Puri Mandala Kaleran At Peliatan Ubud

An elegant, lovely lady welcomed us, and staying here felt like an honor. This is a wonderful, rustic place, a little dilapidated in spots, with parts more than 300 years old. It’s part of the Ubud palace, and the Princess still lives here.

The garden was the best part for me. There’s a pond and the sound of the water feature made it especially easy to sleep. This is a family run “royal” keraton compound with several homes for the extended family. It’s dusty and cracking in places, and some things are falling apart, though basic hygiene and cleanliness are maintained daily. The lady boss is very friendly and enjoys a conversation. The dogs can get quite rowdy and territorial before they know guests. As a solo woman, the flimsy door locks made me feel a little unsafe. Very basic locking systems and general security seem common everywhere, though.

I booked a standard room with air conditioning and ended up staying longer than I’d planned. It was lovely to stay in a Balinese home with a Balinese family while still having my own privacy. The owner’s grandma is very friendly, speaks good English, and has lots of interesting stories. Highly recommended.

I’m having what feels like some kind of scam experience in Bali, though I’m not sure what the point is. I’ve also read reviews about other homestays around Ubud where people booked through a website and were refused when they arrived because there was no availability. This seems like another case. Check the photo and judge for yourself.