even when fully occupied, and the views were spectacular. Our room was huge and striking, though some of the design felt a bit busy for my taste. It was clean, but the showers could have used a good scrub. The plunge pool was special, the canopy lounge was lovely, and the bathroom was the biggest I’ve ever had. Getting to town took about ten minutes by car. The shuttle was handy for lunch and dinner, though one return trip took about 20 minutes because of traffic. This side of Ubud has less traffic. There are some nearby food options, mostly similar mid-range fare, while Ubud has a wider range. The ebikes were great for local trips, but the road into Ubud is too steep in places for them. The food was the main disappointment. Afternoon tea was a nice touch, although I didn’t care for some of the Balinese sweets. The in-room breakfast idea sounds good, especially for honeymooners, but it didn’t work well. Food often arrived cold, and I had to swap the chicken bao and carrot cake because both were stale. Choices were limited, and we had to order on WhatsApp the night before. What seemed like an attempt to be innovative came across as a gimmick, and the quality wasn’t there. Foodies may not enjoy it. I’ve stayed in similarly priced Ubud rooms where the property restaurant made fresh food to order, and it was always much better. I also found the two-resort setup confusing. The property shares much of the hillside with Le Rosa, which I believe is owned or managed by the same company. There seemed to be duplicated staff and facilities, like two kitchens serving around seven rooms. We checked in at one lobby, then were moved to another 15 metres away. There also seemed to be too many staff for the number of guests, with two receptionists, for example, serving around 20 people. That feels like a management issue, not a staff issue. All in all, a good stay, though it felt more like a private sanctuary than a refined luxury resort.

For a quiet place to unwind with good service, Magical Jungle Resort is easy to recommend. It’s about a ten-minute ride from Ubud Center, and if you’d rather stay in for dinner, try the Monkey Tree restaurant. Breakfast was included and really delicious. We were a family of four in the comfortable, clean two-bedroom villa. It gave us privacy and had a fantastic view over the jungle valley. The staff were simply amazing, treating us like valued guests and staying attentive to all our requests. The name MAGICAL really fits.