Bali has become something of a feature on the world’s yoga scene, and people often come to the island just for the chance to experience some bending and stretching in paradise.
While Ubud and Canggu lead the way in this respect, you can find yoga retreats all over the island, and The Temple Lodge has a reputation for both yoga and surfing.
So, our team went out to discover if Uluwatu can bring the calming, relaxing vibe as well as the more popular spots, and this is what they discovered at The Temple Lodge, Uluwatu, Bali.
Our In-Depth Assessment Of The Temple Lodge
We use the same systematic process and evaluation criteria for every single review. That uniformity ensures equitable treatment of the properties we assess and helps you compare them with ease.
Hotel Type: 4-Star
Area of Bali: Uluwatu
Star Rating: 4-Star
Typical Minimum Price per Night: 2,400,000 IDR (approx. $150 USD or $240 AUD) per night, which can vary based on room type and season
The Temple Lodge Address: Jl. Pantai Bingin, Pecatu, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
The Temple Lodge Website: Temple Lodge
Room Types: The Temple Suite, The Gecko Suite, The Coral Cave Suite, The Samudra Suite, The Spice Suite and The Eagle’s Nest Suite
Facilities: Restaurant, Pool, Yoga Lessons, Spa & Wellness Centre
This lovely resort made it on to our top 20 places to stay in Uluwatu list.
Cleanliness and Maintenance
It’s always hard to keep a villa complex perfectly clean and maintained, as there’s much more space than in a hotel. We think they do a good job of things at The Temple Lodge overall.
However, there are parts of this resort that show a little wear and tear now. Nothing serious or holiday-spoiling, but noticeable all the same.
Sleep Quality
The rooms are nice enough, though some don’t have air-conditioning, which might be a real sticking point if you’re not used to balmy Bali evenings.
We also thought the beds and bedding were decent but not spectacular. This is a quiet part of Bali, so there’s very little noise at night.
Staff Attitude And Service Culture
We felt like the staff here really wanted to treat you like part of their family, and while it wasn’t quite 5-star resort professionalism, the service culture was exceptional in its own way.
The staff definitely help to make a stay at this hotel a real pleasure.
Check-in/Check-out Experience
It’s an old-school check-in and check-out experience, but that’s OK, this isn’t a huge resort, and you won’t spend very much time checking in before you’re in your room.
Bathroom Quality & Functionality
The bathrooms are nice enough, though the towels aren’t the greatest that we’ve ever seen, and the toiletries are only so-so.
The water pressure is a bit on the light side, though, which is probably due to Uluwatu’s regular water issues rather than anything to do with the hotel itself.
Value For Money
While there’s no doubt that The Temple Lodge is cheaper than a lot of other places in Uluwatu, it’s also quite a bit more basic than many of the other options in this area.
Overall, we felt that it was decent value for money, but we’d hunt around as there are places in Uluwatu that offer more than this place at the same price – unless the yoga and surfing aspect are really important to you.
Food And Beverage Execution
The food and drinks here are OK. They’re tasty, they look OK, but there’s nothing that really stands out about anything they serve, either.
Would you come back just for the food? Given the location, we highly doubt it.
Location & Immediate Surroundings
Uluwatu is a lovely, safe area, but it’s very spread out, and that means you’re going to need transportation to go anywhere much beyond the beach at the bottom of the cliff.
We would also note that while the beach is lovely, it’s down a very steep set of stairs that may not be easy to use for young ones, older folks or people with any kind of physical disability.
Facilities & Amenities Vs Promise
The facilities and amenities are as advertised. Though one of the ways they keep the room prices down is that the yoga lessons are chargeable extras, and surf lessons need to be arranged and paid for on the beach rather than through the hotel.
Overall “Personality”
There’s no doubt that The Temple Lodge has its own unique charm, and if you feel that it will appeal to you, there’s a very high chance that it will.
And if you’re in that category, we have no doubt that you will have fond memories of it in years to come.
Summary: Our Overview Of The Temple Lodge
Overall, we liked The Temple Lodge but it’s definitely a spot with some real limitations. We’d recommend it to people who want to stay near the beach in a reasonably priced villa in fairly basic circumstances.
If you want the yoga and surfing lifestyle on a budget, it’s a good choice. But Uluwatu has a lot of accommodation options and if it doesn’t seem to be quite your vibe, you might be better off looking elsewhere.
Grading: Solid 4-star experience
You might also check out Prasana Villas or Swiss-Belhotel Pecatu for other solid options in Uluwatu.
FAQs
Is The Temple Lodge Family Friendly?
Yes, The Temple Lodge is reasonably family-friendly in that children are allowed to stay in the family suites with their parents.
However, they can’t provide cribs or extra beds. There are no child-specific facilities, though they can use the pool, garden and spa.
It’s also worth noting that not all rooms have air-conditioning, and some don’t have a TV. We should also point out that the beach is down a steep set of stairs, which might not be easy for some children to handle.
Overall, it’s OK for families to stay here, but your kids might prefer somewhere with a bit more on offer for children.
Final Thoughts On The Temple Lodge
The Temple Lodge is a nice place to stay, and if you’re in their target audience of surfers and yogis, then you will probably be very happy here.
However, it’s very light on facilities, and the absence of things like air-conditioning and TVs in some rooms is going to be a big drawback for some visitors.
We’d be happy to recommend this place as long as you feel that you know exactly what you’re getting before you book.
