Ubud Bali Hotels & Airport Transfers

Ubud Bali Hotels & Airport Transfers

Following an overnight stay in London and a short break in Hong Kong we were keen to reach the relative peace and tranquility of a 4-night stay in Bali. We had chosen two very different styles of accommodation for our Ubud Bali hotels:
A family-run guesthouse and an upmarket Spa and Gallery resort.

But first of all we needed to arrange our transfer from the airport at Denpasar to the centre of Ubud.

Ubud Bali Hotels

Ubud Airport Transfers

The first thing you’ll need on arrival at Denpasar airport is some cash. There are several ATM machines available, and for around €90 you can withdraw IDR 1,500,000. You’ll be needing some of this to pay for your taxi.

The most straight-forward way of getting from Denpasar-Bali Ngurah Rai airport to Ubud is by taking a taxi from the ‘official’ taxi counter opposite the Arrivals gate. There are prices to various destinations displayed on a board above the counter, but you can negotiate the price based on exactly where you want to go with the guy at the counter. Just make sure you’ve agreed on the price with the driver himself before setting off in the taxi.

We agreed to pay IDR 300,000 (€18) to reach our guesthouse on the north side of Ubud. The trip takes about an hour, and you pass through a couple of toll booths, for which which you need to pay the driver some small amounts in cash.

Ubud Bali hotels – The constant traffic jam heading into central Ubud

Ubud Bali Hotels

Although the centre of Ubud is relatively small, the outlying areas where many of the guesthouses are located spread out quite a distance to the north and to the south. For this reason we chose two places to stay, one just to the north of the centre and one to the south.

The first of these was the highly-recommended family-run Lilacita Inn on Jalan Suweta, one kilometer north of the central Ubud Royal Palace. The second was an upmarket Spa and Gallery resort located 2½ kilometers south of the Palace.

Ubud Bali hotels – What better location for breakfast?

Ubud Bali Hotels – The Lilacita Inn

We couldn’t have had a better introduction to the cultural town of Ubud than spending our first night at the Lilacita Inn.

With its Balinese-style architecture, intricate carvings and internal courtyard garden this guesthouse just oozes serenity and charm.

Ubud Bali hotels – Entrance to Lilacita Inn

We were given a light and comfortable room on the far side of the courtyard, and the next morning enjoyed our breakfast on a raised dais in the centre of the courtyard garden.

We paid IDR 350,000 (€21) for our one-night stay, including breakfast.

The Lilacita Inn is a 15-minute walk from the Palace and central markets. However there are a few really good restaurants on this side of town, notably the Sweet Orange Warung, which is hidden away from the streets way out in the midst of the paddy fields.

Ubud Bali Hotels – The Sapulidi Resort & Spa

If you’re looking for a more upmarket oasis away from the noise and traffic of central Ubud, then the Sapulidi Resort & Spa is the place to go.

Privately located in a beautifully landscaped area of mini-lakes and paddy fields, the 4-star Sapulidi Resort offers everything you need for a relaxing and luxurious break. Our Balinese-style villa included an ensuite outdoor bathroom featuring a large private pool.

All facilities were available in the room including fridge, safe, mosquito net, kettle, wifi and tv. The resort facilities include a large infinity swimming pool, spa & massage boutique and open air restaurant.

Although located 2½ kilometers south of the Palace, the Sapulidi Resort offers a complimentary shuttle-bus service to and from the center of town.

Ubud Bali hotels – Sapulidi infinity pool overlooking the rice fields

Incredible value for money at just IDR 525,000 (€32) per night, including a really good buffet breakfast.

We stayed for three nights, but would readily have stayed longer. There are some great attractions in the center of Ubud, including Monkey Forest, the Royal Palace, the markets, and a variety of excellent restaurants.

Ubud Bali – A great place to lay your hat

Our schedule however allowed us only 4 nights total in Ubud. After this we were heading off to one of the smaller islands south of Bali – Nusa Lembongan. Here we planned to spend just over a week exploring the island, with hopefully plenty of time for the white beaches and the colorful snorkeling.

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