Ooh - one of my favourite places in the world! Also a huge amount of amazing hotels.

I would ask what your budget is - I was lucky enough to stay in a Pool Villa at The Chedi Club, one of the greatest rooms i've ever stayed at, and great value considering....

I also love the rustic nature and location of Waka Di Ume, although Fiona (?) I think has stayed at the sister hotel Waka Namya which also sounds fab.

Avoid Alila Ubud (tired), Ubud Hanging Gardens (problematic staff!).

I personally think it's worth staying out in the rice paddies for the amazing quiet and noises at night, and travelling into Ubud for food etc, so Waka Di Ume again stands out as my recommendation....

Travelling sam, thanks for you reply, budget poss £50-£80 per night to be honest I havent looked at the hotels in Ubud (as yet), we have booked the Alam Kulkul and are paying £45ish per night. Not sure if hotels are more expensive in Ubud area, do you have website for the hotels you mentioned?

A member of another forum has suggested the Barong resort which look very nice as well

I can see this isnt going to be an easy choice

Thanks again

http://www.wakaexperience.com/waka_diume.htm

Here you go. It'll be about £80 per room per night, but they also have 5 nights for 4 I believe. Not the kind of place to go if a frog hopping into your room to say hello will terrify you
I've heard great reviews for Tegal Sari, but not seen it myself. Never heard of the Barong resort unless it's the Kupu Kupu Barong?

Gerib swears by tegal sari. I certainly loved the Waka namya. We are trying the Komaneka in July. Website here. By the way- we couldn't hear the frogs in the fields behind us because of the racket of the cockerels.

Fiona beat to to it... Tegal Sari for sure. Check out their web site. I'll find out the best room numbers to book for rice field views and post later.
If you book direct with the hotel you have two payment options. One is to pay prior to arriving and the other is to pay when you leave. However, the second option you are required to send credit card and passport details. I belong to a dedicated Bali forum and this gets raised often as most people are reluctant to part with these details. All I can say, is I have lots of Bali friends who stay regularly and say there is never any problem and their personal details are torn up in front of them.
Tegal Sari is very popular... and you need to book early if you want to stay there.
8 sleeps for us and we'll be back in Bali. Just Legian and Sanur.

Edit...

The room numbers to the newer and most lovliest rooms at Tegal Sari are 20, 22 & 24 (these are the upstairs and have Queen size beds) the ones below are 19, 21 & 23 but unsure of the bed configuration.

Cheers Geri

Thanks everyone, as usual the HT's have come up the the results

Spolit for choice now

Regards Jules

let us know what you decide upon

Hi Fiona & Geri

I have made the decision to stay at the Tegal Sari but I'm wondering when is the best time to stay ie weekend or midweek, I know from visiting other countries and resort that locals sometimes visit coast etc at weekend so would be better staying midweek or dont many Bali people visit.

Geri I just read you 'how's going when' posting and have looked at the tegal Sari's website..........is this the best way to make a booking, Im a little cautious about giving credit card details etc.

Many thanks in advance for replies

Jules

I went and saw the Tegal Sari recently (actually tried to get a room, but it was booked out for months), and I certainly wouldn't worry about giving them credit card details myself. Weekdays might be a bit quieter, but people who head to Bali for weekends (Singaporeans, Malaysians, rich Jakartan's) don't really head to Tegal Sari - it's very European, so I don't think it would make a difference. To be honest, i'd just try and book asap, and have a back up in case they are full. Apparently being no 1 in Trip Advisor means most rooms are booked up to a year in advance. Thus they are adding a couple of 'posh rooms' now which don't really fit in with the character (very nice rooms though - very 'modern').

Jules- I'm not really sure re weekends of weekdays as I've only been once. ( but I'll be there next month )

Hi Jules
I have never thought about mid week v week end and have just fit TS in with our dates. Have to say sending the credit card and passport details didn't sit well but I am assured that TG is honest. I tried to fax our details and after many attempts it failed, so I emailed our details in two separate emails. Tegal Sari has a big following on a Bali travel forum that I belong to and most of my Bali friends head up there for a couple of nights at some stage.. The only complaint is that they sometimes can't get in and the breakfast isn't anything special. Other than that no one has ever said a bad word against them.
Cheers Geri

Edit due to spelling error

Hi

Travelling sam - thanks for the advice I have now emailed the hotel to book rooms.......not heard back yet but I guess Bali is as prompt at the rest of Asia

Fiona - I wish it was me going next month........I'm still counting weeks - still in double figures havent got down to number of sleeps yet.

Geri -when (and if) they get back to me I will have to bite the bullet and trust that everyone connected with the hotel booking routine are honest.

Thanks again good people

Jules

Ooops! sorry I've just remembered I didn't book through Tegal Sari's website. I emailed Muning who is reservations on tglsari@indo.net.id

You might like to email again as Muning replied within hours... mind you, Bali time is only 2 hours behind us so makes it bit easier.

Where are you staying in Legian?

Cheers Geri

Hi Geri

Thanks for email address they have already replied saying that they cant accommodation for the dates I requested. I have now replied with other dates that we could stay during our 2 weeks holiday. It usually takes me a couple of days to get over all the travelling so dont want to pack overnight bag after just 1-2 nights. I have also asked if they could recommend similar accommodation if they havent got room.

We are staying in Alam Kulkul, last year it was the Legian Beach which we really enjoyed unforunatley it was fully booked when tried to book it again.

Thanks for your help

Jules

Well Ladies

Its finally booked, had to pick several dated before final got sorted, unfortunately all the 1st floor rooms have been booked but its my own fault for not getting booked earlier now have to be very brave and email credit card and passport details :think. I would love to horse ride through the paddy fields do you know if there are any stables near Ubud. Last year we went to stables approx 1hr from Legian and was very peaceful and relaxing walking on the beach

Anyway thanks for your help/in put........Fiona if you havent gone yet have a lovely time and if

Regards
Jules

there are always walks on the rice fields but I haven't heard anything about horseriding. I can't imagine it somehow- but I'm probably wrong
Two weeks on Friday for me

We booked couple of nights in Tegal Sari in super delux room and cannot wait to be there. It looks wonderful. And we cannot wait to have some massages there too.

Fiona, have a great holiday - we still have 3,5 months to go.

Jules
Glad to hear your booked in at TG and hope you love it as much as everyone else does.

I've read a LOT of just back reports on my Bali forum and have never heard of horse riding through the rice fields. I understand that the new posh rooms are not owned by Tegal Sari, however, they are managing them.

Legian Beach Hotel is getting a few bad reports lately on my forum and trip advisor... superior rooms facing walls and car parks not to mention the ill mannered reception staff. People say you only sleep in your room but to me having a decent room is an important part of a great holiday. If it was a cheap and cheerful hotel with prices to match you understand and put up with it... but some of the rooms no longer match the prices they are commanding... it's all about location.

The trick is if you have booked through a travel agent and have accommodation vouchers is to withhold them until you sight the room, without the vouchers the hotel doesn't get paid. I did this with Griya Santrian and it worked (well...kind of) however, you have to be prepared to walk away and find somewhere else, which I was.

Enjoy the Alam Kul Kul
Edit I have a photo of Tegal Sari which clearly marks the rooms 19 20 21 22 23 & 24. PM me with your email address and I'll send it. I do have other photos but they are almost the same as their web site photos.

I've read a LOT of just back reports on my Bali forum and have never heard of horse riding through the rice fields. I understand that the new posh rooms are not owned by Tegal Sari, however, they are managing them.

That would make sense as they are quite out of place compared to the rest of the resort. I've never heard of horseriding through Ubud either. On Canggu beach and on the beach at Waka Gangga i've seen it, but doesn't seem to fit with Ubud.

The trick is if you have booked through a travel agent and have accommodation vouchers is to withhold them until you sight the room, without the vouchers the hotel doesn't get paid. I did this with Griya Santrian and it worked (well...kind of) however, you have to be prepared to walk away and find somewhere else, which I was.

Be careful, that's not always true. Vouchers are generally being eradicated, and a lot of hotels are moving away from credit towards ensuring they receive full pre-payment (nervous about travel agents security), so quite often the hotel already has your money.