See Also
• Where to stay in Bali
Essentials
• Location: Jl. Nyuh Gading, Nyuh Kuning Village, Ubud.
• Hotel website: alamindahbali.com
• Hotel phone: +62 (0)361 974 629
• Check prices for Alam Jiwa
The beautiful pool at Alam Jiwa has fountains as well as a separate shallow section for kids and is surrounded by lush greenery.
Alam Jiwa – Opulent villas in a divine setting with a village vibe.
One in a chain of adorable hotels so different from resorts, this hotel is based in Nyuhkuning, an arty village at the edge of central Ubud. Within a serene jungle-like setting, the sumptuous villas are very bright, airy, and spacious, and feature traditional décor such as lofty arched ceilings crafted from rattan. Rooms feature super-king-sized beds and massive open-air bathrooms. No TVs, but that doesn’t matter – just stare at the flourishing rice fields from the balconies/patios, or splash about the substantial pool. Unlike rivals elsewhere in Ubud, the hotel is conveniently located within a village, with a school, temple, football ground, a number of classy bistros, and downtown Ubud just a short stroll away.
See Also
Alam Jiwa – The Location
- Area: A quiet area within an adorable and tranquil village. School, temple, and football ground right at the start of the access lane to the hotel. Enough places to eat and drink within walking distance, and not too far on foot from downtown Ubud.
- Address: 200m along a narrow lane from the main street, Jl. Nyuh Gading, through Nyuh Kuning. This is one of many villages within the area known as Ubud, the most popular tourist area in central Bali.
- How to Get There: Best to arrange an airport pickup with the hotel, which is about (35 km) away, depending on traffic. See other options under “Local Transport” below. To reach the facilities on Monkey Forest Road, either (1) cut through Monkey Forest (10 minutes), but the entrance fee must be paid, or (2) walk along the short-cut that skirts the outside fence of Monkey Forest (20 minutes).
- Handy to: Monkey Forest. Museum Pendet.
Alam Jiwa – The Basics
- Guests: Caters almost exclusively for couples. Most seem to be over 40 and appreciate the seclusion and serenity.
- Views: All villas face rice fields, some of which are being slowly built on by other hotels (a sad occurrence all over Ubud).
- Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Not expected or provided given the design of the hotel.
- Extras: Free transfers to central Ubud. Tea and coffee all day.
- Parking: Limited free and secure parking spots at reception, but think long and hard before driving anywhere in Bali.
- How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
- Phone: +62 (0)361 974 629
- Email: reservation@alamindahbali.com
- Website: alamindahbali.com
Alam Jiwa – Amenities
- Pool: Lovely pool, and a really good size considering the limited number of guests.
- Spa: No spa but guests are encouraged to use the Alam Wangi Spa, attached to the associated Alam Shanti hotel, 400m away.
- Fitness Center: Not expected or provided at this type of boutique hotel.
Alam Jiwa – Food and Drink
- Restaurant & Bar: Not expected or provided in a very small boutique hotel like this. Meals can be ordered and delivered to the room from local restaurants. Ask at reception.
- Breakfast: Included and served on the villa balcony/patio, in the guest lounge, or by the pool.
- Room Service: Not available, with no restaurant, except at breakfast.
Alam Jiwa – Rooms
- Room Types: Individually-named villas with views of the gardens and/or rice fields. The Cendrawasih Suite has 2 bedrooms. • List of all Rooms
- Smoking Rooms: Permitted anywhere except inside the rooms.
- Best Room: All similar inside, but those on the upper floors of the 2-level buildings offer views of the rice fields.
- For Families: All villas are large enough for 2 extra single beds, and the Cendrawasih Suite has 2 bedrooms. However, the hotel is not that well set up for families.
Alam Jiwa – Local Transport
- Walking & Cycling: Ubud is surprisingly spread out and distances can be deceivingly long. A few hardy expats ride bicycles, but traffic in central Ubud and hilly roads elsewhere ensure that cycling is rarely enjoyable. However, the streets around Nyuhkuning are perfect for cycling, but few places provide rentals.
- Public Transport: There is no reliable public transport anywhere in or around Ubud.
- Cars, Motorbikes, & Taxis: Renting a car is possible at agencies all over Ubud, but driving anywhere in Bali is not recommended. Motorbikes are easy to rent and popular for visiting local attractions without the traffic of southern Bali. Metered taxis from southern Bali can drop passengers off in Ubud but are forbidden to operate here. So the best (and really, only) option for day trips is to charter a car with a driver. This should be organized through the hotel.
- Shuttle Bus: For towns popular with tourists (e.g. Kuta and Lovina), shuttle buses are comfortable and cheap, if a little overcrowded at times. Local operators, as well as the major island-wide company, Perama, will pick up (but not drop off) guests from hotels. The Kura-Kura Bus company links Ubud with southern Bali, but schedules are convoluted and routes, confusing.
Alam Jiwa – What’s Nearby?
Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars
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Places listed below are within 500m along the street that heads towards Monkey Forest:
- Warung Pojok – Directly opposite the turn-off. Cozy and welcoming for inexpensive Indonesian food.
- Ibu Bakery – Coffee and home-baked croissants, pies, and pastries. Eat-in or takeaway. Minimart inside.
- Trattoria Ubud – Classy bistro headed by an Italian chef, serving pasta, risotto, pizzas, salads, soups, and grills. The set-priced lunches are excellent value.
- Warung Coconut – Typical family-run café with a range of simple but tasty, healthy, and inexpensive food.
- Old Friends Coffee – Friendly hangout with possibly the finest Balinese coffee in Ubud. Also, a range of pastries.
- Swasti Eco Café – Gorgeous garden setting and a wide variety of healthy food and drinks using home-grown ingredients, including vegan and gluten-free options. Inside a complex of cottages, almost opposite the Trattoria.
Nearby Shops
- Minimart at the corner of the lane to the hotel, and another within Ibu Bakery. Along the main street in Nyuhkuning are a few arty shops, but more variety can be found along Monkey Forest Road in central Ubud.
Nearby Attractions
- Museum Pendet – 300m down the street. Offers a modest collection of Balinese artifacts and a shady garden.
- Monkey Forest – May seem a little touristy, and is certainly crowded, but worth visiting (early) for the eerie setting, ancient temples, and mischievous inhabitants. (Hang on to everything.) One of the 2 entrances is about a 10-minute walk (700m) down the street from the hotel.
Alam Jiwa – The Hotel
The Alam Jiwa hotel is in Nyuhkuning, one of many villages that make up the region known as Ubud, a very popular tourist area in central Bali.
The access lane to the hotel is along the main street through Nyuhkuning, with a minimart on the corner.
The hotel is about 200m along a lane from the main street.
Alam Jiwa is a petite boutique hotel with a guest lounge at the reception.
Breakfast is included in the rates and is very tasty.
Breakfast can be served at the villas, in the guest lounge, or alongside the attractive pool.
Villas are accessible along stone paths parallel to a subak canal used to irrigate local rice fields.
The sole Cendrawasih Suite has 2 bedrooms.
All villas (except the Cendrawaish Suite) have 1 bedroom, and are on the ground floor or upstairs within 2-level buildings.
Villas are absolutely huge, with several windows offering so much light, breeze, and views.
The beds in the villas are massive – twice the size of a normal king-sized bed.
Villas are beautifully and individually decorated.
The bathrooms in the villas are larger than many bedrooms in rival hotels.
Better villas are upstairs, offering exquisite views of the rice fields.
Sunrise is a magical time to be on the upstairs balcony.
Directly opposite the corner of the main street and access lane to the hotel, Warung Pojok is cozy and friendly.
Only a 2-minute stroll down from Warung Pojok, Ibu Bakery offers coffee, ice-cream, cakes, and juices.
Old Friends Coffee, a short walk down the street from the hotel towards Monkey Forest, is an affable hangout.
Trattoria Ubud is an authentic Italian bistro along the main street in the village, also within a few minutes’ walk of the hotel.
Warung Coconut is a friendly, family-run café focusing on healthy drinks and meals.
At the end of the village street, about 700m away, is an entrance to the renowned Monkey Forest.
Monkey Forest is certainly worth visiting for the eerie setting, but come early to avoid the crowds. Check rates and availability: Alam Jiwa
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