So life is stuck, you are slaving away at work and that cruel routine has sapped your soul.

Perfect.

Because I have just the panacea! This awesome Pool Villa in Ubud, Bali nestles in a valley and promises to melt away all your stress.

Bali is a slice of heaven that you deserve! Here lapping turquoise waves, ancient cliffside temples and gentle curves of the rice terraces charm you.

Cocooned in a lush green forest you wake up to a sweet bird song instead of the alarm and have breakfast in your private garden pool instead of stuffing your mouth en-route to work. Here, life is good again.

Bali is sublime. An island of Gods, unlike any. We have bounced all across Asia in search of a similar paradise. But alas! She broke the mould after making Bali.

As soon as you decide to go there and start searching where to stay in Bali, the sheer volume of data knocks your senses right out. This was supposed to be relaxing right???  So without overwhelming you anymore, I’ll just sit you down with a warm cup of lemongrass tea and ginger cookies as you read this.

Main Areas of Bali

Kuta, Seminyak, Jimbaran and Ubud are the main tourist hotspots of Bali. But where to stay in Bali?  Undeniably the best place to stay in Bali is Ubud. It is picturesque, pleasant and perfect. Don’t just take my word for it. Demand proof.

If you want an over-commercialized, noisy and a fairly trashy holiday then pick Kuta. If you want a run-of-the-mill, easily forgettable beach holiday, then pick Jimbaran. Stylish night clubs and swanky crowded bars are more your style then go for Seminyak.

But pick Ubud only if you want an exceptionally beautiful and surreal holiday. Ubud captures the spirit of Bali, as if all the beauty in this divine island were condensed and poured over this tiny town.

When in Bali, stay in Ubud your whole duration or take day trips to the above mentioned places from Ubud. But don’t base yourself in any of the 3, if you want a rewarding and refreshing vacation.

 

Ubud lies in the natural and cultural heartland of Bali. Bicycle rides past idyllic fields or serene temples touching the heavens don’t even begin to describe Ubud. Her gentle beauty impresses all kinds of travelers.

We chose to stay at Komaneka at Tanggayuda. We didn’t just pick the first resort that popped while researching. Instead, spent hours deliberating the reasons why it was the perfect place to stay in Bali and especially in Ubud. As always this opinion/review is our own and no one has paid me for writing this !

Where to Stay in Bali – Best Pool Villa in Ubud

Why we chose Komaneka at Tanggayuda as the best place to stay in Ubud –

1. Private villa :

Bali spoilt us rotten with its opulent villas. Serenity, romance and luxury come together in Ubud. Possibly the most luxurious of all our travels. Forget the cramped tiny hotel rooms where you keep bumping your toe on that damn suitcase. Bali boasts of sumptuous Villas, with private gardens and independent wooden sun decks.

These palatial chateaus stop every thought that reminds you of your daily grind back home. The staff here knew us by our names and their sincere care really impressed us. We had a personal concierge to take care of our every need.

 

 

Our mansion was coupled with a private gazebo draped in soft linen and fringed by tropical foliage. Our open-air pavilion was securely perched overlooking a valley. There were tall mahogany trees around it and we immersed our soul in nature as birds sang high.

These resorts are of very high standards and come with every possible comfort. But remember you are in forest ambience so you’ll have to appreciate and accept that. If fallen leaves scattered on your sun deck or sounds of cricket chirping at night bother you, then go somewhere else.

The moment we saw our Expansive rooms with 4 poster beds draped elegantly and decorated with petals, I wanted to cry.  Because, this dream would end with our flight back. I never wanted to leave. You know how we love hidden gems around the world.

A week doesn’t do justice to the beauty of this place. Sample Balinese hospitality in its truest form. En suite bathrooms with volcanic salts and what not. The three of us had the time of our lives in Bali and so will you.

2. Atmosphere

 You’ve gone on this vacation to recharge your soul and de-stress. The atmosphere in this resort did just that. It is unbeatable. We found character and luxury of incomparable standards here in Ubud! 

 

3. Privacy 

Bali is a honeymoon paradise. There is no better place for a romantic rendezvous than this blissful island. But if you are reading this while your child is monkeying on your head and poking your eyes, then worry not.

Bali lends itself beautifully even for a family holiday. 

Our little one had a great time here, his favorite part were the traditional Balinese music instruments with which he entertained the staff! It was a wonderful place to celebrate our anniversary. You get whole independent private villa with sprawling garden. We never heard or saw our neighbors and for their sake I hope they had a mutual experience ! 

4. Amazing Night life – but of another kind :

We loved our nocturnal adventures in Bali. From chasing thunderstorms in tropical jungles to enjoying serene evenings with villagers, Bali has been stunning in every way. Seminyak is filled with chic and sophisticated night clubs – but if you are like us, then Ubud is a place you may enjoy more. Because what Ubud offered was unique. 

When the sun goes down, chimes of traditional instruments fill the air, the dance floor comes alive with exquisite performances. Bali’s incredibly rich culture takes center stage. 

We decided to soak up these gorgeous evenings with delicious drinks under the stars. While we may steer clear of flashy pubs, that does not mean we don’t love our alcoholic fix.

Don’t stereotype Ubud with just harem-pants clad bohemianism. The night life here is alive and kicking – only more tasteful than anywhere else in Bali.

Every drink at Komaneka had the flavor of the tropics. The folks here skillfully gave an indigenous twist to classic cocktails. Passion fruit, coconut and mango found their way into our glasses and pleased us in new ways.

 

5. Airport Pickup:

Look for hotels that offer a complimentary airport pickup. The Denpasar airport was more than 40km from our resort and taxi fare would have been quite expensive, had it not been included in our room price. Looking for resorts that give free airport pickup and drop is a smart way to cut your costs.We used the money saved to watch a traditional dance performance and enriched our holiday experience.

6. Traditional Elegance:

 Komaneka at Tanggayuda had a landscaped garden which was carefully contoured to give a sense of terraced rice field. Every area of this luxury hotel was enclosed in leafy greenery and decorated with eclectic curios.

Balinese style thatched roof pavilions made for great lounges across the property. The lush outdoor was dotted with large volcanic stones carved into garden sculptures. Balinese antiques and natural elements such as orchids, fruits and lotuses were used to enhance the decor.

Every minute of our time here, we were glad we chose this place to stay in Bali. The property sprawls across several acres and we couldn’t even explore all of it in 5 days! 

Our 5 star resort was nestled in the heart of Balinese greenery, flanked by green rice terraces on one side and flowing tropical river and lush jungle on the other. The distant views of farmers cultivating rice and local wildlife dotting the trees were commonplace. Ubud in Bali is a natural sanctuary to relax your body and soul.

7. Complementary Spa :

Do your research well and scour the internet or sit back and read Three Tickets Please’s handpicked selection. When looking for the best place to stay in Bali, choose wisely.

I prefer resorts that have spas, and what’s even better is if they offer free massages. Many do if you stay with them longer than 3 days. Always better to double check with the hotel since policies change.

If you are a family with kids, the staff volunteers to babysit while you opt for a couples massage. Of course your massage experience maybe completely ruined if your husband is ticklish and cant stop giggling. In that case let your husband babysit 🙂 

8. Private Pool :

Yes you read it right. Not a grand pool shared by 500 other guests in your resort. A Private pool for personal use, meant exclusively for you and your family, right in your courtyard. I told you, this is no ordinary room we are talking about. Bali is all about lavish luxury and plush flamboyance. Ubud will be a holiday etched in your memory for eternity.

9. Lots of Freebies:

Yayy freebies! Traveling is an expensive hobby and I love a great value when I see it. Spiced Balinese fritters of am-not sure-what (maybe raw jackfruit or local vegetables), desserts made of coconut, rice and jaggery , unlimited ginger cookies and tea / coffee of our choice spoilt us every afternoon.

We were rolling in our luxurious beds trying to digest our lovely Indonesian lunch, when our butler brought us an exquisite spread of afternoon tea. Then this ritual continued for our entire stay. Like I said, we didn’t even know exactly what we ate, everything was so delicious and supremely yummy, there was no time to waste! Did mention this was free?

 

10. Location of the Property :

This charming oasis nestled in the heart of Ubud. Komaneka at Tanggayuda’s central location made this an ideal place to stay in Bali. Convenient to tour all the attractions around and the free shuttle to town center made it even easier. ‘Free’ is a word I am guilty of over-using. That brings us to our next point!

11. Complimentary Breakfast :

Absolutely scrumptious local breakfast was served each morning. Fresh cut tropical fruits to balance the delicate spices of Indonesian breakfasts. Ummm.. just writing about it makes me wanna go back. We chose to eat our breakfast at the terrace restaurant that overlooked a coconut forest and a faraway volcano shrouded in clouds.

 

12. Great Food:

Aah..the whiff of succulent chunks of chicken skewered on hot charcoal, the sight of freshly pounded lemongrass and galangal or the velvety texture of coconut milk dessert on my palate.

Where should I begin? All my senses were alive and awakened while eating Indonesian cuisine. Vibrant, fresh, colorful and full of character, Indonesian cuisine carried the same hallmark of excellence like our other favorite South East Asian cuisines. Komaneka at Tanggayuda is the best place to stay in Bali for more than just the pool and villa. The food here is so amazing that it leaves you wondering how can something be this delicious and so delicate at once.

13. Price

When we booked this hotel for about USD $250 a night, we wondered if this was expensive. But we were so wrong! After paying the same price for ridiculously tiny matchbox rooms while road tripping across Iceland, we feel silly for doubting this gorgeous resort.

Today as I see, the prices appear much lesser than what we paid. Competition is intense in Bali, so take advantage. After hopping across 40 countries, this resort still remains the best value-for-money hotel we ever stayed. You will know what I mean when you really do go there. What we got for the price ?

Humungous spacious Room with four-poster bed and huge walk-in bathroom

Private garden gazebo

Private Pool

Complimentary massage

Free breakfast of our choice

Complimentary transport to the town center

Free afternoon tea in our own garden patio with fresh fruits and custom-prepared Balinese snacks

Complimentary airport pick up and drop

Free Wifi

At this point you are thinking am plain evil and kidding you. No, I told you this is a steal. Ubud (and specifically Komaneka at Tanggayuda) is one of the best places to stay in Bali, especially when you compare the prices only to realize that resorts in other parts of Bali offer similar goodies for much more (approx~ USD$700).

All the above were of exceptional quality. Not just an add-on, but served with sincere interest in customer satisfaction. For example, our little guy wasn’t eating the breakfast options that were there and the staff saw me struggle getting him to eat, so they went out of their way to make something every morning that he liked.

N was going through a phase where he just ate strawberries, so they made our son’s breakfast with fresh strawberries everyday ! It was not even strawberry season in Bali and their genuine efforts really touched us.

Of course you will get tons of budget accommodations in Ubud, which are great too. But after having experienced those, Komaneka did stand out starkly and was worth the mention. While the budget hotels looked pretty on traveller reviews, in person they were a bit underwhelming. Well..can’t complain for the price. But if you want to be WOW’ed then you know where to go.

If you made it till here then hope you liked this information and found it useful! See you soon 🙂 Go pamper yourself with that much needed Balinese Holiday!