As a budget hotel, it seems like there is nothing much to expect from Swan Inn in Ubud, Bali. Nevertheless, you will be surprised to find that this hotel is not only a clean and comfy place to stay, but also provides amenities that you would not often find in a budget hotel. Let’s take a look at what makes this hotel so unique, and why you should add it to the top of your list when looking for a hotel in Ubud, Bali.
An oasis in Ubud
The Swan Inn hotel is located in the center of Ubud where it’s truly the perfect hotel for you to get around town. The major streets of Ubud, where you can many shops and restaurants, are within walking distance.Some of these major tourist attractions include the art market, Ubud Palace, and the Sacred Monkey Forest. Nevertheless, despite the seemingly noisy hotel, it’s located next to a paddy field and off the main road, where to get there you need to go down a very small alley. You, or your taxi driver, may need to ask some locals for directions, and you will need to walk for 2 or 3 minutes from the main road as a car can’t go through the alley. Unlike most other hotels in central Ubud, this hotel is pretty serene as not too many vehicles pass through the alley, and it’s also one of the very few hotels in Ubud where you can overlook the rice fields from your room. What an oasis!
Beautiful garden and gamelan
As you enter the hotel, you will be surprised to find a beautiful garden and a lotus pond with lots of different tropical plants and butterflies flying around. Being here gives you a peace of mind, but there is something else you can do in the garden area too. There is an open building with some ‘gamelans’ (an Indonesian traditional musical instrument made of metal gongs) where you can try to play the instrument, however,you may have to take turns with other guests. It’s not difficult to play gamelan. Each gong has a different tune, and you simply hit the necessary gongs for a song. Where else on earth can you have this kind of opportunity?
Artistic, comfy, and affordable rooms
You will stay in a Balinese style bungalow, which is large and airy with a private bathroom that provides a hot shower. Available in the room is also a rattan desk and chairs, as well as with many flowery decorations on the walls and doors. It’s 250,000 IDR (10.09 USD) for a standard bungalow, and if you need an air conditioned bungalow complete with a fridge, kitchen, and a bathtub in the bathroom, book a deluxe bungalow for 400,000 IDR (30,54 USD). I’ve learned that you can actually stay in one room if you have 3 or 4 people traveling together just by paying for some extra beds - which costs 50,000 IDR or 3.82 USD for the extra bed. All rooms have a verandah overlooking the garden, or the rice terrace, and it’s nice to sit here during the evenings as most of the time you can hear the peaceful sound of the gamelan being played by some of the hotel staff. At night, you can hear frogs croaking from the paddy fields, but zero street noise can be heard from your room. The room has Wi-Fi too, although at night it’s slow as many other guests tend to use it around this time.
Simple breakfast delivered to your room
For the cheap rates, you still get breakfast delivered to your room! Every morning at around 7am a staff member will come to your room, and they put a thermos of hot water and a pack of instant coffee on the table in the veranda. Afterwards, he or she will ask you what you’d like to order for breakfast, but of course they will knock the door if your door is closed. For breakfast, you have lighter choices that include a sandwich with a banana pancake, and a small portion of fruit salad.
Rent a motorbike
If you need a motorbike to get around, there’s no need to go anywhere else as you can rent a motorbike for 50,000 IDR (3.79 USD) from Swan Inn. The rental is for 24 hours, so if you rent a motorbike for a day at 3pm, then it needs to be returned before 3pm on the following day. It includes a couple of helmets, and their motorbikes are all in a good condition, so there’s no need to worry about its performance on the roads.
Swan Inn, one of the best budget hotels in town
It’s a family-run hotel, so more than just receiving a welcome drink, you’ll also be l treated warmly like a member of the family. When you happen to arrive late at night, call the hotel and the owner will wait for you to arrive If you’re having trouble explaining the location, the owner will also give your taxi driver directions, and even help you with your heavy luggage from the main road. You certainly are not the only budget-concerned traveler, and there are so many others who also want to stay in this affordable yet very decent hotel. I think it’s better if you can make the reservation at least 2 weeks prior to your arrival in Bali. There is no swimming pool in the hotel, but if you want to swim, you can swim at a swimming pool which belongs to the neighboring hotel, which is adjacent to Swan Inn. You’ll just have to pay a small fee each time you want to swim. It’s one of the budget hotels with the lowest rates, but it is also among the best budget hotels in Ubud, so this is a very good choice for travelers on a tight budget!
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12 Things To Do In Ubud At Night - Updated 2024Stephanie Anais -
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