Villa Pacekan

Cempaka was our home for a week, and we found it peaceful, private, and clean. The beds were comfortable, the air conditioning and Wi-Fi worked well, and the semi-outdoor shower was a favorite. The water stayed hot, towels were plentiful, and fresh ones were easy to request. I also appreciated the little practical things: umbrellas, mosquito coils, toothbrushes, and bottled water by the sink as a reminder not to use tap water for brushing. Best of all, there was filtered drinking water. We thought we'd be making regular trips to the Bintang, less than three minutes away, for bottles, but staff simply replaced the dispenser when we told them it was empty. Eka and the staff were warm and accommodating. They'd greet us when we passed the nearby warung where breakfast was included. Mornings there were relaxed, and we especially liked the pancake and scrambled eggs or omelette. Eka responded quickly whenever we needed something. He helped set up a private driver for day trips and airport transfers, and arranged for breakfast to be brought to the villa when we had an early departure on our last day. I'd happily return to Villa Pacekan if I'm back in Ubud.

We stayed in their two-bedroom Villa cempaka this time. It was a lovely, quiet place with a beautiful pool, and the staff were so nice. Bintang supermarket and yellow flower cafe are within walking distance, and the restaurant's food was delicious.

The location made it easy to get around: my favorite part of Penestanen and Tirta Spa are each about a 10-minute walk away. You can also set off from here for a three-hour Campuhan Ridge Walk loop, crossing the rice fields and a village, then a bridge to reach the top of the ridge before walking downhill. The pool villa itself was lovely, with no road noise, and everything was well organized. Someone even met me at the Bintang supermarket and guided me on the five-minute walk. There's a pleasant restaurant with breakfast included, too.

The breakfast was a real highlight. They brought it up to the top balcony, where we could eat while looking out at the views, and they went out of their way to meet our vegan needs. It was five-star for us. Eka and his father were both lovely, and Eka spoke perfect English. He also offered airport rides from Denpasar and sightseeing trips at reasonable prices. We booked him for a full day: he drove us to Nyang Nyang beach, then to Uluwatu to see the temple, and back to Villa Pacekan. My daughter and I spent 11 nights here in February 2019 for her 21st birthday, and the two villas were superb. Both had four-poster beds. The downstairs villa had a distinctive semi-outdoor bathroom with a fish pond, and the rooms had what we needed for either a short or long visit. The kitchen downstairs was stocked with cooking utensils, so we could make meals at home when we didn't head to one of the many vegan cafes an easy walk away. The property sits behind the street among lush tropical gardens and pathways. It was far enough in to block scooter noise, while still only a few minutes from the main supermarket and Cafe Dharma. Ubud's main tourist and shopping area was a lovely 15-20 minute walk away, and the beautiful entrance to the Campuhan Ridge walk was under 10 minutes from Villa Pakecan. We thought that walk was a must at least once. Going back through the hundreds of photos and videos from that 2019 stay made me homesick for Ubud. We're planning to return to Villa Pacekan in a couple of months and can't wait to see Eka, his family, and the staff again. I'm sure it'll feel like coming home. Thank you, Eka, see you soon!