Hanging Gardens of Bali

We stayed at the hanging gardens of Bali for 2 nights in August 2017 as part of our trip to Bali. We had always wanted to visit this hotel and its iconic swimming pool after coming across numerous photographs of the hotel on social media. We decided to opt for 2 nights, as location wise it appeared a lot further from central ubud in comparison to the second resort we were staying at in Ubud. The hotel does provide transport to central Ubud but we wanted to use the hotel facilities and lounge around the pool (after paying so much we wanted to make the most of it!). Upon our arrival, we were greeted with wet towels, welcome drinks and chocolate coated fruit, yummy! Shortly after, we were kindly shown to our villa by a butler who was very pleasant. We stayed in a panoramic villa (villa number 53) which was higher up in the hotel, really secluded with wonderful jungle valley views. Initially we were a little daunted walking down the path of the villa at evening/night (not very well lit) and noises from the monkeys on our villa roof at night (expected at such a location) but you soon become accustomed to the jungle life. However, for a five star hotel, I was a little disappointed with the lack of cleanliness within the villa. Paying to stay at a luxury hotel you do not expect to see spider webs and dust around your villa. The pool area was often very busy with so many people trying to take photographs. Understandably so as the views of the valley from this area are uninterrupted and phenomenal. As we had decided to make the most of the resort, we took the funicular down to the lower part of the hotel where the spa is located. From near the spa, you get a great view of the villas lower down and upon walking further, there are pretty steps down to the river. The hotel grounds are well maintained with a small bridge crossing the river and a seating area (you can arrange for a lunch picnic here with the restaurant, of course with a price tag attached). The restaurant also offer a special dinner at an extortionate price (I think it came to around £350) as a romantic dinner for a couple in the middle of the swimming pool (I believe a day's notice is required to arrange this). Breakfast buffet is served at the top floor of the hotel, the food was average but with it being open, there were so many flies that would just ruin the meal. We dined at the hotel restaurant (alongside the pool) twice and again, the food was average and not very impressive. On a plus side, the hotel staff were all very welcoming and pleasant, each greeting you as they pass you by. The pool boy was really helpful and often offered to take pictures of us etc. The experience was one that we definitely don't regret as this place is a must visit if nearby. For those who can afford to stay, I would recommend staying for maybe one or two nights (nothing more unless you literally just want to lounge etc) as the hotel is in a remote location and overpriced for what you get. If staying is out of your budget and you are in the ubud area, I would definitely recommend a visit to see the pool/take pictures to see the fabulous view. A once in a lifetime opportunity for those visiting Ubud but definitely overrated and overpriced for what you pay.

This place is extremely beautiful, you feel immersed in the nature with its lush green trees and exotic color plants. While we were appreciating the view from the infinity pool (one of the most beautiful I have ever seen) we saw a family of little savage monkeys jumping on the trees beneath the pool, an experience we will never forget. The hotel is situated on a cliff and to move to different levels, there is a little dreamy funiculaire that adds a magic touch to the experience. As if it wasn't enough, the hotel overlooks on a little Buddhist temple on the other side of the river. We stayed 4 nights in a panoramic pool villa and it was excellent, especially the outdoor area. The staff is friendly, helpful and smiles all the time. That being said, there are tiny improvements that the hotel management can envisage to make the whole client experience excellent. 1. Transport form the airport. We booked a private transport from the airport (much more expensive than a taxi would cost) but it turned out to be a contractor driver with an old car and malfunctioning air-condition (note the trip takes about 1h30 - 2h). Not a good start for a journey in a 7-star hotel. 2. Breakfast. Although there are a lot of à la carte dishes to choose from, the breakfast buffet could be better for this kind of hotel. Especially since you have to wait for a while for your à la carte dishes to arrive. Overall, this is a truly romantic place for a special occasion!

Title says it all really. This place is very unique. I've been fortunate enough to stay at some pretty great places but this place is heaven. It's set in a serene rainforest mountainside, which yes soles along with the bugs and noises one would expect from such a setting but it's a nice change from inner city noise and relaxing if you let it! We stayed in a premium panoramic room which had superb views. Pool got the sun to about mid day and the terrace got the sun to the early afternoon. The room itself was luxurious. Very comfy bed with wrap around mosquito net to avoid any mid night nibbling. The breakfast was fantastic, cooked breakfast and fresh fruit juices and coffees, including cappuccino and lattes are included. The lunch menu was excellent, it serves a wider variety of indo food and you can eat from it all day so after the first night we ate off this menu in the evenings as well. We did a morning walk with Jason which was excellent. He told us lots about the area and the flora and fauna and kept us safe from the rather vocal local dogs :-) obviously most people see this place for the pool. We spent a couple of hours down there yes, but to be honest this place is more about the serenity. It was probably the most relaxing place I've ever stayed. If I could go back. I would!

No words to explain beauty of hanging gardens. We visited in the month of June,weather was pleasant that time.we booked a Riverside pool villa,room was amazing with luxurious amenities. view from infinity pool was awesome. The presentation of breakfast was our standing.must visit ����

Myself and my husband booked this trip for our honeymoon. It's safe to say that following our stay we are baffled by the positive reviews that initially lured us into booking 6 nights here. It was a disaster. 1. Despite letting the hotel know that we would be on honeymoon, requesting a good room and paying upwards of 2000 pounds for our stay, we were put in a room on the edge of the resort with what appeared to be a little bit of foliage separating us from a farm. The farm had cockerels that crowed on the hour, every hour from 2am, sometimes 3 am in the morning for an extended period of time. We did not get any sleep for the four nights that we endured this and on the fourth night when we were both awake at 4am listening to podcasts with our noise cancelling headphones on, we decided to request another room as our patience had worn thin. This was not the romantic break we had signed up for! We asked to be moved to another room, which then resulted in having to wait around to be moved. It wasn't till about 3pm when we were shown options, meaning another day of our trip was wasted as we were on tenterhooks as to what to do. 2. There is little point paying for the luxury of a private pool as most of them are in shade and so we didn't use ours. 3. There are only 10 Loungers at the main swimming pool so unless you get up at the crack of dawn (perhaps this is the only benefit to having a cockerel on your doorstep) you won't get one. 4. The hotel invites day trippers to come and see the pool which means even if you do get a sun lounger the experience of being around that pool is definitely not luxe or exclusive. It's basically like being part of a spectacle as at least a dozen visitors descend on the pool area each afternoon to take selfies. We even witnessed one day tripper who had brought his tripod to take 'expert' shots of his girlfriend making the most of their time at the pool! Definitely not an exclusive 5 star experience and a bit like being on a film set. Tacky! 5. The breakfasts were poor. Cold. Stale. Pre-cooked. The eggs were consistently poorly cooked and the fruit and bread were not fresh. The only good item on the breakfast menu are the freshly squeezed juices and this will cost you more. 6. Everything about this hotel feels a little bit budget once you scratch beneath the surface and get over the very nice view and the look of the main pool. It just feels like they are scrimping i.e. It seemed like there was only one iron in the hotel serving I think it was 70 odd rooms. About an hour after requesting it the staff were constantly ringing to ask if they could collect it? 7. Staff wanted to do turn down constantly and I'm pretty sure some change went missing during one of these turn downs. No big deal in the long run but not a nice feeling. 8. Staff were obviously not happy with management as more than one member of staff complained that they don't receive their own tips. They actually advised us not to tip as they wouldn't see the money. I felt for the staff being put in this situation. Again not a nice experience to find this out while on honeymoon having paid through the nose for the stay. 9. There was no privacy in our room due to the glass windows which seemed like an attractive feature - an open air feel in the pictures. But not when there is a man peering through the bushes at you. Not sure if this was someone from the farm or staff from the hotel.. 10. We were constantly upsold stuff that was overpriced by the staff. Aside from the yoga class we took which was very good. I wouldn't recommend any of it for the price. The food at the temple meal sadly is really not very nice, although the view is lovely. One very odd thing was the lobster shell we were served without lobster in it??? I suspect there is never any lobster but they still charge for it because during the whole of our stay we were stood they were substituting anything on the menu with lobster for prawns but the price stayed the same? 11. The bugs and mosquitoes in the room are unbearable. I tried to guard against this because I have skeeter syndrome so I bought my own mosquito plug but for some reason the staff unplugged it and packed it away in a drawer while I was away from the room. This seems like a small thing but that night I got bitten to death and swelled up everywhere :( All in all not a honeymoon experience at all. We felt like we'd been conned out of our money. We travel a lot and know a 5 star hotel when we stay at one and this is so far off it's untrue! It's billed as a 7 star which is incredulous.