My wife and I are heading back to Bali for my 40th birthday. It's been 5 years since we were last in Bali. I was looking for opinions, good or bad about a few places:

Alam Shanti- Ubud
Sayan Terrace- Ubud
Kajane Mua- Ubud
Klub Kokos- Ubud
Taman Sari Amertha- Pemuteran
The Watergarden- Candidasa

Also what are the recomended rooms at Tegal Sari nowadays We stayed in the coveted room 10 last time we were in Bali.

Jeff

Anyone have any advice for me? Two weeks until my trip and I haven't booked anything yet; I want to come up with a tentative itinerery this weekend. Any feedback on the above places would be greatly appreciated.

I would take Alan Indah any day for Nuh Kuning (Ubud).
I think the best not too $ hotel in Sayan is Cahaya Dewata (fantastic views)
Taman Sari Pemuteran is a 150% excellent choice - you absolutely should stay there
I do not like Candi Dasa, but if I did stay anywhere it would be the Watergarden

Hope this helps

Villa Inda is no slouch of a place either, in Sayan, Ubud. Also great views. Almost next door to Amandari, along from Cahaya Dewarta.

David

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The best rooms now are in the new villas, numbers 20, 22, &24.these are upstairs.
Numbers 19, 21, 23 are the downstairs rooms.
The room has a Gorgeous 4 poster Queen size bed,2 lovely bathroom and a outside deck with a day bed and coffee table a 2 chairs overlooking the rice fields.

The Watergarden is beautiful - we have stayed there twice. Candi Desa doesn't have much to offer - not even good restaurants. We only go there to stay at the Watergarden so if you are happy to lounge by the pool and eat in I would say go to Candi Desa. One idea is to travel there via the Watergardens (not the same place) and do another day trip around the coast to Amed - worth seeing the difference to the usual Bali, then a night at Watergarden
Dont stay at the Cahaya Dewata - its really run down and depressing with few guests - just go for lunch and you can sit in the restaurant looking at the view.
Klub Kokos is in a really pictureque quiet spot, staff lovely and pool excellent, rooms have seen better days but can't fault it for the price. Far out of town which is a nice walk in the daytime but you need to get taxis at night.

We stayed at the Watergarden years ago. Then it didn't have glass in the window frames just fly mesh ... does anyone know if this has changed? I'm a light sleeper and didn't sleep a wink there because of the water rippling, the barking dogs and roosters who crowed all night.
However, the Watergarden was a lovely property.

Geri, it sound terrible! JOKE. Where we stay in Penestanan has glass in the windows but very generous ventilation openings just below ceiling level with only fly wire. Those roosters and motorbikes are my wake up call every morning and ensure that I don't miss a minute of the day in Ubud!

Cheers, David

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Save for the water sounds, this reminds me of Damai Lovina; one of the most overrated places I have ever stayed. Motorbike and dog noise all night, plus the most pretentious fellow guests you could not hope for (e.g. steroid guys limbering up in the morning in the restaurant). I always heard the Watergarden was great, tranquil; oh well!

Talking about pretentious ... I will always remember an older bloke with his younger female partner in the restaurant at the Watergarden. They sat crossed legged and he just clapped his hands for service from the waiter... our jaws dropped at his behaviour and cringed ... how rude is that !! I did wonder what planet he was from and thankfully manners like his are few and far between.
Cheers