Ubud is a very popular part of Bali, thanks, in part, to Eat, Pray, Love (both the book and the movie), and most holidaymakers seem to make a stop here at some point.
While the town has some lovely hotels, many people want to enjoy a villa-style stay here among the rice paddies and jungle.
And that’s where Visesa Ubud Resort might come in, so we sent out our review team to find out whether this place cuts the mustard for the discerning traveller, and this is what we learned.
Our In-Depth Assessment Of Visesa Ubud Resort
All our reviews adhere to one consistent method and set of assessment benchmarks. That uniformity is fair to every property and simplifies your ability to compare them.
Hotel Type: Luxury
Area of Bali: Ubud
Star Rating: 5-Star
Typical Minimum Price per Night: 2,200,000 IDR (approx. $120 USD or $220 AUD) per night wth the proviso that rates vary by the room type and by the season
Visesa Ubud Resort Address: Jl. Suweta, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
Visesa Ubud Resort Website: Visesa
Room Types: Jungle Suite, River Valley Suite with Private Jacuzzi, One Bedroom Pool Villa, Two Bedroom Pool Villa, Viseas Forest Suite with Private Jacuzzi, Two Bedroom Sky Infinity Pool Villa, Two Bedroom Royal River Valley Pool Villa, Two Bedroom Royal Sky Villa
Facilities: Lesung Restaurant, Warung Tani, Padi & Lumbung Restaurant, Picnic Area, Sun Terrace, Garden, Bicycle Rental, Cooking Classes, Bike Tours, Walking Tours, Cycling, Hiking, Kids’ Menu, Chapel, Babysitting Services (chargeable), Outdoor Swimming Pool, Yoga Classes, Spa Facilities, Open-Air Bath, Fitness Centre, Floating Breakfast
Cleanliness and Maintenance
We felt that the cleaning and maintenance teams at this resort did some sterling work and that everything was spotless and well looked after.
However, we’re going to deduct a point here because the furniture looks kind of dated, the “coffee maker” turned out to be a kettle, and some of our rooms were almost underground.
Sleep Quality
You’re going to have no problems sleeping in this place, the beds are big, airy and comfortable, and the bedding is first-rate.
Importantly, there’s no noise or sound leaking into the place at any time of day to interfere with a superb night’s rest.
Staff Attitude And Service Culture
We found the staff here to be excellent and very much focused on delivering a first-rate guest experience, and we really appreciated interacting with them.
It’s a fairly small team, too, so there’s an emphasis on getting things done rather than finding a manager to escalate to.
Check-in/Check-out Experience
This is a relatively small villa complex, and you’re not going to have to wait very long before you’re in your rooms.
We also found that the checkout process was pain-free, and we were swiftly in a Grab and on our way once the day was done.
Bathroom Quality & Functionality
We really liked the bathrooms, which were fairly opulent and had nice toiletries and towels available.
Importantly, there were no struggles with water pressure or the volume of hot water required, which is a common issue here in Bali.
Value For Money
We felt that Visesa Ubud was on the great value for money side of the scales, but not quite into the excellent category.
We think that with a little work on the rough edges and some redesign work, they could move up this scale, though.
Food And Beverage Execution
This was a little disappointing. The food available at this property is just OK, and because it’s priced with a hotel premium, it really isn’t worth your time unless breakfast is included in the room rate.
It’s not that you’ll have a bad meal here, it’s just that you’re in Ubud, which is home to the best of Balinese food and some excellent fine dining at the other end of the spectrum.
Location & Immediate Surroundings
Ubud is a great place to stay; it has so much to offer, and it’s very safe. Though we will note that this property is not within walking distance of very much, you’re going to need transportation.
However, this is a stupidly popular town nowadays, and that can lead to crowds everywhere and long traffic jams when trying to get out to explore the rest of Bali.
Facilities & Amenities Vs Promise
The hotel has all the amenities as promised in the marketing material and a fair amount of them given the overall price and nature of the property.
However, while they’re mainly in good condition, some could use a little work to make them world-class again.
Overall “Personality”
Given that this property is owned by the Royal Family of Ubud, you might have been expecting something a bit more imposing and memorable.
It’s a perfectly nice place, of course, but this isn’t the sort of property that sees you waxing lyrical to your grandchildren about it, either.
Summary: Our Overview Of Visesa Ubud Resort
Visesa Ubud Resort has so much charm that you’d be hard pressed to find a place quite like it elsewhere, and given that it is owned by the royal family, there are some bragging rights associated with staying here.
We’d be happy to recommend this property to people seeking to explore this area and who need a bit of peace and quiet when they hit the hay for the night.
Grading: Excellent
FAQs
Is Visesa Ubud Resort Family Friendly?
Yes, children of any age are welcome at this property, and the good news is that children are only charged as adults at this resort when they reach the age of 18.
For anyone over 18, extra beds are available, but they are charged at 950,000 IDR per night (around $60 USD or $95 AUD), which is quite pricey.
However, it’s worth noting that other than a kids’ menu and babysitting services, there are no special amenities for kids at this hotel.
Final Thoughts On Visesa Ubud Resort
While we’ll probably never quite understand the appeal of a floating breakfast (soggy croissants just aren’t our thing), we can completely understand the desire for a nice villa in Ubud.
This part of the country is relaxed, laid back and perfect for some blissful communing with nature, and the Visesa Ubud Resort is a great venue for that.
However, while we’d be happy to recommend this place to most people, we would note that it’s a bit short on facilities, and it’s a place to make your entertainment rather than expect it to be provided for you.
