Alaya Resort in Ubud, Bali

Essentials
• Location: Jl. Hanoman, Ubud.
• Hotel website: alayahotels.com
• Hotel phone: +62 (0)361 972 200
• Check prices for Alaya Resort

Alaya Resort Ubud – Spacious, tranquil, and downtown, yet with rice field views.

This deceptively large and recently-renovated boutique hotel offers substantial rooms with charming Balinese décor. The bigger rooms in the building farther from the busy road feature free-standing bathtubs, long desks, and plentiful luggage space. The appealing bamboo-lined patios/balconies of all rooms overlook the pool or sparse gardens, and are easily wide enough for a table and chairs. And the two lagoon-shaped pools are shady and peaceful. Remarkably, some rooms face genuine rice fields, even though the hotel entrance is so central: at the junction of Monkey Forest Road and Hanoman Street (with its array of classier shops and cafés).

See Also

• Bali – Best Hotels
• Bali – Where to Stay
• Bali – Best Family Hotels
• Bali – Best Beaches

Alaya Resort Ubud – The Location

• Area: Southern part of downtown Ubud, with plenty of facilities in all directions.
• Address: Jl. Hanoman, where it meets Jl. Monkey Forest. Also the most popular tourist region in central Ubud.
• How to Get There: Best to arrange an airport pickup with the hotel, which is about an hour (35 km) away (depending on traffic). See other options under “Local Transport” below.
• Handy to: Monkey Forest. Shops and cafés on Jalan Hanoman. Perama shuttle bus office.

Alaya Resort Ubud – The Basics

• Guests: Caters well for families and child-free couples, without either affecting the other.
• Kids Club: Small with few activities and toys.
• Views: Most rooms face the limited gardens and/or pools, while some overlook adjoining rice fields.
• Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Not expected or provided at this sort of hotel in downtown Ubud.
• Parking: Virtually nowhere to park in this busy part of Ubud. And think long and hard before driving anywhere in Bali.
• How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
• Phone: +62 (0)361 972 200
• Email: experience.ubud@alayahotels.com
• Website: alayahotels.com

Alaya Resort Ubud – Amenities

• Pool: 2 large pools, the sort seen at big resorts in Kuta. Plenty of shade and distant from the road. A third for children is oddly positioned near the lobby.
• Spa: DaLa Spa features a vast, opulent lobby and soothing rooms. Classes in traditional jamu treatments are also offered.
• Fitness Center: Small but adequate.
• Activities: Cooking lessons. Yoga classes.

Alaya Resort Ubud – Food and Drink

• Restaurants & Bars: Petani Restaurant – Alongside the busy street. Perfect coffee, exquisite meals, and attentive service. Live music several times a week. • Manisan Bali – Uniquely striking setting among rice fields, yet in the midst of downtown. Set far from the busy road, serving Indonesian cuisine from across the country. • Bamboo Bar – Cute thatched hut for cocktails or coffee, facing the pool.
• Breakfast: Usually included in all rates, but double-check when booking.
• Room Service: Available from about 7 am to 10 pm.

Alaya Resort Ubud – Rooms

• Room Types: Deluxe Room • Alaya Room • Alaya Suite Room • List of all Rooms
• Smoking Rooms: No smoking allowed in the rooms or public areas, but permitted elsewhere.
• Best Room: Alaya Suite Rooms are more spacious and offer separate living areas and plenty of arts and crafts.
• For Families: No rooms are designed for families, but some have connecting doors and space for 1 extra single bed. 2 extra singles can be placed in the Suite Rooms.

Alaya Resort Ubud – Local Transport

• Walking & Cycling: Ubud is surprisingly spread out and distances can be deceivingly long, but plenty of places to shop, eat, and drink are within walking distance of the hotel. A few hardy expats ride bicycles, but traffic in central Ubud and hilly roads elsewhere ensure that cycling is rarely enjoyable.
• Public Transport: There is no reliable public transport anywhere in or around Ubud.
• Cars, Motorbikes, & Taxis: Driving a car is not recommended anywhere in Bali, but motorbikes are popular for visiting local attractions without the traffic of the south. Both can be rented from agencies in downtown. 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 can be organized with any of the several drivers hanging around the streets, or better, 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. Conveniently, the office for the major island-wide company, Perama, is only 100m south down the road from the hotel. The Kura-Kura Bus company links Ubud with southern Bali, but schedules are convoluted and routes, confusing.

Alaya Resort Ubud – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

• Pundi-Pundi Grill & Asian Cuisine – Also coffee, tapas, and healthy juices. Popular hangout with comfy lounges, bar counter, and rice field views at the back. Opposite the hotel entrance.
• Siam Sally – Popular since many years. Authentic Thai curries, soups, salads, grills, as well as vegan and vegetarian dishes, and an impressive wine list. On 2 levels, with quiet seats at the back. Alongside the hotel entrance.
• Bebek Bengil Dirty Duck Diner – Local institution specializing in crispy duck. Gorgeous setting about 100m north of the hotel. Come for dinner to avoid the day-trippers.
• Café du Monyet – ‘Monkey Café’ is arguably the most elegant in Ubud. Adorable setting includes avant-garde art, rice field views, and leather lounges. Live jazz and European cuisine add to the appeal. About 100m west along Monkey Forest Road.
• Warung Semesta – Healthy meals (including vegetarian), as well as pasta and desserts. Cooking classes available. Raised veranda for maximum street views. Just past Café du Monyet.

Nearby Shops

• Coco Supermarket – Virtually next door and well-stocked.

The Alaya is along one of the premier shopping streets in Ubud, rivaling Seminyak for classy boutiques and inviting bistros. Look out for:

• Namaste – The Spiritual Shop – At #64 (200m north), featuring an enticing collection of jewelry and incense.

Nearby Attraction

• 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.) 400m west along Monkey Forest Road.

Alaya Resort Ubud – The Hotel