There’s nothing quite like staying in a Bail treehouse. They look amazing in the photos you share with the folks back home, and it’s a super romantic way to spend some time on the island.
But, treehouses are often very, very expensive, and the best of them can be more than $1,000 USD a night! Which is rather more than most of us have to spend.
So, when we heard how reasonably priced Firefly Eco Lodge was, we went out to investigate for ourselves, and this is what we discovered in this cute part of Gianyar.
Our In-Depth Assessment Of Firefly Eco Lodge
The review methodology remains consistent, using the same assessment criteria each time. This keeps things fair for all properties and simplifies side-by-side evaluation.
Hotel Type: Budget
Area of Bali: Gianyar
Star Rating: 3-Star
Typical Minimum Price per Night: 300,000 IDR (roughly $20 USD or $30 AUD) per night, with the understanding that rates vary by room and season
Firefly Eco Lodge Address: Jl. Gn. Sari Br. Ambengan No.9, Peliatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
Firefly Eco Lodge Website: Linktree
Room Types: Hut, Bed And Breakfast Deluxe Nest B, Loft, Nature Lodge Silver Room, Nature Lodge Jungle Room, Firefly Villa, Red Room, Bamboo Bird’s Nest, Gold House, Blue Room, Aqua Room, Deluxe Bird’s Nest A, Bamboo Bird’s Nest, Private Room Treehouse, Private Room Birdsnest, Private Room Artist’s Ricefield Apartment, Bamboo Eco Cottage and Ricefield Artist Retreat
Facilities: Pool, Swing, Garden, Rice Field, Jungle Access, Cafe
It might be cheap, but it’s no slouch; this property did very well on our ranking of treehouses in Bali.
If you want other adults-only options you could try Camaya Bali or PinkCoco. And if you’re in search of other great value hostels try Kos One or Rhythm & Rumble.
Cleanliness and Maintenance
The resort should be congratulated for the excellent work the cleaning and maintenance crew do, but there’s no getting around that this place is open to the natural world.
You’re going to encounter beetles, spiders, ants, wasps, geckos, etc., in abundance and the mess that they make. This is just the nature of this kind of resort.
Sleep Quality
Given the low room rates, you might be expecting terrible beds, but the beds are pretty comfortable with decent linen, mattresses and pillows.
But once again, you’re out in the countryside with a relatively open room, you’re going to get some nocturnal visitors. Now, nothing out there is going to harm you, but if you don’t like the thought of being in a room full of lizards, you may not get much sleep.
Staff Attitude And Service Culture
You can’t go wrong with the staff here. No, they don’t have the polish of the big brand-name hotels, but at $20 USD a night? You wouldn’t expect them to.
What they do have is all that Balinese warmth, friendliness and kindness that this island is famous for and a will to make your stay as pleasant as possible.
Check-in/Check-out Experience
The check-in process is fine; this is not a big place, you’re not going to spend hours queuing to get into a room.
Check out is also completely painless, and you’ll be on your way as soon as your ride arrives.
Bathroom Quality & Functionality
The bathroom is on the basic side, but there’s everything you need to get clean and enjoy the experience.
However, as with the bedrooms, don’t be surprised if the occasional Balinese critter comes to join you as you perch upon the throne. You can’t say we didn’t warn you.
Value For Money
We don’t think you’re going to get more value for $20 USD anywhere in Bali. It’s really that simple. Sure, it’s a bit basic, but you get more than you pay for.
And given that there are almost no cheap treehouse experiences on the island, you also get the kind of bragging rights that are typically reserved for people spending much more money than you will when you stay here.
Food And Beverage Execution
The on-site cafe is just fine. It delivers basic meals and drinks that are nutritious and tasty. There’s not much effort put in for presentation, and it’s certainly not fine dining, but you wouldn’t really expect it to be either.
You wouldn’t go out of your way to eat and drink here, but you’ll be more than happy to do so when you’re staying in the hotel.
Location & Immediate Surroundings
This is a nice spot in the jungle. You can enjoy long nature walks, and the area is very safe. However, it’s about 30 minutes’ walk from the centre of Ubud, which can be a drag if you want to explore the city.
And if you want to explore the rest of the island from here, be prepared to endure fairly substantial traffic at certain times of the day.
Facilities & Amenities Vs Promise
Everything that they say will be present in the advertising material is present. There’s just not very much in the way of amenities.
But that is reflected in the price. $20 USD a night, even in Bali, won’t do much more than pay the staff, keep the lights on, and everything else in good condition.
Overall “Personality”
This place has plenty of personality, and while it may not be in the same league as the super expensive treehouses here in Bali, it’s really nice.
We think that for many backpackers and budget travellers, this will be the big highlight of their time in Bali.
Summary: Our Overview Of Firefly Eco Lodge
Are there better places to stay in Bali than Firefly Eco Lodge? For sure. But are there any better at the princely sum of 300,000 IDR a night? We don’t think there are.
As long as you don’t mind encountering real nature, this is an excellent place to spend a couple oif nights enjoying the more relaxed rural side of Balinese life.
Grading: Very Good
FAQs
Is Firefly Eco Lodge Family Friendly?
No, Firefly Eco Lodge isn’t really family-friendly. The accommodation is more suited to singles and couples, and there’s not much in the way of features and amenities for children to enjoy.
There’s also no babysitting service available or kids’ club for children to enjoy and get out from under your feet.
We wouldn’t recommend staying here if you have kids; there are other places on the island that are going to suit you better.
Final Thoughts On Firefly Eco Lodge
Yes, we know that often something that seems too cheap to be true is too cheap to be good. However, Firefly Eco Lodge, while a bit on the basic side, does deliver solid value for money.
If you really want a Bali treehouse experience and have next to no budget to make your dream come true, this is the place for you.
We’d be happy to recommend Firefly Eco Lodge as a basic and affordable alternative to the expensive treehouses that are out of reach for many of our wallets.
