Bali is a tourist magnet, and with so many hotels on the island it’s so hard to choose which one to stay at. We chose The Viceroy, near Ubud and are so glad that we did. I can honestly say it’s one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in. Here is a review from my stay there, in case you need convincing that it’s worth a visit.

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Location

Ubud is about 45 minutes from Bali airport, which is a short and easy transfer that the hotel organise for you. The hotel itself is slightly outside of Ubud and although you could walk it, it’s easier to get a tuk tuk. Again, the hotel organise this for you so it’s easy to nip in and out of the town for a day trip or dinner.

Within Ubud there are many things to see and do, though the one thing Ubud lacks is a beach. So if you’ve come to Bali for the beautiful beaches, then this isn’t the area you want to stay in. If you’ve come for a bit of culture, luxury and a slightly quieter, non party hotel, then The Viceroy could be for you.

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Accommodation

Wow is all I can say about the accommodation. The villas are open plan, with a huge bed, living area and open shower and bath. The rooms are kept spotless, and cleaned daily. We even had a rogue bird fly in one day, but the staff quickly and safely managed to usher it out within minutes.

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The main selling point of the villas though is the private pool overlooking the jungle. Complete with a little pagoda overhanging the pool and sun loungers on the terrace, it really is the perfect place to sunbathe and relax. By the end of the holiday I felt completely replenished.

The pagoda and pool

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Service

Every single member of staff was brilliant at The Vieroy. On arrival, we were presented with a little welcome cake, as well as cocktails. Each morning there were fresh flowers in our room, and at night little chocolates at the side of the bed.

Service in the restaurants was quick, friendly and efficient, and nothing was too much trouble. I have a nut allergy, which is always so hard to manage when visiting Asia, but the hotel and staff went out of their way to provide me with nut free meals which were all totally delicious.

Our pool and sun loungers were also cleaned daily, and our pagoda cushions regularly changed. Little touches like that made the whole experience truly 5 star.

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Food & Drink

Food and drink at The Viceroy was delicious. We ate most of our meals in the hotel restaurant. At the time we stayed, there was only one restaurant, but another was under construction. It honestly didn’t matter though.

Breakfast overlooking the jungle had everything to offer – from fresh fruit, to omelettes, to pancakes to cereal. Everything was delicious. Lunches ranged from club sandwiches to spicy prawns to pizza; you could sample local cuisine if you wanted to, or have more western food as well. The dinners were amazing – we ate everything from traditional Rendang curries, to local spicy pork. We enjoyed the food so much we now regularly make Rendang curries at home.

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Amenities

The main hotel pool is truly special, plunging out over the jungle. Also on site is a spa, with in-room massages also offered. We chose the in-room traditional Balinese massage which was great. I also had a wellness bath run for me, full of flowers and rose petals which was picture perfect.

Wellness bath and main hotel pool

The hotel also offers yoga lessons, private dining, cooking classes, dance lessons, kite making courses and local nature treks. We didn’t do any of those things but I’m sure all would have been interesting.

The hotel also offers day trips and tours across Bali – from visiting the local temples to exploring further afield, all with a private tour guide and driver so you can explore the island easily and hassle free. You can read about my favourite things to do and see in Ubud here.

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Overall, the hotel was incredible. It is expensive, but the private pools are truly something special and worth paying a little extra for. I’d thoroughly recommend staying at The Viceroy for anyone considering a trip to Bali. Stay safe and happy travelling!