14 Palms

For €80 a night, I wouldn’t choose this place again. We had breakfast included but ended up going to nearby restaurants instead. On our first day, the room wasn’t cleaned. We said we’d be leaving the room that night on day two, and only then were we offered cleaning. The shower screen doesn’t cover enough, so water gets onto the floor and we had to use towels to soak it up. There’s no card payment, just cash, and payment is due on arrival. They were also very inflexible about requests we made before arriving. The hotel is a long way from Uluwatu’s most beautiful area, and after 9pm there’s no hotel staff around. The staff we met were very friendly, as people generally are in the country, but that doesn’t make up for the shortcomings in the facilities or management. There are many better options at this price.

The staff made my stay at 14 Palms feel special. I arrived early, and they kept my bags safe, then had them in the room by the time I came back to check in. Everyone was warm and friendly whenever I came and went, always asking if I needed anything. My room was huge and clean, with great air conditioning and a balcony with an incredible view. The pool was lovely and refreshing on a hot day. It’s mostly surrounded by locals, which gave the stay an authentic Bali feel. There are some great restaurants nearby, and the beaches are a 20-30 minute scooter ride away. I loved my time here.

The pool and jacuzzi are good, and the staff were very friendly. They also gave us helpful recommendations for tourist spots. The hotel is somewhat isolated, so it suits people looking for a relaxing hideaway. Scooters are available to rent for an additional charge. The rooms are huge, but a few things feel missing for the rate: no bathrobes, dressing mirror in the room, or bathtub. The air conditioner seems undersized for the room, so it takes a long time to cool down. Room service could be better. Breakfast was good, though it would be nice to have local Balinese choices too.

The team at 14 Palms gave us the best service of all the places we stayed on our trip. They were kind, humble, and full of useful information, including advice on beaches and taxi customs. Our flight wasn’t until 10pm, and after the 11:30am checkout they let us stay in the lounge, order food, and use the pool until it was time to leave for the airport. I can’t say enough about how helpful they were. We’ll definitely come back.