The serene Sri Ratih cottages in Bali are an excellent and luxurious mid point accommodation option for flashpackers in Ubud. I only had a short stay but the time I spent there made me appreciate Bali so much more than I had up till this point.
This is a paid article written in partnership with Sri Ratih Cottages with products or services supplied by them. Full editorial integrity is maintained at all times. The views and opinions expressed are entirely the authors own based on personal experiences when travelling and are honest and factual without any bias.
Arriving in Ubud after an extremely long, slow and tiring taxi ride I was ready to escape Bali’s ridiculously congested traffic and relax in my own little world for a while, and I found exactly what I needed in the peaceful and relaxing Sri Ratih Cottages.
The hotel wasn’t easy to find at first, my taxi driver had no clue where it was despite giving him an exact address, but we did eventually find it, tucked away in a hidden corner a short drive away from Jalan Hanoman, and from the minute I arrived I felt instantly better.
I was greeted with a welcoming, friendly smile and a refreshing drink as the staff efficiently checked me in and showed me to my room. The large semi detached bungalow I was given was up a small set of stairs that was accessed via the beautifully landscaped gardens, with the winding pathways giving an illusion of absolute seclusion as we walked from reception. The small pool looked so inviting amidst the gardens too, but unfortunately I never did get to use it properly because it generally filled up quite quickly with just a few people.
Not that this was too much of a concern. Arriving at my room, I really couldn’t help but grin. It was truly spectacular for the mid level price range.
Sometimes as a backpacker you need to upgrade to flashpacker status for a while just to relax, collect your thoughts and rest in a bit of comfort, and my room here delivered that in spades. Decorated in beautifully elegant traditional Balinese furnishings, the warm wood made the large room feel really cozy and welcoming, it was a far cry from some hotel rooms which can often feel impersonal and bland. With a large comfortable bed and a lot of little touches to make you feel even more welcome.
This was the Bali I had been looking for!
The bathroom was beautifully appointed and decorated too, with a strong power shower and plenty of amenities and little touches to allow you to pamper yourself a little. It was outdoors but completely closed off from the outside world by a large enclosed wall, and gave a surprising sense of privacy with the unique and relaxing feeling of showering or bathing in the warm tropical air. It isn’t often I write about bathrooms with such gusto but frankly this felt like an experience in and of itself!
Vouchers were given for the attached spa for a free ten minute taster session and a discount on their normal rates. I would have loved to have taken them up on their offer but arrive too late in the day to use the voucher and was turned away. The free session was only between limited hours during the day – when I was usually out in Ubud – so I couldn’t use it, and the prices for other massages and treatments – given in US dollars – were extremely high. It was easier and cheaper to just walk up the road to any of the other professional spas instead.
I spent most evenings after dinner in Ubud at the hotel, relaxing on the spacious balcony that overlooked the gardens and the pool, and really enjoyed the peaceful solitude that allowed me to catch up on some reading and get some writing done. I did however wander down to the bar that was attached to the restaurant quite late one night, and being the only customer there I was treated to an informal gathering with the staff who invited me to join them. Maybe trying a little of the local moonshine wasn’t the cleverest of ideas, but it isn’t often you get to sit down and chat with locals on such a personal level and it added a whole extra dimension to the level of personal service given here.
The breakfast – given on a coupon system – wasn’t the best I’ve had in Bali, or anywhere for that matter. Instead of being allowed a broad selection, I was given a limited choice of set breakfasts from a menu that were far from inspiring, and there was no deviation from those sets either. When it arrived the food was good and tasty enough, there just wasn’t all that much of it, and frankly I really would have liked to have more flexibility in what came out rather than a set menu. This wasn’t a major problem as I spent most days in Ubud and the surrounding areas anyway where food was cheap and unbelievably good, so it isn’t as if I went hungry, but it was a slight letdown that they could easily improve upon.
They do have a free shuttle that runs to Monkey Forest Road and back a couple of times a day as well, and given that the cottages were a little out of the way this service was excellent. They really should increase the amount of times it runs though, as mid morning and early afternoons only were very limiting. I would have found it really useful to have that service in the early evening and night as well for heading into Ubud for dinner.
Overall though, Sri Ratih Cottages was an amazing mid range place to stay and a perfect flashpacking choice to relax and pamper yourself in nice surroundings for a little while. I totally recommend it, and if you are in Bali and fancy a little comfort at a fair budget, then you could do a lot worse than staying here.
Sri Ratih Cottages can be found on Jl. Raya Penestanan, Ubud, Bali 80582.
Ready to book? The Sri Ratih Cottages website can be found here.
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Michael Huxley is a published author, professional adventurer and founder of the travel website, Bemused Backpacker. He has spent the last twenty years travelling to over 100 countries on almost every continent, slowly building Bemused Backpacker into a successful business after leaving a former career in emergency nursing and travel medicine, and continues to travel the world on numerous adventures every year.
Bemused Backpacker 
That bathroom sounds out of this world! But I admit I’m not sure about the idea of showering and taking a bath outside.
Haha, I can understand that, but don’t worry it is completely and utterly closed off from all sides and there is no way anyone can overlook anything (I checked!) ;D
I stayed here with my sister for a week a few months ago and it was absolutely amazing! The location is perfect for Ubud, close enough to everything but far enough away to give you a sense of peace and isolation from the chaos, and it really made us feel like we were actually in the Bali that is sold to everyone in the brochures!
I know what you mean Carla, it really is amazing
Thanks for the recommendation, I love the sound of these cottages and will definitely check them out.
You are very welcome!
Great timing! Im heading to Bali for a few weeks and need somewhere to just retreat for a bit. The breakfast sounds a bit disappointing but when you’re surrounded by luxury like this its a small price to pay!
Very true!
This looks like a perfect luxury weekend! Thanks for the recommendation!
You are very welcome.
I’m planning on moving to Bali for a few months in September, I don’t think I could afford this long term but I am definitely keeping it in mind for a few short breaks!
It is definitely a great place to splurge and spoil yourself for a few days Olivia.
Wow this place looks absolutely stunning! I would love to spend a week here just relaxing and doing nothing!
I know what you mean Charlotte!
I am definitely going to have a look at staying here the next time I’m in Bali! I rarely eat breakfast where I stay anyway, they are rarely anything special.
That is very true, and with so many amazing and cheap places to choose from for breakfast within walking distance it really isn’t a necessity to eat at your accommodation
You make this place sound so amazing! I am spending a couple of months in Indonesia soon and have no plans to go to Bali so far but you are making me think twice about it!
Oh believe me Vicky I don’t do it justice, Sri Ratih sells itself! I don’t think I’d come to Bali just to come here, not unless I was planning a specific break of a couple of weeks of just doing nothing at all but relaxing (in which case a cheap flight would be worth it), but I would definitely come back here if I happened to be in Bali.
This place looks amazing!
It is!
I need to go here, looks like a perfect romantic getaway!
It really is! Nothing to do but just be with eachother in perfect surroundings, you can’t get more romantic than that!
Waaaah? I need to live here! It looks perfect.
It was!
This place looks so amazing, but that spa sounds a bit stingy! You’d think with so much competition in Bali they’d make guests want to stay!
I know what you mean, especially with so many spa places that were a lot cheaper and worked on your time frame within a few minutes walking distance, and a lot more along the main part of Ubud itself leading up to Monkey Forest Road! Maybe they just didn’t want any custom that day!
Sounds like an ideal place to have to yourself for a few weeks, or months. 😊
Definitely! I could have easily just stayed a lot longer!
Great photo shots…Awesome…beautiful place to visit and discover Bali cultural heritage…
Thanks so much Naomi
Looks like a great place to stay. Bali is such a beautiful country and it looks like these cottages really show it off!
They really do.
Never heard of this place! Will definitely have to check it out!
You really should Isobel it is awesome here!
This is now on my bucket list of places to stay at! I can so imagine spending a week just relaxing here!
It was an awesome place for doing just that!
ooooh what a beautiful spot!! you have me dreaming of Bali breaks now. it looks so relaxing and peaceful, glad you had a lovely time.
I really did Amy, thank you.
That hotel look absolutely gorgeous! Also, I am in loveeee with that bathroom!
Aleeha
The bathroom was amazing!
Looks like a beautiful vacation – I used to stay in Bali quite a lot when I lived in Australia. I never saw somewhere so nice though. You’ve made me want to go back to Bali now.
I had an amazing time! You definitely should!
What a gorgeous resort. I’m not going to lie, you have made me just a little bit jealous!
Haha, I would make myself jealous if I had never stayed here!
I can’t believe that there are such cute and magical places that don’t cost an absolute fortune or a second mortgage to stay in! Thank you for sharing your trip and experience, you definitely left me daydreaming about Bali!
I know what you mean Natalie, it was so reasonable for such an amazing place. Worth a flashpacking splurge I’d say!
This trip looks amazing! I will definitely do some research on this hotel. I went to a spa hotel in Bali back in February and it was quote expensive but my experience was just so so, it certianly wasn’t as pretty as this! This looks like a much better option!
It was definitely great for me Brit, I’d go back in a heartbeat!
What a beautiful place and such a pretty hotel! Wow!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Erin
Hope it inspires you to visit Erin?
This hotel looks absolutely fabulous! It certainly is a must for the next time I am in Bali. The photos are breathtaking!
It was impossible to take a bad photo there Gigi, it was amazing!
How amazing! It looks (and sounds) like you had a wonderful getaway!
I really did Kathryn.
Ooh this looks amazing for a bit of flashpacking! We are heading to Bali for a few months next week so we may treat ourselves to a week of pampering before we explore.
Have a great time!
That room looks absolutely amazing! Pure bliss! I don’t think I could afford it on a backpackers budget though.
You’d be surprised at what a backpackers budget can stretch to. I am able to upgrade relatively easily with good budgeting over time.
Sounds like an ideal place to have to yourself for a few weeks, or months. 😊
I wouldn’t mind a few months!